Be cautious about Japanese encephalitis.

(Baonghean) - Encephalitis is rampant in southern provinces and cities, and in Nghe An province, the number of encephalitis cases hospitalized has also been increasing since the beginning of June. The majority of these patients come from mountainous districts…

Children receive encephalitis vaccinations at Hung Phuc Ward Health Station.

Encephalitis, a dangerous disease.

Three days ago, Hoang Phuong Anh (26 months old, from Coc village, Yen Hoa commune, Tuong Duong district) exhibited symptoms such as high fever, fatigue, and convulsions around her mouth. Her family took her to the district hospital, but despite taking fever-reducing medication, her condition did not improve. Seeing her gradually weakening, the family requested a transfer to the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with encephalitis. Currently, despite more than a day of treatment, her condition remains critical; her fever has not subsided, and she still experiences occasional convulsions. Another case involves Ngan Yen Chi (30 months old) from Na Lay village, Tien Phong commune, Que Phong district. For the past week, she has had a high fever and multiple convulsions. Upon admission to the hospital, she was almost unconscious and unresponsive, requiring oxygen support and a feeding tube to allow her family to feed her porridge or milk. Currently, despite the accurate diagnosis of encephalitis in Yen Chi, even Dr. Nguyen Van Son, Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, cannot confirm whether the disease can be completely cured. This is because encephalitis is a dangerous disease with no specific cure and often leaves behind sequelae.

There are many types of encephalitis, so there are many cases where children contract the disease even after being vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis or meningitis. For example, in the case of Hoang Phuong Anh, her mother, Phan Thi Thom, said: When her daughter was over one year old, the family had her vaccinated with the first and second doses of the Japanese meningitis vaccine, but she still contracted the disease. Similarly, in Yen Thanh district, the case of Nguyen Hong Phac, born in October 2009 in Hamlet 1, Bao Thanh commune, was confirmed, but despite receiving three doses of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, he still contracted encephalitis. His condition is quite serious, so the family has transferred him to the National Children's Hospital for treatment.

Viral encephalitis is a dangerous disease caused by various viruses, including Japanese encephalitis virus. The disease occurs year-round, but outbreaks peak in the summer months, particularly in June, July, and August. Children under 15 years old (especially those aged 2-7) are at high risk. In the first six months of 2014, 325 cases of viral encephalitis were recorded nationwide across 31 provinces and cities, with 5 deaths. At Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital alone, 13 cases have been admitted since the beginning of July, all in critical condition. The main symptoms include high fever accompanied by symptoms related to central nervous system damage, including: severe headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, disorientation, personality changes, seizures, speech and hearing disorders, hallucinations, memory loss, lethargy, and coma. The mortality rate is high, potentially reaching 10%. The disease is more common in the summer because this is the favorable season for disease-carrying mosquitoes to thrive, and also the season when many fruits ripen, attracting birds from the forest that carry pathogens from the wild. From there, the disease spreads to pigs and livestock, and then to humans. Recent observations in Nghe An province show that the disease is more prevalent among children in mountainous and rural areas because, according to local customs, people still build cattle and pig pens near their living areas. Therefore, mosquitoes, after biting livestock, transmit the disease to humans.

Strengthen propaganda efforts.

Having worked in the Infectious Diseases Department of Yen Thanh General Hospital for many years and currently serving as the Deputy Director of the District's Preventive Medicine Center, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Linh stated: Previously, before the expanded immunization program included Japanese encephalitis vaccination, Yen Thanh had 30-40 cases of encephalitis per year. One of the main reasons was the lack of awareness among residents regarding environmental hygiene and the construction of livestock pens near their homes. In response to this situation, the District's Preventive Medicine Center has issued numerous documents to communes and towns to intensify propaganda efforts regarding encephalitis, directing local authorities to improve environmental sanitation and clear overgrown vegetation. In addition, from the beginning of 2014 until now, the district has twice implemented Japanese encephalitis vaccination for children over 1 year old. The first time was for the third dose, and the second time, held this July, was for the first and second doses for children over 1 year old. Thanks to intensified propaganda efforts, more than 7,000 doses have been basically administered, with the vaccination rate reaching over 90%. Some cases of unvaccinated children are due to illness or relocation. Notably, some communes in religious areas or mountainous communes that previously had low vaccination rates, such as Hop Thanh, Cong Thanh, Long Thanh, Tay Thanh, Quang Thanh, and Thinh Thanh, now have over 95% vaccination rate thanks to comprehensive propaganda...

Regarding the most effective disease prevention measures currently available, Mr. Tran Nguyen Truyen, Deputy Head of the Medical Professional Department of the Department of Health, affirmed: Families should ensure their children receive all vaccinations on schedule. The first and second doses should be given when the child is over one year old. The third dose should be given one year later. After that, an additional dose should be given every 3 to 4 years until the child reaches 15 years old. Encephalitis has many types, which can be caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus or by complications from other viruses such as whooping cough, mumps, measles, etc. Therefore, in addition to encephalitis vaccination, families need to ensure their children receive all other necessary vaccinations to protect them from disease.

Currently, over 60,000 doses of Japanese encephalitis vaccine have been distributed to 21 districts, cities, and towns for the first and second doses for children aged 12-24 months. In addition, the Department of Health has sent a document to medical facilities, urging them to strengthen surveillance and early detection of suspected cases of viral encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis, and to proactively report cases to the Provincial Center for Preventive Medicine for timely coordinated handling in accordance with regulations. Simultaneously, units are organizing refresher training for doctors and medical staff on "Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute viral encephalitis in children." Medical facilities are preparing isolation areas, medical supplies, equipment, and personal protective equipment to be ready to admit, provide emergency care, and treat patients, ensuring treatment is carried out according to the referral system and avoiding overcrowding at higher-level facilities. Strengthen communication efforts to prevent and control viral encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis in the community through various means; promote environmental hygiene, hygiene in homes and livestock areas, and regularly eliminate mosquitoes and larvae; practice good personal hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap, ensure food safety, and consume cooked food and boiled water.

Specifically for children, if they show signs of high fever along with symptoms of central nervous system damage, they should be taken immediately to a medical facility for timely diagnosis and treatment.

My Ha