Be cautious of the epidemics that are spreading among children during the winter-spring season.
Winter-spring with fluctuating daily temperatures and high humidity creates conditions for various viruses and bacteria to thrive, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, especially respiratory infections. Young children, with their underdeveloped immune systems, are particularly susceptible to illness.
Some common illnesses children often contract in winter-spring
1. Seasonal Flu
Seasonal flu is an acute respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. The disease is transmitted directly from an infected person to a healthy person through small droplets when talking, coughing, or sneezing.
Symptoms of the disease include: fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dizziness, loss of appetite, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, ear pain…, and diarrhea may also occur.
Seasonal flu is usually benign, but it can lead to severe pneumonia, significantly affecting health in children, especially young ones.
2. Measles
Measles is an acute infectious disease transmitted through the respiratory route, caused by the nasal and throat secretions of infected individuals released into the air when they cough, sneeze, or talk.
Common diseases in young children and individuals with weakened immunity, which can lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, diarrhea, etc. If not treated promptly, it can be fatal.
Children infected with measles often exhibit symptoms such as: high fever above 39°C; upper respiratory tract inflammation, runny nose, persistent dry cough, hoarseness, Koplik spots in the mouth; tearing, conjunctivitis, eye discharge, swollen eyelids; rashes,…
3. Chickenpox
Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the Varicella Zoster virus and often outbreaks in the spring. The virus that causes chickenpox is primarily transmitted through the respiratory route (or airborne).
At onset, patients may exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain; in some cases, especially in children, there may be no warning symptoms. When infected with chickenpox, the patient’s body will develop “pox.” These are small round spots that appear rapidly within 12 – 24 hours, and these spots will progress to blisters and vesicles. The pox can appear all over the body or scattered on the body. Normally, these blisters dry up, become scabs, and completely heal within 4 – 5 days. In children, chickenpox usually lasts about 5 – 10 days.
Chickenpox can cause dangerous complications such as: meningitis, hemorrhage, sepsis, infection of the pox, cellulitis, hepatitis… In some cases, it can be fatal if the patient does not receive timely treatment.
4. Mumps
Mumps is commonly seen in children under 15 years old, particularly concentrated in children aged 6 to 10 years. Mumps is highly contagious through respiratory droplets when the saliva of an infected person is released into the air while talking, coughing, or sneezing.
Children develop the disease with symptoms of fever ranging from 38-39 degrees Celsius, lasting for 3-4 days, fatigue, poor appetite and sleep, ear pain, headache, chills, and sensitivity to wind. After 24 – 28 hours of fever, symptoms of parotitis appear, usually swelling on both sides, rarely on one side. Children experience jaw pain when opening their mouths, chewing, swallowing, with pain radiating to the ears, a red and swollen throat, and swollen lymph nodes at the angle of the jaw.
The disease is usually benign, self-limiting within 1-2 weeks, but can sometimes cause dangerous complications, especially complications in the genital organs.
Some notes to prevent the disease for children:
– Ensure children receive vaccinations on time and fully.
– Keep children appropriately warm, especially in important areas such as feet, hands, chest, neck, and head.
– Create a well-ventilated living environment, limit taking children to crowded places. If taking children outside, they must wear masks.
– Maintain cleanliness for the child’s body and living environment, guide children to wash their hands with soap properly, and clean their nose and throat daily.
– Ensure adequate nutrition for children, eat plenty of fruits to boost vitamins and enhance immunity.
– When noticing signs that the child may be ill, parents should not self-treat at home but should take the child to medical facilities immediately for examination, consultation, and timely treatment.
The International Pediatrics Center, Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, with a team of experienced doctors and a modern equipment system, is always ready to receive, examine, diagnose, and treat pediatric-related conditions in children. Parents can schedule an appointment with a specialist at the following link:
https://quoctesannhihaiphong.vn/dang-ky-kham/
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