New Delhi. In the winter season, most of the children suffer from cold and viral. However, where cold and flu become normal in a few days, pneumonia becomes fatal within just 4-6 days. Statistics show that every year thousands of children under the age of 5 die due to pneumonia. On the other hand, according to experts, children’s lives can be saved in pneumonia, but most of the cases are delayed. Due to lack of understanding of common cold and cold in children and non-recognition of pneumonia, timely treatment is not available and they lose their lives. In such a situation, it is necessary that after recognizing the initial symptoms of pneumonia, the children should be taken to the doctor immediately.

Dr. DK Gupta, chairman and pediatrician of Felix Hospital, says that as soon as winter starts, most of the children in the OPD are found suffering from pneumonia. Since pneumonia is the main cause of death of children. In such a situation, identifying the symptoms of pneumonia in time and starting the treatment can save the children. Parents should take special care not to ignore pneumonia thinking it as common cold. Parents can identify pneumonia by noticing some things.

How to differentiate between pneumonia and common cold

common cold symptoms
In common cold, there is mild or severe cough.
Transparent or white mucus comes with cough. Sometimes there may also be yellow mucus.
– Sneezes come. Sneezing comes as soon as you wake up in the morning or as soon as you put your feet on the ground.
Mild fever or fatigue remains.
– Runny nose. The nose gets blocked while sleeping at night and the child has difficulty in sleeping.
Chest tightness, sore throat and headache may also occur.
Nose and mouth remain red.
– The child feels cold.

symptoms of pneumonia
Breathing goes fast in pneumonia. The child also has difficulty in breathing.
Cough that produces phlegm or mucus. During this, the mucus can be yellow, green in color. Even splotches of blood can also come in the mucus.
In pneumonia, the child is very tired.
There is a decrease in appetite. The child does not drink milk or has difficulty in drinking milk.
– The child has pain in the ribs or chest. Sometimes it happens even after coughing or sneezing.
There can also be pain in the eyes, ears and throat, as well as there can be red rashes on the skin.
Fever comes with severe chills. Sometimes this fever can be more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
– The child sweats and also feels cold.
Sometimes nausea and vomiting may also occur.

This is how pneumonia happens

Dr. Gupta says that there is a need to take special care of children in this season. Children are more at risk of pneumonia in winter. Protecting children from the cold. should. Keep them fully clothed. Cover your ears. Droplets of infection spread in the air when a pneumonia infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. As a result, when other people breathe, they come in contact with them and get infected. The special thing is that after a common cold, when a mixture of pus and water starts forming in the child’s respiratory system, pneumonia occurs. It is worth noting that those who have not been vaccinated are at a higher risk of pneumonia.

How to prevent pneumonia
Vaccination is the best way to prevent pneumonia. Pneumococcal vaccine, PCV 13, Haemophilus influenzae type b, this vaccine can protect you from bacterial pneumonia. Along with this, keep washing children’s hands regularly with soap or handwash. Pneumonia spreads through droplets of infected people, so avoid face to face contact with such people. It is also necessary to cover the mouth while coughing and sneezing. Apart from this, teach children that by sneezing on the elbow, they can avoid infecting their hands.

Vaccination affected during the Corona period
Dr. Gupta says that regular vaccination has been affected during the Corona period. Because of this, children have not been able to do the full course of the vaccine. That’s why it is necessary to vaccinate children on time. Lung infection is caused by bacteria, virus and fungal infection. Cold is a kind of allergy, due to which runny nose and mucus comes from the throat. The first dose of pneumonia vaccination is given after six weeks of birth, the second after 10 weeks, the third after 14 weeks and the booster dose after 18 months.

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Tags: cold