COLDS, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS – INTRODUCTION
Respiratory infections: children suffer the same infective illnesses of the respiratory system as adults, but infecting agents which cause only a mild “cold” in an adult may cause a severe infection, like croup, in a child.
Aspirin and paracetamol may be used to reduce a fever, paracetamol being better-tolerated and less dangerous for infants under 18 months.
Decongestant drops might be necessary to reduce the nasal swelling before feeding infants on the breast or by the bottle. It is difficult for them to suck if they have to keep pausing to breathe through the mouth. Decongestants also can be taken by mouth.
Cough suppressants should be used cautiously for babies. They are either ineffective or, if they work, may suppress the cough reflex.
An adult can cough voluntarily, but a small child can cough only on reflex, that is, when a plug of mucus irritates the bronchi. If this reflex is impaired, the child might not cough up this material and it might block the bronchial tube and lead to collapse of a portion of lung.
CROUP: Croup is an infection of the larynx or vocal cords and may involve the trachea and bronchi as well.
It is usually caused by one of the para-influenza viruses or the respiratory syncytial virus, but also may be due to bacteria.
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