KARACHI, Feb 21: The cold spell for last several days has made health care professionals to remind Karachiites of necessary precautions particularly protecting kids against pneumonia , asthma, influenza and cold with possible repercussion on respiratory system.

Dr Fehmina Arif of Civil Hospital's paediatrics department while talking to APP here on Monday strictly advised the local parents to ensure maximum intake of fluids on part of all children with more emphasis on warm liquid besides proper clothing to protect kids against the conditions which if neglected could aggravate severity.

The paediatrician said that though no unusual escalation in pneumonia incidence had been reported at her ward yet parents and professionals should remain extremely cautious.

She elaborated that conditions as rapid breathing on part of babies, high fever and recession under their rib cage could be taken as symptoms reflecting severity of pneumonia.

Keeping in view weak immunity of children, Dr Fehmina said children up to the age of five years held more chances of complication. Kids suffering from pneumonia were generally required to be administered antibiotics besides, depending on their conditions, be put on respirators, she said.

According to her, though cold and influenza generally are self-limiting but negligence could expose young patients to serious situations hence noticing conditions as drowsiness, loss of appetite, weakness the concerned child should be immediately brought to the centres having adequate facilities.

In case of simple cold, children were advised maximum intake of fluids with more emphasis on soups and even honey-diluted warm water. Regarding asthma, the paediatrician said that kids were administered steroids according to the history of child patient. In some cases, they were put on nebulizer as well. -APP