Childhood illnesses though common are a matter of concern for the parents. Find out the common illnesses in babies and how to treat them. Childhood illnesses are something that you need to deal with as a parent. Sometimes it is a never budging cough, sometimes, it is a weird rash. Then there are the flu, stomach and ear infections to name a few. Apart from these regular ones, there is actually a wide array of illnesses with which you may need to deal with. So instead of worrying and getting overwhelmed, it makes good sense to step up your awareness levels, so that you can effectively deal with it or at least know what to do, at what point of time. Most childhood illnesses being bacterial or viral infections, it is necessary that you maintain the hygiene as the primary level precaution. Here are some common illnesses and how you can deal with them: In this articleRespiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV Scarlet FeverCroup Hand Foot and Mouth DiseaseFifth Disease or Slapped Cheek Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV The symptoms of this disease are akin to the flu and perhaps even more common than the seasonal influenza. Most kids suffer from the RSV by the time they are one or two years old. The signs are just like the regular cold and cough along with fever and a running nose. RSV also leads to pneumonia and bronchiolitis, where the air passages to the lungs get inflamed. The infant may wheeze persistently and the doctor might decide to admit him to the hospital for effective observation and treatment. There is no immunization from RSV and can recur at any age after the child has had it for the first time. Scarlet Fever This is a bacterial infection caused by ‘group A’ Streptococcus. The symptoms are high fever and very sore throat. The rashes first appear on the chest and abdomen gradually spreading through the entire body. The rashes appear like sunburn and feel rough on the surface like sandpaper. The tongue appears whitish while the taste-buds retain the reddish colour. It is thus often called ‘strawberry tongue’. It can be treated effectively with antibiotics. Croup An array of Parainfluenza viruses causes this disease, which also has symptoms like the common cold. A typical symptom is the ‘barking cough’ that is usually suggested by the doctor to get treated in a hospital if the disease gets worse. The child begins to breathe normally as the infection is cured, and is frequently found to affect kids within 2 years of age. Hand Foot and Mouth Disease Do not confuse this with the foot and mouth disease that affect cattle. The symptoms are fever along with sores and blisters inside the mouth along with the palms and feet. Entoviruses cause this disease and it is very uncomfortable for the little one. The infection usually happens during the summers and goes away with treatment within 10 days. Fifth Disease or Slapped Cheek The name ensues from the fact that the child shows red rashes on his cheeks, as if he has been slapped hard. The rashes can be flaky or lacy and appear on the limbs and torso too. The child may not sense the illness until the rashes appear fully, prior to that there can be symptoms of just common cold. Almost 20% of the children under 5 years suffer from this viral infection and it gradually subsides within a week or ten days. Although a comparatively benign disease in terms of suffering, this virus B19 can lead to joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis if left untreated. These are just a few of the common illnesses in infants and you can take effective precautionary measures by maintaining good hygiene and seeking timely medical advice. There can be other very common ones like diaper rashes and diarrhoea or vomiting. Get the child vaccinated as suggested by the paediatrician and avoid crowded areas, as infections spread very fast in crowded places.
Childhood illnesses though common are a matter of concern for the parents. Find out the common illnesses in babies and how to treat them. Childhood illnesses are something that you need to deal with as a parent. Sometimes it is a never budging cough, sometimes, it is a weird rash. Then there are the flu, stomach and ear infections to name a few. Apart from these regular ones, there is actually a wide array of illnesses with which you may need to deal with. So instead of worrying and getting overwhelmed, it makes good sense to step up your awareness levels, so that you can effectively deal with it or at least know what to do, at what point of time. Most
childhood illnesses being bacterial or
viral infections, it is necessary that you maintain the hygiene as the primary level precaution.
Here are some common illnesses and how you can deal with them:
Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV
The symptoms of this disease are akin to the flu and perhaps even more common than the seasonal influenza. Most kids suffer from the RSV by the time they are one or two years old. The signs are just like the regular cold and cough along with fever and a running nose. RSV also leads to pneumonia and bronchiolitis, where the air passages to the lungs get inflamed. The infant may wheeze persistently and the doctor might decide to admit him to the hospital for effective observation and treatment. There is no immunization from RSV and can recur at any age after the child has had it for the first time.
Scarlet Fever
This is a bacterial infection caused by ‘group A’ Streptococcus. The symptoms are high fever and very sore throat. The rashes first appear on the chest and abdomen gradually spreading through the entire body. The rashes appear like sunburn and feel rough on the surface like sandpaper. The tongue appears whitish while the taste-buds retain the reddish colour. It is thus often called ‘strawberry tongue’. It can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
Croup
An array of Parainfluenza viruses causes this disease, which also has symptoms like the common cold. A typical symptom is the ‘barking cough’ that is usually suggested by the doctor to get treated in a hospital if the disease gets worse. The child begins to breathe normally as the infection is cured, and is frequently found to affect kids within 2 years of age.
Do not confuse this with the foot and mouth disease that affect cattle. The symptoms are fever along with sores and blisters inside the mouth along with the palms and feet. Entoviruses cause this disease and it is very uncomfortable for the little one. The infection usually happens during the summers and goes away with treatment within 10 days.
Fifth Disease or Slapped Cheek
The name ensues from the fact that the child shows red rashes on his cheeks, as if he has been slapped hard. The rashes can be flaky or lacy and appear on the limbs and torso too. The child may not sense the illness until the rashes appear fully, prior to that there can be symptoms of just common cold. Almost 20% of the children under 5 years suffer from this viral infection and it gradually subsides within a week or ten days. Although a comparatively benign disease in terms of suffering, this virus B19 can lead to joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis if left untreated.
These are just a few of the common illnesses in infants and you can take effective precautionary measures by maintaining good hygiene and seeking timely medical advice. There can be other very common ones like diaper rashes and diarrhoea or vomiting. Get the child vaccinated as suggested by the paediatrician and avoid crowded areas, as infections spread very fast in crowded places.
