by Babra Wani
SRINAGAR: As winter sets in, the cold weather brings a host of respiratory challenges, particularly for children. According to Dr Suhail Naik, a senior consultant paediatrician at Government Medical College, respiratory illnesses are the leading cause of mortality in children under five, with pneumonia being the primary cause, especially during winter.
Why Respiratory Illnesses Spike in Winter?
Respiratory viruses such as influenza and adenovirus thrive in the cold. “These viruses circulate and transmit more effectively in lower temperatures,” Dr Naik explained. Furthermore, the respiratory system’s local immune defences weaken during winter, making children more vulnerable to infections.
Children’s respiratory systems are especially at risk due to their rapid breathing rate, exposing their lungs to the environment. For children under five, respiratory illnesses like pneumonia account for a significant portion of mortality rates globally.
Dr Naik noted that children’s skin, gastroenterological system, and respiratory system are most susceptible to illness. “A child breathes 30 to 60 times a minute, leaving their respiratory system vulnerable,” he said.
Dr Naik reassures parents that respiratory illnesses are common in young children. “In one year, a child under five can develop respiratory illness around 8 to 10 times,” he notes.
While most respiratory infections are self-limiting, curing themselves within a week to ten days, Dr Naik stressed the importance of parental vigilance. Parents must watch for danger signs, including high-grade fever, persistent vomiting, and breathing difficulties.
Other warning signs include visible abdominal movements during breathing, abnormal lung sounds, and low oxygen saturation levels.
Dr Naik advises parents to seek immediate medical consultation if these symptoms occur, particularly in infants under two months old.
Age-Specific Vulnerabilities
Dr Naik categorises children under five into three groups based on vulnerability. For those under two months, symptoms may not always include cough or fever. Instead, parents should watch for signs such as lethargy, poor feeding, or excessive sleepiness, which require urgent attention.
For children aged two months to one year, coughing, wheezing, or fever combined with danger signs necessitate prompt medical care.
Children aged one to five typically experience less severe respiratory illnesses, Dr Naik adds. Parents can manage mild symptoms with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter fever medication like paracetamol.
Dr Naik highlighted the prevalence of self-medication as a significant issue. Parents often resort to over-the-counter cough syrups or antibiotics without proper guidance. Dr Naik warns that most respiratory illnesses are viral and do not require antibiotics, and misusing these medications can lead to complications.
Suppressing a child’s cough, for instance, can cause infections to stagnate in the lungs, potentially leading to pneumonia. Dr Naik stresses the importance of consulting a paediatrician for appropriate treatment rather than relying on home remedies.
Preventive Measures
To protect children during the harsh winter months, Dr Naik recommended several measures. These include dressing children in multiple layers to keep them warm, providing a nutritious diet with immunity-boosting foods such as honey, and using safe heating methods to avoid releasing harmful carbon monoxide.
Annual influenza vaccinations can also prevent severe respiratory illnesses, Dr Naik noted.
Simple hygiene practices can reduce the spread of respiratory infections. Dr Naik advises encouraging handwashing and the use of sanitisers, teaching children proper cough etiquette and isolating sick family members when possible.
Dr Naik praised parents for their crucial role in reducing child mortality. He stresses the importance of recognizing symptoms early and seeking timely medical intervention.
Respiratory illnesses during winter can range from mild to life-threatening. Dr Naik emphasized that the right diagnosis, right treatment, and timely intervention are critical.
Parents are encouraged to consult paediatricians for any concerns and ensure their children remain warm, nourished, and safe during the cold season. Dr Naik also cautions against misdiagnosis.
Misdiagnosed Childhood Coughs
Concerns are growing among medical professionals, including Dr Suhail Naik, about the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of persistent coughing in children. Allergic disorders and childhood asthma are often overlooked, Dr Naik said.
Many children with recurrent respiratory symptoms, such as persistent coughing lasting more than 14 days or coughing at night, are mistakenly treated with antibiotics. Dr Naik noted that these symptoms, combined with a family history of allergies, often indicate allergic respiratory conditions or asthma.
Dr Naik stressed that antibiotics are not necessary in such cases. Instead, proper treatment using inhalers is required. However, parents often resist inhaler treatment due to anxiety and misconceptions.
According to Dr Naik, parents’ reluctance to accept inhaler treatment stems from a lack of understanding. Many believe cough remedies should come in the form of syrups or oral allergy medications, which are ineffective for conditions like childhood asthma.
Dr Naik urged parents to trust their paediatricians and understand that inhalers are the most effective treatment for managing these conditions. He calls for increased awareness about childhood asthma and allergic disorders.
Healthcare providers should educate families on the importance of inhalers, reassuring them that using these devices is a safe and effective way to improve their child’s health, Dr Naik said.
