ARI is a respiratory disorder that often affects infants and children. When attacked by ARI, children tend to become lethargic, fussy, and less willing to eat. In order not to be confused in dealing with your child when he was exposed to ARI, you need to know things about ARI in children and how to treat it.
ARI is a disease that occurs due to infection in the upper respiratory tract. These channels include the nose, nasal cavity and sinuses, throat (pharynx) and vocal cords (larynx).
ARI can appear suddenly and can be experienced by anyone, especially children and the elderly. Whereas in adults, ARI is more common in people who smoke or are exposed to cigarette smoke and pollution.
ARI can describe several infectious diseases in the respiratory tract of children, such as flu, inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis), sinusitis, epiglotitis, or inflammation of the vocal cords.
Causes and Symptoms of ARI in Children to Watch Out for
The main causes of ARI are viral infections, such as rhinovirus, adenovirus, coxsackie virus, parainfluenza, and RSV (respitatory syncytial virus). But in certain cases, ARI in children can also be caused by bacterial infections.
Viruses and bacteria that cause ARI can spread and spread in several ways, for example when a child inhales a sneezing spark from someone infected with an ARD. Spread can also occur when children hold objects that have been contaminated with viruses or germs that cause ARI and unconsciously touch their own nose or mouth.
When experiencing ARI, children can experience symptoms or complaints in the form of:
- Nasal congestion or runny nose.
- Sneezing.
- Coughs.
- Sore throat until hoarseness.
- The eyes hurt, runny, and redness.
- Headache.
- Muscle ache.
- Fever.
- Pain when swallowing.
Signs and symptoms of acute respiratory infections due to viral infections will usually persist for 1-2 weeks. After that, the child's condition will subside by itself. During illness, the child needs to be treated at home so he can rest more comfortably.
Although it can improve on its own, ARI in children needs to watch out for if getting progressively worse or accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Hard to breathe.
- Breath sounds.
- Pain in the chest or abdomen.
- Convulsions.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Lips and nails appear bluish.
- The skin becomes pale and feels cold.
- Indigestion, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
If there are several symptoms above, it could be that ARI in children has caused more severe complications, such as dehydration, pneumonia, and bronchitis. These conditions need to be treated by a doctor immediately.
Treatment and Prevention of ARI in Children
ARI in children will improve by itself. However, this condition often makes children fussy and difficult to rest, so the recovery process can be disrupted.
To help the recovery process and make the child rest more comfortably when exposed to ARI, there are a number of treatment steps that can be taken at home, including:
1. Give the child enough to eat and drink
When exposed to ARI, children will become less willing to eat and drink. This can cause it to become dehydrated.
Therefore, try to give the child enough water to prevent dehydration. Water can also help thin the phlegm, so that the respiratory tract feels more relieved.
If the child does not want to drink water, try giving other options, such as lemon water and warm tea mixed with honey. But remember, honey should not be given to children under 1 year because of the risk of causing botulism poisoning.
When sick, children also need enough energy. So, make sure the child eats regularly. If he cannot finish eating normally, give the child less, but more often. If necessary, provide multivitamin supplements according to the doctor's recommendations so that the nutritional needs of children are met.
2. Make sure the child gets enough rest.
Children who are sick need to get enough rest (at least 9-10 hours every night). To help children rest comfortably, try to create a comfortable and clean atmosphere in their bedroom. You can read a story book and hug the child until he falls asleep, when he feels uncomfortable.
Do not forget to clean the child's room from cigarette smoke, dust and dirt. If necessary, you can use a humidifier to keep the air clean so your child can rest comfortably.
3. Try gargling salt water
When being exposed to ARI, the child will feel a cough and sore throat. These complaints can be overcome by gargling warm salt water.
The trick is to mix a glass of warm water with 2 teaspoons of salt, and dissolve it. After that, ask the child to gargle with salt water and then melt. Although effective enough to relieve the symptoms of ARI in children, this method should only be done on children aged over 8 years.
4. Use medicines
If the child's condition has not improved, you can give medicines to help relieve the symptoms of ARI. This drug can be in the form of paracetamol to relieve fever and pain, cough medicine, and decongestants to treat colds.
But before giving it the medicine, make sure you have read the instructions for use and the dosage given as printed on the package.
So that children do not often get ARI, take the following steps to prevent ARI:
- Avoid direct contact with people who are sick.
- Remind children to wash their hands regularly, especially after doing activities outside the home, touching dirty objects, after urinating or defecating, and before eating.
- Teach children to always close the nose when coughing and sneezing.
- Avoid sharing toys, cutlery or towels with other people who are sick.
- Routinely cleaning the house and objects in the child's bedroom, such as bed linen, blankets, and toys.
- Complete child immunization.
ARI in children can heal by itself, especially if the child's immune system is good. However, if the symptoms do not improve after a few days or even get worse, immediately consult a child to the doctor.
Likewise, if the child experiences symptoms that need to be watched out as explained above, immediately take the child to the doctor to get the right treatment.
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