Acute stage of childhood encephalitis: emergency response, the fighting moment to protect the little warriors

In the children's growth journey full of laughter and joy, they occasionally encounter some uninvited guests - diseases. Childhood encephalitis, a name that sounds a little nervous, is one of them. But don't worry, today, we will have a special "popular science adventure" to understand the symptoms and emergency measures of the acute stage of childhood encephalitis, so that our little warriors can bravely face the challenges and quickly recover!

1. Acute stage of encephalitis: the "mysterious challenge" of the little warrior

Encephalitis is like a sudden storm in the brain kingdom. It is an inflammatory response caused by viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms. When these "uninvited guests" sneak into children's brains, they will trigger a series of emergencies. This is the acute stage of encephalitis, and it is also the moment that our little warriors need to face bravely.

Acute symptoms: Be brave to recognize the signs

1. High fever : Just like a little warrior suddenly develops a high fever in the hot summer, the body temperature may quickly rise to above 39°C. This is one of the most common symptoms of acute encephalitis and a signal that parents need to be particularly vigilant.

2. Unbearable headache : Little warriors may suddenly complain of a severe headache, as if there is a naughty elf playing tricks in their heads. This kind of headache is usually severe and unbearable for children.

3. Vomiting : As if they have eaten something wrong, the little warriors may vomit frequently, even when drinking water. This is due to increased intracranial pressure caused by encephalitis.

4. Confusion of consciousness : Sometimes, the little warriors may become confused, with dull eyes and slow reactions, as if they have temporarily left the real world and entered a dream space.

5. Convulsions : This is one of the symptoms that parents are most worried about. The little warriors may suddenly twitch all over their body, their limbs become stiff, and their eyes roll up. This is caused by abnormal discharge of brain nerves caused by encephalitis.

2. Emergency response measures: Little Warriors’ “rescue operation”

Facing the challenges of the acute phase of encephalitis, we need to act quickly to provide timely rescue for the little warriors. Here are some simple and effective emergency measures:

1. Stay calm and observe quickly

When parents discover that their children have the above symptoms, they should first stay calm and not panic. Then, they should quickly observe the changes in their children's symptoms and record key information such as body temperature, number of vomiting times, and state of consciousness. This information is crucial for subsequent diagnosis and treatment.

2. Cool down in time to relieve discomfort

High fever is one of the most common symptoms of acute encephalitis. In order to relieve the child's discomfort, we need to take cooling measures in time. Physical cooling methods can be used, such as applying a wet towel to the forehead, wiping the body with warm water, etc. If conditions permit, antipyretics can also be used to assist in cooling. But remember, do not let the child wear too many clothes or cover with too thick quilts to avoid hindering heat dissipation.

3. Keep the airway open to prevent choking on vomit

Vomiting is another common symptom in the acute stage of encephalitis. To prevent children from choking on vomit, we need to keep their airways open. You can let your child lie on his side or tilt his head to one side so that the vomit can flow out smoothly. At the same time, clean up the vomit in the mouth and nasal cavity in time to keep the airways clean.

4. Avoid stimulation and keep quiet

Children in the acute stage of encephalitis are usually more sensitive and irritable. In order to avoid irritating them, we need to keep the environment quiet and reduce noise and light interference. Let the child lie on a comfortable bed, cover with a soft quilt, and give them a quiet and comfortable space.

5. Seek medical attention and receive professional treatment promptly

If the child's symptoms continue to worsen or there are serious conditions such as confusion or convulsions, we need to seek medical attention immediately. On the way to the hospital, you can call the emergency number for professional guidance. After arriving at the hospital, describe the child's symptom changes and treatment process in detail to the doctor so that the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

3. Interesting metaphors: making knowledge easier to understand

In order to help readers without a medical background better understand the symptoms and emergency measures of acute childhood encephalitis, we can use some interesting metaphors to help remember:

• High fever strikes : Just like a little warrior who has a heat stroke in the scorching summer, he needs to cool down quickly.

• Unbearable headache : It feels like there is a naughty elf in your head making trouble, and we need to use "magic" to calm it down.

• Vomiting continuously : It’s like the little warrior ate something wrong and we need to clean up the “poison”.

• Confusion of consciousness : It is like the little warriors have temporarily left the real world and entered a dream space, and we need to use "calling" to bring them back to reality.

• Convulsions : It’s like the little warriors are being “electrocuted” and we need to take quick action to protect them.

IV. Conclusion: Protect the little warriors and overcome difficulties together

Although the acute stage of childhood encephalitis is fierce, as long as we master the correct emergency measures, we can provide timely rescue for the little warriors. Just like every fairy tale has a brave knight and a wise wizard, modern medicine and the care and support of our parents are powerful weapons for the little warriors to fight against encephalitis, the "mysterious challenger". Let us work together to protect the healthy growth of the little warriors!

In this special "popular science adventure", we not only learned about the symptoms and emergency measures of acute childhood encephalitis, but also learned how to use interesting metaphors to make knowledge easier to understand. I hope that every little warrior can face challenges bravely, quickly recover vitality, and continue to run and laugh on the road of growth!

This project is funded by the Shanghai Rehabilitation Medicine Association Science and Technology Innovation Project (2024KJCX05).