Health

Dr Jide Owolana, the Chief Medical Director of Living Standards Hospital, Benin, says unusual infections and increase in the number of infections might lead to other complications in children if treatment is prolonged.

Owolana told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Benin that bacterial infection is a disease caused by microorganisms that invade tissue in the body system.

He said that babies are born with immature immune system and tend to get a high number of infections, usually every one to two months.

“Babies’ immune systems begin to mature soon after birth and the number of infections begins to go down with time as they grow.

“However, by the time children are of school-age, their rate of infection is usually the same as the rate for adults.

“Sometimes it’s easy to see the cause of an infection, such as being in day-care centres, because children in day-care centres give infections to each other.

“They drool and their noses drip, touch each other and touch all the toys.

“This spreads infections, as adults we have far less contact with each other’s germs, so we are less likely to catch so many infections,” he said.

Owolana said that bacterial infection is preventable with routine immunisation.

He said the symptoms of infection includes cough; catarrh; cold; flu; skin disease and viral infections.

The physician said the infection is caused by low immune system of children, unhealthy environment and inhaling of smoke.

He said bacterial infections can be prevented by washing of hands always, clean open cuts or scrapes with soap and water.

“Others are teach your child to always cover his or her mouth when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of illness, keep your child home from school for one or two days, if possible.”

He therefore advised parents to keep a healthy environment and anyone with such symptoms should not hesitate to see a good medical doctor.