Learn what upper respiratory tract infection is and how it can affect your child

Learn what upper respiratory tract infection is and how it can affect your child

URTI
October 27, 2019

Did you know that upper respiratory tract infection can affect your child’s nose, throat and airways? Well, read on to know its symptoms in children, its causes, how it can affect children, and how homeopathy offers safe treatment.

Symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in children

Listed below are the most common symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in children.

  • Nasal congestion
  • A runny nose
  • Scratchy throat
  • Cough which might last up to 14 days
  • Fever
  • Decreased appetite
  • Lethargy
  • A general feeling of illness
  • Headaches
  • Body aches

Since infants are not able to communicate their specific symptoms, they just appear cranky and uncomfortable.

Causes of upper respiratory infection

In children, certain pressures of adenovirus, coronaviruses, influenza viruses during annual winter epidemics, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinoviruses are the main causes of upper respiratory infection. Most often, the upper respiratory infection spreads when children's hands come into contact with nasal secretions from an infected person. These secretions contain viruses. When the children touch their nose or eyes, the viruses gain entry and harvest a new infection. Less often, infections are spread when children breathe air containing droplets that were coughed or sneezed out by an infected person.

For various reasons, respiratory secretions from children with upper respiratory tract infection contain more viruses than those from infected adults. This increased output of viruses, along with usually lesser attention to hygiene, makes children more likely to spread their infection to others. The possibility of transmission is further enhanced when many children are gathered together, such as in crèches and schools. Contrary to what people might think other factors such as becoming chilled, wet, or tired, do not cause colds or increase a child's vulnerability to infection.

Listed below are the most common risk factors and triggers.

  • Children are more likely to be exposed to upper respiratory tract infections if they attend daycare, playgroup, play outside or are left under the care of a babysitter.
  • Older brothers and sisters might bring home infections from school.
  • The rate of colds triple when people spend more time crowded together indoors, breathing recirculated air.

How it can affect children?

As newborns prefer to breathe through their nose, even moderate nasal congestion can create difficulty breathing. As infants cannot breathe while suckling from the breast or bottle, nasal congestion leads to feeding problems as well. Infants often gag or choke as they are unable to spit out the mucus that they cough up.

The small airways of young children can be significantly narrowed by inflammation and mucus which can make breathing difficult. Children breathe rapidly and might develop a high-pitched noise heard on breathing out i.e., wheezing. Severe airway narrowing might cause children to wheeze for breath and go blue.

Some children with a viral respiratory tract infection also develop an infection of the middle ear or the lung tissue. In children with asthma, upper respiratory tract infection often leads to an asthma attack. Due to upper respiratory tract infection, absenteeism in school is observed. Also, frequent doses of antibiotics weaken their immunity.

Homeopathy treatment for upper respiratory tract infection

Homeopathy offers a safe treatment for upper respiratory tract infection. Homeopathy builds immunity faster, helps in acute attacks and brings down the frequency and duration of attacks. If you notice symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in children, you should book an appointment right away and seek treatment. The expert homeopathic doctors at Dr Batra’s™ medical board are always present for a second opinion. Their homeopathic doctors help to design customised treatment plans which, in turn, help to cut down the tendency of cold and build resistance from allergens. This will help to decrease the odds of complications, upsurge the disease-free period, build immunity and help to control the duration without any side effects.

Read More: Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) - Healing with Homeopathy

Conclusion

For any queries related to upper respiratory tract infection and other health conditions, you can consult the expert homeopathic doctors at Dr Batra’s™ on 9033001642.

Authored By

Dr. VINITA GADEKAR

BHMS

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