Acute respiratory infections in children: symptoms and treatment. Symptoms and treatment of ARVI in children of different ages. prevention, advice from doctors

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in children occur in approximately 75% of all childhood diseases. Upper respiratory tract infections (acute respiratory infection (ARI), acute respiratory diseases (ARI), ARVI) - a group of acute infectious and inflammatory diseases upper sections respiratory tract various localizations, etiology and symptoms.

ARVI is the most common infection on the globe. It is impossible to fully take into account the true incidence. Almost every person experiences ARVI several times (from 4-8 to 15 times or more) a year, mainly in the form of mild and subclinical forms. ARVI is especially common in young children. Children in the first months of life rarely get sick because they are in relative isolation and many of them retain passive immunity received from the mother transplacentally in the form of IgG for 6-10 months. However, children in the first months of life can also suffer from ARVI, especially if they are in close contact with sick people. The reasons for this may be weak transplacental immunity or its complete absence, prematurity, primary forms of immunodeficiency, etc.

ICD-10 code J00-J06 Acute respiratory infections of the upper respiratory tract

Epidemiology of ARVI

According to statistics, a child can get sick from 1 to 8 times a year. This is due to the fact that the immunity developed in a child’s body against one virus is powerless against another infection. And there are hundreds of viruses that cause ARVI. These are influenza viruses, parainfluenza, adenoviruses, enteroviruses and other microorganisms. And since parents often have to deal with ARVI, they should know as much as possible about this disease, the mechanisms of its development and methods of combating viral infection in childhood.

The highest incidence occurs in children from 2 to 5 years of age, which is usually associated with their visits to child care institutions and a significant increase in the number of contacts. A child attending kindergarten may get ARVI up to 10-15 times during the 1st year, 5-7 times in the 2nd year, and 3-5 times a year in subsequent years. The decrease in incidence is explained by the acquisition of specific immunity as a result of acute respiratory viral infections.

Such a high incidence of ARVI in childhood makes this problem one of the most pressing in pediatrics. Repeated diseases significantly influence the development of the child. They lead to a weakening of the body's defenses, contribute to the formation of chronic foci of infection, cause allergization, interfere with preventive vaccinations, aggravate the premorbid background and delay the physical and psychomotor development of children. In many cases, frequent acute respiratory viral infections are pathogenetically associated with asthmatic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, chronic pyelonephritis, polyarthritis, chronic diseases of the nasopharynx and many other diseases.

Causes of ARVI in children

Factors contributing to the development of ARVI follow the child everywhere. These reasons include:

• hypothermia, drafts, wet shoes;
• communication with other children with ARVI;
• sudden changes in weather, off-season (autumn-winter, winter-spring);
• decrease in the body's defenses;
• hypovitaminosis, anemia, weakened body;
• reduced physical activity child, physical inactivity;
• improper hardening of the body.

All these are factors that weaken the body and contribute to the unhindered spread of the virus.

The reasons for frequent ARVI in children are high sensitivity child's body at any age, including a newborn baby. A child’s frequent acute respiratory viral infections begin from the moment he enters the nursery, kindergarten or school. Diseases can be repeated in succession. This happens because immune defense after a viral infection is developed from one type of virus. Penetration of a new virus into the body provokes a new disease, even if it has not passed since the previous one. a large number of time.

How long does ARVI last in a child?

How long can a baby be contagious and how long does ARVI last in a child?

As a rule, the more time has passed since the onset of the first symptoms, the less likely that the child is contagious. The period of time when a sick person is able to infect others usually begins from the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease or simultaneously with them. In some cases, the baby may still look “healthy” outwardly, but the disease process may already have begun. This depends on many factors, including the strength of the child’s immunity.

The initial moment of the incubation period (when the virus has already penetrated the child’s body, but the disease has not yet manifested itself “in all its glory”) is considered to be the moment of communication with an already infectious patient. Such a moment may be contact with a sick child in kindergarten, or an accidentally caught “sneeze” in a trolleybus. The final stage of the incubation period ends with the appearance of the first signs of the disease (when complaints appear).

Laboratory tests can already indicate the presence of the virus in the body during the incubation period.

The incubation period of ARVI in children can last from several hours to 2 weeks. This applies to pathogens such as rhinovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza, parapertussis, adenovirus, reovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus.

The period during which a child is contagious can begin 1-2 days before the first signs of the disease appear.

How long does ARVI last in a child? If you count from the moment the first symptoms appear, the period of illness can last up to 10 days (on average a week). Moreover, depending on the type of virus, the child may continue to remain infectious for another 3 weeks after recovery (disappearance of symptoms).

Symptoms of ARVI in children

Whatever type of virus is caused by ARVI, the classic form of the disease presents some common symptoms:

• “general infectious” syndrome (the child is shivering, there may be pain in the muscles, in the head, there is weakness, the temperature rises, the submandibular lymph nodes are enlarged);
• damage to the respiratory system (nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, dry cough or with sputum production);
• damage to the mucous membranes (soreness and redness in the eye area, lacrimation, conjunctivitis).

The first signs of ARVI in a child are often characterized by a sudden onset with a clearly defined “general infectious” syndrome. With parainfluenza or adenovirus, the first signs are damage to the respiratory system (throat, nasopharynx), as well as redness and itching of the conjunctiva of the eye.

Of course, it would be easier for both parents and doctors if the course of ARVI in children was always classic. However, a child’s body is a very complex system, and its response to the penetration of a particular virus cannot be predicted one hundred percent. Each organism is individual, so the course of ARVI can be subtle, asymptomatic, atypical, or even extremely severe.

Since parents are unlikely to be able to guess and predict the course of the disease, it is necessary to know about conditions in which you will have to consult a doctor in the most urgent manner.

Symptoms of ARVI in children that require urgent medical attention:

• Temperature readings have exceeded 38°C and have little or no response to antipyretic medications.
• The child's consciousness is impaired, he is confused, indifferent, and may faint.
• The child complains of a severe headache, as well as the inability to turn his neck or bend forward.
• appear on the skin spider veins, rashes.
• Chest pain appears, the child begins to choke, it is difficult for him to breathe.
• Multi-colored sputum appears (green, brown or pink).
• Swelling appears on the body.
• Convulsions appear.

You should not self-medicate, especially when it comes to your child. Also pay attention to the baby’s other organs and systems so as not to miss the onset of inflammation.

Temperature during ARVI in children

Children are quite sensitive to increases in body temperature: excessively high temperatures contribute to the appearance of seizures in a child. Because of this, the temperature should not be allowed to rise above 38-38.5°C.

There is no need to bring the temperature down to 38°C, since there is no need to interfere with the body doing its job - fighting the penetration of the virus. This may cause complications. What to do:

• do not panic;
• Monitor the child’s condition - usually after 3-4 days the temperature should stabilize.

Prolonged acute respiratory viral infection in a child with a persistent temperature may indicate the addition of a bacterial infection. It also happens that the temperature readings dropped after a viral infection, the baby seemed to be on the mend, but after a few days he became worse again and developed a fever. In such a situation, you should not hesitate to call a doctor.

In the classic course of ARVI, the temperature can last no more than 2-3 days, maximum five days. During this time, the body must overcome the virus by developing its own antibodies to it. Important: you should not deliberately lower the temperature to normal; you can only lower it so that the body continues to fight the infection.

Cough due to ARVI in children

Cough due to ARVI in children - quite common symptom. It is usually present against a background of fever, runny nose and other signs of illness. With the onset of the disease, a dry cough (without sputum production) is observed. Doctors call this cough unproductive: it is difficult for the child to tolerate, can disturb the peace of his sleep, and negatively affect his appetite.

In the classic course of ARVI, after 3-4 days the cough enters the productive stage - sputum appears. But it should be borne in mind that not all children know how to cough it up. For this reason, the child needs help: regular massage chest, light gymnastics, and in case of a coughing attack, the baby should be placed in a vertical position.

As a rule, cough during viral infections lasts up to 15-20 days, but if its duration exceeds three weeks, then a chronic cough can be suspected. In such cases, competent consultation with a pediatric pulmonologist and allergist, as well as the prescription of complex therapy, is simply necessary.

Vomiting in a child with ARVI

Vomiting in a child with ARVI can occur simultaneously with the appearance of high fever and cough. Sputum that is difficult to clear, dense and viscous, irritates the respiratory system and provokes bouts of painful coughing in the child. The gag reflex is triggered as a result of the transition of the excitatory signal from the cough centers to the vomiting centers. In some cases, vomiting may occur due to the accumulation of a large amount of mucous secretions in the nasopharynx, but in this case, vomiting occurs without coughing. Most often, vomiting due to coughing is not profuse and does not bring visible relief to the baby.

It is important to distinguish when vomiting is associated with the simultaneous excitation of the cough and gag reflex, and when vomiting may be a sign of poisoning or a disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it is imperative to show the child to the doctor, otherwise this may provoke the appearance of unwanted and sometimes serious complications.

Rash due to ARVI in a child

If a rash appears due to ARVI in a child, this is a direct reason to consult a doctor. There are several possible reasons for the appearance of rashes during illness:

• intolerance to any of the medications taken by the baby;
• allergic reaction to foods that parents usually give to a sick child (raspberries, oranges, lemons, garlic, ginger, etc.);
• high temperature, which increases vascular permeability - in such cases, the rash resembles hemorrhages of various sizes on the skin.

There are more serious reasons appearance of a rash. For example, this join meningococcal infection: This rash is usually accompanied by pyrexia and vomiting. In any of the options, if a rash is detected on the child’s body, all measures should be taken to deliver the baby to the infectious diseases department as soon as possible. You can simply call an ambulance and describe the symptoms of the disease. In this case, you cannot hesitate.

Stomach pain due to ARVI in a child

Quite often, parents are faced with a situation where their child has a stomach ache due to ARVI. The pain is most often colicky and localized in the projection area of ​​the large intestine. Doctors can explain this symptom as a combined reaction lymphatic system intestines and appendix. For the same reason, ARVI can be complicated by an attack acute appendicitis. In such a situation, the most competent action of parents may be to call a doctor at home, and if the pain in the tummy area increases, then they will have to call the emergency room.

A large number of acute respiratory viral infections along with abdominal pain can also be accompanied by diarrhea. Diarrhea during ARVI in a child is caused by cramping spasms in the intestines - the child’s body’s reaction to the disease. However, most often diarrhea and abdominal pain are provoked by medications that the child is forced to take. For example, if a baby is prescribed antibiotics or antiviral drugs, this can gradually lead to disruption of the intestinal microflora, or may manifest itself as a hypersensitivity reaction of the digestive system to certain types medicines. In one case or another, consultation with a doctor is mandatory.

Conjunctivitis due to ARVI in a child

Unfortunately, conjunctivitis during ARVI in a child occurs in almost all cases of the disease, especially when attacked by an adenoviral infection. Signs of conjunctivitis become noticeable immediately. Initially, the viral infection that provokes ARVI affects one eye, but after 1-2 days the other eye is also affected. Both eyes of the child become red, itchy, and there is a feeling of “sand” in the eyes. The baby squints, rubs his eyelids, and cries constantly. The eyes may become crusty, and light discharge may collect in the corners.

This conjunctivitis gradually goes away on its own as the child recovers from ARVI. However, special children's medicines - antiviral - can help alleviate the baby's condition and eliminate itching and discharge from the eyes faster. eye ointment or drops, which can be easily purchased at pharmacies.

True, in some cases, conjunctivitis can be the result of an allergic reaction in a child. In this condition, the baby not only develops watery eyes and redness of the eyes, but also the lower eyelids become swollen. It is typical that allergies affect both eyes at the same time. If this happens, urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary, identification and elimination of contact with a potential allergen, and prescription of antihistamine eye drops and medications.

Features of the course of ARVI in children

Children at different ages may react differently to the appearance of signs of ARVI.

• ARVI infant may be manifested by symptoms such as baby anxiety, bad dream, loss of appetite; defecation disorder, excessive tearfulness and moodiness. Such changes in the behavior of an infant should arouse suspicion in the mother, since the infant cannot explain his well-being in words.
• ARVI one month old baby may occur with difficulty in nasal breathing, since the baby does not yet know how to breathe through the mouth. How to suspect that a child has a stuffy nose? The baby becomes restless when sucking, often refuses to eat and pushes away the breast or bottle. In such cases, you should definitely clean the baby’s nasal passages.
• ARVI in a 2-month-old child can typically manifest itself as shortness of breath with prolonged wheezing exhalation - this sign is often called asthmatic syndrome. In this case, symptoms of intoxication are expressed: grayness or cyanosis skin, lethargy, apathy, fever.
• ARVI in a 3-month-old child often occurs with damage to the respiratory system, which, with unqualified help, can be complicated by bronchitis or pneumonia. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the child’s difficulty in swallowing and nasal breathing and regularly measure the temperature. It is extremely undesirable to stop breastfeeding during this period, since mother’s milk in this case will be the best medicine for the baby.
• ARVI in a 4-month-old child is accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and bronchi, which manifests itself in the form of a runny nose and cough. You can observe an increase in the submandibular or parotid lymph nodes, spleen. Conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis often develop, which is expressed in redness of the eyes and continuous lacrimation.
• ARVI in children under one year of age can be complicated by croup - a condition when the larynx becomes inflamed and swollen, namely the area that is directly under vocal cords. This condition This is explained by the fact that in small children this area contains a large amount of loose fiber, which swells easily. In this case, the laryngeal lumen is not large enough. Croup most often develops at night, so parents should pay attention to a sudden “barking” cough, heavy breathing, asthma attacks, anxiety, and bluish lips in the child. If such signs are observed, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.
• ARVI in a child of 6 months is the period when the baby has already been introduced or is being introduced to complementary foods. Often at six months of age, a viral infection is accompanied, in addition to damage to the respiratory system, by involving the digestive system in the process. This may show signs acute gastritis or enteritis: abdominal pain and stool upset appear.
• ARVI in a 1-year-old child can recur from 1 to 8 times a year, depending on immunity. Starting at this age, it is very important to begin hardening procedures and strengthen the baby’s immune defense so that his body can resist numerous viruses and bacteria. It is especially important to protect the baby in the autumn-winter and winter-spring periods.
• ARVI in a 2-year-old child is often accompanied by laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx), tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea - respiratory tube), or a combination of these diseases. Signs of such a lesion are a hoarse voice, a dry, obsessive cough. Of course, a 2-year-old baby cannot yet coherently express his complaints. Therefore, parents should carefully monitor the child’s condition. If you experience difficulty breathing, retraction of the intercostal spaces, or swelling of the wings of the nose, you must urgently call an ambulance.
• ARVI in a 3-year-old child usually begins with a rise in temperature in the late afternoon. Pain in the head appears, the baby feels apathetic, tired, lethargic. Most often, the disease appears during the epidemic season, so making a diagnosis is not difficult. The severity of the condition determines the child’s well-being.

If you notice any uncharacteristic or suspicious symptoms in your child, be sure to call an ambulance. Don’t be afraid to bother the doctor again: the main thing is your baby’s health.

Repeated ARVI in a child

Repeated ARVI in a child is not uncommon, since children are usually very susceptible to viral infection. Babies are prone to contracting the virus from the first weeks of life, but in the first three months they do not get sick as often as at an older age. The tendency to the disease is especially evident at the age of six months to 3 years, then the susceptibility decreases somewhat, although this may depend on the individual immunity of the body.

Why do repeated acute respiratory viral infections occur? The fact is that immunity has specificity in relation to certain types and even types of viral infection. Such immunity is not stable or durable. And in combination with a large number of varieties of the virus, it creates a high percentage of the likelihood of recurrent diseases.

ARVI in a child can occur as a single case, or as a result of a mass epidemic, which often happens in children's groups. That is why the child’s morbidity rate increases, as a rule, with the start of attending kindergarten or other preschool or school institutions.

Where does it hurt?

Chest pain

What's troubling?

Cough Shortness of breath

Complications of ARVI in children

According to statistics, at least 15% of all ARVI diseases in childhood leave behind complications for other organs and systems of the body. For this reason, we should not forget that in children, ARVI can occur with an elevated temperature for no more than five days. A longer increase in temperature above 38°C may indicate the appearance of complications or the addition of another disease. Sometimes the temperature seems to drop, but after 1-3 days it rises again: symptoms of intoxication appear, such as tearfulness, pallor, lethargy, increased sweating. The child refuses to eat and drink and becomes indifferent to what is happening. What can be the complications of ARVI in children?

• A cough after an acute respiratory viral infection in a child in some cases can mean the disease progresses to bronchitis or even pneumonia - the viral infection gradually moves down the respiratory tract. Initially, a clinical picture of laryngitis may be present (dry cough, hoarse voice), then tracheitis ( painful cough, voice functions are restored), and subsequently - bronchitis. The main sign of bronchitis is a cough. At first it is dry and rough, and gradually phlegm begins to form and cough up. Difficulty in breathing occurs, the temperature rises again, increased sweating, and fatigue. If a child has frequent and heavy breathing (sometimes the baby seems to “groan”), then bronchiolitis or pneumonia can be suspected. Consultation with a doctor is required.
• A rash in a child after an acute respiratory viral infection can be due to several reasons. For example, this may be the addition of diseases such as rubella, measles, herpes (infantile roseola), enterovirus infection, scarlet fever, etc. Or there may be an allergic reaction to drugs, for example, antibiotics. The exact cause of the rash must be determined by a doctor.
• Arthritis after ARVI in children may appear after a protracted illness. This type of arthritis is called “reactive” arthritis. Symptoms of reactive arthritis may appear several days or even weeks after recovery. Usually pain occurs in the joint (usually in the morning). It could be hip joint, knee, ankle, etc. The child has difficulty getting out of bed, limps when walking, complains of severe pain. A pediatric rheumatologist can diagnose the disease and begin treatment based on an examination and the results of some tests.

Sinusitis can also be a complication of ARVI ( inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses) or otitis media. Such diseases can be suspected by constant nasal congestion accompanied by a headache, or by shooting pain in the ear along with decreased hearing and a feeling of stuffiness.

Diagnosis of ARVI in children

The main task of tests performed to diagnose ARVI in children is to determine the type of pathogen. Depending on this, a further treatment regimen will be prescribed.

The most common tests for ARVI in children are a general blood test, a general urinalysis, and immunological studies to detect antibodies to a viral infection.

What indicators usually indicate ARVI?

General blood analysis:

• red blood cells - normal or increased due to a lack of fluid in the body;
• hematocrit – normal or increased (with fever);
• leukocytes – the lower limit of normal or decreased, which indicates a viral etiology of the disease;
• leukocyte formula - predominance of lymphocytes, slight increase monocytes;
• eosinophils – decrease in number or complete disappearance;
• neutrophils – decreased number;
• ESR increases during ARVI in children, but this indicator is nonspecific for a viral infection.

General urine analysis:

• the changes are not specific, sometimes there is a small amount of protein in the urine, which disappears after recovery;
• possible, but not at all necessary - slight microhematuria.

In rare cases, ketone bodies—acetone and acetoacetic acid—chemical complexes that form in the liver when digesting food entering the digestive tract can be found in the blood or urine. Acetone during ARVI in children can appear in different concentrations, and since this substance is initially toxic, its presence in large quantities can cause signs of poisoning in a child (in particular, vomiting, as well as the smell of acetone from the mouth or from urinary secretions). The determination and treatment of acetone in the blood or urine should be carried out exclusively by a medical specialist.

Immunology is an analysis for immunoglobulins M (released already at the initial stages of the disease). This test is taken twice – at the first symptoms of ARVI and a week later. Such a study allows you to accurately determine the pathogen. Nevertheless, immunological method They are not always used, but only in severe and protracted cases of the disease.

What needs to be examined?

Bronchi Trachea Larynx

How to examine?

X-ray of the lungs Examination of the respiratory organs (lungs) Bronchoscopy

What tests are needed?

Sputum analysis

Who to contact?

Infectious Diseases Pediatrician

Treatment of ARVI in children

Children with mild to moderate forms of ARVI can be treated at home. Hospitalization is required only in the following cases:

• in severe forms of the disease, or in the presence of complications (pneumonia, croup, etc.);
• for a child under 1 year old, or from 1 to 3 years old;
• under unsatisfactory epidemiological and material conditions.

The standard treatment for ARVI in children provides, first of all, for the removal of intoxication from the body. To do this, use large amounts of warm drinks, complex multivitamins, and in more cases severe cases– intravenous administration of glucose and blood substitutes. At high temperature Antipyretic drugs can be used in the form of tablets or rectal suppositories, and in severe cases - in the form of intramuscular injections.

During the period of fever, the child is prescribed bed rest. In the absence of complications, antibiotics and sulfonamide drugs are usually not used, but in some cases they are still prescribed to small children, since it is very difficult to recognize a complication in an infant.

The protocol for the treatment of ARVI in children with complications includes the prescription of bronchodilators (for pneumonia or bronchitis). Antibiotics are used with caution, taking into account the child's allergic inclination. For laryngeal stenosis use sedatives, antispasmodics, in severe cases an injection of hydrocortisone is administered.

Modern treatment of ARVI in children involves the prescription of drugs aimed at eliminating the main symptoms of the disease. What drugs are these:

• antitussives in the form of syrups, chewable or regular tablets;
• warming creams or balms based on natural ingredients that are rubbed into the skin of the chest;
• other warming procedures (mustard plasters or compresses) as indicated;
• vitamin preparations to strengthen immune forces.

We will talk more about drugs for ARVI below.

Drugs for the treatment of ARVI in children

All antivirus products are divided into 4 categories:

• homeopathic antiviral remedies;
• purely antiviral medications;
• interferons and interferon stimulators;
• immune stimulating agents.

Let's look at all these categories separately.

1. Homeopathy for ARVI in children. The most commonly prescribed suppositories from this category of medications are Viburkol, Oscilococcinum and Aflubin, slightly less common are EDAS-103 (903) or Gripp-Heel. Homeopathic specialists claim that the listed homeopathic remedies stimulate protective function children's body, and often this is true, although the pharmacodynamics of these drugs have been practically unstudied. As a rule, homeopathic remedies have an effect already at the first doses of the drug.
2. Specific antiviral agents. In pediatrics, antiviral agents such as Arbidol, Rimantadine, Ribavirin and Tamiflu are more often used (in some cases also Acyclovir, according to indications). The listed drugs inhibit the entry of the virus into cellular structures, block the replication of the virus, but have a different spectrum of activity and are not intended for all children's age groups.
3. Interferon drugs and their stimulants are perhaps the most popular group of antiviral drugs. For example, Viferon for ARVI in children suppresses the development of the virus and destroys it in 1-3 days. Interferons are able to rid the body of a viral infection, both during the incubation period and from any period of the disease. In addition to the injection of interferons, the most interesting are Viferon suppositories, Kipferon suppositories and Grippferon nasal drops. Perhaps the only contraindication to the use of these products may be the baby’s allergic tendency to the ingredients of medications, especially to the components of candles - cocoa butter or confectionery fat. By the way, medications that activate the production of interferons (Amiksin, Neovir, Cycloferon) are recommended to be used only for prevention, but not for the treatment of ARVI, due to the slow action of such drugs.
4. Immunostimulating drugs - Isoprenosine, Riboxin, Immunal, Imudon, Methyluracil, Bronchomunal, IRS-19, Ribomunil, etc. One of the most popular medications listed, Isoprinosine for ARVI in children is used more as a prophylaxis, however, like other immunostimulants. The reason is that the effectiveness of the action of immunostimulants is observed only after 14-20 days from the start of immunostimulating treatment. These drugs can also be used to restore the body after recovery.

As is known, antibiotics are not prescribed for ARVI in children with the classic course of the disease, since they have nothing to do with a viral infection. Antibiotic therapy is used only in case of complications or when they are suspected: ampicillin derivatives are most often prescribed.

Nutrition for ARVI in children

Nutrition for ARVI in children is approximately the same as for a common cold. The main condition is that the baby should be offered food only if he has an appetite. There is no need to force feed your child.

Shouldn't be given to a child either harmful products: chips, soda. Plenty of warm drinks and easily digestible food are recommended, rich in vitamins, for example, vegetables, fruits, berry purees and jellies.

Young children are advised to offer sugar-free apple compote and dried fruit decoctions. If you are not allergic to berries, you can prepare fruit drinks or berry jelly, or simply give warm mineral water without gas.

Apricots, cherry plums, and pears can be used as a drink for children aged 3-4 years to prepare compotes (if there are no allergies). You can offer a weak one green tea– it contains antioxidants that help remove toxins from the body.

It is advisable to avoid decoctions and infusions of strawberries and currants - such berries are more allergenic. Replace them with bananas, grapes or kiwi.

The diet for ARVI in children should contain easily digestible and healthy foods:

• It is advisable to puree and chop products for cooking; food should be light and soft;
• during periods of illness, try to avoid purchased baby food; it is better to prepare porridge, purees, and pureed soups yourself from fresh ingredients;
• during the recovery stage, it is important to enrich the diet with proteins, so use white meat, minced meat or boiled egg whites as food additives;
• children from 3-4 years old can be offered lean fish, such as pike perch, cod, etc.;
• don't forget about fermented milk products– they will maintain the balance of microflora in the intestines. Fresh kefir, natural yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, acidophilic mixture. You can add a spoonful of honey to such products (if you are not allergic);
• As your child recovers, return to a normal diet, but do it gradually so as not to burden the body.

Be wise when choosing food for a child with ARVI: food should be nutritious, fortified, varied, but overeating and eating unhealthy foods should not be allowed.

More information about treatment

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Prevention of ARVI in children

Prevention of ARVI in children is aimed mainly at increasing resistance and strengthening the immunity of the child’s body. What measures are preventative:

• hardening (playing in the fresh air, taking air baths, cool showers, walking on the grass without shoes, resting at night in a cool room, swimming in pools and open reservoirs);
• stabilization digestive processes(eating vegetables and fruits, following a diet and drinking regime, supporting intestinal microflora);
• regulation of stool, normalization of nutrition;
• security good sleep(rest not on a full stomach, ventilated air in the room, enough sleep).

Preventive measures should be carried out systematically, not forcing the child, but explaining to him the need for a particular procedure to maintain health.

If necessary and poor condition immunity, sometimes it is necessary to resort to the use of drugs that stimulate immune defense.

Drugs for the prevention of ARVI in children

The special multivitamin complex Vetoron has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties. It is prescribed orally from 5 years of age, 3-4 drops, and from 7 years of age - 5-7 drops per day, or in capsules from 6 years of age from 5 to 80 mg once a day.

It is recommended to take ascorbic acid, retinol and B vitamins in a dose according to age. The best proportion of the above vitamins is presented in the preparations “Undevit”, “Complevit”, “Hexavit”. Dragees are taken 2 to 3 times a day for a month. In the autumn-winter period, it is useful to give your child rosehip syrup in the amount of 1 tsp. per day.

Recently, adaptogen drugs have become very popular, which stimulate the body to resist infection. We bring to your attention the dosage regimens for the most popular drugs in this category:

• Immunal - oral administration from 1 to 3 years - 5-10 drops, from 7 years - 10-15 drops. three times a day;
• Dr. Theiss drops - 10-20 drops orally from one year of age. three times a day;
• Hexal drops - 6 drops orally from the age of 12 twice a day;
• Aralia tincture - from 1 to 2 drops per year of life, once a day half an hour before meals, for 14-20 days.

As an emergency preventive measures you can take medications based on medicinal plants(chamomile flower, sage, calendula, colanchoe, garlic or onion), or local immunocorrective agents (Immudon, IRS-19).

ARVI in children is prone to relapses, so it is necessary to find your own recipe for prevention, which will allow you to forget about the disease for many years.

Every parent, at least once in their life, has encountered the symptoms of ARVI in a child; children in the first 3 years of life and children 7-10 years old are most often affected.

ARVI in children is an acute respiratory viral infection that unites a large group of viral infectious diseases caused by DNA - and RNA - containing viruses. Unlike influenza, these microorganisms are not as highly contagious, do not cause epidemics, and are more easily tolerated by patients.

Causes and pathogenesis of the disease

ARVI in children is caused by influenza A, B and C viruses, parainfluenza, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, reoviruses and other microorganisms. The source of infection becomes a sick person or a bacteria carrier; when talking, coughing, sneezing, viruses enter the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract of a healthy person and are introduced into it.

The further development of the disease, how severe it will be and how many days it will last, depends on the state of the infected person’s immunity, the general resistance of the body and how many infectious agents enter the body.

Viruses die quite easily and quickly during external environment Therefore, infection occurs through close contact with a virus carrier or through the use of common household items (dishes, towels, personal hygiene items).

ARVI and influenza are characterized by seasonality of the disease - most cases of the disease in children and adults occur in the spring - autumn period and in the cold season, when the human body is weakened and cannot fight infections.

In children, viral infections occur at almost any age, but up to 6 months, infants retain temporary immunity received from the mother and therefore children of this age rarely get ARVI. The cause of ARVI and influenza in children under one year of age is most often caused by older children and adults, who “bring” viruses and infect infants.

The peak incidence of various colds occurs at the age of 3-4 years, when most children begin to attend various child care institutions. Overcrowding, children's lack of understanding of basic hygiene (sneezing with open mouth, using someone else’s dishes and personal hygiene items, not knowing how to thoroughly wash your hands before eating, after walking and going to the toilet), the child’s not fully developed immunity, all this causes a large number of diseases in preschool children.

Symptoms of viral infections in children

ARVI in children begins with an increase in body temperature, general malaise, loss of appetite, then other signs of a viral infection appear: nasal congestion and copious mucous discharge, pain and sore throat, cough, rapid breathing. Depending on the type of pathogen, the symptoms of the disease may vary slightly.

1. Flu - high body temperature - up to 39-40 degrees, muscle pain, weakness, headache, nasal congestion and sore throat - all these are symptoms of influenza and parainfluenza. The disease can last from 4-5 to 10-14 days and how long will it last acute period The disease largely depends on how quickly and timely treatment is started. The body temperature during influenza lasts for several days, reaches high numbers and can cause confusion, delirium and convulsions, especially in young children.

Unlike other acute respiratory viral infections, influenza and parainfluenza can lead to the development serious complications from the outside internal organs Therefore, the child must be under the supervision of a doctor and receive appropriate treatment. Parainfluenza causes severe swelling of the mucous membrane of the larynx and nasal passages, which can trigger the development false croup(attacks of suffocation) in a child of the first years of life.

2. Rheo and rhinovirus infections occur with a slight increase in body temperature, cough and nasal congestion, the main symptoms of infection are copious serous discharge from the nose, the patient cannot breathe normally, his nose “runs”, the mucous membranes of the eyes turn red, and Your throat may hurt and you may have a cough. Usually the child’s general condition does not suffer too much and the symptoms of the disease disappear quickly.

4. Adenovirus infection– here, in addition to all the above symptoms of ARVI, conjunctivitis and elevated body temperature are added, which stays at low-grade levels for quite a long time. Adenoviruses have a tropism for lymphatic tissue and often cause enlarged lymph nodes, spleen or lymphadenitis in children. The condition of the lymphatic system will determine how long the disease itself will last and whether it will cause complications.

5. MS is an infection - respiratory syncytial virus affects the bronchial mucosa and provokes the development of bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchial asthma in children. The main symptoms of this infection are a dry, painful cough, which appears immediately after infection and develops quickly, as well as other signs - shortness of breath, rapid breathing, fever and sore throat.

Principles of treatment of ARVI

Treatment of ARVI in children is usually carried out at home; it is necessary to treat a child in a hospital if complications develop, a severe form of the disease, children with concomitant diseases or infants under 1 year old with a moderate to severe form.

Even if the child has already had similar signs of infection many times, it is necessary to call a doctor and carry out treatment under his supervision, since only an experienced specialist will be able to accurately assess the patient’s condition and see in time the risk of developing various complications.

ARVI in children can be caused by about 200 various viruses, and many of them mutate every year, so specific means for treatment, as well as prevention of diseases, have not yet been developed. It is proposed to treat a child with ARVI with symptomatic remedies and antiviral drugs. The most reliable way to avoid frequent acute respiratory viral infections in childhood and quickly recover from any infection is prevention viral infections: hardening, vitamin therapy, walks in the fresh air and physical activity.

To cure your child faster, you need to follow the following rules:

1. Observe bed rest until the body temperature drops to normal, and then, for several more days, protect the child from any stress so as not to provoke the development of complications, since the patient’s body is greatly weakened.

2. The diet of a sick child should be light and nutritious - more vegetables, fruits, dairy products. It is imperative to observe the drinking regime - a child should drink at least 1.5 - 3 liters of liquid per day, depending on age. If the baby is on breastfeeding, it is necessary to monitor his condition - dry lips, hot dry skin, rapid breathing - all these are signs of dehydration, when they appear, you need to start feeding the child with warm boiled water at the rate of approximately 10 ml per kg of weight, every 2-3 hours. Children over one year old can be offered juices, compotes, fruit drinks, tea with honey and raspberries or mineral water. alkaline water without gas.

3. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5 g, the child is given an antipyretic - Panadol, children's paracetamol, ibuprofen and other similar drugs, children under one year old can be given a rectal suppository with an antipyretic agent.

4. If you have a sore throat, you should immediately start rinsing with antiseptic solutions. The more often the patient gargles, the more effectively all microorganisms and their metabolic products are washed out of the oropharynx. It is optimal to gargle every 2-4 hours with soda-salt solutions, decoctions of chamomile, sage, ready-made pharmaceutical solutions or solutions of furatsilin, iodine, hydrogen peroxide.

5. If the cough persists for several days, it is advisable to start taking expectorants and sputum thinners - bromhexine, licorice root syrup, Mucaltin, ambro and others.

6. From the first days of a viral infection, you need to start taking antiviral drugs - interferon, anaferon, viferon. For children under one year of age, these drugs are prescribed in the form of suppositories.

7. If the symptoms of the disease do not go away within a few days and the body temperature remains high, this may indicate a bacterial infection and the need to start treatment with antibiotics, which can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Prevention of ARVI

Specific prevention of ARVI in children has not yet been developed, and in order to avoid infection and quickly get rid of the clinical manifestations of the infection, you need to follow the rules of personal hygiene, avoid crowds of people, hypothermia and increase the body's defenses. The best prevention any infections in children is good immunity, and for this it is necessary to harden the child, monitor his health and proper nutrition.

Treatment of acute respiratory diseases in children

It is difficult to imagine a child who has never had a cold or viral infection, and with the arrival of cold weather, the risk of acute respiratory infections in children increases several times. The cause of the disease can be hypothermia, a viral or bacterial infection, decreased immunity and thousands of other reasons.

Even newborn children suffer from acute respiratory diseases, so everyone should know how to treat and be able to provide assistance to a patient with a cold and acute respiratory viral infection. Indeed, in most cases with acute respiratory infections, the patient only needs symptomatic treatment And good care to quickly get back on your feet. Particularly important proper care and timely treatment of children under 1 year of age with acute respiratory infections, since at this age the disease develops very quickly and treatment should be started immediately, without waiting for the doctor to arrive.

Symptoms of acute respiratory infections in a child under one year old can be very different from the usual clinical picture illness, the baby becomes lethargic, irritable, capricious, often cries, refuses to eat, always asks to be held and does not want to play. Then symptoms of a respiratory infection appear - nasal congestion and discharge, watery eyes, cough and fever. It is advisable to begin treatment of acute respiratory infections as soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear.

Treatment of acute respiratory infections in children under 1 year of age

It is most difficult to treat colds in children under 1 year of age. Parents panic, don’t know how to calm their baby down, don’t understand what’s happening to him or how to help him. ARI mild and medium degree severity is treated symptomatically - it is important to carefully monitor the child’s condition and consult a doctor if there are any signs of worsening of the condition.

1. During treatment infants You should not use any medicines or traditional medicine methods without consulting your doctor.
2. Child's routine - during illness, you need to try to relieve the baby of unnecessary stress - he should sleep more, and procedures such as gymnastics, walks, hardening or bathing are best postponed until the child is completely healthy.
3. In case of acute respiratory infections, it is necessary to drink plenty of warm drinks, even if the child is exclusively breastfed, you need to supplement it from a bottle, and for an older baby, constantly offer warm drinks - rosehip infusion, tea with honey or raspberry jam, warm milk or still water.
4. The biggest concern for parents of infants is a stuffy nose - small children cannot breathe through their mouths and, when their nasal passages are blocked, they experience fear and begin to scream loudly, cry or become hysterical. Symptoms of nasal congestion are refusal of the breast or bottle, unexpected sharp crying during sleep, crying and restlessness of the child, after he was laid on the bed - in a horizontal position, the discharge from the nose does not flow out, but clogs the nasal passages. To alleviate the patient’s condition, you need to suck out the contents of the nose using a special suction device or a small rubber baby bulb: carefully insert the tip of the bulb into one nasal passage, press with the second finger and suck out the mucus. After this, clean your nose with a bathtub and drip a few drops of aquamaris, saline or breast milk. If a child has a very bad runny nose, he is suffocating and cannot eat or sleep, you can use vasoconstrictor drugs– special drops for infants – Nazivin, Tizin, Vitaon and others.
5. If your baby has a fever, try to bring it down without using medicines– undress the baby, wipe him with warm water, moisten the child’s body with water and a few drops of vinegar or alcohol under the armpits, in the groin folds, palms or feet. If the temperature rises above 38.5 degrees, the child does not feel well or suffers from neurological diseases, then antipyretics such as panandol, nurofen, and children's paracetamol can be used. In the event that a baby refuses to take medicine or eat a pill, you can use suppositories with antipyretic drugs.
6. If a cough occurs, it is recommended to gargle the child’s throat with solutions of chamomile, sage or baking soda. saline solution at least 4 times a day. A child under one year old is not able to gargle on his own - to do this, you need to carefully rinse him oral cavity and the back wall of the pharynx from a bulb or syringe without a needle.
7. Inhalations are also very helpful for sore throat and cough. To make your baby breathe healing steam, holding him in your arms, stand with him over a hot decoction of medicinal plants for 10-15 minutes - 3-4 times a day.
8. If rinsing and inhalation do not help, cough syrups are used as prescribed by the pediatrician - Doctor Mom, Doctor Theis, Lazolvan and others.
9. In the treatment of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections in children of the first years of life, drugs such as antiviral suppositories and Viferon tablets, nasal drops - interferon, their analogue - Anaferon tablets, homeopathic remedies - aflubin, viberkol and others.
10. Prescribing antibiotics for acute respiratory infections is not recommended; it is justified only in the case of a bacterial infection, and such treatment should only be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician! Children under one year of age are most often prescribed penicillin antibiotics - ampicillin, amoxicillin or sumamed. age dosage. During antibiotic therapy, we must not forget about the risk of developing dysbiosis and, simultaneously with antibiotics, the child should receive drugs such as: bifiform, hilak forte, linex, fertal and others.
11. After an acute respiratory infection, children need enhanced nutrition, vitamins and a gentle regimen for 2-4 weeks to avoid the development of complications.

Treatment of acute respiratory infections in older children

Treatment of acute respiratory infections in children over one year of age is based on the same principles:

1. Bed rest,
2. Drink plenty of warm drinks.
3. Taking antipyretics at a body temperature of 38.5 degrees,
4. Rinse and inhalation for coughs,
5. For severe coughs, children can be given licorice syrup, bromhexine, ambroxol or ambrobene,
6. And as vasoconstrictors for a runny nose, Dlynos, Nazivin, Galazolin and others are recommended,
7. Also, for a severe cough and sore throat, compresses with honey, warming ointments or mustard plasters are recommended.

Despite the apparent harmlessness and frivolity of this disease, the child must be shown to a pediatrician and not treated independently; only a qualified specialist will be able to assess the patient’s condition and distinguish a banal acute respiratory infection from a severe infectious or viral disease that disguises itself as the symptoms of a common cold.

Young children get sick very easily, and some experience this condition up to 5 times a year. ARVI in a child under one year of age is severe, which is associated with the body’s adaptation to microorganisms in the natural environment. At this age, breastfeeding ends, and the baby’s immune system gradually changes, due to which its own defenses are formed. To avoid complications, it is important to know the first symptoms, their treatment and prevention of the disease.

Young children are prone to acute respiratory viral infections and the treatment of their diseases must be approached responsibly

The most common source of a cold is a sick person and a carrier. Within a few days, there is a high risk of contracting a viral infection or in the first days from the onset of symptoms.

There are several ways the disease can spread. The most common is airborne, when a sick person spreads viral particles with droplets of saliva while sneezing and coughing. Children are least likely to become infected with ARVI in a 1-year-old child by everyday means. When saliva gets on household items, it remains infectious for some time.

Symptoms

Manifestations of the disease in the first days of the disease may not be specific and have virtually no effect on the general condition. It depends on the immunity and characteristics of the baby’s body. Symptoms of ARVI in children under one year of age are as follows:

• Sneezing is often the first symptom to appear, and many mothers may confuse this symptom with an allergic reaction to something. At first it occurs several times a day, and then it becomes more frequent, which gives cause for concern and seeking help. In order to cure the baby faster, it is necessary to consult a doctor when nonspecific signs appear. This will avoid complications and significantly alleviate the course of the disease.
• A cough occurs in the first days of ARVI, often dry, when the general condition of the body is disturbed. The baby sleeps poorly, eats poorly and becomes restless. Therefore, it is important to transform a non-productive cough into a productive one.
• A runny nose appears almost immediately after sneezing. Nasal congestion impairs sleep and sucking. If the child is still breastfed, he often breaks away from food, cries and is capricious. When this symptom appears, the mother should know how to treat ARVI in a 1-year-old child. In young children, it is important to get rid of this symptom in a timely manner. Lack of treatment can lead to pathology in the ear and hearing loss. This feature is associated with the structure of the middle ear, which is wide, narrow and communicates with the nasopharynx. Mucus from the nasal cavity flows into it, leading to an inflammatory reaction.
• Elevated body temperature for babies is not observed from the first days of illness and increases gradually. It rarely reaches 39˚C. The body must cope with this symptom on its own until the indicators rise to 38˚C.
• Moodiness is a manifestation of intoxication, which becomes one of the first signs of illness.
• General weakness and lethargy often accompanies infectious diseases. It becomes difficult for children to maintain their usual activity, which is associated with increased body temperature.

Many children suffer from a severe form of the disease, which is important to take into account and try to contact a pediatrician in a timely manner to begin treatment. It is prohibited to use medications without a doctor’s recommendation. It's connected with age characteristics and the risk of developing various complications from organs and their systems.

If you have an acute respiratory viral infection, your baby may have a fever

Complications after infection

A mother needs to know how to treat ARVI in a child at 1 year of age in order to eliminate the risk of complications. Self-medication or uncontrolled use of medications equally increases the baby’s chances of acquiring additional pathogenic flora against the background of reduced immunity. Complications in children under the treatment of ARVI up to one year old include the following:

• Respiratory tract infection with sore throat various forms, pneumonia and bronchitis.
• Rhinitis and enlarged adenoids, which often becomes chronic.
• In children under 1 year of age dangerous diseases tracheitis and laryngitis are considered. This is due to the development of spasm of the pharyngeal muscles and narrowing of its lumen. As a result, breathing becomes significantly more difficult and an obstacle appears in the path of air flow.
• If the child’s ARVI was not treated or the parents independently prescribed medications for their child, then a secondary infection may occur. It is not uncommon for it to have the ability to spread to the tissues of other organs and cause kidney pathology, digestive tract or respiratory system.

In children, ARVI often leads to complications

Any drug is considered stressful for the child’s body and therefore care must be taken in choosing medications.

Treatment

Difficulties in diagnosing ARVI in a child require a careful approach to choosing a medicine. Therapy should be comprehensive and include the following:

• Maintaining the correct regimen.
• Reception medicines.
• Traditional medicine.

On days of illness, it is important to maintain bed rest and give the child plenty to drink. This allows you to quickly cope with intoxication and remove viral particles from the body. The room in which the child is located should be ventilated several times a day for 15 minutes. This will provide an influx of fresh air and reduce the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms in the room.

Diet therapy plays an important role. Meals should be small and frequent. This is due to the concentration of vital forces on the fight against infection, which the body takes from nutrition coming from outside. Various vegetable and meat purees, fruit juices and fruit drinks enriched with vitamins are best suited.

Treatment of ARVI in a 9-month-old child should be aimed at increasing the flow of fluid into the body. Increased body temperature leads to excessive sweating. As a result, cells lose water and beneficial microelements.

ARVI is a disease of viral origin and therefore antibacterial therapy will not be effective. To fight the infection, you will need an antiviral drug, which can be given to babies up to 1 year of age. Most often, IRS-19 is prescribed for these purposes, which increases local immunity, Interferon, Grippferon, Arbidol and Imudon.

Ibuprofen helps cope with fever and high temperature

If the signs listed above appear in children under one year of age with the addition elevated temperature body, it is necessary to use antipyretics. The best choice is Ibuprofen, which fights fever and also has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is important to remember that the well-known Aspirin should not be given to children under 6 years of age.

To treat nasal congestion in a baby, vasoconstrictors are needed. Their task is to reduce the discharge of mucus from the nasal cavity and facilitate breathing, as well as food intake. The most common are Snoop, Protargol and Nazivin. It is necessary to remember that treatment with vasoconstrictors leads to addiction and therefore instilling them into the nasal passages of children for more than a week is not recommended. They are also capable of thinning the mucous membrane, which will lead to the addition of pathogenic flora and pathology of the nasal cavity.

Treatment of ARVI for up to a year includes a large number of medications. This can lead to the development of an allergic reaction, which children are very prone to. infancy. To avoid it, it is important to give antihistamines. These include Loratadine, Fenistil.

Except drug therapy If there are no restrictions, traditional medicine is prescribed. For this purpose, vitamin teas based on linden, chamomile or lemongrass are suitable. In the absence of fever, hot foot baths. They accelerate blood circulation and promote the rapid elimination of toxins and microorganisms.

Prevention

In young children, the body's immune defense is not yet sufficiently developed. As a result, parents are confused about how to treat ARVI in children under one year old. The most favorable way is preventive measures. To protect the baby, it is necessary to observe personal hygiene standards and hardening procedures. For babies, not only baths using water, but also air and sunlight are suitable.

Prevention of ARVI in children under one year of age includes the use of immunomodulators. Vetoron is most often used, and the dosage is set depending on the age for each child individually. In addition, it is recommended to take vitamin complexes. It is especially important to carry out such preventive measures in spring and autumn. Preparations such as Undevit, Hexavit and Revit have the best ratio of vitamins. For ease of administration, they are available in the form of syrups.

If signs of ARVI appear, consult a doctor

Parents need to remember that any symptom may be the first nonspecific sign of ARVI. The disease progresses differently in each child, which is associated with the characteristics of the virus and the body. Timely treatment begins to promote rapid recovery and reduce the risk of complications.

ARVI or acute respiratory viral infection- this is one of the most frequent illnesses, which the child, his parents, and even more so the pediatrician have to face. For children, encountering viruses, namely those that cause ARVI, is natural stage life and contact with environment, which in most cases does not require special medical intervention.
Only a correctly structured behavior pattern of the adults around the child will help the child easily endure ARVI, avoiding unpleasant and dangerous complications.
ARVI – common name group of diseases caused by viruses that can cause acute inflammation in various departments respiratory system. Acute phase The disease develops and proceeds within 3-5 days, in the absence of complications.

In contact with

Prevalence

In children in the first months of life, acute respiratory viral infections are not so common due to two factors:

• The presence of antibodies in the blood, entered the child’s body through the placenta;
• isolation from contact with other people.

However, it is childhood, especially under 5 years, that is the period of maximum incidence of ARVI, which varies depending on the place of residence:

• In the countryside children get sick about 6-8 times a year, which is due to lower population density and a more favorable environmental situation;
• in cities a child suffers up to 12 cases of acute respiratory viral infection annually.

Frequent ARVI at an early age is caused by the beginning of active contact with other children and visiting kindergartens. By the time he reaches school, he already gains immunity, so he gets sick less often.

Lack of exposure to infections in the first years of life is often the reason why a child gets sick more often later in life.

The incidence of ARVI is seasonal. People get sick much more often in autumn, winter and spring than in summer.

Origin

ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) begins from the moment the virus enters the mucous membrane and penetrates the cells. Here, even before the appearance of symptoms, active reproduction of the infectious agent begins. At this moment, the first mild symptoms of ARVI, such as a sore throat, may appear.

As a result of the activity of the virus and its reproduction, cell destruction occurs. It penetrates the blood, causing general intoxication of the body. At the same moment, an immune response develops, primarily associated with the production of interferon.
On last stage the body begins to physically get rid of the virus and the dead cells affected by it, rejecting mucus. At this time, a cough and mucus may appear from the nose.
During the development of the disease, substances are produced that cause vasodilation, and therefore swelling, for example, histamine.

Cause

There are many types of viruses that cause ARVI, the most common are:

• Influenza virus, preferring the tracheal mucosa;
• adenovirus, affecting lymphoid tissue;
• RS virus, which multiplies more actively in the mucous membrane of the bronchi and bronchioles;
• couple - flu, more often choosing the larynx;
• rhinovirus, “loving” the nasal mucosa.

Moreover, the fact of preference for a certain part of the respiratory tract does not mean that the infection can only affect it. In addition, each variety has many subtypes.

Symptoms (signs) of ARVI

A diagnosis of ARVI is not required special effort. This group of diseases has several common symptoms:

• Deterioration general condition lasts on average 3-5 days and manifests itself in the form of weakness, intoxication, fever, chills, pain in muscles and joints;
• catarrhal phenomena– soreness and redness in the throat, dryness or lacrimation, discharge of mucus from the nose, mostly colorless.

How long does a child’s fever last for ARVI?

On average, children have a temperature of 37.5 for 3-5 days. In some cases, excess temperature may persist for up to a week. But after three days you need to see a doctor and do a general blood test to rule out bacterial complications.

Is your baby suffering from headaches? Does a hoarse voice cause anxiety? All this points to.

Bronchitis in a child must be treated from the first days of the disease. about methods and approaches for treating bronchitis in children.

Forms

Clinically, the types of ARVI differ from each other in localization:

• – damage to the nasal mucosa;
• – inflammation of the pharynx;
• – inflammation of the larynx;
• or bronchiolitis(damage to bronchioles);

Diagnostics

The easiest way to diagnose ARVI is by symptoms. At the appointment, the doctor performs several actions:

• Interviews the mother of a sick child about the characteristics of the manifestation of the disease (duration of holding a high temperature, the nature of the cough, the color of nasal discharge, etc.);
• examines the child’s throat for hyperemia and enlarged tonsils;
• palpates the lymph nodes;
• listens to breathing.

Determining the location is important for the treatment regimen, but not from the point of view of determining the type of virus.
The type of infectious agent is only important if there is doubt about the bacterial or viral etiology diseases.

Differential diagnosis

Viral infections, regardless of type, are treated according to the same regimen. It is more important to finally make sure that the disease is not caused by bacteria. To do this, a clinical blood test is performed, paying attention to changes in the concentration of immune cells:

• Neutrophils with a viral infection it becomes less, but with a bacterial infection their concentration increases, and the number of band and young neutrophils increases;
• lymphocytes increase the population, primarily due to viral infections, but bacterial diseases lead to a decrease in the content of these cells.

Rate the painting clinical analysis Only a doctor can do blood work. He will also be able to prescribe medications if necessary.

Treatment of ARVI

At the moment there are practically no drugs antiviral action, for which effectiveness has been proven. The exception is a few drugs, for example, acyclovir or rimantadine, used to treat herpes and influenza.

The prescription of antibiotics for acute respiratory viral infections is unjustified and will ultimately lead to the fact that these drugs will be ineffective, since microorganisms will become resistant to them.

In most cases, the body of a healthy child can overcome the virus on its own under certain conditions, which include:

• Indoor humidity – from 50 to 70%;
• moisturizing the nasal mucosa if necessary, saline drops, for example, saline;
• room temperature where the child is, 22-25 degrees;
• warm clothes on the child;
• drink plenty of warm liquids;
• feeding according to appetite with light food;
• regular ventilation of the room for air exchange;
• wet cleaning.

If the child feels well and does not have a fever, then walks in the fresh air with minimal contact with people are recommended.
Among medications strictly As prescribed by a doctor, the following may be taken to relieve unpleasant symptoms:

• Antipyretics based on paracetamol or ibuprofen;
• vasoconstrictor nasal drops(naphazoline, galazolin, oxymetazoline, etc.) only when strictly necessary to prevent the development of otitis media;
• antihistamines to reduce swelling, especially in children with allergies;
• mucus thinners(ambroxol, potassium iodide, etc.), if it was not possible to achieve a wet cough drinking plenty of fluids and the correct environmental parameters.

If the child tolerates the temperature well, then you should not lower it until the threshold of 38-38.5 oC is reached. At home, it is not recommended to use physical methods to reduce body temperature.

In some cases only doctor may prescribe physical therapy, which may include the use of nebulizers for inhalation and massage for bronchitis. Traditional methods have no proven effectiveness. The use of herbal teas and decoctions in the absence of contraindications and side effects, such as allergies, is acceptable and useful as a warm drink.

Prevention

In most cases specific prevention SARS does not exist. An exception is vaccination against the influenza virus, which prevents or reduces the development of the disease.


ARVI occurs faster and with less likelihood of complications in hardened children.
TO preventive measures This also includes frequent hand washing, the use of disposable handkerchiefs, and reducing contact with people indoors during flu epidemics or recovery from illness.

Forecast

Compliance with all recommendations regarding the treatment regimen and prevention allows you to achieve recovery in 5-6 days and avoid the development of complications. Residual effects(cough and discharge of mucus from the nose) can persist for up to two weeks.
After recovery, it is not advisable to return the child to kindergarten for about 5 more days to allow the mucous membranes and the body as a whole to recover.
Thus, parents should remember the following:

• For proper treatment, medical supervision and certain environmental conditions are necessary;
• ARVIs are viral diseases for which antibiotics do not help;
• there are no specific drugs for ARVI that treat the cause;
• viral infections respiratory tract– something that a child faces without fail.

Adequate treatment of acute respiratory viral infections consists of prescribing antiviral drugs, this is especially important when severe forms diseases. At acute form ARVI treatment in children begins with the simultaneous implementation of symptomatic measures and exposure to the pathogen.

The antiviral drug recommended for the treatment of ARVI in children is rimantadine, which is prescribed in the first 2 days of illness to limit the spread of the virus in the body and reduce the severity of the disease. For moderate and severe forms of acute respiratory infection caused by grima virus strain A, rimantadine is prescribed 50 mg 2 times a day for children aged 7 to 10 years and 56 mg 3 times a day for children over 10 years of age for 5 days.

ARVI in children: treatment with antiviral drugs

When treating ARVI in children, in the first 2 days of the disease, acyclovir in tablets can be prescribed - children from 1 to 12 years old at a dose of 2 mg/kg, over 12 years old - 75 mg 2 times for 5 days,

An antiviral drug called ribaverin (virazol) is available in the form of aerosols and is recommended for severe forms of viral infection and influenza in children at risk ( birth defects heart, chronic lung diseases, children under 6 weeks of life with damage lower sections respiratory tract); In addition to aerosol forms, it is available for parenteral and oral use.

Interferon preparations: influenzaferon, nasal interferon or other interferons that are intended for administration into the nasal sinuses or inhalation administration:

Grippoferon children aged 1 to 3 years are given 2 drops in each nasal passage 3 times a day, from 3 to 14 years - 2 drops in each nasal passage 4 times a day for 5 days;

Interferon 3-5 drops are injected into each nasal passage, diluted with warm water to 0.25 ml, 5-8 times a day for 2-3 days.

Donor immunoglobulin with high titers of anti-influenza antibodies, they are used intramuscularly for severe forms of influenza, children under 2 years old are given 1.5 ml, from 2 to 7 years old - 3 ml, over 7 years old - 4.5-6 ml. In particularly severe cases, immunoglobulin administration can be repeated after 12 hours.

Principles of treatment of ARVI with antibiotics

Indications for prescribing antibacterial drugs for ARVI are: the addition of complications (otitis media, sinusitis, acute tonsillitis, bronchitis caused by chlamydia, mycoplasma and other bacterial pathogens, pneumonia); without visible foci of infection, when the body temperature is above 38 ° C for more than 3 days, the body temperature rises to 38 ° C on the 3-5th day after normalization, in the presence of shortness of breath, asymmetry of wheezing in the lungs, leukocytosis in the peripheral blood more than 15.0.

The basic principles of treating ARVI in children with antibacterial agents are based on preventing the development of bacterial pathogenic flora. These methods can be used taking into account the current condition of the sick baby and after a detailed developmental forecast.

Basics of treatment of ARVI in children under one year of age

Treatment of ARVI in children under one year of age must be done under constant medical supervision. Any manifestations convulsive syndrome or a high body temperature that is difficult to correct are direct indications for hospitalization.

Necessary measures for the treatment of ARVI in children under one year of age:

• bed rest for 5-7 days or until body temperature normalizes;
• the use of an increased amount of sour drinks (tea with lemon, currants, raspberries, cranberries, viburnum, juices, fruit drinks);
• dairy-vegetable diet enriched with vitamins; fight against hyperthermia;
• treatment of ARVI symptoms.

Body temperature must be reduced only when it is above 38-38.5 ° C. Children from risk groups (history of convulsive syndrome, severe diseases of the nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular systems) and who have become pale, lethargic, drowsy, complain of - antipyretics are prescribed at a body temperature of 37.5 ° C. To reduce body temperature, antipyretics containing paracetamol are most optimal. They are the safest and most effective for children. Second-line medications include ibuprofen. Other antipyretic drugs, especially those containing acetylsalicylic acid and analgin, can cause severe, life-threatening side effects, such as Reye's syndrome (acetylsalicylic acid) or agranulocytosis (analgin).

When you have a runny nose, mucus forms in the nasal cavity, which neutralizes viruses and bacteria. In order for it to fully perform its functions, it is necessary to moisturize the nasal mucosa. To do this, use a saline solution of sodium chloride or a salt solution (1 teaspoon of salt per glass of water) instilled into the nose. Children over 6 months of age are allowed to use special vasoconstrictor children's nasal drops, but not longer than 2-3 days.

When coughing, they humidify the air in the room in which the sick child is located to improve the evacuation of sputum; they also use products that dilute and facilitate its removal (mucaltin, ambroxol, acetylcysteine, etc.). In addition to medications, at an early age you can drink a large amount of warm liquid, consisting of fruit drinks, tea, viburnum juice, a solution of honey with lemon, black radish juice with honey and lemon.

Cough suppressants can be given to children only in cases of dry, painful cough, if it interferes with the child’s ability to sleep or eat (dextramethorphan and others).

To increase the immune reactivity of a child’s body during illness, multivitamin complexes, ascorbic acid, and herbal adaptogens (tincture of echinacea, eleutherococcus, ginseng) are used.

ARVI in children, prevention of frequent infections

Children with weakened immune systems most often suffer from ARVI. This condition can be caused by numerous factors. ARVI in newborns occurs if the child is bottle-fed from the first days of life. With mother's milk, the baby receives all the necessary antigens to pathogens of acute viral infections.

At an older age, no matter how paradoxical it may sound, the cause of frequent acute respiratory viral infections in children and decreased immunity is the systematic use of antibacterial drugs without medical supervision. It reduces activity intestinal microflora and creates an inferiority complex immune defense the child's body.

The diagnosis of acute respiratory infections is well known to every mother, because in children under 10 years old it can occur about 6-7 times a year. Acute respiratory infections, or acute respiratory diseases, are a whole complex of diseases that are caused by different types of viruses (parainfluenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus). Once upon a time, children were immediately prescribed antibiotics to treat them, but today the approach to the treatment of respiratory infections has changed significantly, and some ailments can be cured even without the use of medications.

In order to prescribe adequate therapy to a child when the first symptoms appear, you must first correctly identify the disease. There are significant differences between acute respiratory infections and colds: a common cold occurs due to hypothermia of the body, and the causes of acute respiratory infections are viruses and bacteria that are present in the surrounding atmosphere.

Symptoms of a cold are usually less pronounced, develop rather slowly and do not increase, while respiratory infections (especially parainfluenza) occur rapidly: 1-2 days, and sometimes several hours, may pass from the moment of infection to the moment the first signs appear.

As for acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections, in the first case the disease is caused by viruses, and in the second by bacteria, but even doctors often use these concepts as synonyms.

In any case, making a diagnosis on your own and prescribing treatment for your child is not recommended, since in some cases (for example, with sore throat or bacterial infections), the use of antibiotics and other potent drugs is completely justified, and sometimes they are simply useless.

Usually incubation period The acute respiratory infection lasts up to 5 days, after which the following symptoms appear:

• rhinitis (transparent discharge), nasal congestion, sneezing;
• cough, hoarseness and sore throat;
• increase in body temperature to 38-39 degrees;
• headaches, muscle pain, ear pain;
• irritability, drowsiness, or, conversely, excessive activity;
• lack of appetite;
• general malaise.

The most unpleasant and severe symptoms Acute respiratory infections occur in the first few days, when the virus is actively multiplying, and the immune system has not yet given an adequate response.

In children aged 5 years and older, the disease lasts about a week, and children are sick for 10-14 days. If an acute respiratory infection was accompanied severe cough, it can last about 3 weeks after recovery.

The main task of parents during treatment respiratory diseases in a child - not only to help him cope with the illness, but also not to harm the body. Unfortunately, many parents in this case choose the wrong tactics, as a result of which the disease is delayed or complicated. So, what steps are not recommended to be taken when treating acute respiratory infections in a child?

1. Do not lower the temperature below 38-38.5. For infants up to 2 months, the permissible temperature threshold is 38 degrees, for children over 2 months – 38.5. Fever means that the body is actively fighting the pathogens of the disease, so parents who are in a hurry to bring down the fever deprive the baby’s body of natural defenses and allow viruses to actively multiply. Exceptions are children who suffer from convulsive syndrome at high temperatures, as well as patients with intrauterine defects of the central nervous system and heart, impaired metabolism, blood circulation and other congenital diseases. In such cases, the temperature should be reduced immediately.
2. Do not use antipyretics without reason. Antipyretic drugs are allowed to be used up to 4 times a day, but this is recommended only when the temperature rises above acceptable limits. Prohibited drugs also include complex drugs for treating influenza such as Coldrex and Fervex. Essentially, they are a mixture of paracetamol with antihistamines and vitamin C, and can only blur the overall picture of the disease and mask complications.
3. Do not apply warming compresses when the temperature is high. Warming compresses and ointments can only be used in the absence of fever, otherwise they will only aggravate the disease, and even lead to the development of obstruction - dangerous condition which can lead to respiratory arrest. It is not recommended to use popular compresses and rubdowns made from vinegar and alcohol - even in small doses, these substances can cause poisoning or intoxication.
4. Do not give your child antibiotics unless prescribed. Taking antibiotics is a responsible step, so the doctor must make the decision after conducting research and tests. Such drugs fight bacteria well, but they are powerless against viruses. In addition, together with harmful microorganisms, antibiotics destroy beneficial microflora and reduce immune defense.
5. Do not dress your child in clothes that are too warm. Many parents believe that additional hypothermia of the body during acute respiratory infections will only worsen the disease, however, overheating will not bring anything good. The best option is loose, light clothing in several layers and a thin blanket (if the child wears diapers, it is also better to remove them - urine creates a greenhouse effect, which also leads to overheating). This way the body will freely lose heat and regulate its temperature independently.
6. Do not force your baby to eat or lie down. Do not ignore the demands of the child’s body during illness. Most children during such periods refuse to eat, which is an absolutely normal phenomenon, since all their energy is aimed at fighting the disease. Bed rest is indicated only in severe cases, so forcing your baby to lie in bed all the time is also not worth it - he will lie down on his own if he feels unwell.

The first actions of adults should be aimed at creating an atmosphere around the baby that is conducive to the body’s fight against viruses.

1. Healthy atmosphere. The least favorable environment for bacteria and viruses is moist, cool air (temperature - 20-21 degrees, humidity - 50-70%). Moreover, in such an atmosphere in respiratory tract the child does not accumulate mucus, which greatly facilitates her well-being. Accordingly, in the room where the baby is located, you need to create the appropriate temperature and humidity - regularly ventilate the room and hang wet rags on the radiators.
2. Drink plenty of fluids. For colds and viral diseases The body is actively losing fluid, so the patient needs to be given plenty of water frequently. The drink should be non-carbonated and approximately correspond to body temperature - that is, it should not be too hot, but not cold either. If a child shows signs of dehydration (dry tongue, infrequent urination), you need to give him a saline solution: “ Regidron», « Humana Electrolyte" etc.
3. Nasal rinsing. If you have an acute respiratory infection, you need to rinse your nose as often as possible, using medications with sea ​​water (« Humer», « Aquamaris», « Marimer"), ordinary saline solution or a solution of sea salt prepared with your own hands (a teaspoon per two glasses of water). They dry out the mucous membrane of the nasal passages well and wash away pathogenic microorganisms and thin the mucus.

Subject to these simple rules Treatment of acute respiratory infections will require no more than 5-6 days. If symptoms do not go away or worsen, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Medications for acute respiratory infections in children

Antiviral agents

Drugs that activate the production of interferon and help destroy viruses will bring much more benefit and less harm, but there are several nuances here. TO antiviral drugs the body gets used to it much faster than to other medications, so you should not use them unless absolutely necessary or as a preventive measure (with the exception of a number of drugs that are approved for preventive use). Antiviral drugs used to treat acute respiratory infections are divided into two groups: extended-release agents and those aimed at combating respiratory infections. You should choose a specific drug based on the age of the baby and the characteristics of the disease.

Anti-flu drugs

Name	Image	Form	Child's age	Features of application
"Tamiflu"		Capsules, powder for suspension	From 1 year (allowed for use from 6 months during pandemics)	Fights influenza A and B viruses. Can be used as a prophylactic after contact with infected people. Dosage depends on the patient's age
"Orvirem"		Syrup	From 1 year	Treatment and prevention of influenza A. Take after meals according to the appropriate regimen, gradually reducing the dose
"Rimantadine"		Pills	From 7 years	Treatment of influenza A. Take orally, starting the first two days after the onset of symptoms. Average dose – 50 mg twice a day

Complex drugs

Name	Image	Form	Child's age	Features of application
"Grip-Heel"		Pills	From birth	Homeopathic remedy against influenza and acute respiratory infections. Has no side effects, can be used as a prophylactic agent
"Viferon"		Rectal suppositories	From birth	It is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases, including those complicated by bacterial infection. Dosage depends on the patient's age
"Grippferon"		Nasal drops	From birth	The drug comes into direct contact with the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, where viruses multiply most actively. It is not addictive and does not require additional symptomatic treatment. Average dose – 1-2 drops 3-5 times a day
"Anaferon" for children		Pills	From 1 month	Used for the treatment of acute respiratory infections and complex therapy bacterial infections. Treatment should begin immediately after symptoms appear. Can be used to prevent respiratory diseases
"Arbidol"		Pills	From 3 years	Treatment and prevention of acute respiratory infections, influenza A and B. Reduces the risk of complications. In therapeutic doses there are practically no side effects
"Kagocel"		Pills	From 3 years	Prevention and treatment of respiratory viral infections. Take according to the schedule depending on the patient’s age

Before using any of the above drugs, you should make sure that there are no allergic reactions and also consult your doctor.

Cold drops

Any medications against the runny nose, with the exception of salt water drops, are recommended to be used only in cases where the disease causes serious discomfort to the child. In the initial stages of the disease, when liquid, clear mucus is released from the nasal passages, vasoconstrictors can be used to reduce swelling and make breathing easier. Drugs in this group include:

• "Nazivin";
• "Otrivin";
• "Sanorin";
• "Vibrocil";
• "Tizin."

It is important to remember that vasoconstrictor drops for children (especially those under 3 years of age) should have a reduced concentration. In addition, you must strictly adhere to the dosage and do not use the drugs for more than 5 days, otherwise they may become addictive.

On late stages rhinitis, when the mucus becomes thick and its removal from the nasal passages becomes difficult, you can use antibacterial drugs: « Collargol», « Protargol», « Pinosol" These funds also have their own characteristics and disadvantages. “Protargol” contains silver ions, which effectively kill most bacteria without the use of antibiotics, but silver is not excreted from the body on its own and tends to accumulate in tissues. "Pinosol" is natural preparation based essential oils, which has a mild, long-lasting effect, but thick oils impede the natural outflow of mucus.

Cough preparations

An acute respiratory infection usually begins with a dry cough, after which sputum begins to flow and the cough becomes wet. It is not recommended to actively fight cough during respiratory infections - it is natural defensive reaction the body and promotes the removal of bacteria and viruses from the body. Expectorants and mucolytics are recommended to be taken only in cases where acute respiratory infections are complicated by bronchitis or pneumonia and only for medical reasons (at the age of under 2 years, most drugs that thin sputum are prohibited). If your child has a sore throat, use cough drops (“ Bronchicum», « Linkas") or sprays (" Inhalipt», « Faringosept», « Tantum Verde»).

Folk remedies

Application folk remedies against acute respiratory infections in children should also be balanced and thoughtful, since they can also cause side effects and allergic reactions (this is especially true for infants under one year old).

The best way to combat acute respiratory infections in children is not treatment, but prevention. To reduce the risk of respiratory infections, your child should proper nutrition, hardening (within reasonable limits), taking vitamins and regular walks in the fresh air. During pandemic periods, it is better to avoid places large cluster people, before going outside, lubricate the baby’s nostrils oxolinic ointment, and after returning home, rinse the nasal passages with preparations based on sea ​​water or saline solution.

Video - Treatment of acute respiratory infections in children