The child often gets sick with ARVI, as his immune system is not yet fully formed. This term should be understood as a whole range of diseases provoked by the penetration of viruses.
Especially often this diagnosis is made to children under 10 years old, which implies the presence of a viral infection in the child's body. At the first signs of the disease, it is important to treat ARVI in children in a timely manner in order to prevent the occurrence of dangerous complications.
Causes of occurrence
The main source of the disease is an infected person. The likelihood of the spread of infection increases significantly in various groups, especially in children.
The child's immunity is not able to fully provide full protection of the body from the effects of various microbes, so ARVI is quite common. Its development is mainly associated with the presence of the influenza virus and adenovirus in the respiratory tract of the child. Often, infection occurs by airborne droplets, but sometimes children become infected in a household way. When saliva comes into contact with objects, it remains infectious for some time.
Incubation period
Quite often this disease is observed in a child of 3-5 years old, which is associated with an unstable immune system, as well as frequent stay in the children's team. The incubation period of acute respiratory viral infections in children, in which there are no symptoms, lasts for 1-10 days. On average, its duration is 3-5 days.
It is worth noting that the time a person remains contagious is 3-7 days. Isolation of the pathogen is also observed 1-2 weeks after the onset of the first signs of the course of the disease. After the incubation period of acute respiratory viral infections in children, there is an increase in obvious symptoms, which makes parents consult a doctor.
Main symptoms
In the first days of the course of the disease, the symptoms of SARS in children are non-specific and practically do not have any effect on general well-being. However, it all depends on the immunity of the child and the characteristics of his body. Among the main symptoms of SARS in children are:
- sneeze;
- cough;
- runny nose;
- fever and body aches;
- capriciousness.
Throughout the incubation period, there may be no special signs of the course of the disease. When a child gets SARS, sneezing appears almost immediately, and many parents can confuse it with an allergic reaction. Initially, it is observed several times a day, so when this symptom appears, you should immediately turn todoctor. This will avoid complications and ease the course of the disease.
Cough in ARVI in children in the first days of the course of the disease is often dry, while the state of he alth is disturbed. The child sleeps very badly, his appetite worsens, and he becomes restless. That is why it is very important to immediately start taking drugs to help reduce its intensity.
A runny nose occurs almost immediately after infection. Nasal congestion disrupts a child's normal sleep. If he is still breastfeeding, then this also worsens the process of sucking the breast. The baby often comes off the breast, is naughty and cries. If this symptom occurs, it is important to help the baby in a timely manner. Lack of timely therapy can lead to hearing loss. Mucus from the nasal cavity flows into it and leads to inflammation.
Fever is observed in children not from the very first day and increases as the symptoms increase. It very rarely reaches 39 degrees. In some cases, ARVI occurs without a temperature in a child, and this is due to the fact that the immune system cannot fight viruses in the body on its own.
The moodiness of the baby is considered a manifestation of intoxication. Infectious diseases accompany weakness and lethargy. It becomes quite difficult for children to perform their usual activities, and this is often associated with increased temperature.
Many children suffer from a severe illness, which should be taken into account and you should try to consult a doctor in a timely manner forcomplex treatment. It is strictly forbidden to use medicines without the permission of a doctor and this is associated with the risk of complications.
Temperature rise
Among the first signs of the course of the disease, there is an increase in temperature during SARS in children, as the body seeks to independently destroy the virus, reduce its activity, and also prevents reproduction. However, it is worth noting that with a cold, the value of this indicator does not exceed 38 degrees. If its value is above 39 degrees, then this may be a sign of the flu. In this case, accompanying signs arise, in particular, such as:
- ache all over the body;
- headache;
- baby becomes restless and refuses to play.
If the temperature during SARS in children is not too high, then it is not necessary to take antipyretics, as it helps to activate the body's defenses and produce antibodies to the virus. The fever lasts 3-5 days on average. In this case, much depends on the age of the child, the state of immunity, the type of pathogen.
Diagnostics
When ARVI in children, consultation for parents is very important, since you need to understand exactly how to conduct therapy in order to quickly normalize the baby's well-being. Often the diagnosis is established on the basis of complaints and during a general examination of the patient. The general examination of the baby should be carried out very carefully and carefully.
This is due to the fact that different types of viruses have their own specific manifestation of symptoms. This will help make diagnosis easier. Additionally, these are requiredresearch types like:
- blood test;
- smear from the nasal and oropharyngeal mucosa;
- serological testing;
- consultation with an otolaryngologist and pulmonologist;
- X-ray examination;
- pharyngoscopy and rhinoscopy.
Based on the data obtained, the doctor can accurately diagnose and prescribe adequate therapy.
Features of treatment
Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in children should be started from the very first day of the course of the disease. It must necessarily include general organizational measures and drug therapy. When the first symptoms occur, it is imperative that the child be given complete rest.
Bed rest is indicated, especially in the presence of high fever and general weakness. Walking during this period is strictly prohibited, so you need to call a doctor at home. It is advisable to raise the head of the bed a little. This will facilitate the discharge of mucus and sputum when coughing. When the temperature drops slightly, you can go to half-bed mode. In case of a runny nose, it is recommended to thoroughly rinse the nose of the child and remove mucus, since the use of drops should only occur in the cleaned cavity.
Requires plenty of drink, which must be warm and pleasant to taste. During illness, the child sweats and loses a lot of fluid. Against this background, dehydration of the body increases significantly, which greatly aggravates the course of the disease. with the liquid thatthe child receives, the toxins of the viruses will be removed from the body, as well as the metabolic products that the body produces when fighting the infection.
The baby may experience a decrease in appetite, but this should not cause alarm. Do not force feed your baby. Against the background of a fever, the body concentrates all its forces on fighting the source of infection, while work with the intestines and stomach is somewhat weakened. As immunity is restored, it is necessary to gradually introduce food familiar to the child into the diet.
Compliance with all hygiene standards and requirements is also an important step in therapy. It is necessary to carry out wet cleaning daily and ensure sufficient ventilation of the room. During an illness, a child needs to allocate separate dishes and carefully process them after each meal.
Drug treatment of SARS in children should be prescribed exclusively by the attending doctor. Not everyone knows how to properly treat the disease. Antiviral drugs are aimed solely at fighting a viral infection. With the timely appointment of drugs, the disease disappears within 3-4 days. If during this time the state of he alth has not improved, then this means that a bacterial infection has joined. In such cases, an additional antibiotic is prescribed for children with SARS.
In addition, symptomatic therapy should be additionally carried out. It is worth noting that the form of release of drugs varies depending on the age of the baby. For the smallest, the use of suppositories, syrups andointments, and for older ones, solid or chewable tablets, sprays are prescribed. The prognosis for recovery is often good.
If there is a deterioration in well-being, then it is worth sending the child for a consultation with narrow specialists, in particular, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, orthopedists. After evaluating the situation, they may prescribe additional therapy. If convulsions are observed in the presence of a high temperature in a child, then an additional consultation with a neurologist is required.
In addition to drug therapy, the use of traditional medicine may be required. For this, vitamin teas prepared on the basis of chamomile, linden, lemongrass are suitable. In the absence of high temperature, hot foot baths are recommended. They will help to significantly speed up the process of blood circulation and remove toxic substances from the body much faster.
Drug therapy
Having determined the presence of the disease, the treatment of SARS in children should be prescribed only by the attending doctor. It is extremely important not to self-medicate, as this can lead to various complications. Basically, the pediatrician prescribes:
- anti-inflammatory drugs ("Nurofen", "Panadol");
- immunomodulatory ("Immunal", "Arbidol");
- drugs containing interferon ("Viferon", "Grippferon");
- antiallergic drugs (Fenistil, Clarotadine).
An antiviral is mandatory for ARVI in children, which effectively affects microorganisms, andas well as viral infections. Drugs must be prescribed on the first or second day from the onset of symptoms. With all strains of influenza, the drug "Remantadin" is effective, which is able to suppress the growth of viruses. In addition, symptomatic remedies can be prescribed to combat SARS, in particular, such as:
- drugs for the common cold ("Pinosol", "Naphthyzin", "Vibrocil");
- remedies for sore throat ("Tantum-Verde", "Geksoral");
- cough medicines (Muk altin, ACC).
The doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for ARVI in children, but only if there are bacterial complications, when it is very difficult for the child to cope with the disease on his own. Since such drugs cause serious harm to the body, they must be taken together with anti-dysbacteriosis drugs, in particular, such as Bifiform, Lineks.
Disease in infants
ARVI in children under one year old can be very dangerous, as colds in babies provoke serious complications. First of all, parents should start to worry if the child has a fever. It may last for one or more days. Signs of intoxication may be absent or join after a certain time. The baby begins to refuse the breast, becomes cranky and sleeps very badly.
You need to examine the baby's skin, as they become pale. Often the child begins to cough, he has signs of nasal congestion. They often appear much brighter.in nighttime. If all these signs occur, you should definitely consult a doctor.
The insidiousness of the disease at this age is due to the fact that over time bacteria can join the viral infection, and therefore the recovery process can be very delayed. Very often there is a complication in the form of croup, characterized by a barking, rough cough. Breathing at the same time becomes noisy, it becomes difficult for the child to breathe, and crying becomes hoarse. In this case, you must definitely call an ambulance. After recovery, the child behaves as usual.
It is necessary before each feeding to clean the child's nasal passages from accumulated mucus and suck it out with rubber syringes. In addition, you can use special drops to treat the common cold. They must be used very carefully, since at a high dosage they are absorbed into the bloodstream and can provoke poisoning.
It is imperative to provide bed rest for the child, fresh air, if possible, it is necessary to humidify the air in the room that the child breathes. Cough should not only be suppressed, but facilitated, thinning sputum. For these purposes, the drug "Bromhexine", as well as other mucolytics, is well suited. However, self-medication is not necessary, as this can only provoke a deterioration in well-being.
How to distinguish from the flu
Since influenza and ARVI are of viral origin, they have similar manifestations. Parents themselves are not able to accurately diagnose and understand what exactly the baby got sick. Among the features of the course of the disease, the following should be noted:
- flu is characterized by an acute onset;
- this disease is characterized by headache with fever;
- with a cold, intoxication is much less pronounced.
Influenza is almost always acute, because almost immediately after the penetration of the pathogen into the body, there is an acute deterioration in he alth, fatigue, body aches. A cold has a gradual course with an increase in symptoms, in particular, sore throat, runny nose, cough.
When the flu is characterized by a headache with fever up to 39 degrees, increased sweating, chills. The common cold is characterized by nasal congestion and sneezing. During the course of colds, intoxication is much less pronounced. Influenza is predominantly characterized by a severe course with frequent complications. In the absence of timely complex therapy, the disease may flow into pneumonia or bronchitis.
A long period of recovery of the body is typical for the course of the flu. It takes approximately 1 month. There is increased fatigue, decreased appetite, and mood swings. In some cases, the child may have leg pain. Such a manifestation indicates intoxication, and the addition of a bacterial factor is observed. If left untreated, a cold can develop into pneumonia.
Possible Complications
Complications after SARS inchildren can be very dangerous and serious, which is why complex treatment is necessary. Self-medication or uncontrolled use of drugs can lead to the attachment of bacteria. Complications of SARS include:
- infection of the respiratory organs with the addition of pneumonia and bronchitis;
- rhinitis and adenoid enlargement;
- tracheitis and laryngitis.
When a secondary infection is attached, it can pass to adjacent tissues of other organs and provoke pathology of the kidneys and digestive system. Any drug can be considered stressful for the body, so you need to be especially careful in choosing a drug.
Prophylaxis
To protect the baby from possible infection, prevention of SARS in children is required. It is necessary to direct all the forces of the body to strengthen the immune system. It is worth noting that children under 7 years old get sick at least 3-4 times a year. The thing is that at this stage, immunity is only going through its main development. Prevention of SARS in children includes:
- limiting contact with sick people;
- avoiding crowded places;
- compliance with hygiene measures.
If children are prone to frequent colds, then you need to provide the child with proper nutrition, take frequent walks in the fresh air, do exercises and perform tempering procedures. In addition, doctors recommend lubricating the inside of the nose with oxolin ointment, visiting sports clubs and the pool. Importantsleep and rest fully.
In the season of colds, it is recommended to use antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs that will help you quickly normalize your he alth.
