讀後心得

The Centers for Disease Control recently reported the second case of severe complications and death from enterovirus this year. The victim was a newborn baby boy, less than one month old (premature). The infant was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit in mid-February due to difficulty breathing, developed symptoms of sepsis in mid-March, and unfortunately passed away on March 17. Test results indicated that the cause of death was enterovirus "Echovirus 11." Currently, there have been no reports of infection among family members or healthcare workers who came into contact with him. The CDC urges expectant mothers and caregivers to strengthen personal hygiene and monitor the health of infants and toddlers, as well as to implement infection control measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

The CDC announced this year's second death case due to severe complications from enterovirus infection, involving a newborn baby from the northern region who was less than one month old. This premature male infant was sent to the pediatric intensive care unit in mid-February due to respiratory difficulties. By mid-March, he exhibited symptoms of septicemia, including low blood oxygen, bradycardia, hepatitis, and thrombocytopenia, ultimately leading to his unfortunate passing on March 17. Tests confirmed that the severe complications were caused by an infection of enterovirus "Echovirus type 11", but family contacts, healthcare workers in the hospital, and other patients in the ward were not infected. The specific source of the infection remains to be clarified. The CDC urges expectant mothers and caregivers to enhance personal hygiene and closely monitor the health of infants and young children, and medical institutions as well as postnatal care facilities need to implement infection control measures.

Preventing enterovirus in newborns! Echovirus and Coxsackie B virus pose significant threats. Recent monitoring data shows the enterovirus epidemic is experiencing low fluctuations; however, there are still reported cases of severe complications from enterovirus infections. Additionally, laboratory monitoring over the past four weeks indicates that Coxsackie A16 is the predominant enterovirus, followed by Coxsackie A6 and Echovirus 11. Based on previous years' epidemic monitoring data, enterovirus epidemics typically rise in March to April, so the situation will be closely monitored. So far this year, there have been three confirmed cases of severe complications from enterovirus infections (including two deaths), of which two were newborns less than one month old.

The CDC states that Echovirus and Coxsackie B virus are the primary enterovirus types causing severe cases and deaths in newborns. Therefore, pregnant women, newborns, young children, and their caregivers should avoid contact with infected individuals and pay special attention to personal hygiene and the health of infants and young children. The CDC reminds expectant mothers to maintain hand and respiratory hygiene during pregnancy and before and after delivery, reduce visits to crowded and poorly ventilated places, avoid contact with patients, and pay attention to personal health. If symptoms such as fever, upper respiratory infection, or diarrhea occur within 14 days before delivery, they should immediately inform their doctor and maintain appropriate isolation from the infant.

Severe enterovirus infections in newborns can lead to severe complications; therefore, signs such as drowsiness or seizures should be acted upon immediately by seeking medical help. Since symptoms of enterovirus infection in adults are often not significant, it can easily be overlooked, allowing them to infect infants and young children. Thus, families with infants and young children must enhance personal hygiene, change clothes after returning home, and wash hands properly with soap before feeding or holding the infant. If any symptoms occur, they should avoid contact with the infant.

The CDC emphasizes that early symptoms of enterovirus infection in newborns may include fever, lethargy, and decreased appetite. If not treated in time, this may lead to myocarditis, hepatitis, encephalitis, thrombocytopenia, and multiple organ failure. Therefore, attention should be paid to the signs of severe enterovirus infections, such as drowsiness, confusion, lethargy, weakness in hands and feet, or seizures, and prompt medical treatment should be sought to seize the opportunity for therapy.

Has the flu epidemic begun to stabilize? The usage of public-funded medication will be adjusted. Last week, the number of patients visiting emergency and outpatient clinics for influenza-like illnesses was about 111,000, comparable to the previous week. Among the 24 newly reported cases of severe complications from flu, 11 resulted in death, with the new cases and deaths primarily involving H1N1 type A infections. According to laboratory monitoring data, the primary respiratory pathogen circulating in the community is the influenza virus (type A H1N1), although the proportion of influenza has declined, and based on a comprehensive assessment of monitoring data, it is believed that the influenza epidemic has exited the epidemic period.

Due to the mitigation of influenza-like epidemics, the conditions for using public-funded antiviral medication for influenza will end on March 31, and in the future will only be applicable to cases of severe complications from flu and high-risk chronic disease patients with influenza.

# Image source / Freepik

More health-related reports ▸ Medical professionals clarify the myth that dementia is a normal aging phenomenon ▸ Rehabilitation specialists share 7 tips to alleviate frequent heel pain