2024-09-18 00:33:00
The return to school is usually accompanied by an increase in respiratory virus infections. To avoid them, some advice may include: keeping children’s vaccination calendar up to date, taking care of personal and environmental hygiene measures or maintaining a balanced diet that provides sufficient vitamins and nutrients.
The first few weeks after the start of classes usually show an increase in respiratory virus infections among the little ones. For example, during this past season, primary care acute respiratory infection (ARI) data increased significantly between weeks 36 and 39 of the year (September 4 to October 1, 2023) in individuals under 14 years of age , especially in the age group from 0 to 4 years.1
The main viruses responsible for upper respiratory colds are usually rhinovirus (hRV), which causes about 50% of episodes, and, to a lesser extent, human coronaviruses (hCoV) and other respiratory viruses such as RSV, parainfluenza (PIV) . adenovirus, etc.2
According to Estanislao Nistal, doctor in Virology, researcher and professor of Microbiology at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the CEU San Pablo Universityvarious factors influence this recurrent increase in infections, coinciding with the return to classrooms, including “the arrival of greater meteorological instability in some places, with temperature changes, increased precipitation and air humidity, can favor greater transmission of viruses and bacteria and affect our respiratory system; increased contact between children in enclosed spaces, such as classrooms; or the immune system of the youngest, more immature and inexperienced, since they have not faced some infectious agents and are more vulnerable than that of adults”.
How to prevent infections when returning to school
We can take some precautions, both at home and at school, to reduce the risk of little ones becoming infected with a respiratory virus when they return to class, for example:
- Vaccination and passive immunization treatments are essential to prevent some contagious respiratory diseases, such as influenza, pneumococcus, whooping cough, Covid-19, bronchiolitis, etc. Therefore, it is very important to know the vaccination schedule and keep children’s vaccines up to date.
- Hygiene measures, both personal and environmental, are very important to reduce the spread of viruses and germs. Some of these measures are:
- Frequently wash or disinfect the hands of both students and other school staff.
- Wash or disinfect toys and other commonly used materials.
- Clean classrooms and common areas, such as bathrooms or dining rooms, often.
- Ventilate spaces frequently to renew the air.
- Shower children and wash their clothes often.
Nistal also indicates other preventive measures aimed at strengthening children’s immune systems such as “a healthy and balanced diet, which provides sufficient nutrients and vitamins”. Besides, he adds it “It is important for boys and girls to exercise regularly, especially outdoors, because it helps maintain a healthy respiratory system.”
In the event that contagion finally occurs, the expert reminds us that ““It is very important to treat the symptoms together and from the beginning with treatment appropriate to the patient’s age and weight, as early treatment helps reduce the duration and intensity of the symptoms and helps avoid complications.”
“In addition to improving the evolution of symptoms, early treatment of respiratory infections also helps to stop the spread of respiratory infectious agents, since, by reducing the infected child’s sneezing, coughing and secretions, the likelihood of transmitting them to contagion is also reduced to the rest of the children”adds Nistal, who also suggests other measures to stop the spread of respiratory infections, “which will be more or less severe depending on the type and severity of the respiratory infection and the age of the child, such as avoiding or reducing contact with the rest of classmates, using a mask or adopting extreme prophylactic and hygiene measures, especially if “In our environment there are people with chronic diseases or immunocompromised”.
Comprehensive age-adapted treatment from the first symptoms
Different respiratory viruses share some of the most common symptoms, such as a runny nose, irritating cough, or fever. “In the case of children, it is important to treat them with a drug suitable for their age which, for example, does not contain caffeine”remembers Estanislao Nistal. “Furthermore, addressing several symptoms with a single medication is more convenient and easier for children and improves treatment adherence,” he concludes.
There are anti-flu drugs for children on the market that offer a multi-symptomatic approach, thanks to their specific combination of active ingredients, such as:
- Paracetamol, to treat pain and fever.
- Dextromethorphan, to treat unproductive, irritative or nervous coughs.
- Chlorphenamine, to reduce nasal discharge.
In any case, if symptoms compatible with the flu appear, caused by various respiratory viruses, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible, be it a doctor or a pharmacist, so that he can evaluate the situation. Rev. Ana Mera, pharmacist Barcelona
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