Children with sepsis from mosquito bites

According to the family, 6 days before being admitted to the hospital, the child was bitten by a mosquito on the elbow (P), the child scratched and scratched until the skin was broken, the family bandaged it. After that, the child had high fever, the mosquito bite area was swollen and spread, itchy, red, red rash on the face, vomited food, and was very tired.

At the Emergency Department, through clinical examination, doctors quickly determined that this was a suspected case of sepsis with the entrance from cellulitis in the right elbow area.

Child infected with blood infection from mosquito bite. Photo: Hoang Yen

Dr. Tran Van Cuong, Resident Physician - Deputy Director of Hospital, Head of Emergency Department -Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospitalsaid: Skin infections are often caused by staphylococcus, especially staphylococcus aureus which can easily cause bacteremia through skin boils, cuts or other wounds on the skin.

Bacteria secrete toxins that are harmful to the body, leading to abscesses in many organs such as the lungs (necrotizing pneumonia, empyema), heart (empyema of the pericardium, inflammation in the heart chamber), bones and joints (empyema in the muscles, empyema in the bones causing bone necrosis), blood clotting disorders, multiple organ failure and rapid death.

Sepsis can occur at any age. Immunocompromised children, infants and young children are at high risk, with the disease progressing rapidly. Staphylococcal sepsis in children is considered one of the most dangerous and life-threatening diseases, leaving many serious sequelae.

Therefore, to prevent infection, parents need to keep their children clean, dress them in loose clothing, and avoid sweating because this is a favorable condition for staphylococcus to grow and cause disease. When children have acne or boils, parents should not arbitrarily prick, squeeze, or apply plasters or leaves because it can easily cause widespread inflammation and ulcers, leading to blood infection. Cuts and scratches on the skin must always be kept clean until healed.

If the child has a fever or the affected skin area is red, hot and swollen, the child should be taken to a medical facility promptly.medicalto be examined and treated promptly. Absolutely do not use antibiotics on your own for treatment because staphylococcal bacteria need to be treated with specific antibiotics.