A 16-year-old female patient had headaches, nausea, and mild fever. She self-medicated at home but did not help. She was examined and found to have meningitis.
The family said the child suddenly had a headache but did not go to the hospital and only took medicine at home. When the pain gradually increased, everyone took the child to the emergency room at the Department of Pediatrics, Hanoi Medical University Hospital. Doctors ordered tests, a lumbar puncture, and the results were a diagnosis of meningitis. A week ago, the patient’s sister was also hospitalized due to this disease.
Doctors use antibiotics, pain relievers, fever reducers and inflammation reducers according to the protocol. After 5 days, the child’s health condition stabilized.
Another case, female, 5 years old, was hospitalized due to intermittent headaches, vomiting three times a day, and mild fever. The family used painkillers at home for many days but there was no improvement. The doctor ordered a lumbar puncture and discovered an increased number of cells and a positive PCR for Enterovirus causing meningitis.
On October 5, Dr. Ngo Thi Huyen Trang, Department of Pediatrics, said that viral meningitis occurs all year round, but is more common in the summer and autumn. The disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract and touching surfaces containing the virus…
The most common symptom is headache, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and mild fever, so it is easy to confuse. Some children have localized blisters or a generalized papular rash, but this is rare. To confirm the diagnosis, the patient needs to have a lumbar puncture and a PCR test to find the virus.
Meningitis is dangerous, can leave many irreversible sequelae such as blindness, deafness, paralysis, amputation, intellectual impairment… Patients with meningococcal meningitis can die quickly within 24 hours. from the first symptoms. Initial symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue are easily misdiagnosed as the common cold and are difficult to distinguish. If not treated promptly, the mortality rate can be up to 50%.
Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for meningitis.
To prevent, everyone should wash their hands and feet with soap before eating, after going to the toilet, and after coughing. Eat cooked food, drink boiled food, use clean food of clear origin.
Clean shared toys and disinfect daily after each play session. Keep your living space clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, and chairs to prevent the spread of viruses.