The gastrointestinal tract of a child has some differences from the gastrointestinal tract of an adult. He is more receptive to new food ingredients. In children, intestinal immunity is not yet fully formed, so the body is extremely sensitive to various viruses.
At a tender age, one may encounter two variations of diseases of an infectious nature that affect the intestines and the gastrointestinal tract. These are rotavirus and enterovirus infections. The latter in children is much more common, and without proper treatment can cause irreparable harm to a fragile body. The peak incidence usually occurs in the spring-autumn period. What is the difference between enterovirus in children? Symptoms, photos of small patients, as well as a detailed treatment regimen are presented in the materials of this article.
What is an enterovirus infection?
This concept combines several diseases, the sources of which are enteroviruses. Otherwise they are called intestinal. Currently, more than 60 species of these pathogens have been studied. Depending on the serotype, they are all divided into 4 groups: ECHO viruses, Coxsackie, polioviruses and enteroviruses.
A child can get sick with one of the serotypesonly once in a lifetime. After treatment, he develops strong immunity. On the other hand, he can become infected with another enterovirus. Such a variety of pathogens does not allow scientists to create a single effective vaccine.
How dangerous is enterovirus in children? The whole seriousness of the infection lies in the fact that its pathogens are highly resistant to aggressive factors from the outside. They can exist in moist soil and water for a long time, then enter the human body through contaminated food.
In early 2008, a large-scale epidemic among children was recorded in China. Her appearance was provoked by the EV71 virus. It enters the human body through the respiratory tract, as well as the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. After it spreads throughout the body by the circulatory system, affecting the lungs and brain. The infection was detected in 15 thousand children, and 20 of them died. This once again indicates that enterovirus in children and adults requires timely and comprehensive treatment.
Causes of infection
Infection develops against the background of the activation of groups of intestinal viruses that cause certain symptoms. All of them share a number of common characteristics. At the heart of each virus is a core, represented by a nucleic acid molecule. In some cases, DNA plays its role, in others - RNA. Outside, the internal structure is surrounded by a capsule, which has some features. Depending on the configuration of the shell elements, viruses are divided into different subtypes.
Enterovirusenters the body by inhalation of air or through the mouth while eating. After that, the pathogen migrates to the lymph nodes, where it settles and begins to multiply. Its further development, as well as the severity of the infectious process, depend on several factors:
- virulence of the virus (the ability to resist the body's immunity);
- tropism (the ability of an infectious agent to infect internal organs);
- the state of the immune system itself.
How long is the incubation period? Enterovirus in children may not show external symptoms from 1 to 12 days. Typically, the incubation period is five days. The clinical picture of a particular disease depends directly on the serotype of the pathogen. Enterovirus is usually activated in spring and autumn. At other times of the year, the incidence is much lower.
Transmission routes
Enterovirus can be transmitted from a sick person to a he althy person in several ways: airborne, fecal-oral, contact. The mechanism of spread of diseases is characterized by great diversity. Enterovirus in children is transmitted mainly through raw water or toys. The causative agents of the disease for a long time can be in a viable state in feces, soil, and also water. Even the freezing process is not fatal for them. The pathogen dies under the action of disinfectants only if the processing time is strictly observed.
Enterovirus in children under one year oldhas similar causes. However, breastfed babies have innate immunity to most serotypes. On the other hand, the child may catch the infection immediately after the end of the mother's milk.
Clinical picture
The incubation stage usually does not show any symptoms. At this time, viruses settle on the mucous membranes and enter the lymphatic system, where they begin to actively multiply.
Then follows the stage of the disease itself. Signs of enterovirus in children begin to appear with a sharp increase in temperature, which reaches a critical point and persists for five days. The child moves little and sleeps a lot. The first days after infection may also be accompanied by severe vomiting and headaches. As soon as the temperature returns to normal, all accompanying symptoms disappear.
Sometimes in children there is an increase in lymph nodes, mainly submandibular and cervical. Another symptom of the disease is exanthema. Eruptions appear simultaneously on the head, chest and arms. They look like red spots. After their disappearance, small pigment marks remain on the body, which disappear on their own after a few days.
The intensity of the clinical picture directly depends on the state of the child's immunity, the received "portion" of the virus and some features of its type.
Common forms of enterovirus infection
Knowing the full classification is usually not required. Parents should be ablerecognize the most common forms of enterovirus infection in order to timely determine the pathology and consult a doctor.
- Herpetic sore throat. This is a catarrhal manifestation of an enterovirus. Herpetic sore throat usually occurs in children between three and ten years of age. Its main manifestations are high fever, sore throat and vesicles on the back of the throat. The bubbles burst and form sores. Coxsackie A and B viruses are considered the main pathogens.
- Exanthema. This is one of the most common examples of how an enterovirus can manifest itself. In children, the rash has two pronounced types: red-eared and roseolous. Exanthema may appear on the first or second day after infection. Rashes appear on the face, body and look like small red spots. Sometimes they merge together. Against the background of red rashes, hemorrhagic elements may also appear. Enteroviral exanthema is more susceptible to children under six years of age.
- Flu-like syndrome. This form of enterovirus infection is characterized by symptoms of a typical flu or SARS. Children have catarrhal phenomena (runny nose, swelling, nasal congestion), fever, weakness, muscle pain. Of the typical symptoms of the syndrome, which distinguish it from the usual flu, one can distinguish stool disorder and vomiting.
- Intestinal form. This is one of the most dangerous variants of enterovirus infection. It is accompanied by a moderate rise in temperature, watery diarrhea, bloating and flatulence. The main danger of the intestinal forma high probability of dehydration is considered, which complicates the condition of a small patient. Such a disorder requires constant monitoring by doctors and emergency care.
All types of infection can follow a typical/atypical clinical picture. Depending on the type of pathology, the doctor chooses how to treat enterovirus in children.
Rare forms of infection
In some cases, enterovirus infection is characterized by a complicated course. It is also classified as typical, but at the same time it is combined. Younger patients require complex and more complex treatment.
- Hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. This is a fairly common form of enterovirus infection. Its manifestations begin with severe pain in the eye, partial loss of vision and increased lacrimation. Sometimes retinal hemorrhages are observed.
- Myocarditis/pericarditis. With this pathology, certain structures of the heart are primarily affected. Against the background of myocardial damage, the contractile function of the main muscle of the body is disturbed. Involvement in the pathological process of the pericardium is characterized by a change in the process of blood filling.
- Meningitis and encephalitis. These are the most severe and at the same time dangerous forms of enterovirus infection. They begin with an increase in temperature to the mark of 40 degrees. The next day there is an intolerable headache, severe vomiting, which is not associated with eating. Common symptoms are abdominal pain, cramps,hemorrhagic rash.
Atypical variants of infection are characterized by asymptomatic and latent course. Clinical diagnosis becomes possible only in the event of visible complications.
Enterovirus infection in children has a varied course. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor in time to undergo a diagnostic examination. It differentiates infection from common respiratory diseases, poisonings, and dermatological problems.
Medical examination
Signs of enterovirus infection in young patients are usually manifested by serous meningitis and herpetic sore throat. Group outbreaks of the epidemic are often recorded in preschool institutions during the warm season. The main mechanism of infection transmission is fecal-oral.
Above we have already told what symptoms enterovirus is characterized by. Photos (in children) of various forms of its manifestation can be viewed in specialized sources. They help to notice the disease and consult a doctor. Currently, there are four main methods for identifying the causative agent of infection:
- Serological (detection of the virus in the blood serum). Early markers of pathology include IgA and IgM. Also, a 4-fold increase in titer is considered significant for diagnosis.
- Virological (determination of the causative agent of infection in the cerebrospinal fluid, feces, blood). The bowel movements are examined for two weeks.
- Immunohistochemical (blood detection of antigens to enteroviruses).
- Molecular biological methods (researchRNA fragments of enteroviruses).
Doctors pay special attention to differential diagnosis. Enterovirus in children in its various manifestations is important to distinguish from herpes, SARS, and allergic reactions. In addition, it is necessary to test the sensitivity to the action of antibacterial drugs. Thanks to the achievements of modern microbiology, high-quality diagnostics does not pose any difficulties. With timely identification of the source of the disease, a child of any age can be cured relatively quickly.
Drug therapy
How to treat enterovirus in children? This is the question that many parents ask when they hear a diagnosis. With a mild course of the disease, a small patient can stay at home. The following conditions are considered indications for immediate hospitalization: damage to the central nervous system, heart, high fever.
Modern medicine cannot provide a single universal remedy against infection. In the acute period, small patients are advised to adhere to bed rest, a fortified diet and drink plenty of water. How to treat enterovirus in children?
If the illness is accompanied by fever, headaches and muscle pain, it is advisable to take analgesics and antipyretics (Nurofen, Paracetamol). With diarrhea, drugs are prescribed to normalize the water-s alt balance ("Regidron"). Antibiotics are used only in case of bacterial infections.
To help the body cope with the enterovirus, children are prescribed interferons ("Viferon","Cycloferon", "Neovir"). They belong to the category of non-specific antiviral agents that inhibit the reproduction of viruses and activate the immune system.
Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor after a comprehensive examination of a small patient. Only a specialist can correctly recognize the symptoms and suspect an enterovirus. Infection in children is often accompanied by damage to the central nervous system, eyes and kidneys. In this case, the child, in addition to drug therapy, is shown to be monitored by a doctor for several months. Sometimes it may take several years.
Dietary recommendations
Diet for enterovirus in children plays an important role, since the digestive tract is disrupted. First of all, it means drinking plenty of water. The use of ordinary non-carbonated water in large quantities helps to remove toxins from the body, is the prevention of dehydration.
Pediatricians recommend excluding fried and smoked foods, all sweets and pastries from the diet. It is important to limit the consumption of products from whole milk, butter, eggs. The ban also includes meat broth, nuts, legumes and bread. Food should be steamed or baked in the oven.
What can you eat? The diet should consist of fresh vegetables and fruits that have undergone heat treatment. Sour-milk products (biokefir, low-fat cottage cheese) are allowed. You can eat lean meat, fish. They are best served to the child in a crushed or even wiped form. In general, food should be fractional. Eatrecommended often, but in small portions. If a child refuses to eat, do not force him or force feed him.
What to do when acute diarrhea is accompanied by an enterovirus? Treatment in children of school age in this case implies the observance of the so-called hungry pause. It is good to skip one or two meals. Hungry pauses in infants are unacceptable. The young patients are then put on a strict diet.
On the first day, you can eat porridge on the water and baked apples. As the general condition of the child improves, fermented milk products, vegetable puree soups should be introduced into the diet. Meat and fish dishes are allowed last.
Complications of enterovirus infection
Enterovirus in children, the symptoms and treatment of which were described earlier, can penetrate into all organs and tissues. This explains a large number of its manifestations. In most cases, the child manages to survive the disease without serious he alth complications. Due to weakened immunity or the presence of concomitant diseases, negative consequences can still occur. As a rule, doctors diagnose meningitis and encephalitis.
These diseases affect the brain of a small patient, which can lead to epilepsy, paralysis or death. There are also known cases of secondary infection, which requires additional therapy. Deaths are usually due to acute heart or lung failure. If a comprehensive examination confirms an enterovirus, treatment in children should be prescribedpediatrician. It is strictly forbidden to try to overcome the disease on your own. Parents can cause irreparable harm to the he alth of the baby.
Prevention methods
Specific prevention of enterovirus in children has not been developed. However, vaccinations against meningococcemia and poliomyelitis show good results. Many European countries now use vaccination against the most common pathogens of enterovirus infection. However, such prevention does not give an absolute guarantee due to the variety of viruses. Research and clinical trials on this issue are ongoing.
To prevent infection in the family of an infected child, it should be isolated. It is necessary to ventilate the premises more often, carry out daily wet cleaning with disinfectants. Non-specific prophylaxis implies the observance of elementary rules of personal hygiene, the use of interferons ("Laferon", "Nazoferon", "Viferon").
Now you know how enterovirus differs in children. Symptoms and treatment of diseases, the source of which is this pathogen, require a competent approach from specialists. If you do not postpone a visit to the doctor, you can prevent the occurrence of life-threatening complications. Stay he althy!
