Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home / Parenting / Childrens-health-parenting / Here’s how you can manage your child’s respiratory health during winters

Here’s how you can manage your child’s respiratory health during winters

Children experience an increased risk of respiratory illnesses during winters. Read on to know how you can manage your child's respiratory health.

By: Editorial Team   | Edited by: Arushi Bidhuri   | | Updated: January 23, 2021 8:59 am
Tags: Asthma in children  Asthma in winter  cold in winters  Respiratory disease  

During winters, children experience an increased risk of respiratory illnesses than other times of the year. The sudden change in temperature is associated with increased frequency and severity of respiratory infections, especially amongst children. Some studies suggest that decreased ability of the immune system due to the fall in temperatures makes kids more susceptible to respiratory illnesses like the common cold and flare-ups amongst those already suffering from Asthma. Also Read - Beware! This food may up the risk of asthma or other respiratory issues in children

Common Winter Respiratory Illnesses 

The low humidity levels during winters further add to the problem. This happens because viruses that cause common cold tend to thrive in these conditions and make the nasal passages drier & more susceptible to infection.  Also Read - Antibiotics given to babies 'linked to allergies, asthma and other conditions'



Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

This is a common viral infection. It is the most common cause of Bronchiolitis in young children. The symptoms include low-grade fever, nasal congestion, cough, wheezing and the symptoms may last for 2-3 weeks. In infants, it can be quite serious and may lead to dehydration, difficulty in breathing and Apnoea (a disorder in which breathing starts & stops) Also Read - Toxic Air: As air quality worsens, risk of asthma, cancer looms large

Influenza

Commonly known as ‘flu,’ it develops more quickly than a common cold, and the symptoms are more severe. It is associated with high fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, muscle ache, headache, and redness of eyes. 

Common Cold

It is a viral infection usually associated with more mild symptoms like a low-grade fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat. Many different viruses can cause a cold, which can last 5-14 days. It occurs throughout the year, but the incidence during winters increases.

Croup

This is a condition of the upper respiratory tract caused by a viral or bacterial infection. In most of the cases, it is because of a viral infection caused by the Parainfluenza Virus. It is characterized by a typical barking type of cough, which comes suddenly in the middle of the night. It may also be accompanied by wheezing sound while breathing.

Acute Flare Ups In Asthma Patients

Children with asthma may land up with increased frequency and severity of Asthma flare-ups/exacerbations during winters. The cold and dry air itself acts as a trigger for worsening their Asthma symptoms. To add to this, the accompanying respiratory tract infections also increase the risk of asthma flare-ups. Also, winters make children homebound, and increase the chances of exposure to triggers like dust mite, pet dander, moulds, smoke from fireplace or chullah (biomass fuel), further acting as a risk factor for Asthma worsening. 

While it is important to build immunity during this season, those with asthma should continue their daily medications, to keep Asthma under control. This will also help to prevent asthma flare-ups.

Preventive Measures To Combat Respiratory Illnesses

Few preventive measures that children can follow to reduce falling sick during winters are:

  • Covering your face and mouth while sneezing or coughing
  • Covering the face with a scarf to avoid cold air
  • Staying home if not feeling well to avoid spreading of germs
  • Eating healthy food and drinking plenty of water
  • Special care in patients suffering from other chronic respiratory diseases like Asthma

Developing an ‘Asthma action plan’ in consultation with your physician is also important. It will help take care of Asthma flare-ups in the initial stages and prevents them from worsening. Increasing the dose of the controller mediation and use of reliever medication helps to take control of Asthma flare-ups at home and avoid unnecessary visits to the clinic or need for hospitalization. Flu shots may be considered and prescribed by your physician.

(Authored by Dr Prashant Chhajed, Consultant-Respiratory Medicine & Sleep Medicine Specialist, Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi – A Fortis network Hospital)

­­

Published : January 22, 2021 3:10 pm | Updated:January 23, 2021 8:59 am
Read Disclaimer

Exposure to antibiotics linked to reduced weight and height in boys: Study

Exposure to antibiotics linked to reduced weight and height in boys: Study

Self-controlled children likelier to grow up to be healthier adults: Here's how to teach your child self-control

Self-controlled children likelier to grow up to be healthier adults: Here's how to teach your child self-control

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • COVID-19 Unlock: How to ensure students and teachers are safe amid schools reopening
  • Bridging the gap between immunisation and immunity: 2 new diagnostic tests for COVID-19
  • COVID-19 vaccine for people above 60, comorbid people from March 1, free at government centres
  • Americans are less afraid of dying from COVID-19: How Indians perceive coronavirus
  • 54-year-old man dies after taking COVID-19 vaccine Covishield in Delhi

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Beware! This food may up the risk of asthma or other respiratory issues in children

Beware! This food may up the risk of asthma or other respiratory issues in children

Antibiotics given to babies 'linked to allergies, asthma and other conditions'

Antibiotics given to babies 'linked to allergies, asthma and other conditions'

Toxic Air: As air quality worsens, risk of asthma, cancer looms large

Toxic Air: As air quality worsens, risk of asthma, cancer looms large

Delhi seeing rise in COPD and asthma cases as air pollution spikes: Tips to stay safe

Delhi seeing rise in COPD and asthma cases as air pollution spikes: Tips to stay safe

Health News in Hindi

गर्भवती मां से भ्रूण तक पहुंच सकती हैं प्रोटेक्टिव एंटीबॉडीज़, स्टडी का दावा

Nail Biting Habit: नाखून कुतरने की वजह क्‍या है, जानिए वैज्ञानिक पहलू और इससे छुटकारा पाने के उपाय

सांवली सूरत पर ग्‍लो लाने के लिए मसाबा गुप्‍ता फॉलो करती हैं ये होममेड स्किन केयर रूटीन, आप भी कर सकती हैं ट्राई

अनिल कपूर ने कहा- “खूब खाता हूं बर्गर और फ्रेंच फ्राइस” इसलिए फिटनेस को ऐसे रखता हूं मेनटेन

COVID-19 vaccination for elderly: 60 साल से अधिक आयु वर्ग के लोगों को एक मार्च से मुफ्त में कोरोना वैक्सीन

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Covid-19 can mess up with your sugar levels: Get your glucose levels checked after recovery
  • Woman dies hours after taking second COVID-19 vaccine dose in MP
  • Ladies, up your plant protein intake to lower risk of premature death
  • New study suggests rats, water buffalo and mountain gorillas can spread COVID-19 virus
  • COVID-19 Unlock: How to ensure students and teachers are safe amid schools reopening

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.