HealthTree Blog

Any time a child coughs, sneezes, or cries and says “I don’t feel good” a parent begins the task of trying to figure out what is wrong and how serious it is. There are many childhood diseases that are more common than others and at some point in a child’s life they will probably get one of these.

Some of the more common ones and the signs and symptoms of childhood diseases are listed below. The common cold: A runny, stuffy nose, sore throat and cough can indicate a cold. However, these symptoms can be the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. If the child has a fever, it might be more than a cold.

Croup: This disease causes constriction in the upper airways and is accompanied by a high fever and a cough. The cough can resemble the barking of a dog. This is a viral infection and is not considered contagious.

Ear Infection: If a child pulls at their ear and cries, then an ear infection is often the cause. This is an illness that should be determined by a physician. If the infection is severe enough, antibodies are often given. Persistent ear infection can lead to hearing loss and often ear tubes are inserted to help reduce the number of infections.

Flu: The symptoms of this illness are often the same as a cold but can also be accompanied by chills, fever, headache, and body aches.

Thrush: A fungal infection of the mouth and throat that is evident by white bumps that are often not painful. Frequent hand washing, making sure immunizations are up to date, and keeping a sick child away from others are ways to help lessen the chance of a child contracting a common illness. A physician can answer any questions a parent may have when it comes to a sick child.