The monsoon season brings with it humidity, fluctuating temperatures, and a rise in allergens, all of which can lead to a surge in ENT infections, particularly in children.
Following a period of scorching heat, people await the monsoon with much enthusiasm to get respite from the sweltering summer. Where rain brings relief from prolonged periods of heat and dryness, it also brings a host of problems in the form of hot and humid weather conditions, which can severely impact a child’s health.
Why Are Children More Prone to ENT Infections During Monsoon?
According to Dr Sanjay Sachdeva senior ENT consultant at HearClear India, “The hot and humid conditions are responsible for promoting the growth of disease-producing bacteria and viruses. Further exacerbating the problem, monsoons are generally characterized by the chill factor, which is especially experienced when children get wet in the rain. This significantly reduces their immune response to infections, due to which viral upper respiratory tract infections emerge as a common occurrence among children during the season.”
He further added, “To safeguard children from contracting any disease during the monsoon, it is essential to take proper care and focus on the hygiene of children. This should be accompanied by adequate rest and sensibility to home food for avoiding secondary bacterial infections in children. However, in case they develop the symptoms, it is advisable to visit a doctor to get the right course of treatment and antibiotics.”
5 Key Precautions Every Parent Should Know
- In the meantime, proper care should be taken to avoid instances of children getting wet in rain. Parents should ensure that children regularly carry raincoats, umbrellas, and waterproof footwear to protect themselves from sudden downpours, which are common during the season.
- Where monsoon increases the chances of illness in children, the elevated humidity levels can also give rise to the problem of ear infection in them. The situation becomes further complicated in case it turns out to be a fungal infection. Irrespective of the source, ear infection gives rise to extreme itchiness, pain, and discharge of the ear. Additionally, waterborne infections are also very common during the season, mandating hand hygiene for children. Apart from this, one should ensure strict consumption of boiled or RO water and encourage home-cooked food as compared to uncooked or junk food to reduce the risk of contamination.
- In addition to diet, parents should exercise restrictions on water activities of children as well. For instance, swimming during the rainy season can give rise to a chill factor, ultimately increasing the probability of getting viral upper respiratory tract infections in children.
- If not treated promptly with adequate rest, hygiene, and hydration, children might land up with secondary bacterial infections in the nose and sinuses. Though not very common, fungal infections in the sinuses are also known to occur in children as humidity and warmth promote fungus growth.
- As it is known fact that mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and are responsible for vector related infections like dengue, malaria, chikungunya, etc., proper care should be taken to protect children. Parents should ensure proper clothing and avoid outdoor activities in the parks, and taking anti-mosquito measures can help in resisting these infections.