Mothers, beware of these diseases this season
Ojo Taiwo
It is no longer news that the raining season has fully arrived, although the season has not really been well felt as a result of sunny days. However, despite the soothing relieve from heat, the season also brings along other unpleasant things like flu, cough, pneumonia and several others for children.
Cold
Cold is the most common. More than 200 different viruses can cause this infection, but the rhinovirus is the most common culprit. Antibiotics, which fight bacteria, won’t treat your child’s cold because a cold is a viral illness. Viral illness cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Signs and Symptoms. The first symptoms of a cold are often a tickle in the throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. Kids with colds also might feel very tired and have a sore throat, cough, headache, mild fever, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. Mucus from the nose may become thick yellow or green. Except in newborns or in immuno-compromised children, colds in healthy children aren’t dangerous. They usually go away in 4 to 10 days without treatment.
Flu
Influenza, commonly known as the “flu” is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses. Flu appears most frequently in winter and early spring. The flu virus attacks the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract.
The flu virus is spread from person to person through respiratory secretions and typically sweeps through large groups of people who spend time in close contacts, such as in daycare facilities, classrooms, college dormitories, military barracks, offices, and nursing homes.
There is a slight different between cold and flu. Although the symptoms can be similar, the flu is much worse. The common cold and flu are both contagious viral infections of the respiratory tract. A cold may drag you down a bit, but the flu can make you shudder at the very thought of getting out of bed.
Cough
The flu virus is spread from person to person through respiratory secretions and typically sweeps through large groups of people who spend time in close contacts, such as in daycare facilities, classrooms, college dormitories, military barracks, offices, and nursing homes.
Many coughs are caused by a viral illness. Antibiotics are not used to treat viral illnesses and do not change the course of viral infections. Unnecessary use of an antibiotic exposes your child to the risks of an allergic reaction and antibiotic side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and yeast infections. Antibiotics also may kill beneficial bacteria and encourage the development of dangerous antibiotic- resistant bacteria.
Ear Infections
An ear infection, otitis media, is the most common cause of earaches. Although this condition is a frequent cause of infant distress and is often associated with children, it can also affect adults.
Ear infections happen when viruses or bacteria get into the middle ear, the space behind the eardrum where tiny bones pick up vibration and pass them along to the inner ears. When a child has an ear infection, the middle ear fills with pus (infected fluid). The pushes on the eardrum, which can be very painful.
For children, the most common trigger of an ear infection is an upper respiratory viral influenza, such as a cold or the flu. These disorders can make the Eustachian tube so swollen that air can no longer flow into the middle ear
Signs and symptom of the ear infection include slightly elevated body temperature, flu-like symptoms, runny nose, stuffy nose, fatigue and sore throat.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a bacterial or viral infection of the lungs. Pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs in the lungs and is caused by bacteria, viruses or, rarely, fungi. Most cases of pneumonia are caused by bacteria, most commonly Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumococcal disease) but viral pneumonia is more common in children.
Symptoms can include fever, chills, shortness of breath, coughing that produces phlegm, and chest pain. Pneumonia can usually be treated successfully at home with antibiotics but some cases may require hospitalization and can result in death. Vaccines are available against some of the more common infectious agents that cause pneumonia.
Natural ways to avoid general winter illness
1. Include fresh vegetables and fruits in your children’s diet
2. Avoid or limit mucus-forming food including dairy, cereal product and highly processed instant food during this illness
3. Encourage children to drink more water Drinking plenty of fluids prevents dehydration, thins your child’s nasal secretions, and flushes them out.
4. Expose them to fresh air and the sunshine
5. Caution them not to pick up dirty and wash their hand regularly.
