With the arrival of autumn, sudden temperature changes in day and night air temperatures began. These temperature differences disrupt the defense system of the respiratory tract, causing some microbes that cause disease, especially in young children, to easily settle in the upper respiratory tract and spread easily in a crowded environment, inviting epidemic diseases.
Especially in the new education season, many young children will go to nursery, kindergarten and primary school, and children in this age group who have just started school will be exposed to fall and winter diseases that are highly contagious. We will see more. Parents have important duties to ensure that these diseases do not negatively affect students' school success and healthy growth and development. Let's get to know more about these diseases that can lead to serious consequences.
FLU. (Cold):
It manifests itself with nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, burning in the throat, itching sensation and initially a dry cough. There may be fever for the first 2-3 days, but it is often mild. It usually results in full recovery in 7-10 days. It is considered normal for children to catch a cold 10 to 12 times a year and to recover naturally without medication. In the younger age group, there is a higher risk of developing bronchiolitis, otitis media, croup and pneumonia along with the common cold.
EYE FLUFF: >
It is usually seen during seasonal epidemics of viruses. It manifests itself with redness - slight swelling, watering and itching in the eyes and eyelids. If the disease progresses, inflammatory crusting may occur and eye swelling may spread to the skin (this is dangerous).
LARINGOTRACHEITIS(CROUP):
Usually, 1-2 days after the cold
strong> It is an infection of the trachea and vocal cords. Edema, deepening of the voice, and a distinctive barking cough, especially at night, occur where the microbe attaches. If the narrowing of the trachea gradually increases&nbs p; respiratory distress may occur and this situation is life-threatening.
BRONCHIOLITIS:
From 2 years of age It is seen in young babies. This disorder often starts like a cold, then more serious symptoms such as wheezing, high-pitched cough, breathing difficulties, and dehydration develop. In a mild disease, the child gets worse in the first few days and then enters a slow recovery process. Most patients recover from the disease at home with good care and on-site treatment. Treatment is arranged according to the child's examination findings and respiratory distress. Cough may continue for up to 1 month after the disease is over.
INFLUENZA (Flu):
It is an upper and lower respiratory tract infection caused by influenza viruses. It often manifests itself with sudden onset of high fever, cough, sore throat, headache and muscle aches. Fever usually lasts 3-5 days. Some antiviral drugs can be used, but in order to be effective, treatment must be started as early as possible and it only shortens the course of the disease by 1-2 days, it does not eliminate the disease. Therefore, the use of drugs in children who are at risk for more serious infections or in cases that require hospitalization should be considered for. The most effective way to protect against flu is flu vaccine. For protection, The World Health Organization recommends that all children and adults over 6 months of age be vaccinated every year.
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SINUSITIS:
It often develops following a cold. While full recovery is expected in 7-10 days, this period usually takes longer, nasal fullness, inflamed green-yellow snot and increased cough occur. Fever recurs in young children. Headaches, facial pains and facial swelling may occur in older children. Treatment is required. In untreated young children, inflammation of the skull bones, skin infection (cellulitis) and even meningitis are undesirable conditions.
MIDDLE EAR INFECTION:
Ear pain that often occurs following a cold, such as sinusitis. It manifests itself with fever, fever (may not be present) and or ear discharge. It is observed more frequently in children with allergies, adenoid enlargement and or tonsil problems. Recurrent infections in the child affect school success along with hearing loss and behavioral changes.
PNEUMANE:
It is when the air sacs in the lungs are filled with inflamed fluid, damaging the oxygen exchange of the lungs. Pneumonia; It is most commonly caused by bacteria and viruses. In bacterial pneumonia; It causes fever, chills, cough, yellow-green or bloody sputum, chest pain, shortness of breath and loss of appetite. In viral pneumonia; In addition to fever, flu infection symptoms such as headache, dry cough, muscle pain and weakness may be observed. In some patients, only weakness, fatigue and dry cough are observed without any fever.
Treatment of pneumonia varies depending on the patient's age, examination findings and the microbe of the disease.
Bacterial pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics. Recovery in viral pneumonia can usually be achieved without medication, only with supportive treatment.
Pneumonia is still an important cause of death in children under 5 years of age.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT BABIES AND CHILDREN???
-Primary protection for young babies The way is to feed with breast milk. Breast milk is the baby's first vaccine. After birth, the Ministry of Health vaccination calendar should be applied regularly, and information about special vaccines that are not included in the application should be obtained from the specialist physician.
-Baby and child meals should be rich in vitamins, micronutrients and antioxidants to increase the resistance of the child's body. A nutrition program that includes all food groups in balanced proportions and is appropriate for each child's age and deficiencies should be created. -
-It is not necessary for a healthy-eating child to constantly take vitamins. If it is determined that some vitamins are missing in the body, vitamin amine can be used.
-It is important for children of all ages to consume milk - dairy products, eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables, grains and legumes every day. Especially eggs are the most valuable protein source and are very important in child nutrition and should be consumed daily during the winter period.
-If fish cannot be consumed at home twice a week, it will be useful to give omega 3 supplements to babies and older children in the appropriate month.
-Transmission of winter and autumn period diseases; It occurs through direct contact with the sick child's coughs and sneezes or through objects that have come into contact with the child's secretions. Following hygiene rules and hand washing habitsare very important.
Teach them to cover their mouths with their elbows when coughing or sneezing.
-Children and in babies, exposure to cigarette increases the frequency of middle ear infections, allergic airway diseases, bronchiolitis and many similar infections.
-As much as possible SHOPPING MALLS, CINEMAS, PLAYGROUNDS < Closed, crowded environments such as /strong> should be avoided.
-If possible, the air of the houses should not be dry, and if necessary, increase the humidity levels by measuring humidity (ideally 50%). 60) may be beneficial.
-In sunny weather, sunbathing for 20 minutes at noon in parks and gardensplays a role in protecting against infections by ensuring the synthesis of vitamin D.
- Quality sleep for school children and putting them to bed around 22:00 at the latestcontributes to increasing their body resistance.
!! It is very important that babies and children who are thought to have frequent infections should be examined by a pediatrician and underlying factors such as allergy, reflux, adenoids, tonsil abnormalities, immune deficiency and such should be eliminated.
-Most infections in children are viral. In such diseases, using antibiotics unjustly just because of fever reduces the body resistance even further, causing the disease to progress differently, causing organ damage and sp; It causes bacterial diseases that can be dangerous. The aim should not be to save the moment, but to bring the child back to health as soon as possible with the idea of least harm and maximum benefit
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