An autumn rain and a cold have already entered autumn without realizing it. Whenever the seasons change and the temperature difference gradually increases, coughing, colds, and fever are common in children, and pediatric wards are often overcrowded. Why are children prone to illness when the seasons change? Mainly because sudden changes in environmental factors such as temperature and humidity have a certain degree of impact on children's immune systems. The cold autumn rain is gradually approaching, and the temperature drops sharply. The child's body gradually cannot adapt to this change, which can easily lead to a decline in immunity, allowing viruses and bacteria to take advantage. This popular science article will focus on several common diseases and explain how to take care of our children during seasonal changes, so that they are not affected by diseases.
1、 During the season change, common diseases and symptoms in children
(1) Autumn diarrhea
Autumn diarrhea is often caused by rotavirus infection, and its symptoms show certain characteristics. The incubation period after infection is usually 2-3 days, and the early stages of the disease are often accompanied by cold symptoms. Most children also experience fever, with a body temperature between 37.9-39.5 ℃. Then, vomiting and diarrhea symptoms will appear. The stool is white, yellow or green, similar to Egg&vegetable soup, with a small amount of mucus, but no foul smell. It occurs about 10 times a day. Generally speaking, the course of autumn diarrhea lasts for 3-9 days, with the first 3 days showing the most severe symptoms.
The onset season of autumn diarrhea is usually between September and April of the following year, as rotavirus is more active during this period. Parents need to pay extra attention. When their children experience cold symptoms accompanied by fever, it may be an early sign of autumn diarrhea. At this time, sufficient vigilance should be aroused and preventive measures should be taken in a timely manner.
（2） Hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common infectious disease caused by various intestinal viruses, especially during the climate transition between summer and autumn, when bacteria and viruses multiply in large numbers in the air, making children more susceptible to intestinal virus infections and leading to hand, foot and mouth disease. This disease mainly affects children under 5 years old, especially infants and young children aged 1-2 years old. Typical symptoms include white small blisters or red papules in the mouth, which may appear on the palms and other areas, lasting for 7-10 days. The high incidence of the disease occurs from April to July, especially in collective places such as kindergartens and schools, with strong infectivity. The transmission is mainly through the fecal oral route, and one patient may infect the entire kindergarten or even family. Although diseases generally do not leave scars, they have a wide range of infections and significant impacts.
（3） Influenza
The alternating seasons of summer and autumn can easily lead to the spread of influenza virus, and children have relatively weak innate resistance, resulting in many babies being infected every year. Although the symptoms of the common cold are similar to those of the flu, there are significant differences in etiology and presentation. The common cold is often caused by upper respiratory tract infections caused by multiple pathogens, while influenza virus infection may bring more serious symptoms such as high fever and complications. Mild flu symptoms are similar to the common cold, but flu is usually accompanied by more significant high fever (up to 39-40 ℃) and systemic discomfort. When a child experiences persistent high fever, severe coughing, difficulty breathing, changes in demeanor, severe vomiting or diarrhea, immediate medical attention should be sought.
2、 Getting sick during seasonal changes is not scary, taking good protective measures is the key!
（1） Autumn Diarrhea Prevention Tips
There are multiple effective methods available to prevent babies from experiencing diarrhea in autumn. Firstly, proper feeding is key. Regular and quantitative intake of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as moderate supplementation of vitamin B, can enhance immunity. In addition, appropriate physical exercise and outdoor activities can help enhance children's physical fitness. Getting vaccinated against rotavirus is also an important measure to reduce the risk of infection. At the same time, avoiding abdominal coldness, maintaining sufficient water intake, maintaining normal bowel movements, limiting the intake of raw, cold, and spicy foods, and increasing exposure to sunlight to promote calcium absorption can all help prevent diarrhea. Educate children to maintain good hygiene habits, such as washing hands before and after meals, regularly disinfecting utensils and toys, and parents' own hygiene should not be ignored. For pediatric patients, dietary regulation is particularly important. In mild cases, breastfeeding and difficult to digest foods can be moderately reduced, while in severe cases, diet should be gradually restored under the guidance of a doctor.
（2） To prevent hand, foot, and mouth disease and other diarrheal diseases, parents can take the following measures. Firstly, educate children to maintain good hygiene habits, including frequent hand washing, washing hands before and after meals, avoiding eating raw and cold food, and drinking raw water. In addition, avoid bringing children to crowded public places such as amusement parks and indoor shopping malls to reduce the risk of infection. Be careful when handling baby feces, wash hands promptly after changing diapers, and ensure regular disinfection of toys and personal items. Keeping children's bed sheets and bedding clean and maintaining indoor ventilation can also help prevent the spread of diseases.
（3） Tips for preventing influenza
There are many ways to prevent influenza, and you can start from the following aspects:
1. Enhance children's immunity. By allowing children to eat more evenly, exercise appropriately, and maintain sufficient sleep, their physical fitness can be improved to resist the invasion of influenza virus.
2. Cultivate good personal hygiene habits. For example, washing hands frequently, especially after coming into contact with public objects; At the same time, it is also important to adjust clothing according to weather changes in a timely manner to prevent children from contracting the flu virus due to weakened immunity.
Timely vaccination of children with influenza vaccine is an effective preventive measure against influenza. Due to the rapid spread of influenza virus, schools and other densely populated areas are particularly prone to infection. Therefore, timely vaccination can effectively reduce the risk of infection in children. However, for younger babies, mothers need to take preventive and treatment measures under the advice of doctors to avoid unnecessary health risks to their children. The selection of vaccines should be based on the child's physical condition and the doctor's advice.
4. Keep indoor air fresh. Regular indoor disinfection can kill influenza viruses in the environment and help prevent the growth of bacteria.
Avoid placing children in crowded places such as shopping malls, cinemas, etc., to reduce their exposure to the flu virus. In summary, during seasonal changes, children are prone to illness mainly due to the sudden impact of environmental factors on the immune system, making it easier for viruses and bacteria to invade. However, through a series of preventive measures such as a reasonable diet, developing good hygiene habits, paying attention to environmental hygiene, and getting vaccinated, we can effectively reduce the risk of children getting sick. Let's work together to create a healthy and happy environment for children's growth.