In cold winters, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of respiratory infections in children, which poses a considerable threat to their health. As parents, knowledge of the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections in children during winter is key to safeguarding their health.
Understanding of respiratory infections in children in winter
The winter weather conditions have created a favourable living environment for pathogens. Low temperatures, dry air and long periods of indoor stay and poor air flow make viruses and bacteria vulnerable to widespread growth and spread. The immune system for children is still developing, with relatively weak resistance, and thus a high incidence of upper respiratory infections.
Upper respiratory infections include inflammation of the nose, throat or throat. The common pathogen viruses are influenza virus, gland virus, nose virus, etc., and bacteria have pneumococcus, soluble streptococcus, etc. After the infection, the symptoms are diverse. At first, it may be light nose plugs, aldicarb, sneezes and throat pains, which can easily be ignored by parents as a common small cold. As the condition evolves, the child may have a fever of up to 38°C or higher, accompanied by cough and cough, and younger children may be snoring because they do not cough. In addition, there may be general symptoms such as headaches, inefficiency and muscular acidity. For infants and young children, upper respiratory infections can also lead to gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhoeal diseases, reduced appetite, etc.
Strategies to prevent respiratory infections in children in winter
Optimizing living conditions
Keeping indoor air fresh is essential. The regular daily open-windows cannot be ignored even in cold winters. It is recommended that ventilation be performed 3 – 4 times a day for 20 – 30 minutes each, thus effectively reducing the concentration of indoor pathogens. At the same time, air cleaners can be used to further purify air, although it is important to remember that filters are regularly cleaned and replaced. The temperature and humidity in the room should also be appropriate, with the general temperature remaining at 18 – 22°C and the humidity at around 50 – 60%. Air moisture can be increased by using humidifiers, but care is taken to clean the humidifiers to prevent bacteria and fungus.
Development of good hygiene practices
Handwashing is an important part of preventing infection. Parents are required to educate their children about the practice of washing their hands carefully with fluid water and soap after meals and after going home, for a period of not less than 20 seconds, and to ensure that the heart, the back, the fingers, the nails, etc. are cleaned up. In addition, during the high-prevalence flu season, children are kept as low as possible in densely populated and poorly ventilated public places. If necessary, children should be given a child-specific mask. At the same time, care is taken to avoid close contact between children and persons with respiratory infections.
Increased immunization of children
A reasonable diet is the basis for increasing the child ‘ s immunity. (c) Guarantee the diversity of children ‘ s diet and the ingestion of sufficient proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Children are encouraged to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, with nutrients such as vitamin C, which can contribute significantly to increased immunity. Protein-rich foods such as milk, eggs, skinny meat, beans, etc. are also essential. At the same time, children need to exercise. In winter, it is possible to take children for outdoor walks, jogging, playing, etc. when there is plenty of sunlight and a better weather. Sport can promote the blood cycle of children and improve their health. Adequate sleep is equally important, with children of different ages having different needs for sleep time, and parents need to ensure that the child has sufficient sleep time to allow for adequate rest and recovery.
Treatment of respiratory infections in children during winter
General treatment
When the child suffers from respiratory infections, the child is given more rest and reduced physical consumption. More hot open or salted water is available to the child, which helps to alleviate throat pain, dilutes the sapling and facilitates the discharge of the sip. The choice of fresh, digestible food, such as rice congee, noodles, etc., must be made for the diet. If the child is hungry, do not force the child to eat.
If the child is hot and warm below 38.5°C, physical cooling can be used, for example, by rubbing the child ‘ s forehead, neck, armpits, groin, etc., with warm water, or by using reheating stickers. When the body temperature exceeds 38.5 °C, the child may be given, under the direction of a doctor, accelerant, e.g. for acetaminophenol or brophen. For the symptoms of nasal slugs and aldicarb, nusal saline drops or snorts can be used to help clean up the nasal cavity and relieve the snot. If the child’s cough condition is light, it can be mitigated by drinking warm water and increasing air humidity, and if the cough is severe, which affects the child’s sleep and rest, it is necessary to use cough medicine under the supervision of a doctor.
Treatment for causes
In the case of upper-respiratory infections caused by viral infections, antibiotics are generally not needed because they do not work for the virus and the abuse of antibiotics may lead to the creation of drug-resistant bacteria. However, if the child’s condition continues to increase, there are signs of high fever, increased coughing, acute respiratory distress, or a combination of bacterial infections, such as blood routine tests showing an increase in white cells and an increase in the percentage of neutron particles, treatment needs to be done rationally under the direction of a doctor.
In general, the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections in children in winter requires careful care and attention by parents. Prevention can be effective in reducing children ‘ s vulnerability to infection, while the right treatment and care can help children to recover as quickly as possible after a child ‘ s illness. I hope every child has a healthy and happy winter.
