Winter woes: Early diagnosis key to preventing Pneumonia in children

With temperatures dipping and a cold wave sweeping throughout the country, ailments common to winter are rising, especially among children.

Children are mainly coming with complaints of respiratory troubles, fever, runny nose, sore throat, said Dr Tamanna Begum, professor and head of Department of Pediatrics at Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College in Dhaka.

Often these respiratory problems, when left undiagnosed, develop into secondary infections thus resulting in Pneumonia, one of the deadliest of childhood diseases, says Dr Tamanna.

It is very important that parents immediately address respiratory problems in children, especially among infants to help prevent Pneumonia, she said.

There are also frequent complaints of loose motion, cold diarrhea, vomiting and skin problems such as rash, scabies and so on, said Dr Tamanna.

Dermatological problems see a surge in winter as many children do not shower regularly or do not even want to change clothes resulting in skin problems.

Parents should take special care to ensure respiratory troubles are addressed immediately, said Dr Tamanna.

To avoid skin troubles, Dr Tamanna advises regular change of clothes and moisturising the skin after bathing.

For respiratory troubles, she advises early diagnosis and also urges children be given warm water with lemon and honey.

To stay away from stomach troubles she advises to keep children hydrated.