With the end of the semester break in schools and the ringing of the lesson bell for millions of students, the time spent in crowded environments will increase, so it is necessary to be much more careful against infections.
Acıbadem Taksim Hospital Pediatrics Specialist Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare said, “On the one hand, the cold weather, on the other hand, the highly contagious variant of Covid-19, Omicron, and the rapidly spreading influenza (flu) virus increase the risk, especially in school-age children. For this reason, safety measures should be explained to children, and they should be ensured to pay attention to both mask and distance and hygiene rules at school.
Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare, stating that parents should not ignore some complaints in their children, says that especially the symptoms of influenza in children can progress differently from adults. Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare explained the first 3 symptoms of influenza, which may appear differently in children than adults, and made important warnings and suggestions for the precautions that can be taken. In the winter season we spent in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic, the leading disease of the winter, the flu (influenza), is spreading rapidly. Acibadem Taksim Hospital Pediatrics Specialist Dr., who warned the parents about the increase in the time to be spent in crowded environments with the second education period in schools. Mehmet Kesikminare stated that influenza, which is a highly contagious respiratory disease and has three subtypes, causes the disease, especially A and B types, and said, “The flu caused by Influenza A virus, also called swine flu, is generally more severe in the society and can affect the whole society and even countries. Influenza B is more effective in children and the flu it causes tends to progress with milder symptoms. Influenza viruses can easily be transmitted from sick people to other people, and the disease reaches its peak during the winter months, when people spend more time indoors. Therefore, it is very important to inform children about the rules of protection.
It is transmitted not only by breathing, but also by touch!
Stating that influenza A, that is, swine flu, is usually transmitted through virus-containing droplets scattered during speaking, coughing and sneezing, Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare said, “While these droplets infect the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes of people who are 1 meter or closer to the sick person, they can also be transmitted by touching surfaces, tools and equipment contaminated with virus-containing droplets, and then putting their hands in their mouth, nose or eyes. ” he warns. General and common symptoms in both influenza infections and Covid-19 infections; High fever, weakness, loss of appetite, muscle and joint pain, headache, backache, runny nose, sore throat, cough and respiratory distress. Mehmet Kesikminare says: “Since the complaints are similar in both infections, definitive diagnosis is possible by detecting the factors using microbiological methods (PCR, culture, etc.). Since the disease may progress to bronchitis or pneumonia, it is important to find out the underlying cause without wasting time, even in cases where the complaint is mild.
Pay attention to the symptoms of influenza!
Influenza symptoms start suddenly after 1-3 days of incubation, that is, waiting period, among the common symptoms; Stating that high fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, muscle aches, headache, feeling cold and trembling, loss of appetite, redness and burrs in the eyes are coming, Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare “In addition to these, the feeling of tiredness and exhaustion in the body and rarely vomiting and diarrhea can accompany these symptoms. can. If the lung infection, which we call pneumonia, is not treated appropriately, it can result in death and cause permanent damage. Apart from that, especially in young children with asthma, Influenza A virus can cause advanced respiratory failure and cause the disease to result in death.
The first signals can be different in children!
Although influenza microbes that cause disease in both children and adults are the same, complaints can be more severe due to the weak immune system in children and the high susceptibility to infections. Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare, emphasizing that influenza can show itself with different signals in children than adults, lists these signals that should not be neglected as follows:
- Diarrhea,
- Vomiting,
Redness, watering or itching of the eyes
Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare says that 1-3 days after these complaints, symptoms called classic flu symptoms such as fever above 38,5 degrees and cough can appear.
10 rules of protection from influenza!
Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare stated that the vaccine is one of the recommended methods to protect against influenza and said, “Influenza vaccine should be given to all children older than 6 months, especially those with asthma and chronic lung diseases. Apart from this, it is especially important to vaccinate children with weak immune systems, who get sick frequently, and those with chronic organ diseases such as heart, kidney and liver. Influenza vaccine should not be administered to children under 6 months of age, those who are in the first 3 months of pregnancy, those with a history of severe egg allergy or a history of serious allergy to any ingredient in the vaccine, and those who have a previous history of severe (life-threatening) allergy with any seasonal influenza vaccine. says. Dr. Mehmet Kesikminare explains the precautions to be taken in children against influenza as follows;
- To comply with hygiene rules at school,
- Be sure to wear a mask,
- Always change the mask immediately when it is moistened by coughing or sneezing, or when it gets wet in the rain,
- Holding the mask by the elastics when removing it and immediately after throwing it away, washing hands with soap or using disinfectant,
- Washing hands before meals,
- Not to rub the hands on the face, eyes, mouth and nose during the day,
- Paying attention to social distance, not hugging your friends,
- Avoiding junk food and fast food,
- Eating healthy, eating home-cooked meals, taking vitamin supplements, if necessary, with the recommendation of a physician,
- If the conditions are suitable for being vaccinated, the flu vaccine should be made every year.
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