How to treat respiratory infections
Release time : 06/08/2025 09:30:01
Among the various diseases commonly seen in young children, respiratory infections are the most common.
Children with poor nutritional and immune functions are more prone to recurrent respiratory infections. However, the occurrence of respiratory infections in children is also related to the care provided by parents.
Respiratory tract infection can be further divided into upper and lower respiratory tract infections. How to treat respiratory tract infections? For young children, respiratory tract infections can be serious or minor. Mild cases may recover through proper nursing care, while severe ones may even endanger the life of the child.
In the process of children's growth and development, respiratory tract infections are highly prone to occur. So how should respiratory tract infections be treated? About 90% of upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viral infections.
Following an infection by a virus, due to the weakened immune system of the body, bacteria may invade and cause a combined infection with viruses in children.
Upper respiratory tract infections that do not cause severe complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, etc., usually recover on their own within about seven days.
In cases of upper respiratory tract infections in children, symptomatic treatment is generally required. For instance, if fever occurs, cooling measures should be administered. In case of sore throat, antibiotics may be used when necessary.
If caused by viral infection, then use antiviral drugs; if also combined with bacterial infection, and at the same time should use antibiotics.
The etiology of lower respiratory tract infections and upper respiratory tract infections is almost the same, and the treatment mainly focuses on antimicrobial and antiviral therapy. During lower respiratory tract infections in children, it is difficult for their sputum to be expelled; therefore, antitussive drugs should be used for symptomatic treatment.
Can respiratory infections heal on their own? From the nose and mouth to the lungs, the entire respiratory system functions properly. It aids in taking in fresh air while also expelling waste gases.
Therefore, respiratory infections are not a trivial matter. However, some people adhere to the belief that "all medicines have side effects," and they opt not to take medication for their own recovery.
Can respiratory infections heal on their own? Let's first examine the process of a respiratory infection: when bacteria, viruses, or other foreign substances, allergens, etc. enter the human respiratory tract, the body's resistance decreases accordingly, and the virus and bacteria take advantage of this opportunity to proliferate, causing localized infection.
The initial symptoms include inflammation in the upper respiratory tract, including the mouth, ears, nose, and throat. Most individuals will experience high fevers.
If this continues, it will lead to pneumonia and bronchitis in the lower respiratory tract, and if this continues, it will invade the lungs, causing pneumonia.
Following an upper respiratory tract infection, there is a rapid increase in white blood cells, leading to a defensive response such as fever. During this process, if one simply waits for the upper respiratory tract infection to heal on its own, it can deplete the body's vital energy and make the body even weaker.
The process of self-healing from respiratory infections is generally lengthy, and long-standing conditions can easily lead to the development of certain chronic diseases, causing more pain for patients.
A mild respiratory infection may heal spontaneously, but we do not recommend allowing it to go untreated. Appropriate medication is the correct approach.
Is respiratory infection serious? Children often experience respiratory infections during the winter. Every year, mothers worry about their children getting sick when it comes to winter. Therefore, they wrap their children tightly in layers.
Although mothers put a lot of effort into caring for their babies, respiratory infections seem not to be prevented by this. For some babies with poor constitutions, they may have frequent symptoms of respiratory infections during the winter season.
Is respiratory infection serious? Respiratory infections can be classified into upper respiratory tract infections and lower respiratory tract infections.
So how can we distinguish between these two types of respiratory infections? Upper respiratory tract infections cause coughs that are easily expelled from the child's throat, whereas lower respiratory tract infections are the opposite.
If your child has an upper respiratory infection, which is the most common disease that occurs in children. Almost every baby aged 3 to 6 experiences upper respiratory infections 4 to 6 times a year. Parents do not have to panic because of their child's upper respiratory infection. As long as treatment can be carried out in a week or so, they can basically recover.
If the upper respiratory tract infection is particularly serious and then leads to a lower respiratory tract infection, complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. are likely to occur based on the child's weak resistance. The child may also experience breathlessness due to the inability to cough up phlegm. This situation is more dangerous. Parents should take the child to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible.
Particularly serious respiratory infections can cause arthritis, osteomyelitis, and sepsis, so parents should treat their children as soon as possible when they are prone to symptoms of respiratory infections to prevent these serious complications caused by delayed illness.
What are the symptoms of respiratory infections? Our upper respiratory tract includes the nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx, while the lower respiratory tract includes the trachea and bronchi.
A child's respiratory infection may be an upper respiratory infection or a lower respiratory infection. So what are the symptoms of these two respiratory infections? 1. Upper respiratory infection.
Colds, inflammation of the throat, tonsils, etc., can all be called upper respiratory infections.
Upper respiratory infections may occur in four seasons of the year, with winter and spring being the peak period for upper respiratory infections.
Symptoms of upper respiratory infections include runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and coughing.
Upper respiratory infections can also cause fever in children that lasts for 2 to 3 days, causing body aches and pains. Infants and young children may also experience symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
Second, lower respiratory tract infection.
The symptoms of upper and lower respiratory tract infections are similar, but there is a difference. Most children with lower respiratory tract infections can be heard auscultating their lungs with a stethoscope, while compared to upper respiratory infections, the expectoration of sputum is more difficult for most children. The majority of children had symptoms of upper respiratory infections prior to developing lower respiratory infections. As the disease progresses, the chest area of the child will experience pain, which may then lead to acute pneumonia.
Respiratory infections are caused by various factors in our environment, which is not sterile. Environmental influences can lead to various diseases, and the sources of various infections are also the main causes of respiratory infections.
Bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasma are pathogenic microorganisms that can be found everywhere in life.
As seasons change, and the climate becomes cooler, children who are generally weaker are particularly susceptible to infections from pathogens, leading to respiratory illnesses.
Moreover, viruses and bacteria can also spread through the air and droplets, and children who come into contact with patients with respiratory infections may experience contagious transmission, leading to respiratory infections in children.
The vaccination of children before the age of six is essential to ensure timely coverage. Vaccination is the simplest and most effective way to prevent infectious diseases.
If your child frequently suffers from respiratory infections, you should consider if their immunity is low. It is advisable to take your child out for physical exercise and breathe fresh air more often. Additionally, make sure to clean their mouth, nose, and hands after coming back home.
Avoid taking children in crowded public places.
Children getting cold is also a cause of respiratory infections. When the weather is cold, parents should pay attention to keeping their children warm, but they should pay attention to what is appropriate. If they wrap their children too thick, they will be more likely to cause respiratory infections after they are heated.
In addition, parents should pay attention to whether their children have nutritional deficiency diseases such as anemia and zinc deficiency.
Pay attention to giving children appropriate amounts of nutritional supplements and avoid improper diet.
* The medical part covered in this article is for reading and reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.