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Children are very susceptible to infections. Most often, it is the upper respiratory tract that is affected: the nasal cavity, sinuses, and pharynx. If the infection goes lower, then this is already considered a disease of the lower respiratory tract.
According to WHO, young children on average suffer from acute respiratory diseases up to 8 times a year. Weak immunity, the first team in a child’s life – a kindergarten or school, lead to frequent illnesses. The body learns to recognize infections and respond quickly to them. If the infection in the upper respiratory tract is not dealt with in time, it will affect the trachea, bronchi or lungs, which is much more dangerous.
What is an infection
Pathogenic organisms – bacteria, viruses and fungi – can penetrate the mucous membrane into the body and lead to disease. This is what is called an infection.
You can become infected through close contact with an already sick person. Through saliva, hygiene items, with particles of saliva when coughing and sneezing. The respiratory organs are the first to be affected, since they act as a defense against the external environment and take the brunt of it.
But microorganisms living inside us can also lead to infections of the upper respiratory tract. Normally, they do not manifest themselves in any way, but with a decrease in immunity, they can multiply excessively and cause illness.
What are upper respiratory tract infections in children?
All infections of the upper respiratory tract are divided into acute and chronic.
Acute disease begins abruptly, develops quite quickly and causes noticeable malaise.
Chronic infections develop if the disease was not cured during the acute period and weakened but living bacteria, viruses or fungi remained in the body. Chronic diseases proceed sluggishly, relapses occur periodically – when, for no particular reason, the disease again takes over.
Infections are also divided, depending on the location of the lesion. Usually, the further pathogens could penetrate, the harder and longer the disease is treated.
The nasal mucosa is usually infected first. As a result, it develops rhinitis – inflammation of the mucosa. In this case, congestion, sneezing, dry nose, decreased sense of smell are observed. Mucus is secreted from the nose, which can change. Often the child’s health worsens, appetite disappears. Babies cannot fully suckle a bottle or breast due to nasal congestion.
Rhinitis may progress to sinusitis – inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. This can happen on its own, or it can be triggered by improper blowing or rinsing the nose. Thus, the infection is carried further into the sinuses. Pus accumulates in them, this causes a feeling of fullness, congestion, headache. The body temperature usually rises.
When the mucous membrane of the pharynx is affected, pharyngitis develops. It is characterized by dry cough, constant sore throat, dryness. Often there are no other symptoms besides these symptoms.
After the penetration of infectious agents into the tonsils, tonsillitis and tonsillitis occur. Most often, this disease affects children. It is mainly caused by bacteria. There is a sore throat, the temperature rises, the state of health worsens. The tonsils and lymph nodes are enlarged, sore and inflamed. There may be plaque on the mucous membrane of the throat and tonsils. Tonsillitis is a chronic form, a fairly serious disease that, without treatment, can affect the joints and heart. Periodically, tonsillitis worsens, abscesses appear on the tonsils, and the body feels aching and tired.
Treatment of upper respiratory infection in children
Manifestations and symptoms will differ for each of the diseases described above. Treatment will also be appropriate – a disease of the nasal cavity cannot be treated in the same way as a sore throat. To make a correct diagnosis, you will need to call a pediatrician. The doctor will select the treatment that is necessary in each case.
Also, do not self-medicate. If fungi caused the disease, it is useless to treat them with antibiotics and you can lose time.
The main treatment is aimed at suppressing the source of infection and supporting the body’s immunity. Sometimes focal lesions lead to the appearance of abscesses, abscesses, which must be urgently removed. Depending on the disease, the affected sinuses, tonsils and other areas are cleaned using various methods. Apply washing with special solutions, a puncture under anesthesia to pump out the contents, and other methods.
To suppress the infection, various drugs, sprays and drops are used, which the doctor will prescribe.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of such diseases is very important. Sometimes even a doctor cannot determine what exactly causes the development of an infectious disease. Then additional research methods are required.
To exclude damage to the lungs and bronchi, the doctor listens to the chest with a stethoscope. The throat and nose are examined visually. Parents are interviewed to collect an anamnesis: when exactly the child fell ill, how it all started, what he complained about. It is important to remember this in order to inform the doctor later.
If necessary, tests are ordered. A blood test is needed to determine the markers of inflammation: an increased rate of sedimentation of red blood cells, an increase in the number of leukocytes.
If there is pus, abscesses, and so on, the material can be sent to the laboratory for sowing. This is how the exact causative agent of the disease is determined and the treatment aimed specifically at it is selected.
Modern treatments
Often, antibiotics or antifungal drugs have to be used to suppress the infection and stop the inflammatory process. There are many prejudices against them, but if the immune system has not coped on its own, there is nothing more effective than the medicines selected by the doctor.
The drugs begin to act gradually, their effect is cumulative. Small doses only slow down the infection, but may cause a feeling of imaginary improvement. If you quit therapy on your own, weakened but living microorganisms will again cause the disease.
To slightly improve well-being and reduce swelling, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are sometimes prescribed. With a runny nose, it is permissible to use vasoconstrictor drops for a short time.
To maintain immunity, immunostimulating medications are prescribed, as well as drinking plenty of water.
Prevention of upper respiratory infections in children at home
If an epidemic occurs in a kindergarten or school, there is only one way to save a child – to leave him at home. If he himself has become infected and is already sick, all the more you should not take the baby to public places so that the infection does not spread further.
The stronger the immune system, the harder the child “picks up” every cold. For prevention, you need to strengthen the body by hardening, spend time outdoors, send the child to the sports section.
It is important not to wrap the child like a “cabbage”, but you should not overcool, especially in winter. Focus on the words of the baby, if he is really so hot – let him take off his extra sweater and not sweat in it.
Popular questions and answers
In order for any cold to pass quickly and without consequences, you need to start treatment on time and competently. Learn about the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections evidence-based pediatrician Daria Schukina.
Is it possible to treat infections with folk remedies?
That is why for any of these options there are common regime moments that can be attributed to folk: this is airing the room, a humidifier, drinking plenty of water and toileting the nose (rinsing) with sea water or saline.
At high temperatures, this can be wiping with warm water, but in no case with alcohol, vinegar, or vodka. They increase intoxication in a child, since the skin of children is thin and everything is absorbed through it. As for everything else, including “breathing over the pan” with various broths and potatoes, this is not only ineffective, but can also be dangerous.
What are the complications of an upper respiratory tract infection?
Angina, or tonsillitis, is one of the most common bacterial infections. Streptococcal angina can give complications to the heart, kidneys, which, as a result of an autoimmune reaction, become a target for their own body. Viral infections often go away on their own, but there are viral laryngitis, which without treatment in young children can result in false croup (inflammatory swelling of the larynx) and suffocation. In this case, there is only one way – hospitalization.
As a preventive measure, popular remedies such as rinsing the nose with salt water and ointments are ineffective?
Other means of prevention are avoiding crowded places during seasonal epidemics, practicing good hygiene, eating well, and getting enough physical activity. All this helps the body to quickly adapt to environmental conditions. Vitamin courses, immunomodulators and antivirals are absolutely useless.