If you're a mom, dad, or someone who works with young children, you probably know that young children are like walking disease factories, right? No matter how careful we are, sometimes when a disease starts spreading in a daycare or preschool, it spreads like wildfire. So, one of the viruses that spreads very easily among such children is the Human Parainfluenza Viruses (HPIVs).
What is this parainfluenza virus (HPIV)?
Simply put, this is a type of virus that causes respiratory infections. It is especially common among young children. There are four main types of this virus: HPIV-1, HPIV-2, HPIV-3, and HPIV-4. Each type can cause different types of respiratory illnesses.
Let's see what are the main diseases caused by this virus.
- Croup: This is the most common condition associated with this virus. It causes swelling of the voice box, windpipe, and surrounding airways. This swelling makes it difficult to breathe and causes a deep, hoarse cough, similar to a barking dog . This is what we call 'croup'. This condition is mainly caused by a virus called HPIV-1.
- Upper respiratory infections: These are infections that affect our nose, throat, and sinus cavities. Examples include the common cold, sore throat, sinus infection, and laryngitis.
- Lower respiratory infection: This refers to infections that occur in the lungs and related lower respiratory tract. Examples of this are conditions called bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
- Bronchiolitis is an infection and swelling of the tiny airways (bronchioles) that carry air to the lungs. This can cause the chest to fill with mucus and cause symptoms such as wheezing.
- Pneumonia is the swelling of the air sacs in the lungs due to an infection.
Although all of these infections can be caused by parainfluenza viruses, HPIV-1 has been found to be more associated with whooping cough (croup), and HPIV-3 with lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
How is this virus transmitted?
This virus is very contagious . It is mainly spread through droplets from the sneezes, snot , or saliva of an infected person. When someone sneezes, the virus particles in the air can remain active for more than an hour. The virus can also survive for several hours on surfaces such as doorknobs and toys.
It is generally said that a child has been infected with this parainfluenza virus at least once by the time they are five years old, so this is very common.
Imagine, if one baby in kindergarten gets this virus, another baby touches a toy they use, or if those germs get on the hands of other children when they sneeze, and those children put those hands in their mouths and noses, how easily can this spread? That's why these things spread so quickly.
What are the symptoms of this disease?
The symptoms caused by this virus can vary depending on the type of infection, but there are some common symptoms.
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- A hoarse cough like a dog barking (especially in the case of croup)
- Wheezing
- Change in voice, hoarseness
- Mucous discharge
- Fever
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Appetite
- Redness of the eyes
In addition to these common symptoms, other symptoms may also occur depending on the underlying condition. For example, a sinus infection may cause headaches, fatigue, and nasal congestion. A condition like pneumonia may cause chest pain and a feeling of tightness in the chest.
How does the doctor recognize this?
When you take your child to a doctor, the first thing he or she will do is examine the child thoroughly. You can get an idea of what kind of infection this is by looking at the child's symptoms, how they are breathing, and listening to their chest. Also, since doctors are aware of the diseases that are spreading in the area at that time, with that knowledge, they can guess that this could be an HPIV infection.
However, sometimes if the infection is severe or if there is a suspicion of other complications, the doctor may recommend further tests.
- Nasal swab: A small swab is used to collect a sample of mucus from inside the nose and test it for the virus.
- Blood test
- Chest X-ray: This is done if a condition such as pneumonia is suspected.
What treatments can be done at home?
Most of the time, these parainfluenza infections are not that serious. They can be treated at home. The most important thing is that this is a disease caused by a virus . This means that it cannot be cured with antibiotics . Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. Therefore, do not buy antibiotics from the pharmacy and give them to your child without the advice of a doctor.
The usual approach is to control the symptoms and provide comfort to the child until the virus is eliminated from the body.
- Give plenty of fluids: Give things like water, fruit juice, and porridge frequently.
- Reduce fever and pain: Give medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen in the prescribed dosage as recommended by your doctor.
- Keep the baby calm: When the baby cries or becomes agitated, breathing difficulties may increase. So try to keep him calm.
- Humidifier: Using a cool-mist humidifier to increase the humidity in the room can help keep airways from drying out, loosen mucus, and make breathing easier.
In some severe cases of croup, your doctor may prescribe a medication called a corticosteroid to reduce swelling.
When do you need to see a doctor urgently?
Most of the time, this will resolve within a few days, but in some cases, you may need to go to the hospital immediately. If your child's symptoms are getting worse or new symptoms appear, you should definitely pay attention.
| Warning signs that require urgent medical attention | |
|---|---|
| If you have croup, pay special attention to these symptoms: | |
| 🚨 | If the child is having a hard time breathing . |
| 🚨 | If you make a high-pitched sound (like making a "s" sound) when you inhale and exhale. |
| 🚨 | If the child makes these high-pitched sounds even when he is not upset. |
| 🚨 | If you can't swallow and saliva drips from your mouth. |
| 🚨 | If the area around the mouth, nose, or nails turns blue or gray . |
| If you have pneumonia, you may need to be hospitalized in these cases: | |
| 🚨 | If the child is less than two months old. |
| 🚨 | If you have severe difficulty breathing. |
| 🚨 | If the oxygen level in the body is low. |
| 🚨 | If the child is excessively sleepy and lifeless . |
| 🚨 | If you are showing signs of dehydration (dry mouth, sunken eyes, no urination for 6-8 hours). |
If you notice any of these symptoms, take your child to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) without delay. It is very important to act quickly in times like these.
How can we protect our little ones from this virus?
Although it is said that almost all children develop this by the age of five, there are some steps we can take to protect our children. These are especially important if your child is in kindergarten.
- Good hygiene: Teach your child to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water regularly.
- Keep your child away from sick children: Keep your child away from children with coughs and colds as much as possible.
- Avoid sharing utensils: Teach your child not to share things like water bottles, cups, and spoons with others.
There is currently no vaccine for this parainfluenza virus. However, research is underway to develop vaccines for HPIV-1 and HPIV-3 viruses. So we can hope that we will have a good solution in the future.
Take-Home Message
- Parainfluenza (HPIV) is a virus that is common among children and causes respiratory illnesses such as 'whooping cough' and pneumonia.
- Because it is a virus, it cannot be cured with antibiotics. Treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms and providing relief.
- Always be alert for warning signs such as difficulty breathing, high-pitched sounds while breathing, and blue skin.
- If you notice such severe symptoms, go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately without delay.
- Good hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing, are the best way to protect children from these types of illnesses.
- If you are in doubt about anything, always talk to your doctor.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න