Symptoms of meningitis (enterovirus infection), its treatment

At present, enterovirus infection has been registered in children and adults more often. This is due to the fact that the disease causes a large number of viruses called enteroviruses (of their order of 90 species), which are fairly easily spread by airborne droplets and through dirty hands, common utensils and toys. You can transfer one of the forms of the disease caused by a certain kind, you will have immunity to it, but there are still many other kinds, and besides, the viruses can mutate, and protection against them has not yet been worked out. In addition, in the case of this infection, a variant of asymptomatic virus-carrying is possible: such a person-carrier is healthy, you or your child communicate peacefully with him, and then the whole family is ill. Enterovirus infection exists in many forms, disguising itself for other diseases. It is especially important for parents to know the symptoms of meningitis (enterovirus infection) in order to sound the alarm in time.

Forms of enterovirus infection

Non-life-threatening diseases

1. ... The virus-carrying.
2. A three-day fever, while on the skin can be determined rash, similar to rubella; The disease can also occur without the rash.
3. Herpetic tonsillitis: whitish blisters are found on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.
4. Flu-like form.
5. Gastroenteritis: manifested as diarrhea and vomiting, which quickly pass.
6. Pleurodinia: on the background of high temperature in the abdomen, back, chest or legs, there is the appearance of severe pains, they are repeated with some periodicity, during the interictal period the state of health is normal.
7. Conjunctivitis.
8. Uveitis: observed in young children, looks like reddening and a change in the color of the iris, the whole eye at the same time (if there is still no previous form) of normal color.

Heavy forms

1. Acute paralysis, which usually ends in complete recovery.
2. Diseases of the heart: myocarditis, pericarditis.
3. Hepatitis.
4. Serous meningitis. Symptoms of meningitis of enterovirus infection will be described below.
5. Encephalitis (the defeat of the substance of the brain), meningoencephalitis.

How is enterovirus meningitis manifested?

Outbreaks of the disease are noted with a frequency of 5 years, which is associated with a cycle of virus mutation; Individual cases occur every year, have a summer-autumn seasonality. Symptoms of meningitis (enterovirus infection) can be acute, without any preliminary signs of the disease, but more often at first signs appear very similar to ARI (runny nose, fever, sore throat) or after a slight and short-term stool dilution accompanied by bouts of pain Belly.

Meningitis usually affects children 2-5 years and adolescents 14-19 years. Most of the diseased come from the seas in late July-September. Almost all children notice that they froze in water or swallowed during bathing.

Symptoms of meningitis (enterovirus infection)

The disease begins with a rise in temperature to high numbers and a severe headache. Such pain can even occur at night and wake the patient. The localization of pain is usually in the frontal region or "across the head". Pain somewhat decreases in a certain position of the body, so the child can be found in bed in full consciousness, but lying on its side with a head thrown back and legs pinned to the chest, or lying on its back with bent legs. Almost everyone complains that bright light and loud sounds increase the pain in the head. It becomes painful to move and eyeballs themselves and turn their heads, so the child asks to speak with him at a convenient distance, so you do not have to follow the interlocutor.

Also noted vomiting, after which it does not become easier. Vomiting can be multiple. The patient notes weakness, tries to lie all the time, refuses to eat.

Rarely with enteroviral meningitis, there are seizures on the background of slightly elevated body temperature or delirium, hallucinosis.

Infectious diseases in children caused by enteroviruses (including meningitis) give the child's face a distinctive look: on the cheeks is a blush, the eyes are reddish, the lips are dry and bright red, the nasolabial triangle is pale. When meningitis, the picture is supplemented by the tension of the face (the child tries not to move so as not to increase the pain in his head).

Enterovirus infection in children: treatment

Heavy forms are treated at home, heavy - in the hospital. Hospitalization for suspected meningitis is mandatory.

With antiviral purposes, interferon preparations are used - synthetic analogues of their own substance, which in our body is responsible for fighting viruses. These are such drugs as "Cycloferon", "Viferon", "Lokferon", "Laferobion." They can be used in candles, tablets or injections.

Serous meningitis also shows the appointment of normal human immunoglobulin (its commercial name is Bioven Mono). These are ready antibodies that will help cope with the infection. Symptomatic and pathogenetic therapy aimed at improving blood supply to the brain, reducing inflammatory reactions, and preventing cerebral edema are also used.