Parainfluenza is an infectious disease. It is caused by the virus of the same name. Parainfluenza most often affects young children (an average of two to five to six years). The disease is characterized in that the intoxication syndrome is less pronounced than in the flu, and the pathogen is not so variable. This disease is transmitted only by airborne droplets (aerosol transmission mechanism). If droplets of the saliva of a sick person are present in the air, then with the inhaled air the virus settles on the mucous membranes, mainly on the upper respiratory tract. At the site of the virus settling, inflammation appears - a protective reaction that occurs in the body as a response to harmful effects. Swelling appears, mucus accumulates. Since the virus is able to completely destroy epithelial cells, it enters the bloodstream through the upper respiratory tract and causes intoxication of the body.
How does parainfluenza appear in children? Symptoms and treatment of this disease will be described in the article.
Virus characteristics
Parainfluenza is a paramykovirus that contains RNA as genetic material. It is quite large, in size reaches 300 nanometers. These viruses agglutinate (stick together) human and monkey red blood cells, guinea pigs and chickens. The causative agent is extremely unstable in the external environment. The apartment remains in the air for no more than four hours. If the virus environment is heated to 50 degrees Celsius, then it is completely inactivated (loses pathogenic properties) after 30 minutes.
Disease periods
The first period is incubation. It begins immediately after the introduction of the virus into the body of the child and lasts for a week. In the last days of this period, the patient becomes dangerous to others, because it is a source of parainfluenza. The next period is the prodromal. It lasts from two days to a week and is characterized by the appearance of the first catarrhal phenomena (focal inflammation that occurs at the site of the virus sedimentation).
Epidemiology
This disease is very common among military personnel. However, the most common parainfluenza in children. This infection accounts for 10 to 30% of all childhood respiratory diseases. The greatest increase in incidence is observed in winter among babies in the first few years of life. Outbreaks of this disease are not uncommon in groups (for example, in kindergartens). Almost any child has a parainfluenza several times in his life.
Parainfluenza: symptoms in children
Symptoms of this disease do not differ much from the symptoms of influenza or SARS. These include weakness, a sensation of "aches" throughout the body, headache, fever, and loss of appetite. These symptoms are the body's response to the introduction of the virus.
Most of the specific symptoms are based on the fact that the parainfluenza virus in children primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. The voice becomes hoarse, the child constantly coughs, but sputum does not stand out, a runny nose with purulent-mucous secretions appears. The baby has red enlarged tonsils that protrude beyond the edges of the palatine arches, the pharynx is swollen and also red. Often there is a syndrome of false croup. The larynx becomes inflamed, swells, which leads to its narrowing and poor airway. False croup manifests itself in the form of shortness of breath on inspiration (inspiratory) and a “barking” cough, as with whooping cough.
Influenza and parainfluenza in children are difficult to distinguish on their own. For this reason, in no case should you neglect the advice of a doctor.
Possible complications
Children's immunity is not able to cope with this disease on its own, since immune cells cannot secrete a sufficient amount of antibodies. Thus, if you do not support the body, the disease will progress, worsening the general condition of the child.
The disease manifests itself immediately, the temperature rises to a mark of forty degrees after three days after infection.
If parainfluenza is not treated, the child may experience various complications. These include sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), tonsillitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the pharynx), pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs), and so on. Common to all these complications is that they are all bacterial infections. Most of their pathogens are contained in the normal microflora of the human body and are activated with a decrease in immune functions. These complications worsen the general condition of the child, negatively affect his further development. As a rule, with the onset of complications, the fever intensifies (the temperature resumes or rises), the symptoms of intoxication are more pronounced. Pneumonia is usually accompanied by very severe weakness - the child cannot even get out of bed. Cough from dry and “barking” is transformed into moist, purulent-mucous sputum is released, dizziness appears, sweating, chills intensify, pulse increases, and when inhaling and exhaling, chest pain appears.
Forms of the disease
At the moment, there are three forms of parainfluenza. Their difference is exactly how the disease proceeds. There are mild, moderate and severe forms. During the mild form, the temperature either does not increase at all (normal), or keeps throughout the disease from 37.1 to 38.0 degrees Celsius (subfebrile). With moderate forms, the average temperature ranges from 38.1 to 39.0 degrees (pyrethic). The most severe form of parainfluenza is found. The temperature rises above 39.1 degrees (hyperpyretic), symptoms of intoxication are very pronounced.
Diagnostics
A direct indication for examination is the manifesting symptoms - catarrhal phenomena, false croup syndrome. A chest x-ray and a blood test are needed to detect antibodies to the virus.
Symptoms of parainfluenza in children are often similar to symptoms of other viral diseases, such as influenza, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial infections. Therefore, the final diagnosis cannot be made only on the basis of objective and subjective symptoms, the results of laboratory studies are necessary.
Parainfluenza Types
Five types of parainfluenza virus are distinguished. The fourth and fifth are harmless to humans, but the first three are pathogenic and cause disease. Parainfluenza type 1 in children is characterized by false croup syndrome as a complication. The second is not much different from the first. But the third is considered the main pathogen. Its main complication is pneumonia, and the disease itself is most severe.
Parainfluenza treatment
In general, the diagnosed disease is treated successfully on time. Treatment of parainfluenza in children can be carried out at home, but only if there is no croup syndrome and severe bacterial complications (sinusitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia). It is carried out by symptomatic agents (cough, runny nose, antipyretic drugs). One of the most effective methods is the introduction of a special drug - influenza immunoglobulin. This medication contains antibodies to a specific type of virus.
Nevertheless, it is used only in severe forms of the disease. In mild to moderate forms, it is considered sufficient to treat only the symptoms.
Important is bed rest. You also need high-calorie foods without any restrictions and plenty of warm drink.
Do not forget that the treatment should be supervised by a doctor!
Folk remedies
Among the medicinal herbs you can find both antimicrobial (chamomile, St. John's wort, sage, calendula, eucalyptus), and antiviral (pomegranate skins, raspberries, onions, blackberries, garlic, echinacea). Linden, coltsfoot, raspberries well reduce heat, and licorice, dill, oregano and quince have a bronchodilating and expectorant effect.
It should be remembered that treatment with alternative methods is permissible only for older children who do not have concomitant pathologies. In babies and weakened children, the disease proceeds rapidly, and the process is rapidly generalized. Therefore, in these cases, only medication is indicated, preferably with hospitalization of the patient.
Parainfluenza prognosis
Most often, the prognosis of the disease in children is positive. Fatal outcomes are extremely rare. Mostly this happens when serious diseases develop. These include pneumonia, as well as purulent laryngotracheobronchitis.
Preventative measures
Prevention of parainfluenza is no different from the prevention of other infectious diseases. A sick child should be isolated immediately after an ailment has been identified. Isolation of viruses lasts about 5-7 days, so isolation is necessary for such a period of time. The room where the patient is located must be constantly ventilated, and the surrounding objects treated with a disinfectant solution. Contact with the patient should be minimized, and in emergency situations it is necessary to use a medical mask. Also, it will not be superfluous to take antiviral and antibacterial drugs.
Vaccination
There is an opinion that flu and parainfluenza vaccines do not exist. This is not entirely true. Influenza is really very variable, has a huge number of strains, and therefore it is pointless to get vaccinated from it. With parainfluenza, the situation is completely different. A vaccine against him exists, because, as mentioned earlier, this virus almost does not change. However, the debate about the effectiveness of this vaccine does not subside even for a minute, so the decision on whether to immunize a child rests solely with the parents.
Parainfluenza - scary or not?
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that in the modern world parainfluenza in children is not something very scary or dangerous. Most children successfully tolerate this disease, provided that all necessary hygiene and preventive standards are observed. Timely diagnosis and properly prescribed treatment are also very important. Be healthy!