Je, maambukizi ya mfumo mkuu wa neva yanayosababishwa na virusi (CNS) ni nini?
Your central nervous system (CNS) is your brain and spinal cord. A viral infection can affect one or both of these organs. Infection can result in:
Meningitis: infection of the meninges, which are the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord
Encephalitis: infection of the brain
Viral CNS infections can be very serious.
The first sign is usually a fever, followed by crankiness, not wanting to eat, headache, neck pain, and sometimes seizure
Most children recover, but some go into a coma and die
A few children have permanent complications such as deafness, mental difficulties, seizures, or weakness of an arm or leg
Doctors do a spinal tap to see if your child has meningitis or encephalitis
There's usually no specific treatment for a viral infection of the brain or spinal cord
Je, maambukizi ya mfumo mkuu wa neva yanayosababishwa na virusi kwa watoto husababishwa na nini?
Viral central nervous system infections are caused by many different types of viruses.
Children get these viruses in different ways, for example:
From their mother as they pass through the birth canal (herpesvirus)
Bites by infected insects
Breathing air near someone who has the virus
Je, dalili za maambukizi ya CNS yanayosababishwa na virusi kwa watoto ni zipi?
Symptoms vary by age.
Babies usually have:
Fever
Fussiness or crying, even when held or rocked—sometimes with an unusual, high-pitched cry
Throwing up
Eating poorly
In some babies, the first sign is a seizure.
Children may have:
Headache
Stiff neck
Fever
With severe encephalitis, sluggishness and confusion followed by coma and possibly death
With encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus infection, infants and children may have evidence of infection elsewhere such as a rash of red spots and fluid-filled blisters on the skin, in the mouth, or around the eyes.
Je, kuna matatizo yoyote yanayoletwa na maambukizi ya mfumo mkuu wa neva (CNS) yanayosababishwa na virusi?
Some babies and children have brain and nerve problems after the infection. They may have:
Weakness in an arm or leg
Loss of sight or hearing
Changes in the way they act
Learning or behavior problems
Seizures that come and go
Sometimes these problems go away, but they can be permanent.
Je, madaktari watajuaje ikiwa mtoto wangu ana maambukizi ya CNS yanayosababishwa na virusi?
To know if your child has meningitis or encephalitis, doctors do:
A spinal tap
In a spinal tap, the doctor puts a needle into the lower back to draw fluid from around the spinal cord. Sometimes doctors also do:
EEG (electroencephalogram ) to see your child's brain waves
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) scans of your child’s brain
Je, madaktari hutibu vipi maambukizi ya CNS yanayosababishwa na virusi kwa watoto?
Doctors may:
Treat babies in the hospital to keep them warm and give them fluids and medicines for fever or seizures
Treat a herpes simplex virus infection with an antiviral medicine through your child's vein (IV)
Sometimes, treat long-lasting brain and nerve damage by giving steroids (sometimes also known as glucocorticoids or corticosteroids) or other medicines
