Many of you have already noticed. Your little ones started kindergarten or school and within a few days the first cold of the school year has been present. As every year for this time, with the return to school the snot and cold season opens.
When several children live in the same space for many hours, the viruses "make their August" (or rather their September). From birth to 4-6 years a child can have about 100 infections, most of them from viruses, so imagine how easy it is for children to get it.
There is nothing less than about 200 different viruses that can cause colds in children under 6 years old, that is, the chances of one of them attacking our children, being in contact with other children, are very high.
Contagion
He common cold or rhinopharyngitis It is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that is spread through the respiratory secretions produced by coughing and sneezing, being a very contagious disease.
Symptom
The most typical symptoms are sneezing, cough, aphonic voice, nasal congestion and abundant mucus. In some children infections occur very frequently, causing the child to be with mucus throughout the fall and winter.
The cough can be prolonged once the cold has passed, for one or two weeks, which gives the feeling that the child has not just healed. On the other hand, in some more moderate cases, the cold can be accompanied by a little fever.
Prevention
It is very difficult, almost impossible, to prevent the spread of colds in children who go to daycare or school. To think that "at least they get immunized" is the only consolation.
Avoid, as far as possible, that the little ones share pacifiers or objects that are brought to the mouth. Do not share drinks or food, wash your hands frequently and teach them not to cough or sneeze into the faces of other children.
It is more than likely that a cramped child infects other children, so it is best to stay at home and rest. For its part, it is logical that a child who is not well feels down and tired without encouragement to perform daily activities.
Treatment
A common cold usually lasts more than four or five days. It is essential to keep the child well hydrated (water, broths, natural juices) and clean the nostrils often with saline water to circulate the mucus. The use of environmental humidifiers also helps, as do the steam baths that contribute to making the secretions more fluid.
The cold is not serious, but caring for a child with a cold is important for avoid complications such as bronchitis, otitis, etc., especially in young children under one year.
In case of fever, anti-thermal agents such as paracetamol are usually used, but in no case the common cold is cured with antibiotics. Decongestants or mucolytics can only be indicated by the pediatrician.
For all this, although with back to school the snot and cold season has opened, the fundamental thing is not to lose patience and be prepared to face them.
