Nghe An: Increasing Japanese encephalitis B

(Baonghean.vn) - According to doctors from the Department of Infectious Diseases - Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, in August and October 2015, Japanese Encephalitis B rarely appeared and was only mild, but this year, although it is already autumn, the number of patients with Japanese Encephalitis B has increased significantly.

Since the beginning of September, the Department has received and treated 15 children with Japanese encephalitis B, of which 30% of the children have brain damage. Currently, there are 5 children being treated at the Department, mainly children who have not been vaccinated. Compared to previous years, this year, encephalitis has increased by 30-40% in the age group from 2 to 14 years old, scattered in Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong, Nghi Loc districts...

The father of 7-year-old Ho Thi Yen Nhi in Xuan Hoa commune - Nam Dan said: "At first, she had a headache, runny nose, fatigue, photophobia, and high fever. My family thought that the weather was changing and she had a common cold. We went to the pharmacy to buy cold medicine, but it didn't help until she had a high fever and was having seizures. The family took her to the hospital and found out that she had Japanese encephalitis B."

Doctor examines a child being treated at the Department of Infectious Diseases - Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital

Dr. Nguyen Van Son - Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, recommends: "Japanese encephalitis B usually occurs in the summer, but this year it is autumn but the disease's progression is quite complicated. Therefore, the best way to prevent Japanese encephalitis B is to proactively get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis B, mumps; personal hygiene; environmental hygiene around schools and around the family where you live. Raising livestock and poultry must be far from residential areas because Japanese encephalitis B resides in animals such as pigs and horses and will be transmitted from mosquitoes to humans."

Japanese encephalitis B is a very dangerous disease for children. If not detected early and treated promptly, children may suffer from mental sequelae, affecting intellectual development, poor cognition and possibly leading to death.

Thu Hien - Thanh Hoa