What is mononucleosis in children?
Mononucleosis is a viral disease, likeit is usually called "the disease of the young." It affects the lymphoid tissue, the tonsils of the nasopharynx, the spleen, and in some cases the liver. Most often it occurs in children older than two or three years, transmitted by airborne droplets. Epidemic in this case does not arise. Viral mononucleosis in children can often occur secretly and has an incubation period from three to seven days to several months. This disease is often recognized by snoring (if in normal condition children do not snore), but sometimes it can take the form of angina or pneumonia. However, the most important aspect in the diagnosis of mononucleosis is a blood test: it can appear atypical cells (mononuclears) or leukocytes, which are affected by the virus.
Diagnostics
Symptoms of mononucleosis are not specific enough,so it is so difficult to diagnose, but very often the diagnosis is made on a protracted course. The first symptoms of the disease - this is an occasion to call a doctor who will analyze the course of the disease and will give a referral to two blood tests. The first test for the determination of heterophilic agglutinins, it can be positive in almost 80% of children with mononucleosis. For the second test, it is necessary to count unusual lymphocytes, which must fight the infection, in the smears of the child's blood.
Symptoms
The disease can develop very quickly, withThis patient feels tired and uncomfortable. One of the characteristic signs of infectious mononucleosis is the slow onset of fever, which can be accompanied by signs of angina and swelling of the lymph nodes. Often such patients have an unpleasant smell from the mouth. Indirect signs of mononucleosis is usually considered:
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.
- Coryza.
- Headache.
- Soreness in the joints.
- Flushes of blood to the head.
- Bleeding gums.
- Loss of appetite.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Sometimes a reddish rash may appear.
Chronic mononucleosis in children affectsnervous system and can cause damage to the cerebellum, encephalitis, convulsions or psychosis. In addition, this disease affects the immune system, because of which the protective function of the body is greatly reduced. In this case, doctors prescribe antibiotic treatment.
Treatment
Like any viral disease, mononucleosischildren does not have specific methods of treatment, so often use antipyretics, warm drink and vitamin therapy. Running cases require more serious treatment. As a rule, it always passes quite effectively, but after recovery, it takes a long time to restore the body. Since the process involves lymphatic involvement, a child with a mononucleosis will be shown a consultation with a pediatric hematologist, but this is only if the blood test does not return to normal. For young patients a special diet with a restriction of sweet, fatty, smoked is being developed. In order for the child to recover, it is enough to observe peace, diet, take medicine and vitamins. Only in this case it is possible to count on the mononucleosis in children to pass without a trace. In no case can it be used to treat this illness of warming up and physiotherapy.
Prevention of mononucleosis
Prevention of this disease isisolation of sick children from healthy. And the point here is not even that sometimes a mononucleosis in a child behaves quite unpredictably. Nevertheless, it is a weakly contagious infection, and it is absolutely impossible to ensure that healthy children will not be infected at the same time. This aspect is very important for teenagers, because they often shake hands, kiss, eat and drink from one dish. Adherence to basic hygiene, a balanced diet and the right regime is a good prevention of viral diseases, including mononucleosis.
