2023-11-04 06:05:02
(Image/reproduced from pixabay)
Xiao Rong (pseudonym) is a 1 and a half year old girl. She was recently sent to a child care center. Just over a week following being sent there, she started to have a high fever, severe nasal congestion, and often even coughed to the point of vomiting. There was also… There was phlegm-like mucus, and the fever subsided even following taking symptomatic medicine. After four days of continuous fever, the family found that Xiaorong’s appetite and activity had dropped significantly, and his breathing was obviously labored and fast, so they quickly drove to the nearest hospital.
The pediatrician’s auscultation found that there was phlegm and wheezing sounds in both lungs. The chest X-ray also showed inflammation in the lower lungs on both sides. The blood test reported that the inflammation index and the number of white blood cells had increased. It was judged that it was probably due to the recent epidemic. He was infected with “Respiratory Syncytical Virus (RSV)” and did a rapid antigen screening, which was also confirmed to be positive. So he diagnosed Xiao Rong with “respiratory syncytical virus infection combined with secondary bacterial pneumonia” and admitted him to the hospital. Rong slept in an oxygen tent and was treated with antibiotics. After several days of treatment, Xiao Rong finally subsided and was discharged from the hospital with medicine.
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Yan Peiru, an attending pediatrician at the Yangming Campus of Taipei City United Hospital, said that due to the recent lifting of the epidemic and the resumption of school, many schoolchildren have fallen ill repeatedly. The pediatric clinic often hears complaints from parents, who need to see a doctor almost every one or two weeks. As autumn and winter are regarding to enter, more respiratory viruses are starting to emerge. According to statistics from the Department of Disease Control and Prevention, starting in September, the isolation positivity rate of respiratory fusion viruses began to catch up rapidly, and is now second only to influenza viruses.
Infants and young children under the age of 5 are at high risk for infection with respiratory tract viruses, which can cause bronchiolitis, croup and pneumonia. Yan Peiru said that respiratory tract fusion virus infection will destroy the epithelial cells of the small bronchial tubes and produce a large amount of necrotic cells and secretions. Therefore, clinically it will be observed that sick children have a lot of sputum. When the sputum blocks the small trachea of young children, it will cause Sick children cough violently, cough until they vomit, and even have shortness of breath. During auscultation, you can also hear the whistling sound of the trachea. Moreover, the course of respiratory fusion virus is often longer than that of ordinary colds. The fever usually lasts for 3 to 5 days, and the overall symptoms On average, it takes nearly 2 weeks for respiratory symptoms to significantly improve. In addition, children with asthmatic constitutions are also prone to acute asthma attacks following infection.
Yan Peiru explained that the current treatment method for respiratory fusion virus is mainly symptom treatment, which requires more fluids. Drugs can only help relieve symptoms. For infants and young children who lack the ability to cough up phlegm, parents can pat the phlegm before feeding or use a home sprayer to reduce phlegm. Nasal aspirators can also assist in suctioning nasal mucus and help children improve their discomfort. However, it should be noted that if you find that a sick child has reduced activity, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, or obvious wheezing, please seek medical attention for evaluation. If the fever persists, or if the fever recurs following a few days, be careful to see if it is complicated by otitis media, sinusitis or bacterial pneumonia. If this is the case, antibiotic treatment will be required.
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High-risk groups for respiratory fusion viruses include: premature infants, children with chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, chromosomal abnormalities, immunodeficiency diseases, and neuromuscular diseases. Currently, health insurance provides monoclonal antibody vaccination to some sick children ( Palivizumab) to prevent serious infections, including: children under one year old with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, premature infants born less than 33 weeks gestation, and premature infants less than 35 weeks gestation with chronic lung disease .
Yan Peiru also reminded that following being infected with respiratory fusion virus, the body cannot produce effective lifelong immunity, so it can be re-infected. Even adults can be infected with respiratory fusion virus. Although most of them are mild, young people can still be infected with respiratory fusion virus. The elderly and immunocompromised patients may still develop severe pneumonia and complications. Therefore, RSV is not a disease exclusive to young children. In fact, the two RSV vaccines approved by the US FDA for the first time this year will now be administered to adults over 60 years old, and one of them can also be used in pregnancy. Pregnant women aged 32 to 36 weeks will be vaccinated during the virus epidemic period, which can protect the unborn baby until the age of 6 months and provide the pregnant woman with her own immunity.
Doctors appeal that Taiwan has not yet introduced a respiratory fusion virus vaccine, so it is still necessary to prevent infection by avoiding droplet and contact transmission. You can do the following: wash hands frequently, wear masks, and avoid going in and out of crowded places during epidemic periods. After returning home, change clothes before coming into contact with young children and the elderly. The epidemic period is approaching. Please have correct concepts so that you can protect the health of your family together.
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