Respiratory infection is part of a set of diseases that occur in the respiratory system, caused by diverse microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, which begin suddenly and remain less than 2 weeks.  Most of such infections like the familiar and mild cold, but it depends on the overall condition of the child they can become complicated and become life-threatening if pneumonia occurs.

Main Symptoms:

These infections affect the population under 5 years of age with symptoms such as:

– Fever

– General discomfort

– Sore throat

– Stuffy and runny nose

– Cough

– Expectoration and shortness of breath.

Watch for the Following Warning Signs in Your Child:

– Rapid breathing or improved respiratory rate

– Difficulty breathing

– His or her ribs sink when he breathes.

– Has strange noise while breathing or his chest hisses.

– He does not want to drink or eat and throws up everything.

– Fever, which does not subside with the direction of medications.

– Irritability

– Fits or convulsions

– Drowsiness and decay

How to Prevent Respiratory Infections?

– Avoid interaction with people who have the flu. Also, patients should wear a mask and always keep their hands cleaned with proper handwashing with water and soap.

– Avoid interaction with smokers.

– If your baby is younger than 6 months, give breast milk only in more massive amounts, at least 10 times a day.

– If the child is 6 months or above, provide freshly prepared foods with high nutritional and energy content (vegetables, fruits, and meats), along with breast milk.

– When the child goes out to sudden change in the baby’s temperature, protect him and cover his mouth and nose.

Important Recommendations:

– Explain your children to sneeze: Put a napkin or tissue over your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and throw it away, and wash your hands.

– Don’t give any cough syrups, antibiotics, or medications unless prescribed by the Private Respiratory Pediatrician.

– Make sure to keep washing your hands frequently whenever you have contact with secretions or sick with the flu.

– Ensure to ventilate the home and the sick room daily.

– Proper hydration is important to controlling the disease, thus, avoiding further complications.

Myths and Facts – Respiratory Infections in Children:

It is widespread for parents to go to a health centre, especially in the winter season, for different types of viral infections suffered by their children. Rhinitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, among others, are frequent in minors and, in general, are accompanied by symptoms such as a sore throat, nasal congestion, and varying degrees of discomfort depending on the level of response of each organism.

According to doctors, respiratory infections are like an avalanche; once they start, they must end alone. What one should be aware of, especially in children, are the potential complications that may arise. 

What started as rhinopharyngitis or pharyngitis ends up leading to a more severe bronchial obstruction, which will manifest itself with more agitated breathing or with varying degrees of respiratory distress.

One of the most important is hand washing since one carries germs mostly with said limb rather than with the nose. This produces a contaminated surface for a child if, for example, an adult does not take precautions to wash their hands regularly.

Another relevant issue is that every fall vaccination campaign against the influence begins and predisposed people must be vaccinated. As the Private Pediatric Respiratory Physician in the UK explains, “influenza is no longer a rhinopharyngitis, it is a much more severe disease, which produces more problems, and has complications, including death. 

You have to take influenza seriously, and it is not a trivial disease, it is a complex disease, mostly if the person belongs to these groups with a greater predisposition. Also, he maintains that most of the drugs that are indicated are absolutely for symptomatic treatment. That is, to make the disease more bearable, but the condition will not last longer or less because you use a drug. Yes, it is essential to be attentive to the complications that a child may have, appearing bacterial over the infection that turns into otitis, bacterial bronchitis, or pneumonia.