How enterovirus reaches the nervous system of children

The enterovirus causes diseases as well known as some gastroenteritis or certain bronchitis. And yet, it can also affect (very rarely) the child's nervous system. How does enterovirus get to cause neurological symptoms in children ? How does it reach the nervous system? How enterovirus accesses the

The enterovirus causes diseases as well known as some gastroenteritis or certain bronchitis. And yet, it can also affect (very rarely) the child's nervous system.

How does enterovirus get to cause neurological symptoms in children? How does it reach the nervous system?

How enterovirus accesses the nervous system of children

The way these enteroviruses reach the central trunk of the brain (the part that controls functions such as respiration, heart rate, muscle tone, balance, speech or swallowing) and inflaming it to give the so-called rhomboencephalitis, is as follows:

1. Once they enter through the mouth or through the nose, the enteroviruses implant in the pharynx or in the distal part of the intestine and begin to replicate Going to the nearby ganglia and, from there, by the blood, reach the liver, the spleen, the bone marrow (the spongy interior of the bones) and more lymph nodes.

2. Most of the time, things will not go away, either because the virus is not very strong or because our immune system has eliminated it. It would correspond to a subclinical infection, that is, we did not have any symptoms, or it would be very mild. 3. If the virus has a high capacity for replication and / or the host's defensive system is not at its best, a second virus invasion

(viremia) takes place between the 2nd and 7th day, which is emboldened, already they give the symptoms like fever, cough, mucus, diarrhea, slight decay, rashes in the skin ... Se 4. It is thought that many cases of children with fevers during two or three days in which there are no other symptoms and they resolve themselves, they are actually produced by this type of virus. Only in a very small number of cases (compared to the millions of banal enterovirus infections that exist)

the viruses are still more aggressive and if the immune system fails, they go directly to important areas of our body such as the brain , the meninges, the lungs or the heart to cause damage to their tissues. Curiosities about the enterovirus and children - It has been seen that there is a theoretical predominance of cases in children over girls, when they are small

, reversing, after puberty, this relationship. La - The

elimination of virus by feces can last 2 months in affected children (hence the importance of washing hands well and handling diaper changes correctly in nurseries); The incubation period of these viruses can range from 2 to 20 days. Se - It is thought that the structure of some of these viruses(A71 and D68) could have recently changed and cause the highest frequency of cases with severe neurological or respiratory symptoms. No - There should not be a paralyzing fear that drives us to not take our children to the nursery or school, if the child does not have a fever or has worrying signs or symptoms. There are action protocols throughout the health network to be able to attend in the most efficient way possible the important cases that may arise.

Bibliography consulted: Treaty of Pediatrics M Cruz, 2006 Enterovirus Infections of the Central Nervous System in Children (H. Rudolph H. Schroten February 2016)

Enterovirus meningitis. Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics in a series of 60 children. (C. Pérez Méndeza) Departament de Salut Generalitat de Catalunya