Suspect pneumonia if symptoms persist.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Prof. pediatrician. Soedjatmiko forbids kissing babies and toddlers if they have a cold or cough. The prohibition is designed to protect infants and young children from diseases caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, including lung infection during the current Covid-19 pandemic.
“Bacteria, viruses and fungi are everywhere. If a family has the flu, don’t kiss babies and toddlers, ”he said on the sidelines of the online commemoration of World Pneumonia Day 2020, Thursday (11/12).
In addition, you should wear a mask and wash your hands before touching babies and toddlers and seek treatment immediately to restore their condition.
Soedjatmiko said pneumonia-causing pathogens can get into the noses and airways of children and damage their lungs when their immune systems are weak. The cause of this low immunity can be attributed to various factors, including cigarette smoke, dust in the house which then damages the respiratory tract, and the lack of children who provide exclusive breastfeeding which leads to malnutrition.
This is not to mention if your child is born mild, has not been immunized, has chronic diseases, and is late for treatment. These conditions put him at risk of losing his life due to pneumonia.
Regarding the symptoms, the Head of the Respiratory Coordination Department (UKK) of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), Dr. Dr. Nastiti Kaswandani stated that pneumonia is characterized by a number of symptoms. These include fever, cough, and loss of appetite, which are often mistaken for the common cold and flu.
In addition to these symptoms, people may complain of shortness of breath and breathe faster than usual. Continuous fever can last for 2-3 days.
“Pneumonia is suspected if the symptoms persist, namely fever for 2-3 days. Another important sign for children is breathing faster than usual, shortness of breath, “said Nastiti.
He suggested that if these symptoms appeared, they should be immediately taken to the hospital to get help early and save lives. In terms of the number of cases, Indonesia is one of the countries with a decrease in the number of pneumonia cases in 2019, namely 153.00 cases, or 25,000 fewer cases compared to 2007. Meanwhile, the number of cases in children under five has reached or as many as 314,000 cases. decreased by 24,000 cases since 2007.
Even so, Soedjatmiko recorded a fairly high death rate each year. In 2017, around 400-600 people jumped to 1,750 people.
“In fact, there are about 1,750 in 2017 and it is likely partly due to Covud-19 in 2020. Because the incidence of Covid-19 in children is high compared to other countries. June 2020, Covid-19 deaths in children, especially in infants and. ” Small children, partial pneumonia in infants under five, possibly due to Covid-19, “he said.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 found that post-premature pneumonia is the second leading cause of under-five mortality in Indonesia, with a prevalence of 15.5 percent. Judging from the cause, exclusive breastfeeding is not fulfilled, namely only 54 percent, low birth weight (10.2 percent) and not yet complete immunization (42.1 percent), indoor air pollution and high household density. .
Source: Antara
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