Preventing upper respiratory tract infections in children during the changing seasons

(Baonghean) - Upper respiratory tract infection is not a disease but a combination of diseases including: cold, rhinopharyngitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, laryngitis.

Illustration

The disease often occurs during the changing seasons (around September to March), when the weather turns cold and the humidity in the air drops.

Upper respiratory tract infection is not a disease but a group of diseases including: cold, rhinopharyngitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, laryngitis.

Although there are many different individual diseases, they all have some common symptoms that are very easy to recognize.

Common symptoms in children:

- Fever is the first important symptom. Fever in upper respiratory tract infections is usually high and intermittent. Body temperature is usually 39 degrees Celsius or higher.

- Runny nose and nasal discharge. The child will have a runny nose with the characteristics of a lot of clear, thin, non-pus and non-odorous discharge.

Nasal discharge is essentially a protective inflammatory fluid, but it is the culprit for transmitting pathogens because nasal discharge contains many pathogens, causing the disease to spread from one part to another, from the upper respiratory tract to the lower respiratory tract.

- Cough is a symptom that is present in almost all upper respiratory tract infections. Children with rhinitis also cough, children with pharyngitis also cough, and children with laryngitis also cough.

Because the throat of children is very sensitive and secretes a lot of fluid, coughing is often a common symptom. There are many types of cough: coughing in fits, dry cough, cough with phlegm...

Coughing is the first and last sign that an infection has completely ended. Usually, coughing is beneficial, but if not well controlled, it can make the child tired, sleepless, vomit, etc.

- Difficulty breathing is a non-specific symptom of upper respiratory tract infection. It is often a symptom of lower respiratory tract infection, but in the case of a child with laryngitis, it is very likely that he will have difficulty breathing. Difficulty breathing is a very rare symptom but when it occurs, it is very worrisome. Common symptoms are that the child has to wheeze, breathe loudly...

Therefore, if you detect the above signs in your child, parents need to take their child to the doctor immediately for timely treatment because upper respiratory tract infections in young children can easily lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.

Precautions

- Keep your child warm when the weather turns cold, especially when taking them out in the evening or early morning, in important areas such as feet, hands, chest, neck, and head.

- Children should not be exposed to people showing signs of flu, respiratory infections, or crowded, stuffy places with cigarette smoke.

- Give children warm water to drink, avoid eating foods taken directly from the refrigerator such as: ice cream, ice.

- Enhance nutrition with a balanced menu of nutrient groups such as: Starch, protein, fat and vegetables.

- Supplementing vitamins and minerals for children. These are important nutrients that help children develop both physically and mentally as well as strengthen the immune system.

- Vaccination to prevent diseases for children.

Dr. Hoang Thuong