Infectious mononucleosis in a child: symptoms and treatment
Mononucleosis is a disease that is contagious,the Epstein-Barr virus (abbreviated VEB). And although many people have never heard of VEB, its prevalence is extremely high. Studies show that by the age of five, half the world's children have been infected by the age of five, and by the age of majority VEB is already in the body of 90 percent of people. At the same time, most of the inhabitants of the planet do not cause any symptoms at all, and therefore do not pose a threat to their health. If the clinical picture becomes pronounced, then there is an infectious mononucleosis. In children, the symptoms of this disease are sometimes difficult to determine, as they resemble signs of other diseases. In adults, it practically does not occur.
After 1-2 months after getting into thethe body of the virus appears the first signs of the disease. The earliest symptom is an increase in temperature (38-39 degrees). It will be kept long enough - from a week to 10 days. Along with this, there may be a strong chill, pain in the joints, muscles, drowsiness, general weakness.
In addition, an increase in lymph nodes canlead infectious mononucleosis in children. Photographs of diseased children often demonstrate protruding under the skin in the neck (behind the ears and under the lower jaw) and deforming its outlines lymph nodes. Do not try to use compresses or any other methods, hoping to remove the inflammation. These methods are ineffective - the lymph nodes themselves will acquire normal sizes as the infectious mononucleosis in the child passes.
The next typical sign is inflammation of the tonsils,which is manifested by reddening of the throat and pains in it. The surface of the tonsils can be covered with a purulent coating. To ease the pain, you can use medicines such as Ibuprofen, Paracetamol.
Diagnostics
If you have a suspicion of an infectiousmononucleosis in a child, contact your local doctor as soon as possible. He will send you to an infectious disease specialist who will carry out a diagnosis and, upon confirmation of the diagnosis, prescribe a treatment for the baby. Diagnostic studies will include a blood test, ultrasound of internal organs, an analysis for antibodies against EBV.
Stop the reproduction of EBV can not be anymedicines. Modern antiviral medicines, effective in other viral infections, in this case are practically not effective. But do not be scared, because most of the disease is easily tolerated and does not entail complications. The treatment is aimed at alleviating the symptoms and implies taking antipyretics in case of accompanying fever or severe fever. Reception of antibiotics is recommended only in the event that the complications of the disease develop (for example, pneumonia).
