Thursday, 30 November 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Taking note of the pneumonia outbreak among children in China, the Uttarakhand State health department has issued guidelines to the departments concerned regarding monitoring and prevention of this disease in children.
Meanwhile, the parents remain worried about the surge in respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, in some parts of China.
The health experts based in the city have underscored the importance of early precautions to prevent and mitigate the impacts of pneumonia. Children in the five to seven years age group are particularly susceptible to this respiratory illness, said paediatricians.
A parent Bipin Rawat while speaking to The Pioneer expressed his concern regarding the spread of pneumonia among children in China. “I have a son aged five years and I am particularly concerned about him with the health department advisory having warned parents of children in the age group of five to seven years. Of course, I am cautious and taking all measures in line with the health advisory to keep my little son safe from the dreaded infection,” he added.
Another parent, Rohit Rana said that respiratory complications are quite common in the winter season and they usually heal with time. “However, this time the sudden surge in child pneumonia cases in China is leaving all parents worried. We are taking all basic precautions to ensure that our children do not fall prey to the microbe attacks. The coming weeks are, however, crucial,” he added.
Talking to The Pioneer, paediatrician Dr Apoorav Jain said that the children from five and seven years are particularly vulnerable to pneumonia. “The State health department advisory has said the same. So, the parents of children falling within this age group must be extra alert,” he said.
While dwelling on the nature of the infection being found in China, he said that it differs from the typical form of pneumonia as it is a combination of A-typical viruses. “This particular illness can result in a child experiencing low oxygen levels and requiring a longer hospital stay,” he said.
He further said that the early symptoms of this ailment include cold, cough, coughing up blood and difficult breathing. “To prevent pneumonia, parents should ensure that their children wear full-sleeved clothes and refrain from attending school if they exhibit these symptoms. Besides, timely CT scans and X-rays can help stave off this pneumonia, keeping their children safe in this uncertain time. Furthermore, the parents must make sure that the children are not exposed to smoke as it can exacerbate the impact of pneumonia,” he said.
