Sometimes, children are made to wear heavy clothes during cold spells but mothers do not notice that when playing, they may be sweating inside their clothes, which may cause them to catch cold and a running nose.
Often, diapers are not changed which result in children developing cold. While minding issues, children have also to be kept safe from dust and cold air.
As per ICDDR,B, on Dec 18, the number of patients admitted to the hospital was 752 and of them, 60-65 percent were children.
Unless one is careful, breathing difficulties may become lifelong ailments. Dr Rakibul Islam, says: “Many have a misconception that newborns should be made to wear warm clothes Due to breast feeding, an infant’s body temperature remains high and so, light cotton clothes should be used.”
Since children cannot speak, their discomfort needs to be understood and diapers must be changed at regular intervals, he advises .
Long time contact with urine or stool may result in skin diseases, added Dr Rakibul.
As advised by doctors, anti rash creams may be used and during diaper changes, the body may be rubbed with tepid water.
When infants catch cold, they stop eating and due to breathing difficulties, cannot take breast milk. To ease breathing problems, nasal drops can be used two to three times daily as per doctor’s advice.
Chairman of Health and Hope Hospital, Dr Lenin Chowdhury, observes: “During intense cold, infants develop breathing difficulties and respiratory problems which may lead to Pneumonia. Parents have to be cautious so as to ensure that warm water is used for bathing the children.”
There has to be enough ventilation in the room, so air flow is normal, he says.