Pediatrician Manuel Barthe, practicing at the Mama Antula Health Center in Santiago del Estero, outlined essential winter health precautions during an appearance on the program La Mañana de Info, emphasizing that the month of August brings challenges related to seasonal allergies and respiratory illnesses for both children and adults.
Allergy Prevention Measures for August and September
According to Dr. Manuel Barthe, August is a particularly challenging period for allergy sufferers due to seasonal factors. Speaking on La Mañana de Info, Barthe advised that individuals prone to allergic reactions should maintain active preventive treatments, which may include targeted medications or specific vaccines prescribed for individual health needs. These precautions often need to continue through September as seasonal triggers persist.
To reduce allergen exposure inside the home, Barthe recommended regularly ventilating living spaces, maintaining strict household hygiene, and minimizing dust accumulation, pet dander, and exposure to cigarette smoke. He also noted that wearing face masks when necessary and practicing frequent hand hygiene—habits widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic—remain effective tools for curbing the spread of respiratory infections.
Immunization Strategies Across Life Stages
Building on guidance regarding seasonal viral circulation, Barthe stressed that keeping vaccination schedules up to date is critical throughout all stages of life, extending far beyond childhood. According to the specialist, maternal immunization represents a vital line of defense for infants during their first months of life.
Specifically, Barthe highlighted the importance of receiving the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine during pregnancy, typically recommended between weeks 32 and 36 of gestation. This timing allows maternal antibodies to cross the placenta, helping protect newborns against severe complications like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Additionally, he emphasized the role of the pneumococcal vaccine in preventing infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, such as bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.
Back-to-School Health and Regional Pediatric Updates
Addressing the return to classrooms, archival reporting from Info del Estero details that Barthe previously discussed how the start of the school year routinely triggers a surge in viral outbreaks due to close contact among students. Describing this exposure as a normal component of developing a child’s immune system, Barthe noted that pediatric checkups prior to the school term offer an ideal opportunity to review mandatory immunizations, including the triple viral vaccine (protecting against measles, rubella, and mumps) and the triple bacterial vaccine (protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis).
Beyond his local media appearances, Barthe represented Santiago del Estero at the NOA Regional Conferences organized by the Argentine Society of Pediatrics in San Miguel de Tucumán. According to his statements on La Mañana de Info, he participated in a panel discussion focused on the specialized clinical care, developmental follow-up, and critical alarm signs associated with premature newborns for healthcare professionals.
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