Infectious mononucleosis (another name - monocytic angina, lymphoblastosis of benign type) is a viral lesion of internal organs (liver, spleen, lymph nodes). Boys get sick more often than girls.
What is the danger of mononucleosis in children?
The danger for the child is a mononucleosis on the background of other diseases (bronchitis, otitis), since it is fraught with serious complications (rupture of the spleen, viral hepatitis). Its development in childhood seriously undermines the immunity of the child and disrupts the work of the nervous system, such serious diseases as inflammation of the brain envelopes can develop.
Infectious mononucleosis in children: causes
Most infectious mononucleosis occurs in children aged three to nine years. In infants, such a disease is practically not observed, because they are protected by antibodies from the mother's milk. The virus can be transmitted through close contact: through saliva, general bedding, dishes. It is transmitted by airborne and by contact. With weakened immunity in a child, he becomes most sensitive to external influences. Since the virus is transmitted from a sick child to a healthy one, it can be infected by coughing or sneezing a sick kid. Thus, the virus enters the children's body through the upper respiratory tract, after which it begins to spread throughout the body, in particular, the virus settles in the spleen, liver and lymph nodes. The first signs can begin to manifest after 5-15 days.
Also, the virus can be transmitted from mother to fetus via the placenta.
Infectious mononucleosis in children: diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose an easy form of mononucleosis in childhood, because symptoms can be mild. However, to determine the nature and extent of damage to internal organs, it is necessary to:
- clinical blood test;
- general urine analysis;
- biochemical blood test (AlT, AsT, antistreptolysin-O, rheumatoid index, proteinogram);
- sowing from the nose and throat on the flora to determine susceptibility to antibiotics;
- Ultrasound of internal organs.
In addition, the doctor can prescribe the following tests:
- sowing urine;
- sowing feces on the UPF and dysenteric group;
- PCR feces on DNA Yersinia;
- ECG;
- Echo-CG;
- chest X-ray.
If necessary, it may be necessary to consult such specialized specialists as hematologist, phthisiatrist, allergist, rheumatologist, pulmonologist, neurologist.
Infectious mononucleosis: symptoms
The following signs of the presence of the disease may be noted in children:
- moderate fever (body temperature reaches 38 degrees);
- an increase in the lymph nodes in the neck;
- early appearance of tonsillitis or tonsillitis;
- defeat of the tonsils (adenoiditis), as a result of which the child begins to snore in sleep;
- coryza;
- cough;
- rashes on the skin;
- enlargement of the liver, spleen;
- in some cases, jaundice of the skin can be noted;
- general malaise and weakness.
Infectious mononucleosis in children: consequences
After the transferred mononucleosis in the child the following complications can be noted:
- early: asphyxia, rupture of the spleen, meningoencephalitis, psychosis;
- late: hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, thrombocytopenic purpura, dermatitis, mumps, pancreatitis.
Most complications occur against the background of stratification of colds.
Infectious mononucleosis in children: treatment and prevention
As a rule, the treatment of mononucleosis prompts to put the child in a hospital for round-the-clock dynamic monitoring of his condition. Strict bed rest is required throughout the treatment. The child is given food in liquid and semi-liquid form, additional drink in the form of cranberry mors and tea with lemon.
As a complex treatment, a doctor can prescribe the following medicines: viferon , cycloferon , paracetamol, analgin, claritin, pipolfen, LIV-52, essential forte, ampicillin, prednisolone, galazoline, protargol .
The younger the child, the faster his symptoms go away with properly selected therapy.
The prognosis after the course of treatment is favorable. A complete cure in a child can be observed after two to four weeks. However, in some cases, the change in blood composition may be still for half a year. Therefore, a child still for one year after the disease has been on dispensary with a doctor.
Preventive measures are usually not carried out. The sick child is isolated from the rest of the children during the acute course of the disease.