Know the Symptoms of Viral Pneumonia & Preventive Measures

The Covid pandemic has caused a lot of disturbance in our lives. During the corona pandemic, there has been a significant reduction in the flu vaccination in children. There is a rise in the number of Flu cases. 

In the capital city of Delhi, the number of children suffering from viral pneumonia in all government and private hospitals is increasing rapidly. According to media reports, an increase of 20 to 30 percent is being registered. According to doctors, cases of viral pneumonia are also seeing an increase compared to last year because it is feared that the flu vaccination program of children has been affected a lot due to corona. The flu vaccine is used to protect children from viral pneumonia.

Let us tell you that all children above 6 months of age should get the flu vaccine. In this blog, we are going to give you detailed information about the symptoms and prevention measures of viral pneumonia.

Why are children getting more affected by viral pneumonia this year?

Dr Amarendra Jha, Consultant Physician Intensivist at Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Delhi, says that the cases of viral pneumonia increase during monsoon but this time more cases are being reported. Cases of viral pneumonia are being seen more in children less than four weeks of age.

Doctors are also apprehensive about the fact that many children missed the flu vaccine due to corona and this could also be one of the reasons why their immunity has declined due to continuous stay at home. In Delhi's Moolchand Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, AIIMS, Safdarjung, Hindurao and many more hospitals, cases of viral pneumonia are being registered.

Apart from Delhi, the Health Department has increased awareness regarding viral pneumonia in many other states including Bihar. 

What are the symptoms of viral pneumonia?

According to pediatrician Dr Saurabh Aggarwal, difficulty in breathing can be seen in children, apart from this there may also be complaints of gasping.

• sleep deprivation

• earache, blurred vision

• pain in the child's joints, legs, or head

• having fever,

• sudden mood swings

• loss of smell or loss of touch

Dr. Amarendra Jha says that if the child has a problem of cold, cough or fever, then immediately get the child checked up by the doctor. If children suffering from viral fever are not treated on time, then the infection can reach the child's lungs with the help of the nose. As soon as there is an infection in the lungs, the child becomes infected with pneumonia. If it is not treated properly at the right time then it can prove to be fatal.

What to consider in the treatment of viral pneumonia?

According to Pediatrician Dr Saurabh Agarwal, a child suffering from viral pneumonia needs to be given steam in addition to medicine. According to doctors, the process of steaming can reduce the problem of gasping in children and the effect of infection will also reduce gradually.
 

• Give water to your baby from time to time

• Give the child only fresh and hot food to eat

• Fresh fruits and seasonal can be given to the baby

• Give medicine to the child as per your doctor's advice

• Instead of juice, cut the fruit and give it to eat

• Take special care of cleanliness with the child, make the child also wear clean clothes and do not go to the child wearing dirty clothes.

• If your child does not wear a mask, then you yourself should go to the child wearing a mask.

• Do not invite outsiders at home during this time

The most important thing is not to panic and follow the doctor's advice. Take care of your children and be sure to get vaccinated. All children must get the flu vaccination from the age of 6 months. Be sure to get all the vaccinations your doctor has recommended during pregnancy to help keep your baby's immunity strong and protect them for a few months after birth. This is important because there is no flu vaccine for a baby from birth until he is 6 months old.