My pediatrician Lucia: “No, colds don’t cause colds and viruses don’t enter through the feet”

In this way, pediatricians bust the most common misconceptions about these important topics: Postpartum, breastfeeding, infant feeding, bullying or high ability.

Therefore, one of the most famous myths is the one that gives this book its title. Don’t kids get sick if they walk barefoot, or don’t the cold make them feel cold? As Lucia reports, “Respiratory tract infections are contracted through direct mouth-to-mouth contact Come into contact with someone who has a cold, but not through foot-to-foot or foot-to-foot contact. Respiratory viruses and many common winter bacteria live in our nasal and oropharyngeal mucosa and are transmitted through the saliva droplets we exhale when we speak. virus somehow they jump

from one person to another This is why our mouths have to be very close together to become infected. ”

Regarding colds and their relationship to respiratory illness, reduced defenses, or colds, pediatricians insist “Kids are not going to get pneumonia from being out in the yard without a jacket, and they’re not going to get a cold from being cold.” Pneumonia has two childhood origins. “Origin of virusi.e. produced by viruses such as influenza, and produced by bacteria e.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniaeetc., and In both cases, infection occurs in the same way as the common cold and cold, through direct contact. “.

As for the question of whether cold can give you a cold, the answer is no. “Coldness itself does not make you feel coldCold temperatures cause certain changes in the body that make circulating viruses and bacteria more likely to cause illness when they enter our bodies. But the cause of illness is not the cold, but the viruses or bacteria we contract. Due to direct contact with other infected people. ”

“My son’s defense is very low”

Many parents go to pediatric consultations looking for a miracle cure Improve defense Their kids get sick every other week, especially since they started kindergarten or college.the fact is “Children who attend school are three times more likely to become ill than those who do not attend school, with an average of six to eight infectious processes occurring per year”. This doesn’t mean that going to school will make you less defensive; in fact, your defenses “neither go down nor go up.”

most children and peoplethey have a good defense. Children have complex immune systems, and most people have normal defense values. ” explains Lucía, emphasizing that “although it is difficult for us to adjust, children often get sick and that is why No blood test required“.

Conduct these types of tests Only necessary if we suspect an immunity problem When a boy or girl “doesn’t get an ordinary infection but develops a more serious problem, such as pneumonia twice in the same winter, bronchitis or lower respiratory tract infections three or more times in just three or four months, This can occur if you have an infection, sepsis or meningitis, or if you have several purulent infections.” Have had febrile otitis media in the same winter, or febrile bacterial tonsillitis diagnosed as streptococci three or more times in the same school year.In this case and Only in this case “is it necessary to study in detail what might have happened”.

Anyway, Lucía’s advice is “Make a small note for your pediatrician by writing in a notebook or phonethe exact date a boy or girl developed symptoms and whether you need to go to the pediatrician or emergency room. This will help the pediatrician make an assessment. ”

Cough and runny nose, what should we do?

Other topics Lucia covers in her book are those related to mucus and coughing. Many times, mothers come to your office asking for antibiotics because their babies have green snot. What’s the truth here?as it explains “The color of mucus does not determine whether a child needs antibiotics.”. In fact, the vast majority of respiratory infections that cause runny noses in children are viral, and viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics. ”

In a common cold, the mucus our own mucous membranes produce to trap bacteria is initially clear, and over time, it turns white. “If the infection continues to cause inflammation of the airways, They may turn yellowish But if we continue to increase the number of days, they will change from light yellow to Dark yellow, then green from there; light green, dark green, military green, radioactive green That’s what sets off all the alarms. ”

That’s because, as a pediatrician describes it, “Because when the virus enters our nasal mucosa, the body starts producing neutrophils to protect itself. “These neutrophils produce a powerful enzyme that is rich in iron and gives the mucus its green color.”

In all this, it is important to know that “If the green mucus lasts for more than two weeks and is very smelly, the fever persists, or the child begins to have severe pain in the forehead or even facial pain on both sides of the nose, you should see a doctor. Because sometimes the common cold can be complicated by: sinusitis Acute cases do require antibiotics. ”

And what about the cough? Is there something? “Coughing from common colds and upper respiratory tract infections is a protective factor for our bodies because it helps mobilize all the mucus that is being produced and traps bacteria,” explains Lucia. Therefore, when the cough is catarrhal, “Children should be encouraged to cough.”

Another thing is when the cough is caused by another medical condition, such as asthma, bronchitis, or laryngitis, in which case coughing in children is a sign of difficulty breathing and inflammation of the airways. When this happens, you must see your pediatrician to prescribe the treatment your child needs. ”

Lucia is opposed to the use of cough syrup in children. “They have not been proven effective in children, and many adverse effects are documented every year.”Yes,” he concluded.