Repeated cold after the rain? Beware of misdiagnosis of encephalitis!

Guangzhou Daily News (All Media Reporter Liang Chaoyi Correspondent Zheng Lin) After a heavy rain, the Meizhou teenager had repeated fever and headaches, mistaking it for a cold. Unexpectedly, his condition worsened and he was sent to the intensive care unit for emergency treatment. Obviously encephalitis. February 22 is “World Encephalitis Day”, doctors in Guangzhou reminded that the first symptoms of encephalitis are similar to those of a cold, and citizens and friends need to be vigilant.

16-year-old Zhang Xing (pseudonym) is a local high school student in Meizhou. After riding home from school in heavy rain last year, I had a fever the next day. In the local hospital, the doctor suspected that the fever was caused by an upper respiratory tract infection. After three or four days of symptomatic treatment with medicines, not only did the “cold” not improve at all, but the headache worsened and the spirit was apathetic, and was finally diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis. In late October last year, Zhang Xing was urgently referred to Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital.

“When he came to the hospital, the patient suffered from disturbance of consciousness, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, and weakness of both lower limbs, and was immediately sent to the intensive care unit.” said Kuang Zuying, the administrative assistant to the director of the first neurology department in the hospital. Thoracic MRI revealed obvious enhancement foci of meninges and meninges, and intracranial infection was clear, but the pathogen was unclear, and further identification was required. After completing the relevant examinations, it was finally confirmed that the patient was autoimmune GFAP meningoencephalomyelitis.

“I knew I had sent him an umbrella, but I didn’t expect the rain to cause such a serious illness.” My father regretted a lot. “Adolescents’ own immune systems are poor, and they are prone to infection and induce autoimmune encephalitis after rain.” Wang Zhanhang, the vice president of the hospital and an expert in neurology, explained that immunity is the umbrella for human health. When the body’s immune function is low, Viruses, bacteria, etc. will take advantage of the situation, which will seriously affect the health of the body. After giving immunoglobulin shock, anti-infection, nutritional nerve and rehabilitation and other symptomatic treatment, Zhang Xing was discharged smoothly.

Every February 22 is World Encephalitis Day. Wang Zhanhang reminded that the clinical symptoms of encephalitis in the early stage are not typical, generally fever, headache or general fatigue, and it is easy to be misdiagnosed as a cold. “Encephalitis is an emergency. If it is not treated in time, the fatality rate is very high. Delayed treatment can also lead to serious sequelae. Citizens and friends should be vigilant.”

Source: Guangzhou Daily