4 Most Common Childhood Illnesses

An ill child can be a really awful scenario for parents. Sleepless nights, missing school days and irritable behavior makes the situation tough for most parents. However, awareness of common symptoms will help you take the situation in control beforehand and help your child recover faster. Here are some common kid’s health concerns and the lowdown on the treatment:

1- Strep Throat:

Nearly a third of children who complain of a sore throat during the colder months actually have strep throat which caused by the bacteria Group A streptococcus (GAS). The condition, which is most prevalent in kids over age 3, usually happens during the winter and early spring. Symptoms include headaches, a severe sore throat, a high fever, swollen neck glands, and sometimes vomiting and nausea.

If your kid has cold-like symptoms such as coughing and runny nose, and a mild sore throat, it could be a virus. If you think your child has strep throat, visit your pediatrician.

Treatment tips: If you suspect strep, your pediatrician can swab your child’s throat, do a rapid strep test, and get results within 5 minutes. Treatment is with an antibiotic such as penicillin.

2- Colds:

The common cold is one of the most common illnesses, affecting kids and adults alike and causing them to miss school and work. However, kids, particularly those below the age of 6, are more susceptible to common colds. If your child has caught a cold, you can expect the symptoms to ease within two to three days, but some may linger for longer. Meanwhile, you may attempt to provide some comfort to your child with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, a teaspoon of honey to help with a cough and fluids such as chicken soup. However, honey should not be given to kids who are less than a year old.

You might want to skip over the counter cold and cough medicines though as studies have shown that they are not that effective and some kids might also be allergic to them. Avoid the temptation to ask your pediatrician for antibiotics as they aren’t effective against a virus, they are only good for bacterial infections.

3- Pink Eye:

Conjunctivitis or pink eye is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which a membrane which covers the white part of the eye. Majority of the cases of pink eye in kids are caused by bacteria, but some might be due to viral infections or allergies. Visit your pediatrician if your child has itching, redness, and water discharge in and around eyes to determine whether it’s pink eye and decide on a course of treatment.

4- Diarrhea and Vomiting:

A lot of children suffer from acute gastroenteritis every year, which is diarrhea that is often accompanied by fever, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. Most of the cases are because of viruses and usually go away on their own in a couple of days. Make sure you keep a child has diarrhea hydrated.

Make sure you visit your pediatrician if your child is not feeling well. You can book an appointment with a top Pediatrician in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad through oladoc.com. You can also call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your health concerns.