Because of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (Covid-19) pandemic, attention to the epidemic has intensified.

Now that the epidemic is largely under control, China is gradually returning to work and school. However, as the weather gets hotter and summer epidemics ensue, vigilance is needed.

According to the National Statutory Infectious Disease Epidemic Profile for 2019 issued by the Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control of the State Health Care Commission, the top five infectious disease types in 2019 were: influenza, hand, foot and mouth disease, other infectious diarrheal diseases, mumps, and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis.

Now let's talk about the hand-foot-mouth disease, acute gastroenteritis, and other infectious diarrheal diseases today.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is an infectious disease of the digestive tract caused by several types of human enteroviruses (common enterovirus type 71 and coxsackievirus group A, type 16), which occurs in children and is a common intestinal infection in kindergarten children.

Dissemination channels

Transmission is mainly through contact with the child's nose, saliva, herpes fluid from the palms and lips, excrement, and contaminated towels, toys, bottles, food service, and other items.

Population affected by the disease

It is common in children aged 5 years and under because of their low resistance, and serious deaths occur mainly in children under 3 years of age.

The same child can have multiple episodes of infection with different types of enterovirus. That is, having one type of HFMD does not provide full resistance and remains susceptible to other types of HFMD. Adults, on the other hand, are more resistant and generally have fewer cases, but can still be transmitted to children.

Manifestation symptoms

The vast majority of children with the disease have mild symptoms and no discomfort, and it is the attentive parents who notice a fever, a rash, or white herpes on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth.

In general, HFMD infections caused by enteroviruses in this population are self-limited (flu-like self-limited course) and can be cured on their own without specific antiviral treatment after about 7 days.

However, a small number of seriously ill children can have serious consequences, mainly central symptoms such as encephalitis, and lung lesions such as oedema, hemorrhage, cardiopulmonary failure, and other serious problems that can lead to death if not managed promptly.

Therefore, although most of the disease can be cured on its own, it is still a matter of great importance.

Treatment

There is no effective medicine for HFMD, no medication is needed for mild cases, and a light diet and plenty of water will help the child get through the infection period.

Seriously ill children must be treated in a hospital for their condition. At present, there is only EV71 vaccine in our country, and timely vaccination of EV71 vaccine can effectively prevent HFMD caused by EV71 virus, but this vaccine does not cross-protect against HFMD caused by other enteric viruses such as CV-A16.

Preventive measures

1. Strengthen environmental disinfection and regular cleaning and disinfection of the surfaces of the aforementioned items in regular contact.

2. Avoid close contact between healthy children and children with HFMD, including kissing, holding hands, feeding, hugging, etc., and adults should also avoid similar contact with children.

3. Pay attention to children's hand hygiene, wash their hands before and after meals, and do not share towels or personal belongings with others.

4. Children with HFMD should not go to kindergarten, please isolate themselves until one week after recovery.

Acute gastroenteritis

Acute gastroenteritis generally refers to acute inflammation and damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa caused by various etiologies. The acute summer gastroenteritis referred to here is a common disease caused by poor eating habits such as overeating and overeating, or hot and cold stimulation.

Common causes

Alcohol, drugs, infections, intestinal fluid reflux, mucosal ischemia and hypoxia, food spoilage and poor eating habits, corrosive chemicals, mechanical damage, etc.

manifestation symptoms

Acute upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite following an unhealthy diet (overeating, spicy stimuli, large amounts of cold drinks, unclean food).

In the case of acute gastroenteritis caused by an unclean diet, it is often accompanied by protective diarrhea and vomiting. Loss of large amounts of water and gastrointestinal fluid (rich in potassium ions) can also lead to typical symptoms such as dehydration, low blood potassium, and acidosis.

Treatment.

Treatment of acute gastroenteritis is generally symptomatic.

It is important to note that in the case of acute gastroenteritis, go to the intestinal clinic of the hospital immediately.

Preventive measures

1. Don't quote low-temperature drinks too much

During the summer season, do not over-refer to low-temperature drinks, such as cold beer, do not drink too fast or too much, and spicy food should be in moderation.

2. Do not eat rotten food

Summer food is prone to spoilage and spoiled food is not consumed. If there is mild acute gastroenteritis, you can use a warm water bag to hot compress the abdomen, diarrhea serious people pay attention to rehydration and salt, it is best to keep oral rehydration salt at home, dissolve as required and drink slowly.

Other infectious diarrhoeal diseases

Other infectious diarrhea is also common in summer and autumn.

It generally refers to infectious diarrhea caused by pathogenic bacteria other than cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, and paratyphoid fever, that is, infectious diseases of category C as stipulated in the Infectious Diseases Control Law of China, mainly including intestinal infections caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and other pathogens.

Manifestation symptoms

The most prominent is diarrhea, with more than three bowel movements per day (or a significant increase in the number compared to usual bowel habits).

The nature of the stool is different from the usual, it is often thin, jet-like watery stool, or it can be mucus, pus or blood in the stool, which often has a feeling of urgency followed by heaviness. There is also nausea, vomiting, fever (due to infection), abdominal pain, and general discomfort.

In severe cases, dehydration and loss of large amounts of potassium can result from massive diarrhea, electrolyte disorders, and even shock.

Treatment

Infectious diarrhea should be treated promptly at the hospital's bowel clinic.

It is worth noting that patients with diarrhea should not use "starvation therapy" and should be encouraged to eat easily digestible fluidic foods, potassium- and sodium-rich beverages, rather than the traditional fasting and water restrictions.

Preventive measures

1. Abstain from consuming spoiled fruits, unclean food, and water.

2. Take care to isolate families with diarrhea, disinfect them with "84" or "peroxyacetic acid" and teach children to wash their hands before and after meals.

3. It is recommended to share meals during the epidemic to prevent fecal-oral transmission.

Source

Special Report: Fighting The New Coronavirus