Parenting] Enterovirus infection with severe complications

96年10月15日將「腸病毒感染併發重症」列為「傳染病防治法」規定之第三類傳染病。

Enterovirus infection is a common disease in young children. Enterovirus refers to a group of viruses, including poliovirus, crosshatch virus, echovirus, and enterovirus, each of which can be subdivided into multiple types, totaling more than dozens of species.

目前小兒麻痺病毒已經在台灣根除，腸病毒病人都是感染其他腸病毒造成，其中以感染腸病毒71型最容易導致嚴重的併發症，5歲以下的幼兒為重症的高危險群。此外，近幾年國際間陸續發生流行疫情的腸病毒D68型，幼兒感染後亦可能引起嚴重的呼吸道或神經系統症狀。

Taiwan's warm and humid climate is suitable for the survival of enteroviruses, with April to September as the main epidemic period, but in fact there are cases of enterovirus infection throughout the year, and there are also cases of enterovirus in the winter, only fewer.

After a person recovers from an enterovirus infection, he or she will only become immune to the same type of infection, so it is possible to get enterovirus several times in a lifetime. Enteroviral infections are not exclusive to young children; adults can get enteroviral infections as well, but most of the symptoms are mild and not easy to distinguish from the common cold.

There is no specific drug or vaccine for enterovirus. The best way to prevent it is for adults and children to wash their hands regularly and pay attention to personal hygiene, so as to reduce the chance of infection.

【傳播方式】
Enteroviruses are highly transmissible, mainly through the gastrointestinal tract (fecal-oral, water or food contamination) or the respiratory tract (droplets, coughing or sneezing), but also through contact with blisters and secretions on the skin of a sick person. Infants and young children at home are often infected by contact or droplets from parents or caregivers who bring the virus home from outdoor environments or public places. They may also be infected by contact with oral or nasal secretions from asymptomatic parents or by eating food contaminated with virus-containing fecal matter. Young children like to chew on and manipulate furry toys, which can easily retain or ingest saliva containing enteroviruses, which is also a vector of infection.

【預防方法】
腸病毒的傳染力極強，但可透過簡單的衛生保健動作，有效降低感染的機會。腸病毒的預防方法如下：

1.勤洗手，注意咳嗽禮節，養成良好的個人衛生習慣。
2. Eat a balanced diet, exercise moderately and get enough sleep to enhance immunity.
3. When you are sick, seek medical attention as soon as possible and take time off to rest at home.
4.注意居家及校園等環境的衛生清潔及通風。
5. Avoid crowded public places with poor air circulation during the epidemic.
6. Avoid contact with suspected patients, especially pregnant women, newborns and young children.
7. Newborns can be breastfed more often to improve their resistance.
8. Children's toys (especially furry toys) should be cleaned and sanitized frequently.
9.幼童之照顧者或接觸者應特別注意個人衛生，家長回家後應洗手、更衣後(沐浴尤佳)再接觸家中幼童。
10.於腸病毒流行期間進出擁擠的公共場所，應戴口罩並勤洗手保持衛
生，可降低感染機會；已有症狀者可避免傳染他人。