Flu and respiratory illnesses in young children increased due to fluctuations in temperature

- Fear of 'pneumonia' if not treated in time due to heavy pollution and low immunity: experts

Children under the age of five are at increased risk of contracting the flu and respiratory illnesses due to the constant fluctuations in the city's temperature and low temperatures.

Pediatricians at clinics and outpatient departments (OPDs) across the city have been found to have long lines of anxious parents.

If these diseases are not treated in time, they are at risk of developing pneumonia due to weakened immunity, as cold or flu pneumonia germs create a favorable environment for the disease to spread.

Dr Rohit Agarwal, president of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, says, "Children get sick as a result of changing temperatures and heavy pollution. We have more cases of nasal congestion, wheezing or wheezing, and chest tightness. The trachea is narrow in children and especially in children younger than two years. In cold weather, the tube becomes more constricted, making it difficult for children to breathe.

"Pollutants do not mix easily in the winter. This causes allergic reactions in children as their immunity is relatively low, ”said Dr Sameer Dalwai, a pediatrician at Sion Hospital.

J. J. Dr Ashok Anand, head of the hospital's pediatrics department, also said, "We have a slight increase in complaints of obstruction in the upper and lower trachea. If left untreated, pneumonia can develop. A sudden rise in fever is a warning sign. "

What parents should take care of:

- Controlling pollution in the home.

- Reduce cooking time on gas.

- Do not light incense sticks in the house.

- Do not keep the air conditioner at a very low temperature.

- Do not let the baby sleep right under the fan or in front of the direct air of the air-conditioner.

- If the weather is not very cold, it is not necessary to wrap the baby.

What to do when a child has a cold:

- Give him steam to remove the stuffing in his trachea.

- Giving some brandy or crushing black pepper or crushed basil in honey.

- Water it freely even if the temperature is low or high.

- Providing nutritious and healthy food.