It’s normal to be more concerned about your child’s health as it can be the season of coughing, or sneezing, especially for your little ones.

Cold, sickness, and flu are among the most common winter illnesses for kids. Children are more vulnerable to catching illnesses in winters as their habits may not always be ideal.

Therefore, it is essential for you to know about the warning signs of cold weather illnesses so that you can take care of your kids in an ideal way.

Read on to know about the most common winter illnesses for kids:

The common cold is one of the most common winter illnesses in kids. According to a report by NCBI, out of various kinds of colds, children under the age of 2 years get 6 to 8 colds yearly.

Cold and cough happen when a virus irritates the lining of the nose and throat. It is more common in winter as children are indoors and around germs. The humidity also drops during this season. This can make passage in the nose dry and make it prone to more infections.

Cold symptoms start from one to three days and can last about one week. However, they can also last up to two weeks

Common symptoms of cold in kids include:

Some of these symptoms are also associated with other illnesses, such as the flu. Therefore, you should make sure that your child sees their healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.

Influenza or flu is considered as a contagious viral infection that can affect the lungs’ air passages. It is one of the common winter illnesses among kids.

Flu symptoms in kids usually start to occur around two days after exposure to the virus.
Your child may show some of the following symptoms:

The symptoms of flu may last for a few days to weeks. However, the treatment depends on your child’s symptoms and age. Flu treatment focuses on easing your child’s symptoms.

About three in 10 children have strep throat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Strep throat is a type of bacterial infection that is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus. Strep throat can be contagious as it can spread to others. When a person is infected with strep throat, coughs or sneezes, the bacteria goes into the air.

Your child can become ill as soon as he catches the germs. A child with strep throat may have the following symptoms:

However, it can be possible that your child has these signs and symptoms but does not have strep throat. The causes of these signs and symptoms could be of viral infection or fever.

Therefore, the infection needs to be treated with antibiotics at first instance. Then, with proper medicines and rest, your kid can soon become well again.

RSV is a common winter illness infecting the lower respiratory tract and breathing passages. This virus is a major cause of respiratory illness in young children. The children who are at greater risk for severe illness from RSV include:

RSV is highly contagious as it spreads through the droplets containing the virus. It spreads when your child comes into contact with the fluid from an infected person’s nose or mouth.

The signs and symptoms of this virus commonly appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. It usually causes mild cold-like symptoms but can also cause other symptoms, including:

If your child has mild symptoms, prescription treatment is generally not needed. However, if your child has a weakened immune system, they need to be hospitalized if the RSV is severe.

Bronchiolitis usually occurs in winter and early spring. It commonly affects children younger than two years old.

Bronchiolitis is an infection of the lungs. This infection can affect the smaller airways of your lungs. The most common cause of bronchiolitis in kids is a virus. At first, it causes infection in the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, mouth, and throat.

It then causes inflammation and the death of cells inside the respiratory tract. It may at first be mistaken for a common cold as your child may have a cough or other breathing problems.

The other common symptoms of bronchitis may include:

These symptoms can usually last for a week. Treatment of this condition is dependent on the signs and severity of the symptoms.

• Common cold

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Congestion in the nose
  • Fever
  • Stuffy, runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Achy muscles and bones
  • Chills

• Flu

  • High fever
  • Body aches
  • Sore throat
  • Running nose
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

• Strep throat

  • Sore throat
  • Bright red, swollen tonsils
  • Headache, irritability, or fussiness
  • Fever
  • Swollen, tender glands in the neck

• Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RSV]

  • Premature infants
  • Very young infants
  • Children with chronic lung disease
  • Children with the weakened immune system
  • Congested or runny nose
  • Dry cough
  • Low-grade fever
  • Sneezing
  • Headaches

• Bronchiolitis

  • Runny nose
  • Congestion
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Wheezing
  • Irritability

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Smt. Paarvati Devi Hospital offers top-quality healthcare to all patients. We are among the best child specialists in Amritsar as we provide the most effective treatment for your kids.