With the arrival of cold and low temperatures, the smallest of the house are exposed to respiratory infections such as colds or flu. Being more vulnerable and having a much weaker immune system, they are much more likely to suffer from some type of respiratory disease.
Sometimes they are often confused, although each one has a series of symptoms that helps to differentiate them.
Symptoms of the main respiratory infections
- If the child has a cold and a cold, it is normal for him to have a lot of mucus along with a cough and a sore throat. The fever is normal and usually lasts a couple of days.
- In the event that the child has the flu, the fever will be much higher than in the case of the cold. Apart from this, the general discomfort is much more accentuated along with muscle aches.
- Bronchiolitis is common in children less than two years old. This condition begins as a cold and as the days go by, the child shows some difficulty in breathing correctly along with a cough that becomes more intense.
- In the event that the child has Covid-19, the most common symptoms are a cough along with a mild fever. Apart from that, you may lose your sense of taste and smell, along with muscle aches and pains. some difficulty in breathing.
When to be alerted
It must be remembered that these types of respiratory infections are viral so they do not have a specific type of treatment. Parents can administer certain drugs that help alleviate the different symptoms and that help the child to feel much better.
It is important that the child drinks a lot of fluids so that he does not become dehydrated, clearing the nostrils to remove as much mucus as possible or give acetaminophen to make the discomfort go away.
There are a number of red flags that parents should be aware of, such as high fever, great difficulty in breathing or a change in the color of the face. Given this, it is essential to take the child to the pediatrician to examine him and see what happens to him. A cold is not the same as having been infected with coronavirus. If these warning signs worsen, parents should go without thinking to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
Experts advise parents to follow a series of preventive measures in order to prevent the little ones in the house from suffering from some type of respiratory infection. This is why it is important to wash your hands often., cleaning the surfaces of the house and the use of the mask.
Ultimately, It is inevitable to think that children get sick during these times of the year. It is normal that with the arrival of cold, viral infections are in the light of day. It is important to be able to correctly differentiate the different respiratory conditions. A cold is not the same as bronchiolitis or the flu. From identifying the symptoms, the way to act will be one or the other.