The 10 Most Common Childhood Illnesses
[Dealing with a sick child or infant can be overwhelming. Get to learn more about common childhood illnesses and what to anticipate.]
Parenthood is not an easy task. It is often accompanied by a myriad of challenges and difficulties that come with the demands of growing kids. However, challenging parenthood is, I know, you wouldn’t trade this adventure for anything else.
Among one of the leading and daunting challenges that come with parenthood has to be taking care of your sick infant, toddler, or child.
You can never anticipate when your child will be feeling under the weather, or when you will need to rush them to our pediatric emergency care in Houston, TX, for treatment.
No matter how much we love our children, we really cannot protect them entirely from infections and diseases. Most parents who visit our 24- hour pediatric care facility, always feel like they could have done more to shield their children from medical conditions.
This is not entirely true. Children are bound to suffer from an infection or two, mainly when they begin attending kindergarten or school because they are exposed to a wide variety of germs, viruses, and bacteria, which can make them fall ill.
Our pediatrician near you believes that as a parent, the best way to protect your child is to always have in mind some of the common illnesses children are vulnerable to and know when it is time to take your child to our emergency room near you for prompt medical attention.
Let’s find out more about some of the common childhood illnesses we encounter at our emergency clinic in Houston.
Strep ThroatThis is a bacterial infection caused by the streptococcus strain of bacteria and is characterized by a sore and inflamed throat. It is quite contagious and children suffering from it will display symptoms such as:
- Difficulties or pain when swallowing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Body aches
You should contact our pediatric emergency care in Houston, TX, when your child displays these symptoms for treatment, especially if their fever is above 101° Fahrenheit.
It is essential to seek medical assistance from our pediatrician near you to prevent complications such as rheumatic fever and cardiac diseases, which may occur if the infection goes untreated.
- Mumps
This is a highly contagious viral disease prevalent mostly in children between the ages of 5 and 15. It is characterized by symptoms that include:
- Swollen and tender salivary glands that result in swollen cheeks, a signature of the disease
- Difficulties swallowing
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Dry mouth
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle ache
Mumps can be avoided by ensuring your child undergoes immunization. You should contact our emergency clinic in Houston if your child exhibits these symptoms to ensure they are treated and prevent further spread of the disease or complications.
- Conjunctivitis
Commonly referred to as pink eye. It occurs when a bacteria or virus infects the eye or due to an allergic reaction. Conjunctivitis is characterized by symptoms like:
- Itchy blood shoot eyes
- A sticky pus discharge
- The Flu
The flu has to be among the most common ailments that affect kids. It often seems like an endless cycle of dealing with snotty noses, fever, and coughs.
This viral respiratory infection has symptoms that mirror that of a common cold. However, the difference is that the flu can make your young one feel more under the weather than when nursing the common cold. Flu can also lead to the development of complications such as pneumonia.
Its symptoms include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Running noses
- Occasionally diarrhea and vomiting
The flu can be prevented by ensuring your child gets a flu vaccine at our 24-hour pediatric care facility near you.
- Whooping Cough
This infection initially presents itself as a cold that is accompanied by a mild cough, fever, and running nose, however as it progresses, the symptoms evolve into a terrible cough, accompanied by difficulties breathing.
You will notice the child cannot seem to catch their breath, and coughing episodes may be accompanied by vomiting and fatigue.
This respiratory infection, fortunately, can be prevented by ensuring your child receives the DTP vaccine.
- Meningococcal Meningitis
This is a rare bacterial infection that targets the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain. It is vital to get medical attention promptly if you suspect that your child could be suffering from meningitis.
Failure to do so puts them at risk of developing long term complications such as permanent brain damage or even death. Its symptoms include:
- Stiff neck
- Malaise
- Photosensitivity
- Nausea and vomiting
- Joint aches
- Fever
- Sharp headache
- A purplish rash
- Irritability in infants
Ensure that your child gets the immunizations available, particularly during outbreaks at our facility near you.
- Mononucleosis
Commonly known as the kissing disease, and is transmitted when children come into contact with the saliva of an infected child. It exhibits symptoms such as:
- A sore throat
- Acute fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen glands
- Skin rash
- Chickenpox
This is one of the most infectious childhood diseases; it takes just one case at school to begin an onset of similar cases. Fortunately, the number of cases reported has drastically been dwindling because of the availability of a vaccine.
Its symptoms include:
- Fever
- Blisters that form on the bad, face, scalp and limbs
- Gastroenteritis
This is a viral stomach infection that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It tends to clear out in a few days; however, if the symptoms persist, you should seek medical attention.
Ensure your child takes plenty of fluids and gets lots of rest.
- Ear Infections
Ear infections are a common occurrence in children; this is because, unlike adults, children are more prone to these infections. They can be caused by either viral or bacterial infections and cause symptoms like; earaches, irritability, problems sleeping, and fever.
Contact us today at Memorial Heights ER, for friendly and professional pediatric emergency care.