As the cold and pollution increase, more children are developing pneumonia. Unvaccinated people are more susceptible to getting sick.
Noida: These days, everyone’s health is being impacted, whether young, old or in between. The common cold now takes longer to recover from than it used to, which was usually three to five days. The number of patients visiting hospitals complaining of breathing difficulties has increased by 15% due to rising pollution.
Because of the increased cold and pollution, more children are developing pneumonia. Unvaccinated people are more susceptible to getting sick. According to paediatrician Dr. D.K. Gupta, children with pneumonia are admitted to the OPD, and prompt diagnosis and treatment can save their lives. According to Gupta, children require extra attention during the winter months because they are more susceptible to pneumonia.
He recommended covering the children’s ears to protect them from the cold and keeping them fully clothed as preventive measures for their safety. He continued by saying that in children, chest wheezing may be a sign of pneumonia.
Most children under five experience breathing problems and have trouble drinking milk because of pneumonia. They are also prone to other issues like fever, ear infections, diarrhoea, and the highly contagious illness measles, which is brought on by the measles virus.
The measles vaccine is very effective at preventing the disease. When a person who is infected coughs or sneezes, droplets are released into the air, and they become infected when a healthy person breathes them in. During the pandemic, children’s regular vaccinations were compromised, leaving their course of shots incomplete.
Bacteria, viruses, and fungi all contribute to lung infections. In contrast, a cold is a form of allergy that causes a runny nose and throat mucus.
Pneumococcal, PCV13, and Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccines, among others, can protect kids from bacterial pneumonia. To avoid contracting pneumonia, it is important to regularly wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer, stay away from infected people, and cover your face with your elbow when sneezing.
The signs of pneumonia are:
- Excessive tiredness,
- Loss of appetite,
- Phlegm- or a mucus-producing cough,
- Mucus that is yellow, green, or blood-red in colour,
- Chest pain, especially when breathing or coughing,
- Fever,
- Sweating and chills,
- Vomiting and nauseous
