Headache, vomiting, fever, 7 year old boy has meningitis

At the National Children's Hospital, recently, doctors at the hospital's Tropical Disease Center have received and treated many children hospitalized with meningitis, mainly caused by Enterovirus.

For example, a 7-year-old boy in Hanoi. One day before being admitted to the hospital, the child had a headache, accompanied by vomiting and fever. The family took the child to a medical facility for examination. There, doctors suspected that the child had meningitis and transferred him to the National Children's Hospital for treatment.

A child with viral meningitis is treated at the hospital. Photo: BVCC.

After being admitted to the hospital, doctors quickly conducted a clinical examination and performed diagnostic tests. The results showed that the child's cerebrospinal fluid contained many white blood cells, mainly lymphocytes, and the PCR test was positive for Enterovirus.

After 5 days of treatment according to the viral meningitis regimen, the child is alert, has no fever, has no complications and has been discharged from the hospital.

In addition to the above case, the Center for Tropical Diseases also treated a 10-year-old boy (in Hanoi) with meningitis caused by Enterovirus. The child was admitted to the hospital on October 3 with fever, vomiting, fatigue, headache and stiff neck.

Realizing that this was a suspected case of meningitis, the doctors had the child undergo diagnostic tests. The results showed that the child had meningitis caused by Enterovirus. After treatment according to the regimen, the child was discharged from the hospital without complications.

Be careful with viral meningitis in children

MSc. Dr. Pham Thi Que - Center for Tropical Diseases, National Children's Hospital said: Viral meningitis is a meningitis caused by a virus. The disease occurs in all ages but the risk is higher in people with weakened immune systems and children.

The most common causes of viral meningitis include: Enterovirus (Coxsackie or Echovirus group), Herpesvirus (HSV1 and 2, VZV, CMV, EBV, HHV6), Arbovirus group (Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue virus, ...).

Signs and symptoms of viral meningitis.

Enteroviruses are a family of intestinal viruses, including many different types of viruses and can cause epidemics. Enteroviruses are mainly transmitted through the digestive tract, meaning that the patient will excrete the virus in the stool or through oral secretions, thereby infecting surrounding children. In addition to causing meningitis, Enteroviruses also cause hand, foot and mouth disease.

According to Dr. Que, the main symptoms of viral meningitis in general and Enterovirus in particular can appear suddenly and include: Fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia), loss of appetite, fatigue.

Sometimes there are symptoms of a viral infection such as a runny nose, cough, body aches or rash, before symptoms of meningitis appear. In infants, symptoms are often nonspecific and include: fever, vomiting, bulging fontanelle, poor feeding, excessive sleeping, etc.

To confirm the diagnosis, the child needs to have a lumbar puncture and PCR test to determine the viral origin. Symptomatic treatment is currently the main method in managing viral meningitis with pain relievers, antipyretics, anti-inflammatory drugs and nutritional support.

According to Dr. Que, there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for meningitis caused by Enterovirus. Therefore, to prevent the disease in children, parents and caregivers need to instruct children to wash their hands with soap before eating, after coughing, sneezing, and using the toilet; eat cooked food, boil water, and use clean food of clear origin.

Clean shared toys, keep living environments clean, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, and chairs to prevent the spread of viruses.

When children show signs of vomiting, headache, and do not respond to fever-reducing medication, they should be taken to the nearest medical facility for timely diagnosis and treatment by a doctor to avoid possible complications.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/dau-dau-non-sot-be-trai-7-tuoi-o-ha-noi-mac-can-benh-cac-phu-huynh-phai-rat-luu-y-trong-thoi-diem-nay-172241022155026491.htm