Table of contents:
- What causes the child to cough and runny nose frequently?
- Can coughs and colds be signs of serious illness?
- How can children avoid coughs and colds?
Children often have prolonged coughs and colds, to the point that maybe you are tired of overcoming them? Yes, young children are more susceptible to contracting diseases. A child's immature immune system may make it easier for viruses or germs to make him sick. However, what actually causes children to cough and runny nose?
What causes the child to cough and runny nose frequently?
Common coughs and colds can be caused due to viral infections of the nose, throat and sinuses. Young children can experience coughs and colds more often than older children and adults because young children do not have a strong immune system. Young children have not yet built up immunity to the more than 100 different viruses that cause colds.
Before the age of 7 years, the child's immune system is not fully strong. In addition, a child's upper respiratory tract (including the ear and surrounding area) is not fully developed until after school age. So, this allows bacteria and viruses to be more able to attack your child's immunity.
However, if your child has frequent coughs and colds, don't immediately assume that your child has a weak immune system. At the time he had a cough and cold, he was just being exposed to a lot of viruses. If the common cold is causing more serious problems, it may be that your child's immune system is down.
Children can get coughs and colds because they are infected from the surrounding people, such as relatives, parents, family members, friends, and others. Children who often play with their friends may experience coughs and colds more often. Young children usually do not cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, which makes it easier for the germs to spread to their other friends. In addition, young children often hold their nose and mouth, then hold objects around them, so that viruses and germs can be spread more.
The rainy season can also affect coughs and colds in children. During this season, children can experience coughs and colds more frequently. Toddlers can experience coughs and colds up to 9 times each year. Meanwhile, adults can cough 2-4 times a year.
When a child has been exposed to a virus that causes coughs and colds, the child's immune system will recognize it so that the child's immune system becomes stronger. Therefore, the frequency of coughs and colds decreases in older children.
Can coughs and colds be signs of serious illness?
Coughs and colds are usually accompanied by fever and last about 1-2 weeks. Some respiratory viruses that cause colds in older children and adults can cause more serious illness when they infect babies and toddlers. Some of the diseases caused by this virus are:
- Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis), with symptoms of hoarseness, making a voice when breathing, severe coughing
- Bronchiolitis, with symptoms of wheezing, difficulty breathing
- Sore eyes
- Sore throat
- Swelling of the glands in the neck
How can children avoid coughs and colds?
Children usually catch coughs and colds because of infection, it can be from people around them or from objects contaminated with cough and cold viruses. Usually, children often hold objects around them, they don't know whether the objects around them are clean or not. After holding the object, the child then holds his limbs or inserts his fingers into the mouth or nose.
Therefore, to prevent coughs and colds in children, you can teach children to always wash their hands. Make it a habit for children to always wash their hands after going to the bathroom, before and after eating, and after playing. Don't forget to wash your hands with soap so that germs on the child's hands die and make sure all parts of the hands have been exposed to soap and water. This is a small thing, but it can affect the health of the child.
If your child has a cough and runny nose, teach the child to always cover his mouth when sneezing and coughing. The child can cover his mouth with a tissue or with his sleeve. This aims to prevent transmission of the virus to the people around it.
