Most Common Child Diseases in Winter - Sehrish Shah 11

 Most Common Child Diseases in Winter

 

Winter has arrived, and this is the time of year when most people, particularly children, contract many illnesses. The flu is the most prevalent illness during the winter. The varying weather can cause the flu in certain kids. Most of the time at this time of year, youngsters fill the hospitals and clinics. We all try our best to keep the kids healthy this winter. Here are some general facts and a list of common winter ailments that affect kids. Everyone should be aware of the typical wintertime ailments and illnesses and their symptoms. You ought to be aware of your child's medical needs. Here, we give you a list of winter ailments along with tips for avoiding them.

Chart of Typical Childhood Illnesses:

Winter illnesses that frequently affect children include:

Common Cold:

A runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, or headache are all symptoms of a common cold, which is a viral infection. Early in the illness, fevers in children are also possible. It could seem as though your child has been battling colds all winter. There are currently more than 100 distinct cold viruses, and young children haven't developed an immunity to them. Before they turn two years old, kids may get up to 8 to 10 colds annually because of this. The fevers are often mild. Viruses of all kinds can cause colds, which can happen at any time of year but are most common in the winter. It is a winter illness that is highly prevalent. Additionally contagious is the common cold.

Preventing the common cold:

• When taking your child outside, make sure to properly cover their ears and chest.

• Serve a warm cup of soup to your kids.

• Take your child to the doctor right away if the cold lasts more than 4 days.

Influenza:

Every year, influenza epidemics in kids are common, typically occurring between November and April. Because influenza viruses change often from year to year, youngsters don’t stay immune for very long. People can contract the flu more than once because of this. The seasonal influenza viruses are referred to as "seasonal flu." Additionally, it is a prevalent illness that affects kids every year. The flu is spread by contact.

Symptoms:

People feel worse when they have the flu, which comes more quickly than a cold. Children who are congested typically have the energy to play and continue with their everyday activities. Children who have the flu are typically in bed.

The following are some typical influenza symptoms:

• A recent fever

• Shaking and chills

• A migraine

• Sore muscles

• Severe exhaustion.

• A painful throat and dry cough

• Loss of appetite

Preventions:

• Try to make your youngster as comfortable as you can. Provide a lot of fluids and short, wholesome meals.

• Keep the room at about 20 °C if he has a fever and put him in airy clothing.

• Warm water gargled will soothe a sore throat. Use sugarless hard candy with honey, herbs, or pectin for kids older than 3 who can securely suck on hard candy without choking. Young children shouldn't take throat lozenges containing numbing drugs since they may find it difficult to swallow.

Dry Skin:

Common skin conditions like dry skin are frequently made worse by the low humidity of winter. During the winter, moisturizing is crucial. Contrary to popular perception, the skin does not absorb moisturizing lotions and creams. As a sealer, they prevent the skin's natural moisture from draining away. After a bath or shower, when your skin is still damp, is the ideal time to apply moisturizer. You should also do this before going to bed.

Best practice:

Take warm showers rather than hot ones. Too-hot water makes skin feel drier and itchier.

Illnesses brought on by chilly temperatures:

Asthma: 

Asthma is a persistent, chronic inflammation of the lungs' airways. The airways become more susceptible to breathing episodes as a result of this inflammation (asthma attacks). Exercise, colds, and allergies are typical causes. In order to regulate inflammation, prevent triggers wherever feasible, and treat asthma attacks, medications are used to manage asthma.

Symptoms:

In children under the age of five, common asthma signs and symptoms include:

• Cough

• Wheezing, a whistle-like, high-pitched sound made when exhaling.

• Breathing issues or shortness of breath

• A tight, uneasy sensation in the chest

• Symptom patterns and severity can change.

• Nighttime symptoms getting worse

• Intermittent wheezing and coughing between periods of symptom-free time

• Recurrent or ongoing symptoms that may get worse when coughing and wheezing

• Seasonal variations brought on by common illnesses or allergy triggers

Prevention:

The following are the goals of preventive care for young asthmatic children:

• Treating airway inflammation, typically with daily medication, can help prevent asthma attacks.

• To treat asthma attacks, take short-acting medications.

• Prevent or lessen the impact of asthma triggers.

• Continue with regular activity levels.

Cold Hands and Feet:

Children are more susceptible to the illness meningitis, particularly in the winter. The initial symptoms are typically fever, vomiting, headaches, and general malaise. A rash, a stiff neck, a dislike of bright lights, cold hands and feet, and limb pain frequently show up before these symptoms of confusion.

Preventions:

• Since rashes don't always occur, don't wait for them to.

• Not everybody exhibits all of these signs.

• It doesn't matter in what sequence the symptoms appear.

• Meningitis and septicemia are not always related.

• You are your child's best expert; keep an eye on them frequently, believe your gut, and take prompt action.

Ear Infection:

Symptoms: Painful, congested, and itchy ears

Causes: A severe ear infection could be the outcome of a prolonged cold. Moisture in the ear is another factor that contributes to bacterial ear infections. It is crucial to diagnose an ear infection as soon as possible because it might happen even overnight.

Precautions: Before it affects the lungs, ears, or sinuses, treat the cold as soon as possible. Make sure your child's ears are clean and dry after going swimming, taking a shower, or going to the beach.

Treatment: Consult a physician.

Illness Brought on by a Bitter Cold:

Croup:

The onset of croup frequently occurs in the middle of the night. Your youngster might cough noisily when you wake up. It's common to hear someone "barking" or "like a seal" when they have croup. Additionally, your youngster may be breathing loudly, which medical professionals refer to as striding. Children who have mild to moderate coughs can frequently receive care at home. With exposure to cool, dry air (wrap your child up and take them outside) or hot, humid air, croup symptoms frequently get better (steam up the bathroom). Croup frequently results in an emergency room visit in the middle of the night for kids with a moderate to severe cough or breathing difficulties. Fortunately, nebulizer treatments and steroids are frequently effective treatments for croup in the emergency room.

Children's joints that hurt:

During the winter, a lot of people experience joint and muscular pain. Children can experience painful joints and muscles as a result of excessive cold. It's not a promising sign. In the winter, children with sore joints are less active and more likely to be found in bed. During the winter, many kids experience mild depression, which may cause them to feel pain more keenly. Everything, especially illnesses, feels worse. To prevent this severe cold illness throughout the winter, you should require your child to exercise every day.

Throat Infection:

Children of school age are most frequently affected by strep. Children typically come in with a headache, a stomachache, and a sore throat. Some kids will vomit or develop high fevers. Neither cold symptoms nor coughing are brought on by strep throat. Children with strep throat should be treated to help prevent further consequences from this infection, as it is typically easily treatable with medications. Children should skip the first 24 hours of their antibiotic treatment before returning to school and other activities.

It can be difficult to keep kids healthy and out of the doctor's office throughout the winter. Teach your kids how to wash their hands properly and how to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze (with an elbow). If you have a young infant at home, try to stay away from crowded areas and visiting with individuals who are known to be sick. In order to prevent infecting other kids or staff members, please keep your sick child home from daycare or school. Typically, your child can go back to school once their temperature has subsided for 24 hours (without the need for Tylenol or Ibuprofen) and when other symptoms are getting better.

Stomach flu:

Symptoms: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe flatulence in the abdomen.

Infected food, water, and dirty hands are the main causes. As long as your child has diarrhea, she is very contagious, and the virus can continue to reside in her stool for a few weeks after that.

Precautions: Keep an eye on where your child eats. Additionally, make sure the child thoroughly washes his hands before eating.

Treatment: Consult a physician. Make sure the child is drinking plenty of liquids to stay hydrated.

Winter brings the advent of some feared childhood ailments along with the chilly temperatures. Given that the most common winter illnesses have a number of symptoms, it can be challenging to identify which one your child may be suffering from. To make it simple for you to choose the one that is most likely to affect your child, we've listed them all below. Please be aware that this information is not intended to provide a conclusive diagnosis; whenever you have concerns about your child's health, you should always speak with your pediatrician.