Monsoon is a season of rain which is the time when diseases are on the rise especially among children. Nowadays, doctors are seeing viral Infections are most common in children, who are often sensitive to various illnesses other than cases of dengue and chikungunya.
What is a Viral Infection?
Viral infections are small germs or particles of genetic material (either DNA or RNA) that are covered by a protein coat.
In other words, a viral infection is a spreading of a contagious virus throughout the body. Viral infections are contagious depending on the virus, for different periods.
Young children are often more prone to falling sick in monsoon. There are several acute viral infections, which cause the child to feel discomfort. However, these grow occasionally into a serious illness. Some of the acute viral infections in children are Chickenpox, Measles and Mumps.
Often rains are kind of a tempting time for children who play and enjoy during the rainy season. Meanwhile, parents need to take care of their children's health especially during monsoon.
What are the causes of viral infection?
A child can likely catch a viral infection from an infected child in school or any public area because it can spread from the hands infected with a runny nose or virus, even a cough or sneeze. Viruses can also be transmitted via faeces, vomiting and bites of insects. Infected food and water can affect children with viral infections. Viral infections occur frequently during changes in season. Virus
What are the symptoms of viral infection in children?
The symptoms of viral infection in children can differ based on the viral infection type. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of viral infection in a child are a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, watery red eyes, diarrhoea, vomiting, rashes, lack of appetite, lethargy, body ache, sneezing or coughing, fever and chills. If these viral infection symptoms do not reduce over time, then it is always advised to see a primary care doctor.
What are the common diseases caused by viral infection?
Some of the common diseases caused by viruses are Common cold, Flu or Influenza, Measles, Chickenpox, Ear infections, Tonsillitis, Hepatitis, Dengue, Smallpox, Bronchiolitis, Polio, Warts, Hand-foot-mouth disease and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Treatment for viral infection in children typically includes the management of viral infection symptoms with medication.
How common is Viral infection in children?
Viral infections are common in childhood. Most viral infections in childhood are not critical, which include such various diseases as colds, sore throats, vomiting and diarrhoea, and rash fever. Most children with viral infections do get better without medical treatment. Many viral infections result in nausea or fever and body aches. Through the help of vaccinations and medications, a lot of viral infections in children can be avoided.
Some of the tips to keep your children healthy during monsoon are:
- Keep your child's feet and body covered from rain and polluted water. When cooking food, pay more attention to hygiene.
- Children should take a warm water bath and drink filtered water.
- Avoid or cut down giving junk food to children.
- Do not give water-based fruits like watermelon and muskmelon
- Bathe the children in hot water, rather than cold water
- Keep your children indoor mostly when it is heavily raining
- Avoid children from playing outdoors, visiting crowded places and complete cut down of street foods.
It is recommended to follow these tips to keep your children healthy and clean during the monsoons as cough and cold are usual.
City physicians are seeing a rise in cases of high fever, cold, body ache, cough and dengue because of seasonal changes. Every day we see at least 5 to 6 cases of virus and 1-3 cases of dengue. Patients need to take the utmost care and get to the doctor immediately and not go for self-medication," says Dr. K. S Harshith, Consultant for Internal medicine at Aster RV hospital JP Nagar.
