Social and Family Planning - A child with a history of good health suddenly developed intermittent headaches, accompanied by vomiting and fever, due to meningitis...
A 6-year-old child has meningitis caused by enterovirus.
Recently, doctors at Hung Vuong General Hospital in Phu Tho province reported receiving and treating many children hospitalized with meningitis , primarily caused by enterovirus (EV).
The most recent case involves a 6-year-old girl from Tuyen Quang province who had a history of good health. Approximately two days before admission, she experienced intermittent headaches, accompanied by vomiting and fever. Her family took her to a nearby medical facility for examination, where she was diagnosed with acute pharyngitis and prescribed medication. However, her headaches worsened, and she became increasingly tired and vomited frequently. Worried, the family then brought her to Hung Vuong General Hospital for further examination.
Here, PCR test results showed the patient was positive for enterovirus. Currently, after 8 days of treatment according to the protocol for viral meningitis, the child is alert, fever-free, in stable health, and has been discharged from the hospital.
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What is enterovirus meningitis?
Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain. Enteroviruses are the most common cause (other causes include bacteria and fungi). Other viruses that can cause meningitis include herpes viruses (herpes simplex and varicella-zoster), measles, mumps, and rubella.
Enterovirus meningitis is generally less severe than meningitis caused by bacteria and other viral causes. Young children and immunocompromised individuals may experience more severe illness.
Warning signs of enterovirus meningitis
According to Master's degree holder and doctor Tran Thi Cuom, Deputy Head of the Pediatrics Department: Viral meningitis is inflammation of the meninges caused by a virus. The disease affects all ages, but the risk is higher in immunocompromised individuals and children.
The main symptoms of viral meningitis in general, and enterovirus meningitis 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 newborns, symptoms are often nonspecific and include: fever, vomiting, bulging fontanelle, poor feeding, excessive sleepiness, etc.
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Ways to prevent enterovirus meningitis.
According to doctors, there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for EV meningitis. Therefore, to protect children from the disease, parents and caregivers need to:
- Instruct children to wash their hands thoroughly with soap before eating, after coughing or sneezing, and after using the toilet.
- Practice eating cooked food, drinking boiled water, and using clean food from reliable sources.
- Clean shared toys, maintain a clean living environment, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, and chairs to prevent the spread of viruses.
- Take your child to the nearest medical facility immediately if they show signs of vomiting, headache, or do not respond to fever-reducing medication, so that a doctor can diagnose and treat them promptly.
Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/be-6-tuoi-o-phu-tho-bat-ngo-phat-hien-viem-mang-nao-tu-dau-hieu-rat-nhieu-cha-me-viet-bo-qua-172241205110731084.htm
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