How to care for children with sequelae of encephalitis

When children have encephalitis, parents must take timely response and treatment measures. Because encephalitis can easily cause sequelae, parents should strengthen care for patients, actively adopt antiviral treatments, or some acupuncture treatments.

1. Treatment/sequelae of encephalitis

1. Strengthen care: Care should be strengthened during the course of the disease to prevent the occurrence of bedsores. It is necessary to provide a certain amount of water, nutrition and electrolytes. Accidents must be prevented for children who display mental symptoms. Watch for signs of brain herniation.

2. Antiviral treatment: Although there is no effective antiviral drug at present, the following drugs can be used: iodine (herpes net), triazole nucleoside (ribavirin), immunoglobulin G. Others such as transfer factor and interferon can improve the body's resistance to viruses and can be used.

3. Symptomatic treatment: antipyretic and anticonvulsant. High fever can cause convulsions. Use physical cooling or Chinese or Western medicine to reduce fever. Phenobarbital or diazepam can prevent or control convulsions and reduce cerebral edema. 20% mannitol. Hydrocortisone or dexamethasone can also be used.

4. Other treatments: When other systems are affected, such as myocarditis, pneumonia, etc., they should be treated in a timely manner. The sequelae left after the illness can be treated with acupuncture, massage, medication and training.

2. Acupuncture treatment of sequelae of encephalitis

The sequelae of encephalitis are mostly caused by the depletion of Qi and Yin, the exhaustion of True Yin, and the failure of organ functions to recover. Among them, for those whose tendons and veins are not nourished, the treatment is to invigorate qi and nourish blood, activate blood circulation and dredge collaterals, nourish yin and suppress yang. The main acupoints are the hand and foot Yangming, foot Taiyin, and Jueyin meridians; for those with phlegm and turbidity blocking the orifices, the treatment should be to clear the phlegm, clear the heart and open the orifices, with the Du meridian, hand Shaoyin, and Jueyin meridians as the main acupoints.

Commonly used acupuncture points:

Malnutrition of tendons and veins: Jianyu, Quchi, Waiguan, Hegu, Huantiao, Futu, Zusanli, Juegu, Taichong, Dicang, Cheek car, Yangbai, Yuyao.

Phlegm and turbidity block the orifices: Baihui, Ren Zhong, Shenmen, Neiguan, Fenglong, Tiantu, Lianquan, Hegu, Tongli.

The alternative acupoints include Shousanli, Jianshi, Yanglingquan, Sanyinjiao, Yamen, Renying, Shenting, Sishencong, Xingjian, Ganshu, Pishu, and Xinshu.

Scalp acupuncture: contralateral motor area, sensory area, foot motor sensory area, speech area II, and speech area III.

Ear acupoints: Shenmen, brain, liver, lung, heart, kidney, subcortical, endocrine, and adrenal gland.

Operation method: Select acupoints according to syndrome differentiation of the disease. For those whose tendons and veins are not nourished, acupuncture should be used to nourish the tendons and veins, and moxibustion can be added. For those with phlegm and turbidity blocking the orifices, acupuncture should be used with draining method or balanced tonifying and draining method. Take it once a day or every other day, 15 times as a course of treatment, rest for 7 to 10 days before the second course of treatment.

Scalp acupuncture: Use No. 28 filiform needles, twist them quickly after insertion, and leave them in for 2 to 4 hours. Move the needles intermittently during this time, or add electroacupuncture stimulation. Treat once a day for 20 consecutive times, then rest for 2 weeks and continue with the next course of treatment.

Auricular acupuncture: According to the condition of the disease, select 4 to 6 acupoints for each symptom each time, use moderate stimulation, once a day or every other day, 7 times as a course of treatment, rest for 3 days before continuing treatment.