Infectious toxic shock in children
Children's infectious toxic shock is a rather dangerous and serious condition caused by a complication of infectious diseases. Since it is caused by the ingress of microorganisms into the bloodstream and toxins secreted by them during their vital activity, it is often called bacteriotoxic or bacterial shock. It can happen with the flu, anthrax, typhoid fever, and a whole host of other infectious diseases.
Bacterial toxins entering the blood cause microcirculation disorders associated with spasms of small vessels and capillaries. As a result, blood circulation in the tissues is disrupted, metabolic acidosis occurs. In children, infectious toxic shock is often caused by scarlet fever, diphtheria, dysentery, or meningococcal disease. It develops actively during the first or second days of the disease. At the same time, the body temperature rises sharply, the value of which can even reach 41 degrees.
The child's serious condition is also characteristic - there is a headache, vomiting, severe chills, motor agitation, convulsions, confusion. The heartbeat becomes more frequent, the pulse weakens, pallor of the mucous membranes and skin occurs, and strong sweating begins. Blood pressure in infectious toxic shock is significantly reduced. Microcirculatory disorders in this condition can lead to acute renal failure.
The development of hemorrhagic syndrome is characteristic of bacterial shock, provoked by meningococcal infection. In this case, numerous hemorrhages with a stellate shape appear on the patient's skin. Treatment of childhood infectious toxic shock is carried out comprehensively in the intensive care unit. Special antibacterial drugs are used, to which the microorganism that caused the disease is sensitive. Immunoglobulin is also used in the treatment of shock.
Elimination of acidosis and restoration of blood circulation is one of the main directions in the treatment of infectious shock. To achieve this goal, infusion therapy is carried out - a solution of sodium chloride, glucose, trisol, chlosal and other crystalloid solutions is injected intravenously. In case of damage to various organs, symptomatic treatment is also used (elimination of the symptoms of the disease).
Infectious toxic shock can be caused by the introduction of an infection when scratching abrasions or scratches. Children should be warned against this and be sure to treat any bruises and wounds with a special antiseptic. If the first symptoms of shock occur, you must immediately seek medical help; self-medication in such cases is strictly not allowed. Without the provision of timely adequate treatment, a lethal outcome is likely.
Infectious toxic shock in pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infectious lung disease in which the alveoli (thin-walled vesicles that oxygenate the blood) are affected. The cause of pneumonia can be a number of pathogens - intracellular parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses. Different types of pneumonia have their own characteristics. Often it develops as a complication after previous illnesses - flu, colds, bronchitis.
Infectious toxic shock is a very serious complication of acute pneumonia (most often bilateral). All patients with this complication must certainly be in the intensive care unit, where they will be provided with the necessary medical care, and the work of the vital functions of the body should be monitored. This complication is quite dangerous and can even lead to death (the probability of mortality is 30-50%).
Infectious toxic shock develops during severe pneumonia, with severe infiltration of lung tissue. It acts as a reflection of the extreme degree of intoxication inherent in any pneumonia. The incipient infectious shock can be identified by several early signs, which include hyperventilation causing respiratory alkalosis and cerebral disorders, manifested in the form of lethargy or anxiety.
These early symptoms very often do not attract special attention, which does not allow timely diagnosis of the disease and significantly worsens the prognosis. With the development of the disease, shortness of breath increases, tachycardia, arterial hypotension, and sometimes a tendency to hypertension, and pallor of the extremities can also be observed. The skin becomes dry and warm (called warm shock). The treatment of patients with infectious toxic shock is based on appropriate therapy and continuous registration of clinical data.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
