讀後心得

Last week, there was one new case of severe enterovirus-related death in the country, involving a premature male infant who was less than a month old. He was hospitalized due to respiratory distress and subsequently exhibited multiple signs of sepsis, ultimately succumbing to sepsis complications from the enterovirus. This year, there have been three cases of severe enterovirus infections, all caused by Enterovirus 71, resulting in two deaths. Experts indicate that since 2018, there has been no epidemic of Enterovirus, and mention that the antibody levels against the virus in pregnant women are low, which may increase the risk of a pandemic this year. Enteroviruses primarily affect infants under three months old, and their symptoms are not obvious, making them prone to severe complications such as hepatitis and encephalitis. The medical community reminds us that protection for infants should not be taken lightly.

Last week, there was one new case of severe enterovirus-related death reported domestically. The patient was a premature male infant who was less than a month old, and after just three weeks of birth, he was admitted to the intensive care unit due to respiratory distress. He subsequently exhibited symptoms of low blood oxygen, bradycardia, hepatitis, and decreased platelet count, indicative of septic shock. Tests confirmed infection with enterovirus Echovirus 11. Despite the medical team's best efforts, he was ultimately pronounced dead due to enterovirus-induced sepsis. According to statistics, there have already been three cases of severe enterovirus this year before April finishes, all infected with Echovirus 11, resulting in the deaths of two. Experts indicate that the last epidemic of Echovirus was identified domestically in 2018, and research from National Taiwan University shows that the antibody levels against Echovirus 11 in pregnant women are extremely low, which raises the possibility of a pandemic occurring this year.

Infectious disease physicians noted that the unfortunate deceased infant showed symptoms about three weeks after birth. In addition to the aforementioned issues, during his hospitalization, he also exhibited low blood pressure, low blood oxygen, and coagulation abnormalities, alongside multiple organ failures including hepatitis, encephalitis, and myocarditis, ultimately leading to an unsuccessful rescue. Epidemiological investigations revealed that the parents and healthcare workers who had contact with the child showed no suspected symptoms of enterovirus, and the source of infection remains to be investigated further. According to health agency statistics, from 2012 to now, the proportion of patients with Echovirus 11 under one month of age has reached as high as 60%, with those under one year old even higher at 80%. In other words, unlike general enteroviruses that primarily affect children under five, the high-risk group for Echovirus 11 mainly consists of infants under three months.

Experts pointed out that Echovirus can be regarded as "another type of enterovirus." The director of pediatric infectious diseases at National Taiwan University emphasized that in previous years, enterovirus cases typically began to appear in April, peaking in June. However, this year the situation is different, with enterovirus cases emerging since the end of last year, especially three severe cases in infants under one year of age, two of whom sadly died, all infected with Echovirus 11. Experts remind that since Echovirus does not cause hand-foot-mouth disease, it only leads to fever and non-specific rashes, while later it may result in multiple organ failures like hepatitis, encephalitis, and myocarditis, with a significantly high risk of severe outcomes or death.

It is understood that in 2021, National Taiwan University Hospital conducted a serum study on maternal antibodies, which showed a relatively low proportion of pregnant women with antibodies against Echovirus, indicating that newborns cannot rely on their mother's antibodies to resist enterovirus Echovirus 11 after birth; therefore, the risk of a pandemic this summer cannot be ruled out. Experts urge caregivers and the environment of infants under three months to be vigilant in disinfection efforts.