Influenza In Children - Symptoms, Complications And Treatment Of Influenza In Children

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Symptoms, complications and treatment of influenza in children

Influenza in children is an acute infectious disease, which is provoked by the penetration of influenza viruses of types A, C and B into the cells. The disease is accompanied by damage to the respiratory organs, intoxication of the body and often causes various complications.

According to statistics, every year up to 30% of the world's population is affected by the influenza virus, 15% of them are children of primary preschool and school age. Children aged 3 to 14 are most susceptible to the flu virus. In the high-risk group, young children, in whom ARVI make up 65% of the total morbidity.

Adults are more resistant to infection than children, as their immune systems function better. Children get sick 4-5 times more often.

The main danger of infection is that it is often complicated by various pathologies and contributes to the exacerbation of existing chronic diseases. In this regard, the issue of prevention and treatment of influenza is acute in pediatric practice.

Content:

• Flu symptoms in children
• Influenza Causes in Children
• Complications of influenza in children

• Popular questions from parents

  • Can I bathe a child with a cold?
  • How to understand that the child has recovered?
  • If a child is sick, does he need to eat better?
• Influenza treatment in children
• How not to treat influenza and SARS in children

Flu symptoms in children

Having entered the child's body, the virus may not give itself out in any way for several hours, up to 4 days.

After this time, the flu symptoms in children increase, which, with the typical development of the disease, are expressed as follows:

• Acute onset, accompanied by an increase in body temperature up to 40 ° C. In this case, the symptoms of intoxication of the body will prevail over other manifestations of the disease. In infants, a febrile state is often the only sign that the virus has entered the body. From one to five years, in addition to an increase in body temperature, it is possible to add cough and runny nose. After the age of five, the fever is complemented by lacrimation, sweating, chills, sore throat, rhinitis and dry cough.
• Children of any age refuse to eat, or their appetite deteriorates significantly.
• Lethargy grows, the child becomes inactive. Older children may complain of headaches, joint pain and muscle pain. The occurrence of repeated vomiting is possible.
• In children, nosebleeds are more common than in adults. Against the background of hemorrhagic syndrome, pitechiae on the skin, hemorrhages on the mucous membranes, on the eye sclera may appear. This symptom indicates a special severity of the course of the disease.
• At the peak of fever in children under one year old, seizures may develop, and at an older age, impaired consciousness, hallucinations and delirium are possible.
• The skin in children is pale, and in infancy, a marble pattern may appear. In this case, the cheeks often turn crimson.
• The stronger the fever, the more pronounced the tachycardia will be.
• The development of an abdominal syndrome, manifested by painful sensations in the intestinal region, is not excluded.

• Most children suffer from rhinitis, while nasal discharge is serous-mucous in nature.
• The soft palate is edematous, the posterior wall of the oropharynx is hyperemic, abundant granularity is observed. It is possible to develop tracheitis with a dry cough, which causes pain not only along the trachea, but also behind the sternum.

Improvement of the child's condition will occur on day 3-4 if the flu has a mild or moderate course. However, you should not expect a complete recovery after such a short time. Such phenomena as a runny nose, sore throat, coughing will continue for another 14 days. The recovery period after influenza in children is accompanied by increased fatigue, excessive sweating and weakness.

The high-risk group includes newborns and children under six months. The manifestations of toxicosis in them are minimal, the development of the disease is gradual, catarrhal phenomena are often absent. Children refuse to eat, regurgitate, sometimes vomiting develops, sleep is disturbed. Bacterial complications develop very early and quickly, and therefore the outcome of the disease may be unfavorable.

Influenza Causes in Children

The causes of influenza in children are the infection of the body with a virus belonging to the orthomyxovirus family. It can be a type A, B or C virus. Due to the fact that the type A virus is capable of changing its own structure, it is he who most often causes epidemics than other viruses. The source of the spread of infection is either an infected person or another living organism (birds and pigs).

As for influenza type B, it is he who most often affects children, circulating only among people. Mass cases of registration of infection most often occur before the outbreak of an influenza type A epidemic, or are combined with it. Influenza B epidemics usually occur within the same country.

The influenza type C virus causes isolated cases of the disease and has a stable structure, therefore its strains do not contain influenza vaccines.

Children become infected mainly by airborne droplets during conversation, coughing, sneezing. Although in organized children's groups, the contact-household route of transmission of the disease is not uncommon. The virus can be found on surfaces of personal care products, toys, cutlery, bedding, etc.

The virus spreads especially actively under changing weather conditions with fluctuations in humidity and ambient temperature.

Other conditions favorable for the transmission and infection of the influenza virus are:

• Hypovitaminosis, which is often found in children;
• Lack of sunlight;
• Lack of full-fledged immune protection;
• Overcrowding of children's groups;
• Poor hygiene skills in children or insufficient hygiene.

The virus infection process is as follows:

• The infection enters the child's body through the ENT organs and is fixed in the epithelium of the respiratory tract;
• Having attached itself to the cell with the help of hemagglutinin, the virus begins to destroy the integrity of the cell membrane;
• Once inside the cell, the virus begins to produce its proteins and RNA;
• New viruses leave the destroyed cell and look for a healthy one to continue the reproduction process;
• Having destroyed the epithelium of the respiratory tract, viruses penetrate into the bloodstream and spread throughout the child's body, provoking intoxication.

Complications of influenza in children

Complications of influenza in children can vary over time (late and early), by etiological factor (viral and bacterial), and also by location.

Most often, in childhood, against the background of influenza, a complication such as pneumonia develops. Primary viral pneumonia occurs in the first 1-2 days and most often has a hemorrhagic nature. Perhaps the development of distress syndrome with severe respiratory failure, sputum separation with blood, wheezing in the lungs. Against the background of such a complication, a lethal outcome is not excluded, which occurs 4-5 days after the onset of pneumonia.

Secondary bacterial pneumonia develops more often 5-6 days after the onset of the underlying disease. It can be provoked by staphylococci, pneumococci, haemophilus influenzae, chlamydia, legionella and other bacteria.

In addition to pneumonia, the following complications of infection are possible:

• False croup;
• Otitis media;
• Bronchiolitis;
• Sinusitis;
• Myositis;
• Mmyocarditis;
• Meningoencephalitis;
• Liver and kidney damage is more common in avian influenza;
• Reye's syndrome;
• Renal failure;
• Cardiovascular insufficiency;
• Laryngeal stenosis;
• Asthmatic Syndrome.

Children under 2 years of age are more susceptible to complications, as well as those patients who have other concomitant diseases: heart defects, bronchial asthma, congenital immunodeficiency, diabetes, etc.

Popular questions from parents

• Can I bathe a child with a cold? Many parents know that it is forbidden to bathe a child with a cold since childhood. In fact, it is necessary to wash the child, and the prohibition on bathing during illness goes back centuries, when a trough was required for the implementation of hygiene procedures, and there was no hot water in the house. But if the child's body temperature is elevated, then you should not bathe him in a hot bath. A warm shower is the ideal solution.
• How to understand that the child has recovered? If the body temperature remains normal for three days, if a dry cough has turned into a wet one and has not acquired a yellow or green tint, then we can talk about a positive trend. In the event that the body temperature rises again, then you should be especially wary, since this is a bad symptom indicating the development of complications.
• If a child is sick, does he need to eat better? The food that the child takes should be light and contain a maximum of carbohydrates and vitamins. The fact is that for the breakdown of protein products, the body requires a lot of forces, which should be directed primarily to fight the infection. After the fever is over, you need to feed the recovering child tightly, which will restore the spent strength.

Influenza treatment in children

Influenza treatment in children is most often done at home. However, if there are indications (severe course of the disease, complications of infection), hospitalization of the patient is necessary. In addition, all newborns and infants are hospitalized. Social indications for inpatient treatment should be taken into account, for example, the presence of a child in an orphanage, or living in an asocial family.

Basic principles of therapy for children with influenza:

• Compliance with bed rest during the acute period of the illness and half-bed rest while the fever is over.
• Light but balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids.
• At the discretion of the treating doctor, antiviral drugs are prescribed: Ingavirin, Tamiflu, IRS 19, Remantadin, Arbidol, Grippferon, Amiksin, Kagocel, etc.
• Taking antipyretic drugs at a body temperature above 38.6 ° C. Children should be given either Paracetamol or Ibuprofen to lower their body temperature. Acetylsalicylic acid is not prescribed for children.
• With viscous and thick sputum, it is necessary to take mucolytic drugs, for example, Ambroxol, Erespal, Lazolvan and Bromhexin. According to indications, inhalations with sputum-thinning solutions are carried out.
• When the cough is painful, it is possible to take antitussives, but not to suppress it, but to reduce the intensity of the cough. It can be such means as: Tusuprex, Libeksin, Sinekod, Glauvent.
• Vasoconstrictor drops are instilled into the nose in an age-appropriate dosage, for example, Tizin, Nazivin, Rinofluimucil, etc.
• It is possible to take B vitamins, vitamin C, or multivitamin complexes.

Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial complications. For this, the following drugs can be used:

• Protected penicillins: Amoxiclav, Flemoxin solutab, Augmentin;
• Cephalosporins: Ceftriaxone, Cefuroxime Axetil;
• Macrolides: Azithromycin, Roxyhexal, Wilprafen, etc.

During the recovery period, it is possible to take adaptogens and immunomodulators.

How not to treat influenza and SARS in children

Some world statistics

It has been proven that up to 90% of all acute respiratory viral infections occurring in childhood are of viral origin. Antibiotic therapy has no effect on viruses. However, many parents, due to their ignorance, and also wanting to speed up recovery, give their child antibiotics for every cold.

It should be understood that there are no safe medicines. This also applies to antibacterial drugs that have a detrimental effect on the immune system, provoke dysbacteriosis, lead to the development of allergies, "harden" bacteria, increasing their resistance.

Naturally, pediatricians are aware of the dangers of inadequate antibiotic therapy, but they continue to prescribe it even with ARVI. Indeed, under the conditions of a home examination, with little work experience, when only a phonendoscope is in the hands, it is quite problematic to differentiate pneumonia from a cold.

An antibiotic is the easiest to prescribe. After all, the harm from taking these funds is not too noticeable at the beginning of treatment, and if pneumonia still manifests, the doctor will say that he prescribed adequate treatment.

So, antibiotics for colds in children under 12 years old in the first five days from the onset of the disease should not be taken. If the parents are very worried about the adequacy of the therapy, then a blood and urine test should be done, an x-ray of the lungs should be taken to confirm the viral nature of the disease and to exclude the development of complications.

Increased body temperature

Children aged 6 years and over should have their body temperature lowered if it exceeds 39 ° C or more. It is capable of damaging the health of the child, as it goes beyond the boundaries of the physiological norm.

Before the age of 6 years, the body temperature should be reduced when it exceeds 38.6 ° C, as there is a risk of seizures. In the event that seizures have occurred before, it is necessary to give an antipyretic agent at a body temperature of 37.5 ° C and above.

Body temperature is the body's strongest weapon against infection. It contributes to the fact that viruses die, and the body's existing reserves are mobilized. Therefore, the more intensely the body temperature is lowered, the longer the disease will last. It is also possible that the drug, which is offered to the child as an antipyretic, will cause him an allergy, contribute to the formation of an ulcer, affect the functioning of the kidneys, up to the development of renal failure.

To reduce your body temperature, you can use the following tips:

• When the baby's skin is pink, it should not be additionally insulated. The child needs to be undressed to allow air access to the body.
• If the skin of the child is pale, then it should be covered with a light blanket and an abundant warm drink should be offered.
• Local rubbing of the child's feet and hands with vodka can be carried out only after a year. Alcohol evaporates and cools the skin. Stronger alcohol solutions cannot be used, as this can injure delicate baby skin. In addition, some of the alcohol will be absorbed, which will contribute to intoxication.
• Cold must be applied to the main vessels. To do this, you should take cold water into a bottle and apply it to the groin area and to the armpits, since this is where large blood vessels pass.
• The child's head should remain open, since up to 80% of heat loss occurs through it.

The child should consume as much fluid as possible, as it evaporates very intensely during a fever. This threatens dehydration.

Prevention of influenza in children is carried out primarily through vaccination. Their effectiveness has been proven by many years of tests and experience of use. This is the main defense against influenza virus that WHO recommends. Immunity develops after about a month, after the introduction of the vaccine and will remain on average for a year. For this purpose, children are injected with vaccines such as Influvac, Grippol, Grippol plus, Fluarix, etc.

Other preventive measures to prevent the incidence of influenza in children are the following:

• Early detection of the disease and isolation of a sick child from society.
• Systematic ventilation of the premises and their regular wet cleaning using disinfectants.
• Quartzization of premises.
• Washing your hands often.
• Wearing sterile medical masks during an epidemic.
• Refusal to visit crowded places.
• Refusal from intergroup and other mass events in kindergarten.
• Introduction of extraordinary holidays during the flu epidemic.

As a rule, the prognosis for recovery is favorable in the case of a typical course of the disease. The threat of death increases with hypertrophic and complicated forms of influenza, as well as with infection of children at risk.

Author of the article: Alekseeva Maria Yurievna | Therapist

Education: From 2010 to 2016 Practitioner of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical-sanitary unit No. 21, city of elektrostal. Since 2016 she has been working in the diagnostic center No. 3.