Appeared the first case of Japanese encephalitis in Hanoi: Want to prevent disease for children, read this article immediately

It is a 4-year-old patient (in Hong Phong commune, Chuong My district). This patient was hospitalized in high fever, tightness, convulsions .

Patients treated at the National Hospital of Pediatrics and current health have progressed positively: reducing fever, all seizures.

In 2018, the first Japanese encephalitis in Hanoi appeared in the middle of June.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Minh Dien, Deputy Director of the National Pediatric Hospital, Japanese encephalitis is a dangerous infectious disease transmitted by mosquito bites.

The disease often causes encephalitis, meningitis in children, high mortality and sequelae (from 25-35%). From May to September every year is the peak period of Japanese encephalitis.

Symptoms of Japanese encephalitis

Most people infected with Japanese encephalitis virus often have no symptoms or if they are just mild symptoms, similar to the symptoms of the flu.

However, only about 1 in 250 people with Japanese encephalitis have more severe symptoms when it spreads to the brain. This usually occurs 5 to 15 days after infection.

Symptoms include:

High fever;

Convulsions;

Twisted neck;

Or confused;

Can't speak;

Uncontrolled tremor body parts;

Weakness or paralysis.

Up to one third of people with these severe symptoms will die from an infection. In survivors, these symptoms tend to improve gradually. However, it can take several months to fully recover and up to half of the survivors suffer permanent brain damage. This can lead to long-term problems such as muscle twitching, personality changes, muscle weakness, difficulty absorbing and paralysis in one or more limbs.

Prevention of Japanese encephalitis

The measure to prevent Japanese encephalitis is vaccination. For children under 5 years of age, 3 basic injections:

- The first nose when a child is 1 year old;

- Nose 2 after 1 to 2 weeks

- the third nose after the second nose is one year.

After that, repeat every 3-4 years until the child is over 15 years old.

Even if immunized, precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of being infected by an infected virus, for example:

Spray mosquito repellent in the house;

Wear shirts, long pants and long-sleeved socks;

Close windows and doors when sleeping;

Use bed nets;

Apply mosquito repellent to areas prone to mosquito bites.

When children with high fever with symptoms of central nervous system damage, it is necessary to take the child to the medical facility immediately to be diagnosed and treated promptly.