Pediatrician Salahattin Okur pointed out that Rhinovirus and Covid-19 are the leading respiratory diseases encountered in children with the cooling of the weather and the opening of schools, and said, “If there is acceleration or difficulty in breathing in children, if the fever continues for more than 3 days, consult a doctor.”
Stating that respiratory diseases have started to be seen with the opening of school and the decrease in air temperatures, Acıbadem Adana Hospital Pediatrician Salahattin Okur said, “There has been an increase in the number of patients applying to health institutions with respiratory tract infections. Our observations are that Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are not yet common. Covid-19, on the other hand, continues to exist, although its incidence has paused, and it can be accompanied by Rhinovirus.”
Emphasizing that the decrease in air temperatures with autumn and spending more time indoors increases respiratory diseases, Dr. Okur said that Rhinovirus and Covid-19, which mostly affect children and cause colds, are among the common diseases; He stated that the combination of these diseases in children aggravates the course of the disease.
“Rhinovirus can be transmitted through towels, glasses and cutlery”
Pointing out that Rhinovirus is one of the common respiratory viruses in September, together with Covid-19 or independently, Dr. Okur said, “Rhinovirus, a recently identified Enterovirus species, is the causative agent of severe respiratory infections in children and is linked to childhood asthma exacerbations. Rhinovirus is a virus that causes the common cold. Viruses that become airborne when people who are sick sneeze or cough can be inhaled and passed to healthy people. This is the most common mode of transmission. The virus can also be transmitted through contact. In particular, healthy people who come into contact with items such as towels, glasses, cutlery and spoons used by sick people can also be infected. Therefore, it is important to follow hygiene rules to protect against the virus. Washing hands frequently, not touching other people's belongings and staying away from sick children are among the primary precautions to be taken. In addition, not sending sick children to school will prevent transmission to other children.”
“If there is difficulty in breathing, consult a doctor”
Stating that rhinovirus causes symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, wheezing, headache, accompanied by sneezing, without much fever in the upper respiratory tract, Okur explained that fever is rarely seen in adults, but 38-39C fever can be observed in young children. He stated that it can go down to the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia in the elderly, pregnant women and those with suppressed immune systems. He stated that sore throat, cough and shortness of breath are seen in Covid-19, and although these findings are similar to each other, they have become almost recognizable in the society.
Stating that the long-term persistence of Covid-19 may be associated with the co-infection with Rhinovirus, Dr. Okur said, “Our clinical observations and findings show that patients who are co-infected with Covid-19 and Rhinovirus are more likely to have shortness of breath, cough and increase admission to intensive care compared to those infected with Rhinovirus alone. For this reason, it is very important that children with symptoms are taken to a health institution and the necessary treatments are carried out before the disease progresses.”
Okur warned that if there is acceleration or difficulty in breathing in children, if the fever persists for more than 3 days, if there is restlessness and refusal to feed in infants, and if other symptoms persist for more than 7 days, a doctor should be consulted.
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