Changing seasons, hospitalizations of children with meningitis increase sharply

Seasonal change, viral meningitis increases

Currently being treated at the Central Center for Tropical Diseases, National Children's Hospital, NTH (4 years old, Chuong My, Hanoi) was diagnosed with encephalitis caused by the EV virus. The child's mother said that before being hospitalized, after eating dinner at home, her child suddenly had symptoms of stomachache, vomiting, then a headache that gradually increased.

Seeing that the child's symptoms did not improve, early the next morning, the child was taken to the National Children's Hospital for emergency treatment by his family. At the hospital, the results of a lumbar puncture confirmed that baby H had meningitis caused by EV. Currently, after 4 days of treatment, the child has stopped vomiting and fever, is eating well and has no paralysis of the limbs.

Many children hospitalized with EV viral encephalitis are being treated at the National Children's Hospital. (Photo: HV).

Also diagnosed positive for the EV meningitis virus, baby Đ.TM (8 years old, Gia Lam, Hanoi) did not show signs of vomiting but had a severe headache with fever. When admitted to the hospital, the child was conscious but suspected of having meningitis, so a spinal tap was ordered and confirmed to have the disease. Fortunately, up to now, the child has recovered well, leaving no neurological complications. Baby M.'s mother said that although no student in her child's class had been recorded to have the disease, she had heard of this dangerous disease. Therefore, 1 day after the child showed symptoms of the disease, the family rushed the child to the hospital for examination.

The National Children's Hospital has recorded an increase in the number of cases of meningitis caused by EV compared to previous months. According to statistics, from September 1 to October 9, at the Tropical Disease Center alone, about 200 children were hospitalized for treatment of this disease.

The main symptoms of children with viral meningitis in general and EV in particular are often fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia), loss of appetite, fatigue. Sometimes, children also have symptoms of viral infection such as runny nose, cough, body aches or rash, before symptoms of meningitis appear. In newborns, symptoms are often nonspecific and include: fever, vomiting, bulging fontanelle, poor feeding, excessive sleeping...

Dr. Le Thi Yen, Department of Daytime Examination and Treatment, Tropical Disease Center (Central Tropical Hospital) said that 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: EV, Herpesvirus, Arbovirus group (Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue virus, ...).

The erratic weather, especially during the changing seasons, creates favorable conditions for bacteria and viruses to develop, including viral meningitis. In addition, meningitis caused by EV is an infectious disease, so it is likely to increase when children return to school after the summer vacation.

Can form small outbreaks

Most cases of meningitis caused by EV usually progress benignly, after 3-5 days of treatment, the child recovers completely and leaves no sequelae. However, Dr. Do Thien Hai, Deputy Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases, emphasized that the disease can form small outbreaks and leave more severe symptoms in older children, causing headaches and discomfort. In addition, with central nervous system infections, it is difficult to accurately predict problems that may occur in the next 5-10 years.

To diagnose the disease, the child will have a spinal tap and a PCR test to determine the cause of the virus. Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for meningitis caused by EV. The disease is mainly treated symptomatically, using pain relievers, antipyretics, anti-inflammatory drugs and nutritional supplements to improve physical condition... Therefore, experts recommend that when children show signs of fever, vomiting, headache... families should not be subjective.

"If the child vomits more than 3 times/hour and 5 times/day, or has a severe headache, a headache that does not respond to pain relievers, parents need to take the child immediately to a medical facility for examination because the child may have dangerous diseases such as meningitis caused by EV, intussusception...", Dr. Le Thi Yen reminded parents not to arbitrarily treat or buy medicine for their children to take at home.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/giao-mua-tre-viem-mang-nao-nhap-vien-tang-manh-192241023082455434.htm