“Halloween Special” Managing Common Childhood Illnesses this Halloween: Tips from Pediatric Urgent Care Experts
Do you know why your child gets sick this time around? It happens because your child has an underdeveloped immune system which makes them prone to germs that are commonly found outside and in places like schools or childcare facilities. However, as a parent, you should know how to manage common childhood illnesses and when to seek medical help for your child. Learn the 7 most common childhood illnesses and treatments in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.
7 Common childhood illnesses and treatments
Here are some of the most common childhood illnesses and their treatment options, including:
- Common colds and influenza:
Common colds and flu are both caused by viral infection and have somewhat similar symptoms, but they are caused by different viruses. The flu is caused by the influenza virus and on the other hand, multiple viruses can cause the common cold. You may experience symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing, or a sore throat. The flu is more severe than the common cold, but both get better with home remedies. Sometimes for the flu, you need to seek medical help.
Treatment options:
- Make sure your child has plenty of rest and drinks enough fluid in the form of water, low-sugar juice, soup, etc.
- Use nasal sprays as directed by your doctors to clean up nasal congestion.
- Don’t give any antibiotics or over-the-counter cold medications without consulting your pediatric doctor.
- Ear infections:
Ear infections are another common childhood illness which occur when bacteria or viruses infect the space behind the eardrum. These ear infections cause extreme ear pain in children. In some cases, their middle ear is filled with pus and pushes on the eardrum, resulting in discomfort. Common symptoms of ear infections are ear pain, trouble sleeping, constant crying, or in some cases, a fever.
Treatment options:
- You should consult the child specialist before giving any medication for fever or pain.
- Place a cold compress on the outer area of an ear for 10 to 20 minutes or a warm washcloth can be used to provide relief.
- During resting position, elevate the child’s head to ease some pressure.
- In case the doctor suspects the ear, infection is caused by a virus, then the doctor doesn’t prescribe antibiotics. Instead, he prescribes pain relief medication until the virus runs its course to manage the symptoms.
- Bronchitis:
Bronchitis happens when bronchial tube linings in the lungs get inflamed due to overproduction of mucus. Usually, it is caused by viruses, but sometimes it can be caused by bacteria. In most cases, children get this infection temporarily (acute bronchitis) but in some cases, they can have chronic bronchitis as well. Bronchitis can spread through viruses, germs, and irritants to the airways. Children who suffer from chronic sinusitis, big tonsils, adenoids, allergies, or asthma, are more at risk of getting bronchitis. Additionally, exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the child’s risk.
This infection makes the lungs swell up and results in difficulty in breathing for children. If you notice your child making a wheezing sound or having difficulty swallowing, getting them checked for a lung infection is advised. Other symptoms of this condition are dry cough, sneezing, running or stuffy nose, chest pain, cold or fever, tightness or congestion in the chest, fatigue, muscle or throat pain, or vomiting.
Treatment options:
- Make sure your child is consuming plenty of fluids and takes enough rest.
- To ease nasal congestion, you can use saline drops or room humidifiers.
- For cough, fever, or pain, doctors typically give ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- If the symptoms persist, your doctor may prescribe bronchodilators or anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Gastroenteritis:
It is an infection caused by bacteria or viruses in the intestine/stomach. It can happen to anyone, but mostly affects children. This infection spreads when children touch contaminated objects or come in contact with an infected person, then touch their food, drinks, or mouth. It causes symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, body aches, occasional headaches, and appetite loss with bloating.
Treatment options:
- Always look for dehydration signs and offer plenty of fluids to treat it. In mild cases of dehydration, give oral rehydration solutions.
- Ensure that your child takes plenty of rest.
- Give your child non-spicy foods and avoid certain foods.
- For severe vomiting or diarrhea cases, doctors may prescribe anti-diarrheal medications to treat it.
- In case of severe dehydration complications, you should see a doctor.
- Urinary tract infection (UTIs):
These infections occur when bacteria build up and affect the urinary system, including the urethra, bladder, ureter, and kidneys. While UTI can occur at any age, it is common in the transition phase from teen years into adulthood, and females are more at risk than boys because of the shorter length of the urethra. Children’s urethras can get contaminated by constipation and improper cleaning of the anal area after using the restroom. Children with UTIs commonly show these signs and symptoms such as painful or burning sensation during urination, fever, urgency to urinate, frequent urination, abdominal pain, ache in the side or groin, and toilet-trained child may start bedwetting.
Treatment options:
- Your child’s doctor first takes a sample of urine to test for UTI before prescribing the treatment. Depending on the bacteria/pathogens found in the child’s urine, different antibiotic therapies may be recommended for UTIs.
- The doctor may recommend giving rest and plenty of fluids to your child.
- Bacterial sinusitis:
This infection is caused by bacteria that get trapped in the sinuses and cause inflammation in the sinus lining. A child with bacterial sinusitis may develop cold-like symptoms: nasal discharge, daytime coughing, or both which last more than 10 days (about 1 and a half weeks) without getting better. Sometimes, headaches, light sensitivity, or eyelid puffiness also occur.
Treatment options:
- If symptoms include thick yellow nasal discharge and a fever for at least 3 to 4 days in a row, the doctor may recommend antibiotics to treat this condition.
- Constipation:
Noticing constipation is easy; if your child has less than 3 bowel movements or if the poop is hard and large, then they may have constipation. Another sign is your child is struggling to poo or if they are bleeding during or after pooping. It is very common in children and is caused by insufficient high-fiber foods or water consumption.
Treatment options:
- Add fibrous foods like vegetables and fruits to your child’s diet.
- Encourage physical activity to boost the natural stimulation of intestine movement to improve bowel movements.
Children are often prone to many illnesses in their childhood because their immunity is not well-developed. These illnesses mostly go away with home remedies without any need for special medications. However, you should closely monitor your child’s symptoms and seek medical advice when needed. Medical attention is necessary if your child shows severe symptoms or lasts longer than normal. Mild bacterial or viral illnesses can progress into more severe infections. Some conditions don’t get better despite therapy, that’s why you should timely seek medical help to get the best treatment to prevent complications.
If your child is showing severe illness symptoms, don’t worry, visit our pediatric urgent care clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!
Doral Health and Wellness has several urgent care clinics around New York that can cater to your family’s medical needs. We also have the best medical providers, physicians and staff that are highly trained in their respective specialties. To know more about the locations of our urgent care clinics, you can visit us at Doral Health and Wellness. If you are looking for urgent care near you, you can visit Doral Health and Wellness Urgent Care. We provide urgent care for common illnesses and injuries. Additionally, we also provide comprehensive care for any related injuries and health problems. We also offer other services, such as vaccinations, immunizations, and blood testing. For more info, visit us or call 1-347-384-5690.