In the world there are many diseases that are considered exclusively childhood. It is to this category that mononucleosis is usually considered. To fully reveal the topic of this disease, you can discuss the following issues: mononucleosis in children, symptoms and treatment, Komarovsky - the advice of a doctor, and other important aspects. This will be discussed further.
Terminology
Initially, I want to understand what this disease is. So, mononucleosis is a virus-infectious disease. Caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. However, scientists say that sometimes cytomegalovirus (herpes virus) can provoke it. If you go a little deeper into history, you can see that earlier this disease was called “Filatov’s disease”, in honor of the doctor who discovered it for the first time back in 1885. The name “glandular fever” was also used in parallel.
A bit of history
As noted, this disease is found exclusively in children. However, in approximately 10-15% of cases, the virus also affects adolescents. It should be noted that if the child is more than 10 years old, then the disease can proceed in more severe forms, and the healing process is sometimes delayed to several months. In young children, the symptoms are lubricated, generally a general malaise is observed, a full recovery occurs within three weeks. Often the disease is asymptomatic.
Symptomatology
We will study how mononucleosis proceeds in children, symptoms and treatment. Komarovsky (a well-known children's doctor) insists that the symptoms of the disease must be given close attention. After all, knowing how the problem manifests itself, you can quickly determine the diagnosis, which will speed up the cure. Signs of the disease:
- In most cases, in children the disease is very sluggish. The baby has only increased fatigue and a desire to lie down all the time. Along with this, there is also a loss of appetite. Other manifestations in the child may not be.
- Against the background of lethargy and constant fatigue, pain in the muscles and joints often appears.
- The child may complain of a sore throat. At the same time, sometimes a mononuclear tonsillitis occurs in children (grayish spots appear on the tonsils that need to be removed).
- Lymph nodes may also become inflamed. Palpation in this case is very painful. Lymphoid tissue is affected.
- Temperature with mononucleosis is extremely rare and most often caused not by the virus itself, but by side diseases that arose against the background of mononucleosis.
- Since the disease sometimes provokes the herpes virus, rashes may appear on the skin.
Other symptoms that also occur in children: nausea, runny nose, fever, bleeding gums, susceptibility of the body against the background of a weakened immunity to other viruses and infections.
Infection pathways
Considering mononucleosis in children, symptoms and treatment, Komarovsky advises paying attention to the transmission of the disease. It should be noted that sometimes this problem is also called "kissing disease." And this is not surprising, because you can become infected only by close contact with a sick person. Doctors note that children "get" the virus through toys common with the sick or through the handsets of phones, including mobile ones. It must be well understood that this is precisely the viral mononucleosis that is provoked by the virus. Therefore, to cope with the disease with antibiotics will not work.
Diagnostics
It is important to note that it is very difficult to diagnose the disease mononucleosis. And all because the clinical picture typical of this disease can be characteristic of many other diseases. The main symptom that indicates this viral problem is persistent symptoms, which persists for a long time. It is also advisable to take an analysis for mononucleosis (blood is examined twice):
- In the first case, heterophilic agglutinins can be detected (in 90% of cases, these indicators turn out to be positive).
- In the second case, a blood smear is examined for the presence of atypical lymphocytes in it.
The insidiousness of the virus lies in the fact that it is able to disguise itself as other infectious diseases, and therefore, determining the disease can be very difficult.
Treatment
Mononucleosis in children: symptoms and treatment. Komarovsky says that there is no single cure, the so-called panacea for this disease. Treatment should be symptomatic, aimed at combating the manifestations of the problem. So, it is very important to observe bed rest, as well as strictly comply with all the doctor's recommendations. If the liver and spleen are enlarged , you will have to follow diet No. 5 (salt-free nutrition). If, for example, a sore throat, you need to resort to frequent rinses. You can also use absorbable tablets and throat sprays. In case of temperature increase, antipyretic drugs should be used. And so on. That is, the treatment is aimed exclusively at combating the symptoms that arose during the illness. Also, understanding how to treat mononucleosis, it should be noted that during this period it will be useful to take means of strengthening immunity, as well as the fight against intoxication of the child's body.
Komarovsky: expert opinion
Viral mononucleosis is a disease that does not cause persistent immunity. That is, after a certain time, repeatedly, the child can again become infected with this virus. And the treatment, again, will be symptomatic.
According to Dr. Komarovsky, almost all people on the planet have at least once suffered from infectious mononucleosis throughout their lives. However, not everyone knows about this, since often the disease is asymptomatic.
Earlier, in many medical textbooks it was reported that after the transferred mononucleosis, the child is strictly forbidden to be in the sun, as the risk of various blood diseases increases. However, recent studies have found absolutely no connection between these facts. However, Komarovsky recalls that the influence of ultraviolet radiation in itself is harmful, regardless of whether the child was sick with mononucleosis or not.
Mononucleosis is not treated with antibiotics. This must be clearly understood. Indeed, very often after such treatment a child develops a rash throughout his body in the form of large red spots. This is how the "Ampicillin" or "Amoxicillin" inappropriately prescribed by a doctor manifests itself.
For a couple of months, after the symptoms disappear, the child may remain lethargic and constant fatigue. The child will be inactive, sleepy. This fact in medicine is called "chronic fatigue syndrome." This condition is not treated with vitamins or immunostimulants, it just needs to be experienced until the body itself recovers.
After suffering a disease, a routine blood test should be taken within a week or 10 days. Sometimes there is a decrease in lymphocytes in the blood formula. This problem needs to be solved, and only then send the baby to kindergarten or school.
Epstein-Barr virus can live exclusively in the human body. Only there does it exist, multiply and assimilate. Animals are not its carriers.
Simple conclusion
As a small conclusion, I want to note that mononucleosis is not a very complicated disease. Almost everyone suffers from this ailment. It can be attributed to self-limiting infections, which practically does not require treatment.