What should parents be wary of when facing respiratory infections in children?

With the arrival of winter, the number of outpatients in many hospitals has increased dramatically. The number of patients with various types of respiratory diseases such as influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus, etc. has increased significantly. There have also been cases of simultaneous infection with multiple pathogens. Compared with adults, children's respiratory organs are not yet fully developed, and their respiratory mucosa are relatively fragile. If they are not careful, they will be "visited" by respiratory diseases. In addition, autumn and winter are the peak seasons for respiratory infections in children, so protection should be strengthened to avoid cross-infection. In the face of this situation, what do parents need to do?

What are respiratory infections in children?

Respiratory infections in children refer to diseases that affect a child's respiratory system, usually caused by viruses or bacteria. Such infections usually lead to inflammation of the respiratory system, causing symptoms such as sore throat, nasal congestion, cough and shortness of breath, and may lead to complications such as laryngitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. Respiratory infections are common in children, especially in collective living places such as kindergartens and schools.

What are the common symptoms?

This year, children's respiratory tract infection symptoms are more severe, with more fever and prone to lung inflammation, which is more difficult to treat. Common symptoms include:

Cough: It can be dry or produce phlegm and can last for several weeks.

Nasal congestion and runny nose: Nasal congestion is caused by inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity, and nasal congestion and runny nose may occur.

Sore throat and hoarseness: Sore throats caused by viral infections are usually mild, while sore throats caused by bacterial infections may be more severe.

Fever: Children may develop fever after being infected, and the body temperature may be as high as 39 to 40 degrees.

Sneezing: Sneezing is a self-protection mechanism of the body, which clears viruses and bacteria from the nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract.

Shortness of breath: Severe respiratory infections may cause children to experience rapid breathing and shortness of breath, so it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Transmission routes and prevention measures

Pathogen transmission: Respiratory infections in children are usually transmitted through droplets or directly. Droplet transmission means that when a patient coughs, sneezes or talks, droplets are spread into the air, spreading the virus through the air; direct transmission means that children come into contact with objects with uninactivated viruses, causing infection through skin and mucous membrane contact.

In addition to influenza, there are currently no preventive drugs or vaccines for several popular pathogens. Therefore, in this special environment this year, parents must pay attention to protecting their children in daily life and try to prevent respiratory infections. Here are a few tips:

Maintain good personal hygiene habits:

Parents and children should wash their hands frequently, especially after touching their mouth and nose, coughing or sneezing, and after going out and returning home. Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds and ensure thorough cleaning.

Get a flu shot:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children over 6 months old can be vaccinated against influenza. Since the viruses are different every year, it is recommended that children and adults living with them be vaccinated before each epidemic season. Although the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine may vary due to the mutation of the influenza virus, it is still one of the most effective ways to prevent influenza.

Wearing a mask:

Try not to go to crowded places. If it cannot be avoided, parents and children should wear masks to reduce the risk of transmission. In addition, reduce close contact with patients with respiratory infections. If you need to contact patients, keep a distance of at least 1 meter.

Maintain good indoor ventilation:

Keep the indoor air circulating to reduce the possibility of pathogens accumulating in the air. You can open windows regularly for ventilation or use an air purifier to improve indoor air quality.

If children have symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent fever, prolonged cough, or other serious discomfort, parents should take their children to see a doctor in time, determine the cause through clinical examination and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Parents should pay attention to the following points when seeing a doctor:

Provide a detailed medical history: Provide your child's detailed medical history to your doctor, including when symptoms occurred, how long they lasted, how the condition progressed, etc.

Take medication as directed by your doctor: Use medication as prescribed by your doctor and strictly follow the dosage and usage. Do not abuse antibiotics.

Pay attention to the condition observation: During the treatment, parents need to closely observe the changes in their children's condition. If the condition worsens or other complications occur, inform the doctor in time.

With the change of seasons, the emergence of new pathogens, and the greater mobility of people at the end of the year, the risk of respiratory disease infection is gradually increasing. Therefore, parents must be vigilant, strengthen their awareness of prevention, and take necessary preventive measures to protect their children's health. (Di Panpan, Nursing Department, Shijiazhuang Maternal and Child Health Hospital)