Diseases & Precautions Of Children In Winter

 

Diseases & Precautions Of Children In Winter

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In winter, everyone has more or less cold, flu, cough, and fever. However, due to low immunity, children and adults are more likely to be infected. In addition to coronavirus infection, anyone with a common cold, flu or influenza and cold allergies at this time may have a respiratory infection. Here are some common winter ailments:-

 

Common cold

 

Everyone can get cold or cough in winter. The affected child may have runny nose, slight rise in body temperature or mild fever, loss of appetite and slight sore throat.

If the baby's nose is closed due to cold, nasal drops should be used. It is usually safe to use salt water drops (nasal drops) in young children. The nose should be kept clean with bulb sucker or pump. If you feel that you have a fever then you should definitely take paracetamol. Drinking lukewarm water and soup mixed with honey has some benefits. Antihistamine syrup can also be used.

 

Cold allergies

 

More sensitive children usually have recurrent cold symptoms as soon as winter sets in, or have a cold throughout the winter, which can be called a cold allergy or winter sensitivity. Many older people also get sick suddenly or stay sick throughout the winter. Most of these are due to cold allergies. In winter the humidity is low, the weather is dry and the air is cold. All this arouses sensitivity and causes cold. Due to this sneezing, cough, cold etc. occur. Cold air acts as an allergen for many in severe winters and the symptoms caused by this are called cold allergies.

So masks or masks can be used to get rid of the cold air, which everyone is currently using for corona. Salbutamol inhalers can be taken, as these drugs are effective in relieving the symptoms of shortness of breath. Montelukast tablets are to be taken for long-term well-being.

 

Allergic rhinitis

 

This problem is very evident in children as well as adults. About 30 percent of children with allergic rhinitis later develop asthma. It is a seasonal disease. It is not possible to differentiate cold allergy or winter sensitivity with those with allergic rhinitis. However, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis can occur in spring, summer and early autumn in addition to winter. If this problem occurs suddenly or there is a cold at the same time every year, then there may be seasonal allergies. Although the symptoms of cold and seasonal allergies are the same, they are different diseases.

The disease usually causes itching and runny nose, itchy eyes, mouth or skin, sneezing, nasal congestion (sleep disturbances) and fatigue. Allergies can cause conjunctivitis, sore throat, sinusitis, asthma, eczema, ear infections and swollen glands. The wall between the two nostrils of these patients is often curved, with nasal polyps or parallel grooves on the front of the nose. Children constantly rub their noses with the palms of their hands and wrinkle their nose and mouth all the time, with bluish black spots under the eyelids.

To prevent this disease, dust, animals, birds, cockroaches, cold air, cigarette smoke, etc. should be kept away. In case of any problem, antihistamines (citrigine, fexofenadine), intra-nasal steroids (badisonides, flucortisone propionates), anti-leukotrienes (Monitilucus) etc. may be prescribed by the doctor.

 

Bronchiolitis

 

Bronchiolitis is more common in winter. Children with this disease are more prone to problems like shortness of breath and cold-cough. The disease usually affects children from two months to two years. However, children are more than three to 9 months. In addition to a virus called ‘respiratory synthetic’, the disease can be caused by infection with rhino virus, influenza virus.

In case of this disease, first the affected child gets runny nose. Then the cough started slowly and shortness of breath appeared. Then the chest or ribs will move during breathing and the baby will breathe more frequently or faster. The sound of wheezing or the sound of a whistle can be heard in the chest while breathing. The baby has trouble pulling or eating milk. However, the child suffers from cold-cough and shortness of breath but does not feel sick in that sense. The affected child does not usually have a high fever, but the temperature is low.

 

General treatment

-        Keep the nose and throat clean (you can use a bulb syringe).
-        Give paracetamol medicine for fever.
-        Adequate water and food.
-       Nebulizer (Ipratopium, Salbutalin) or Bronchodilator Syrup (Broadil or Salmon Syrup) may be given for shortness of breath.

 

However, keep in mind that there is no need for antibiotics in bronchiolitis. The child needs to be fed adequate nutritious food to prevent this disease. Cannot be kept in damp, dark environment. In warm weather, it should be kept in a room with normal light and ventilation. Light and soft clothes should be worn according to the severity of winter. Dust, keep the baby away from smoke, adults should not smoke in the baby's room or in front.

 

Seasonal flu or influenza

 

Seasonal flu or influenza is a type of acute respiratory infection with the influenza virus. There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C and D. Both A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics.

The disease can cause sudden fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle aches, feeling sick, sore throat and runny nose, severe cough and can last for two or more weeks. In addition, there may be headaches, body aches and pains, weakness or fatigue, cough, chest discomfort, etc.

 

High fever

 

During this time children may have a high fever (100-102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher). Symptoms usually last from 10 days to two weeks. In most cases there is no need for treatment and everyone recovers within a week. However, sometimes influenza can cause serious illness or death, especially in people at high risk. People at risk of serious illness or complications are: pregnant women, children under the age of five or 59 months, the elderly, people with chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, chronic lung disease, kidney, liver disease or immunosuppressive (immunosuppressive). Such as HIV / AIDS, chemotherapy or steroid use or cancer).

 

Resistance

 

One of the most effective ways to prevent influenza attack is to get vaccinated to build a passive immunity against it. Safe and effective vaccines are now available. Annual vaccinations are recommended to protect against influenza. Injectable activated influenza vaccines are the most widely used in the world. Vaccination is especially important for people who are in contact with people at high risk of influenza complications.

Those who can be vaccinated are: Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy. Children aged six months to five years. Elderly people (over 65 years of age). Persons with chronic diseases and health workers.

 

No antibiotics

 

Since all of the above diseases are caused by viral infections, antibiotics are never needed. Rather, unnecessary antibiotics are more likely to cause complications than harm.

 

However, if the child is not happy, looks a little sick, has severe shortness of breath, it can be assumed that he has pneumonia. Children of any age can get pneumonia. However, it should be kept in mind that if the child is less than three months old, if the temperature rises a lot or if he looks very sick or if there is pneumonia on the chest X-ray, antibiotics should be given. If the child stops eating altogether or the breathing rate is 60 times per minute for a child under two months, more than 50 times per minute for a child from two months to one year and more than 40 times per minute for a child between one and five years of age or if the baby's lips and tongue become blue. He must be hospitalized on an emergency basis. Because all these are symptoms of pneumonia or a deadly disease.