Suche
Mein Konto
EHEC alarm in Schwerin: Toddler transferred to clinic with kidney failure!
A case of EHEC in a small child was reported in Schwerin. The affected child was transferred to Hamburg for treatment.
EHEC alarm in Schwerin: Toddler transferred to clinic with kidney failure!
In Schwerin, a city that is now best known for its beautiful old town, the health situation has caused some unrest in recent days. Again Northern Courier reported, it became known on September 2nd that a 20-month-old boy from the Schwerin area who attended a daycare center in the city was infected with the dangerous EHEC virus. The medical professionals reacted quickly and transferred the small child to a clinic in Hamburg for further treatment after initially receiving intensive care in the children's clinic at the Helios Clinics.
The boy is showing worrying symptoms of kidney failure, which is not uncommon with EHEC infections. These pathogens can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in young children, which can lead to serious complications such as kidney damage and blood clotting problems. According to that Münster University Hospital HUS is particularly common in children up to the age of three.
Precautionary measures in the daycare center
The affected boy's group of children is considered a close contact group, which means that the little guys are temporarily not allowed to go to daycare. The health department has decided not to issue a general decree and is instead seeking direct contact with the children's parents. It turns out that despite the tense situation in the EHEC area, there are currently no further cases of illness known. Parents are asked to pay attention to possible gastrointestinal symptoms in their children and, if suspected, to inform the doctor's office in advance by telephone.
In recent weeks, parents from daycare centers have increasingly made inquiries about the illness situation. Hygiene measures are currently very popular: good hand and kitchen hygiene are the best prevention to prevent the transmission of EHEC pathogens. The affected family of the little boy also had no contact with the regions of Vorpommern-Rügen and Vorpommern-Greifswald, which have recently become known as the focus of the wave of illnesses in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Hus: A serious syndrome
HUS is a serious syndrome characterized by a typical triad: acute renal failure, thrombocytopenia and signs of intravascular hemolysis with evidence of fragmented erythrocytes. In 5-10% of children suffering from EHEC-associated diarrheal illness, symptoms of HUS developed approximately seven days after the onset of watery diarrhea. Two thirds of these patients require dialysis during the acute phase. These are alarming figures that are alarming both parents and health authorities.
In summary, the authorities and the health department are standing by in this unusual situation to provide the population with the best possible information and education. The situation requires attention, but also prudence. Stay informed and pay attention to your children's health - because it's better to be safe than sorry!