Does your child have hand, foot and mouth disease? Infusion is not a must

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Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease in children, causing a lot of anxiety among parents every year. Although most children have mild symptoms, the misconception that "infusion therapy is more effective" is still prevalent. Data show that the intravenous infusion rate for children with mild HFMD in some primary hospitals in my country is as high as 60%, far exceeding the 10% threshold recommended by the WHO. This article combines evidence-based medicine with cutting-edge technology to analyze the hazards of excessive infusion and reshape the logic of scientific nursing.

Current misunderstanding: the underlying cause of infusion dependence

1. Cognitive bias: Parents simply associate "infusion = quick recovery" and ignore the self-limiting nature of viral infections.

2. Medical inertia: Some grassroots institutions are limited in their ability to detect pathogens and adopt the conservative approach of "broad-spectrum antiviral antibiotics".

3. Economic driver: The higher medical costs caused by infusion exacerbate unnecessary medical practices.

Scientific evidence:

There are no specific antiviral drugs for hand, foot and mouth disease pathogens (EV71, CoxA16, etc.), and mild cases only require symptomatic support.

Infusion may cause risks such as allergic reactions and electrolyte imbalance, but the rate of severe illness has not been reduced.

Cutting-edge technology enables precision care

1. Molecular diagnostic technology:

Rapid nucleic acid testing (POCT) can identify pathogen subtypes within 15 minutes and differentiate between mild and severe risks.

2. AI Early Warning System:

The dynamic monitoring model based on body temperature, heart rate, and rash progression can predict severe disease progression 48 hours in advance.

3. Microfluidic rehydration technology:

Oral rehydration salts (ORS) combined with smart wearable devices can monitor the degree of dehydration in real time and avoid blind infusion.

Three cores of scientific nursing

1. Fever management:

If the body temperature is less than 38.5℃, physical cooling should be given priority, and ibuprofen/acetaminophen should be used only when necessary.

2. Accurate fluid replenishment:

Oral rehydration salt III (osmotic pressure 245mOsm/L) is the first choice for mild dehydration, which is as efficient as intravenous rehydration.

3. Identification of severe cases:

Persistent high fever (>3 days), tremors, and shortness of breath require immediate medical attention.

Conclusion: Hand, foot and mouth disease care needs to shift from "experience-driven" to "evidence-driven". Through the combination of molecular diagnosis, intelligent monitoring and evidence-based care, more than 30% of unnecessary infusions can be reduced. Parents should establish a scientific understanding of "observation-assessment-tiered intervention", and medical institutions need to strengthen pathogen detection capabilities and guideline implementation. Only by breaking the misunderstanding can the interests of children be maximized.

Data support source:

1. National Health Commission's "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (2023 Edition)"

2. The Lancet Regional Health 2022 China Medical Behavior Study

3. Stanford University AI Early Warning Model Paper (2023)

4. WHO Guidelines for the Use of Oral Rehydration Salts

5. China CDC 2023 Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Surveillance Report