Persistent infection is a disease caused by bacteria that live in the human body. Some of them do not harm he alth, while the other part poses a constant threat. What is this infection?
Description
Persistence is the ability of microorganisms to live in the human body for a long time without causing clinical symptoms. The mechanism that triggers the development or activates a persistent infection depends entirely on the state of a person's he alth, how strong his body is. This infection can have a latent form, which does not allow it to be detected using conventional diagnostic measures. Under the influence of external factors, a persistent infection may emerge and clinically manifest itself. These factors include:
- decreased immunity;
- stress;
- hypothermia;
- against the background of another disease, the protective functions of the body have decreased.
A patient with a latent form of the disease is considered he althy, therapy is not used for treatment.
Infectious agents
Not all microorganisms can exist in the body and still not give themselves away. Persistent viruses must necessarily have such a property as intracellular existence in a microorganism. These agents include:
- chlamydia;
- helicobacter;
- mycoplasmas;
- viruses of the herpesvirus group (on the territory of the Russian Federation and in the CIS countries, more than 22 million people suffer from persistent herpes infection);
- Toxoplasma;
- hepatitis;
- HIV
The listed viruses tend not to be recognized by the immune system. This happens due to the integration of the virus with the human genome, so the infectious process develops slowly and may be completely ignored.
Chronic persistent infection
It can affect any cells of the body, and it manifests itself only in cases where the infection has already been transferred by a person. The following individuals are at risk for chronic persistent infection:
- blood donors;
- pregnant;
- premature babies;
- medical staff;
- cancer patients;
- immunocompromised patients.
Chronic persistent infection has three forms: mild, moderate and severe. Since such an infection can affect various organs and systems of the body, it can manifest itself with muscle pain, general weakness of the body, gastrointestinal pathologies, fever, hepatitis, swollen lymph nodes.
Diagnosisand treatment
The presence or absence of a persistent infection can only be confirmed by laboratory tests. This is:
- cystoscopy;
- molecular biological diagnostics;
- enzymatic immunoassay.
Difficult task faces doctors if a persistent infection is detected, since this pathology is treated with difficulty. As a rule, complex treatment is carried out, which includes two aspects:
- antiviral therapy;
- immune therapy.
The course of treatment is selected only by the attending physician and always individually. Persistent infection is a very complex disease that varies from patient to patient, so an approach based on the overall medical history and the patient's he alth is important in treatment.
Features of persistent infection in children
Because children's bodies are weak and will not become fully strong until adolescence, they are vulnerable enough to develop this kind of infection. Viral diseases are especially susceptible to newborns and children under the age of ten years. Babies can catch a persistent infection in two ways:
- on contact with an infectious environment, a sick animal or from another sick person;
- from the environment. After all, the child's body still cannot prevent the virus from freely entering a favorable environment and multiplying there.
Whenpenetration into the child's body of more than two pathogens, an infectious disease appears, which makes itself felt. The following signs can identify a viral disease:
- heat (temperature ranges from 38 to 40 degrees);
- sluggishness;
- continuous headache;
- heavy sweating;
- nausea and vomiting;
- lack of appetite;
- muscle pain.
In addition to these symptoms, complications can also be added. As a rule, they occur if you do not consult a doctor on time. These complications look like this:
- cough;
- complete loss of voice or hoarseness;
- nasal congestion;
- discharge of pus from sinuses;
- fever.
First Aid
Before the diagnosis is accurately made and treatment is prescribed, the baby can be given first aid at home:
- vegetables, fruits and dairy products should be on the menu;
- bring down the temperature - for babies under one year old, you can put a candle, and for those who are older, you can give the children's medicine "Ibuprofen". If the temperature is less than 39 degrees, you can try to bring it down by rubbing the body with a solution of water and vinegar;
- bed rest;
- give your child plenty of fluids (at least two to three liters a day). Warm herbal tea is best. Linden, currant, honey or raspberry can be added to it.
Treatment for persistent infection in babies at home. The pediatrician prescribes drugs that are notharm the baby. A child may be admitted to a hospital if the infection is severe.
Persistent viral infections remain poorly understood, leading to many difficulties in their diagnosis and treatment. Some viruses can exist in the body in a latent form all their lives, while others immediately appear in a severe form. In any case, it is impossible to cope with this phenomenon on your own. It is necessary to contact a virologist or immunologist, as these specialists are the most competent in this matter.
