Poison dissolved in the air poses a big threat to children, recognize these 5 serious symptoms of pollution; Pediatricians told effective prevention measures

With the onset of winter and increasing smog levels, the air quality index (AQI) reaches hazardous levels in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and major cities across North India. Toxic elements like airborne particulates (PM 2.5 and PM 10), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide have many times more lethal effects on the delicate health of children than adults. According to pediatricians, children breathe more rapidly per minute than an adult, due to which more amount of contaminated air enters their body in proportion to their weight. Additionally, the respiratory system and lungs of young children are not yet fully developed, causing this toxic smoke to directly cause inflammation, allergies and infections in their respiratory tract.

Many times, parents ignore the symptoms seen in children’s body after coming in contact with pollution, considering it to be a common seasonal cold, which can later take the form of chronic bronchitis or severe asthma. If your child is showing the following symptoms, be alert immediately:

1. Persistent dry or wheezing cough: At night or in the morning, the child has frequent persistent cough and a whistling sound is heard from the chest.

2. Difficulty in breathing and fast breathing: The child’s breathing is faster than normal, ribs sinking in while breathing or panting quickly while playing.

3. Eye irritation, redness and watering: Direct contact with contaminated air and smoke can cause symptoms like itching in the eyes, swelling of the eyelids or conjunctivitis.

4. Sore throat, hoarseness and blocked nose: As soon as the child wakes up in the morning, the child experiences blocked nose, constant sneezing, pain in the throat and discomfort in swallowing saliva.

5. Unusual drowsiness, headache and irritability: Due to insufficient supply of oxygen in the body, the child may not be interested in sports, feel tired all the time, heaviness in the head and sudden loss of appetite.

According to medical research, continuous exposure to high pollution in early childhood can reduce the lung capacity of children by about 10 to 20 percent, which may never become completely normal in the future. Apart from this, the presence of PM 2.5 particles in the blood also adversely affects the mental development, attention span and memory of children. For children suffering from asthma, this weather can create a medical emergency, where breathing becomes impossible without a nebulizer or inhaler.

Until air quality improves naturally, parents should adopt some strict safety rules at home and outside:

• Change the timing of outdoor activities: Do not send children to play in the park, open balcony or field during the early morning and late evening when the level of smog and pollution in the air is at its peak. Limit sports or physical activities to afternoon hours (when the weather is sunny).

• Correct selection and use of mask: If it is unavoidable to take the child to school or outside, make him/her wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask instead of wearing a simple cloth mask. The nose and mouth should be completely covered by the mask.

• Keep indoor air pure: Keep the windows and doors of the house closed in the morning and evening. Do not smoke incense sticks, incense sticks or mosquito coils in the room. If possible, install an air purifier with HEPA filter in children’s bedroom or keep indoor plants like snake plant, money plant and aloe vera which purify the air naturally.

• Hydration and Steam Inhalation: Feed the child adequate amount of lukewarm water, hot soup and fresh fruit juice throughout the day. Good hydration keeps the mucus layer of the respiratory tract moist and toxins are easily eliminated. Before sleeping at night, provide light steam of plain water so that the pollution accumulated in the respiratory tubes can be cleared.

• Immunity enhancing food: Include fruits rich in vitamin C and antioxidants (like orange, kiwi, amla) and green vegetables in the diet of children. Drinking lukewarm milk with a pinch of turmeric and dry ginger at night works as a natural medicine in reducing the inflammation of the respiratory system.

If the child has to exert a lot of effort to breathe, his lips or nails start turning blue, there is a persistent cough accompanied by high fever, or wheezing does not subside even after home remedies and nebulization, then without wasting a moment, immediately contact the nearest pediatrician or emergency medical center. In this season, even a little carelessness regarding the respiratory system of children can invite great danger.