A child often suffers from acute respiratory viral infections, as his immune system is not yet fully formed. By this term you need to understand a number of diseases provoked by the penetration of viruses.
This diagnosis is especially often made to children under 10 years of age, which implies the presence of a viral infection in the child's body. At the first signs of the disease, it is important to timely treat ARVI in children 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 complete 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 airways of the child. Often, infection occurs by airborne droplets, but sometimes children become infected in a household way. When saliva falls on objects, it retains its infectivity for some time.
Incubation period
Quite often, this disease is observed in a child 3-5 years old, which is associated with an unstable immune system, as well as frequent stay in a children's team. The incubation period of acute respiratory viral infections in children, in which there is no symptomatology, lasts for 1-10 days. On average, its duration is 3-5 days.
It is worth noting that the time when a person remains contagious is 3-7 days. The selection of the pathogen is 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, an increase in obvious symptoms occurs, which forces the parents to consult a doctor.
The main symptoms
In the early days of the course of the disease, the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections in children are nonspecific and have virtually no effect on overall health. However, it all depends on the immunity of the child and the characteristics of his body. Among the main symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections in children can be distinguished such as:
- sneezing
- cough;
- runny nose;
- fever and body aches;
- moodiness.
Throughout the incubation period, special signs of the course of the disease may not be observed. When a child falls ill with SARS, sneezing appears almost immediately, and many parents can confuse him with an allergic reaction. Initially, it is observed several times a day, so when this symptom appears, you should immediately consult a doctor. This will avoid complications and facilitate the course of the disease.
Cough with SARS in children in the first days of the course of the disease is often dry, and well-being is disturbed. The child sleeps very poorly, his appetite worsens, and he becomes restless. That is why it is very important to immediately start taking medications that help reduce its intensity.
Runny nose occurs almost immediately after infection. Nasal congestion disrupts the baby’s normal sleep pattern. If he is still breastfeeding, this also worsens the process of breast sucking. The baby often breaks away from his chest, 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.
Elevated temperature is observed in children not from the very first day and increases as symptoms increase. She 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 independently fight viruses in the body.
The manifestation of intoxication is considered to be the capriciousness of the baby. Infectious diseases accompany weakness and lethargy. It becomes difficult for children to show habitual activity, and often this is associated with fever.
Many children suffer a severe illness, which is worth considering and you need to try to consult a doctor in a timely manner for complex treatment. The use of drugs without the permission of a doctor is strictly prohibited 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 acute respiratory viral infections in children, as the body seeks to destroy the virus on its own, 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 flu. In this case, accompanying signs arise, in particular such as:
- body aches;
- headache;
- the baby becomes restless and refuses to play.
If the temperature during acute respiratory viral infections in children is not too high, then it is not necessary to take antipyretic drugs, since it helps activate the body's defenses and develop antibodies to the virus. The heat lasts on average 3-5 days. In this case, much depends on the age of the child, the state of immunity, the type of pathogen.
Diagnostics
With SARS in children, counseling for parents is very important, since you need to understand exactly how to administer the therapy in order to quickly normalize the baby's well-being. Often the diagnosis is established on the basis of complaints and with a general examination of the patient. A general examination of the baby should be very careful and thorough.
This is due to the fact that different types of viruses have their own specific manifestation of symptoms. This will help facilitate diagnosis. Additionally, such types of studies are required as:
- blood analysis;
- smear from the nasal mucosa and oropharynx;
- serological examination;
- 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.
Treatment features
Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in children should begin from the very first day of the course of the disease. It must necessarily include general organizational measures and the conduct of drug therapy. When the first symptoms occur, it is imperative that the child is completely calm.
Compliance with bed rest is shown, especially in the presence of high temperature and general weakness. Walking during this period is strictly prohibited, so you need to call a doctor at home. It is advisable to slightly raise the head of the bed. This will facilitate the discharge of mucus and sputum during coughing. When the temperature decreases slightly, you can go to the half-bed mode. With a runny nose, it is recommended to thoroughly rinse the child’s nose and remove mucus, since the use of drops should only occur in a cleaned cavity.
A plentiful drink is required, 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 is significantly enhanced, which significantly exacerbates the course of the disease. With the liquid that the child receives, virus toxins will be excreted from the body, as well as metabolic products that the body produces when fighting the infection.
A baby may experience a decrease in appetite, but this should not cause anxiety. Do not force-feed your baby. Against the background of the course of fever, the body concentrates all its forces on the fight against the focus of infection, and at the same time, work with the intestines and stomach weakens somewhat. As the immunity is restored, it is necessary to gradually introduce the usual food for the child into the diet.
Compliance with all hygiene standards and requirements is also an important stage of therapy. It is necessary to carry out wet cleaning daily and to ensure adequate ventilation of the room. During illness, the child needs to allocate a separate dish and carry out its thorough processing after each meal.
Drug treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in children should be prescribed exclusively by the attending doctor. Not everyone knows how to properly treat a disease. Antiviral drugs are exclusively aimed at combating viral infection. With timely prescription of drugs, the disease goes away for 3-4 days. If, during this time, the state of health has not improved, then this means that a bacterial infection has joined. In such cases, an antibiotic is additionally prescribed for children with acute respiratory viral infections.
In addition, symptomatic therapy is additionally needed. 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 and ointments is indicated, and for older ones, hard or chewable tablets and sprays are prescribed. The prognosis for recovery is often favorable.
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. Having assessed the situation, they can prescribe additional therapy. If, in the presence of high temperature, the child has cramps, then an additional consultation of 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, and magnolia vine are suitable. In the absence of high temperature, hot foot baths are recommended. They will help to significantly accelerate the blood circulation process and remove toxic substances from the body much faster.
Drug therapy
Having determined the presence of the disease, the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections 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”);
- preparations containing interferon (Viferon, Grippferon);
- antiallergic drugs ("Fenistil", "Clarotadine").
An antiviral is definitely prescribed for acute respiratory viral infections in children, which effectively affects microorganisms, as well as infections of a viral nature. 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 inhibit the growth of viruses. In addition, symptomatic agents can be prescribed to combat SARS, in particular such as:
- medicines for the common cold (Pinosol, Naphthyzin, Vibrocil);
- remedies for sore throat (Tantum Verde, Hexoral);
- cough preparations ("Mukaltin", "ACC").
The doctor can prescribe an antibiotic for acute respiratory viral infections in children, but only in the presence of bacterial complications, when it is very difficult for a child to cope with the disease on his own. Since such drugs cause serious harm to the body, you need to take them together with anti-dysbacteriosis drugs, in particular, such as Bifiform, Lineks.
Disease in infants
SARS in children up to a year can be very dangerous, since colds in babies provoke serious complications. First of all, parents should start to worry if the child has a fever. It can hold for one or several days. Signs of intoxication may be absent or join after a certain time. The baby begins to give up breasts, becomes moody and sleeps very poorly.
It is necessary to examine the skin of the baby, as they acquire a pale shade. Often the child begins to cough, he has signs of nasal congestion. Often they appear much brighter at night. 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 healing process can be dragged on. Very often there is a complication in the form of croup, characterized by a barking, rough cough. In this case, breathing 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.
Before each feeding, it is necessary to clean the baby's nasal passages from the accumulated mucus and suck it off with rubber syringes. In addition, special drops can be used to treat a runny nose. They must be used very carefully, since at a high dosage they are absorbed into the blood and can cause poisoning.
It is imperative to provide the child with bed rest and fresh air, if possible, moisten the air in the room the child is breathing. Coughing should not only suppress, but relieve, thin the sputum. For these purposes, the drug "Bromhexine" is well suited, as well as other means of mucolytics. However, self-medication is not necessary, as this can only provoke a deterioration in well-being.
How to distinguish from flu
Since influenza and SARS are of viral origin, they have similar manifestations. Parents themselves are not able to accurately diagnose and understand exactly what the baby fell ill with. Among the features of the course of the disease, the following should be noted:
- the flu is characterized by acute onset;
- this disease is characterized by a headache with fever;
- with colds, intoxication has a much lesser severity.
Influenza is almost always acute, since almost immediately after the penetration of the pathogen of the virus into the body, there is an acute deterioration in well-being, fatigue, body aches occur. The common cold has a gradual course with an increase in symptoms, in particular, sore throat, runny nose, cough.
When the course of the flu is characterized by the presence of headache with fever up to 39 degrees, increased sweating, chills. Colds are characterized by nasal congestion and sneezing. During the course of colds, intoxication has a much lesser degree of severity. The flu is predominantly characterized by a severe course with frequent complications. In the absence of timely complex therapy, the overflow of the disease into pneumonia or bronchitis is possible.
A long recovery period is characteristic of the course of the flu. It takes about 1 month. There is increased fatigue, decreased appetite, as well as mood swings. In some cases, a child’s legs may hurt. Such a manifestation indicates intoxication, and the attachment of a bacterial factor is observed. An untreated cold in a timely manner can develop into pneumonia.
Possible complications
Complications after acute respiratory viral infections in children can be very dangerous and serious, which is why it is necessary to carry out complex treatment. Self-medication or uncontrolled administration of drugs can lead to the attachment of bacteria. Complications of acute respiratory viral infections include:
- respiratory infection with the addition of pneumonia and bronchitis;
- rhinitis and an increase in adenoids;
- tracheitis and laryngitis.
When a secondary infection attaches, it can go to adjacent tissues of other organs and provoke pathology of the kidneys, digestive system. Any medication can be considered stress for the body, so you need to be especially careful in choosing a medicine.
Prophylaxis
To protect the baby from possible infection, the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections 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 only goes through its main development. Prevention of acute respiratory viral infections in children includes:
- restriction of contact with sick people;
- avoidance of crowded places;
- compliance with hygiene measures.
If children are prone to frequent colds, then you need to provide the child with proper 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 oxolinic ointment, visiting sports sections and the pool. It is important to fully sleep and rest.
In the season of colds, it is recommended to use antiviral and immunomodulating drugs that will help to quickly normalize well-being.