Prevention and management of common childhood diseases

More than 90% of common respiratory, digestive tract, and allergic diseases in children can reduce the probability of onset by more than 60% through daily scientific intervention. Even if they do occur, as long as graded care is provided, more than 80% of excessive medical behaviors can be avoided, and there is no need to rush to the hospital at the first sign of trouble.

Last month, I was working at a community children's health free clinic and met Grandma Zhang, who was raising her grandson. Her baby had just started a small class and had a fever three times a month. Each time, she had to ask the doctor to prescribe an infusion to feel relieved. She said, "What will happen if the fever catches pneumonia?" There was a young mother next to me who said that she never gave her baby medicine when he had a fever. She relied solely on carrying it, saying, "I will go to the hospital after taking care of the immunity." You see, regarding the care of common children's diseases, two extreme views are always fighting. In fact, no one is completely right.

Let’s first talk about the respiratory diseases that bother parents the most, including the common cold, herpangina, hand, foot and mouth, and bronchitis. At present, evidence-based medicine has made it clear that 90% of upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are completely useless. The disease generally lasts 3-7 days and can be cured by relying on the child's own immunity. ； However, this does not mean that all situations can be dealt with forcefully. Children with asthma, congenital heart disease or immune deficiency should still seek medical attention as soon as possible once they develop symptoms of fever and cough. Many parents have a misunderstanding. They rush to give cough medicine as soon as they see their children coughing. In fact, it is not recommended for children under 6 years old to use over-the-counter cough medicine. Coughing itself is a self-protective response of the body to expel phlegm. If you forcefully stop the cough, the phlegm will block the airway, which will make it easier to develop pneumonia. Daily care is not that complicated. Children under six months old should drink more milk and water. If they have a severe cough over six months old, they can drink some diluted pear juice to moisten their throats. If the temperature is below 38.5°C, use a warm towel to wipe the neck, armpits, groin and other major arteries to cool down. Don't wipe the soles of your hands and feet blindly, it will be useless. In terms of prevention, many parents fall into traps. For example, at the beginning of autumn, they wrap their children in three layers inside and three outside. If the children run for two steps, their backs will be covered with sweat, and they will catch cold when the wind blows. "Spring covers the autumn frost" is not an old feudalism. As long as the back of the neck is warm, there is no need to add clothes. ； In the first two weeks of kindergarten, toys brought by children can be disinfected with hypochlorous acid once a week. Do not use 84, which is too irritating and may damage the child's respiratory mucosa.

In addition to the respiratory problems that are commonly spread in kindergartens, the second most worrying thing for parents is probably their children’s gastrointestinal problems. The old man here said, "It's okay for the child to be hungry, but he will get sick if he is overstretched." The young parent over there said, "To ensure nutrition, you must eat enough according to the standard amount every time." In fact, both views are reasonable, and it depends on the condition of the child. I met a mother a while ago. Her child had just eaten half a portion of fried chicken and two egg tarts the day before. She didn't want to have breakfast the next day, so she stuffed an egg and a bowl of porridge. As a result, the child developed a fever that day. If your child ate too much in the previous meal or had a obviously poor appetite, don’t force feed him. Give him some light porridge or noodle soup to slow down his meal. A hungry meal will really not cause any problems. There is also a high incidence of rotavirus diarrhea every autumn and winter. Many parents rush to give antidiarrheal drugs when they see their children having diarrhea. This is the most dangerous thing: the primary risk of diarrhea is dehydration. The first priority is to prepare oral rehydration salt III according to the instructions and give it to the child to replenish enough electrolytes. Antidiarrheal drugs will trap toxins in the intestines and aggravate the symptoms. Oh, by the way, don’t think that you don’t need to get the second-class vaccine. The pentavalent rota vaccine is currently the most effective way to prevent autumn diarrhea. My child was vaccinated when he was a child. Last year, half of the children in the same class had to take leave. He only had diarrhea for two days and was fine. Of course, it does not mean that vaccination will 100% prevent the disease, but the symptoms will be much milder and the risk of dehydration will be less likely.

There are also allergic diseases that are becoming more and more common nowadays, including eczema, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies. There are more misunderstandings in this area. Some people say, "Allergy means low immunity. Just take some protein powder and it will be cured." Others say, "Allergy means you have to avoid food for the rest of your life." Both of these are completely wrong. Allergies are essentially immune disorders, not low immunity. Indiscriminate consumption of protein powder, lactoferrin, etc. may increase the immune burden and make allergies more serious. ； Taboos are not lifelong. For example, the most common cow's milk protein allergy, 80% of children will naturally tolerate it when they are about 3 years old. I once met a mother who refused to eat eggs until she was 5 years old. However, when the tolerance was tested, she could eat it already. The child was 2 centimeters shorter than the same age, which was a waste of nutrition. Daily prevention is actually not difficult. Do not give whole nuts to children under 1 year old. When adding complementary foods, add them in the same way. Observe each type for 3 days to see if there are any rashes, diarrhea, or eye rubbing. If so, stop for 3 months and try again. ； Don’t keep flowering plants or lay carpets at home, and use a mite remover to vacuum your bed sheets and quilts once a week, which can reduce the probability of dust mite allergies by 80%.

Many parents ask me how to judge whether to go to the hospital. In fact, you don’t need to remember so many criteria. It just depends on the child’s mental state. If the child has a fever of 38.5°C and can run around and eat and drink, then just observe it at home.； If you have a fever of 39°C and can't get rid of it even after taking antipyretics, are depressed, don't even want to touch your favorite food, or are vomiting frequently, have a sunken chest when breathing, or have an unexplained rash, don't hesitate and go to the hospital quickly. Don’t ask the doctor to prescribe infusions as soon as you arrive at the hospital. Antibiotics are really useless for viral infections. Instead, they will destroy the intestinal flora and make recovery slower.

Oh, by the way, there are still many parents who ask whether they should give their children health care products to enhance immunity. Let me say this in unison: Currently, no health care products have been proven by evidence-based medicine to improve children's immunity. Lactoferrin, bovine colostrum, and immunoglobulins are basically IQ taxes. It is better to ensure 1 hour of outdoor activity every day, sleep for 10 hours, and eat a balanced diet of meat and vegetables.

In fact, there is really no need to be a "frightened bird" when raising a baby. Every time a child gets sick, his or her own immunity is upgrading and fighting monsters. What you have to do is not to wrap the child in a sterile cover, nor to just carry it and ignore everything. It is better to know the physical condition of your own child and be more patient and observe. It is more useful than any parenting manual. After all, how can there be a child who is not sick? It is only by being beaten and beaten that he grows strong.