Management of Acute Asthma in Children (Over Two Years)

Some children with bronchial asthma may develop acute exacerbations or attacks. Sometimes, severe acute asthma attacks can be fatal. Therefore, children with severe acute asthma should be offered treatment quickly. It is safer to manage them in a hospital with resuscitation facilities. Children with acute asthma should never be sedated. Physicians in primary care should start treatments as mentioned below and transfer these children to a hospital immediately.

Acute Bronchial Asthma in Children (Over Two Years)

Bronchial asthma is a long-term (chronic) inflammatory disease, which leads to an episodic obstruction of the airways. It is a reversible condition and can be managed and controlled with lifestyle changes and some medications. However, some children with bronchial asthma may get acute exacerbations (attacks). Diagnosis of acute asthma can be done with the help of symptoms, signs, and some tests.

Eczema with an Unusual Distribution (Contact Dermatitis)

Usually, dermatitis or eczema implies an inflammatory condition of the skin. Sometimes, it may be in an unusual or localised distribution. Then, it is known as contact dermatitis or contact eczema. This particular condition occurs due to an exposure to something in the surroundings.

If you have a dermatitis and have no family or personal history of atopic disease, one of the environmental agents may be the probable cause. These agents can be allergens (causing allergic reaction or hypersensitivity) or irritants (causing direct irritation) in your environment.

Can You Really Prevent the Common Cold?

The common cold is highly infectious and is one of the prevalent infections in humans. It occurs because of more than 200 types of viruses. The common viruses are rhinoviruses. Others include coronaviruses and adenoviruses. Over 100 varieties of rhinoviruses are known to cause the common cold. Therefore, it is not easy for the immune system of your body to defend you from the infection. Usually, an average person experiences two to three episodes of the common cold annually. A normal child suffers from about six common cold infections yearly.

The spread of the common cold occurs mainly due to inhalation of tiny droplets, which enter the air when a person with the common cold coughs, talks, or sneezes. Otherwise, you can catch the infection by touching the contaminated objects or surfaces with nasal secretions from a patient and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. The spread of cold viruses also occurs through the personal contact, like handshakes.

There is no specific vaccine or other medication to prevent the infection. However, some simple precautions and lifestyle changes help reduce the risk of getting the common cold.

How to Manage Common Cold?

There's no exact treatment for the common cold. However, some simple measures help relieve symptoms and eliminate viruses, which cause the common cold.

You should keep up the hydration of your body by drinking an adequate amount of fluids. Avoid drinks containing caffeine and alcohol. Sufficient hydration of your body will help relieve congestion and flow mucous (nasal secretions) easily. Although you have a loss of appetite, it is better you have a balanced healthy diet. Some studies show that chicken soup helps reduce the symptoms. Eating hot and spicy meals may relieve the illness because, they help flow nasal secretions. Dietary nutrients will assist the immune system to eliminate viruses from your body and shorten the duration of the common cold. Your diet should contain adequate amounts of vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, folic acid, C, and the minerals copper and zinc. Zinc and vitamin C help produce a type of white blood cells known as neutrophils, which fight against infections. Zinc may reduce the duration of the illness, if the patient takes zinc in the first day of the common cold. Vitamin C may prevent the cold. However, it has no effect during the illness.

Complications of the Common Cold

The most prevalent infection in humans is the common cold. Usually, it resolves without any complications in about one to two weeks. However, some people get certain complications, which can be serious and long lasting. Therefore, it is important to know the features of the complications because, these patients need antibiotics and other medications to recover.