Winter is the season of high incidence of various respiratory diseases, especially for children with relatively low immunity and still developing immune systems, who are more susceptible to the invasion of viruses.
The most common respiratory tract diseases in children in winter are upper respiratory tract infections, accounting for about 90% of respiratory tract infections in children, including colds, viral pharyngitis, laryngitis and bronchitis, as well as acute sinusitis, bronchitis, etc.
· Part 1 · Influenza in children
When children are infected with the epidemic, they are generally divided into mild and severe, and most of the mild children have high fever to 39 40 degrees Celsius after illness, lasting about two days, accompanied by headache, chills, general malaise, and fatigue. A small number of children will develop severe influenza after infection, causing pneumonia, myocarditis, encephalopathy, etc.
Influenza viruses are mainly transmitted from person to person after droplets or contaminated surfaces, and influenza patients are also one of the sources of infection.
Influenza virus infection has an acute, self-limiting course and generally resolves spontaneously in 2-3 days for children without underlying medical conditions, and some children may have fever for 5 days, but most recover within a week. In addition, since influenza viruses and the common cold may be difficult to identify in the early stages, it is recommended that parents take their children to the hospital for a more accurate examination as soon as possible.
· Part 2 · Mycoplasma infection in children
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common pathogen in nature and is the smallest of the pathogenic microorganisms known to live independently between bacteria and viruses.
After mycoplasma pneumonia, fever and cough usually appear after 2-3 days; Because infants and young children have a rapid onset, a long course of illness, and a more serious illness, the symptoms of stridor, dyspnea, and wheezing are also more prominent. In a small proportion of children, other complications such as rash, meningitis, myocarditis, and liver dysfunction may occur after mycoplasma infection. A very small number of children may develop severe disease, respiratory distress, need ventilator support, and even die in severe cases, and parents should pay close attention to it.
Mycoplasma pneumonia**.
At present, in the case of mycoplasma lung infection in children, it can be mainly divided into general and nursing, symptomatic and anti-infective, among which the drugs for mycoplasma pneumonia are macrolide antibacterial drugs including azithromycin, erythromycin and clarithromycin.
· Part 3 · Respiratory syncytial virus
Symptoms of RSV infection are cough, wheezing, and in severe cases, dyspnea, and the transmission route is much the same as that of influenza, mainly droplet transmission and post-surface transmission of contaminated bodies.
At present, there is no vaccine or specific drug for syncytial virus in China. Then, when a child is infected with the RSV virus, parents can respond according to the situation.
In general, for immunocompetent children, after being infected with RSV, the early stage of infection is mainly mild, and parents can do a good job of home care. On the one hand, you can give the baby a small amount of water and multiple times, use a humidifier appropriately, on the other hand, you can also drop a little normal saline into the baby's nasal cavity, and after a few minutes, use a nasal aspirator to suck to help the baby discharge the secretions in the nasal cavity and relieve the discomfort symptoms. In addition, keeping your child on a light and easy-to-digest diet and getting enough sleep and rest can also help your child recover.
For premature babies or children with severe heart disease, lung disease, immune dysfunction, etc., it is very dangerous to be infected with RSV, especially for infants and young children under the age of two.
· Part 4 · Rhinovirus
Rhinovirus often resides in the upper respiratory tract, in addition to upper respiratory tract infection, it can also cause bronchitis and bronchopneumonia, and the clinical manifestations are often runny nose, sneezing, pharyngeal discomfort, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, and body temperature does not increase or slightly increases; Rhinoviruses are generally self-limited, with an average duration of about 7 days.
· Part 5 · What should I do if my baby is sick?
What should I do if my baby is sick?
In the face of the high incidence of common respiratory diseases in children in winter, parents are easy to care; In fact, it is not necessary to go to the hospital immediately; This should be decided on a case-by-case basis.
For older children, if they have fever and mild respiratory symptoms, but do not have other symptoms similar to general malaise, parents can choose to observe at home first, use some symptomatic drugs, and ensure nutritional intake; However, if there is persistent fever and other complications, parents should not delay it any longer and should take the child to the hospital in time.
If the child has symptoms of fever and cough, especially the baby, it is recommended to go to the hospital for medical examination as soon as possible.
How can I prevent it at home?
Although the most important ways for children's respiratory diseases are very diverse and specialized, the more important thing is the prevention of diseases, which can be started from the following aspects:
1. Ensure frequent indoor ventilation.
In winter, some parents choose to turn on the air conditioner for a long time in order to keep their children from catching a cold, and the lack of indoor ventilation is not conducive to health.
2. Wash hands and disinfect frequently before meals.
3. Avoid going to crowded places, wear a mask if unavoidable, and pay attention to cough and sneeze etiquette.
4. Ensure adequate nutritional intake, ensure a balanced diet, and eat more fresh fruits, vegetables and high-protein foods.
5. Get vaccinated against influenza.
6. Ensure adequate sleep, and you can also carry out appropriate physical exercise at ordinary times, combine work and rest, and improve the body's immunity.