There is a slew of winter ailments that can affect children. Learning how to identify them will make it easier to care for your child. Many of these illnesses have several symptoms in common, so it is important to know the difference.
The Common Cold
The common cold, as its name suggests, is the most common seasonal sickness in children.
Symptoms of the common cold in children include mild fever, cough, runny/stuffy nose, sneezing and cough.
Croup
Coup presents with hoarseness and a barking cough and is accompanied by runny nose and fever. Croup can last up to a week.
Strep Throat
Strep throat is a contagious bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms of strep throat include sore throat, stomach ache, fever and trouble swallowing.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV is an infection of the airways and lungs and can be a serious winter ailment in infants. Symptoms of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus include wheezing with breathing and cold-like symptoms. RSV could require hospitalization.
Pneumonia
Symptoms of this lung infection can come on quickly and can be either bacterial or viral. If your child has rapid breathing, high fever, chills, chest pain and a cough with green or yellow mucous, he may have pneumonia.
Influenza (Flu)
The flu is a viral infection that can run from three to seven days. Symptoms of influenza include sore throat, runny nose, dry cough, muscle aches, fatigue, headache and fever. Flu vaccinations are offered in the fall of each year and may prevent your child from catching this infection.
Stomach Flu
The stomach flu is a viral infection of the intestines and can last one to three days. A common winter illness in children, symptoms include watery diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, mild fever and fatigue.
When to Call Pediatric Partners
Keep an eye on your child’s appetite and their activity levels. If they have a high fever, are barely eating and/or staying hydrated and are lethargic, it’s time to call Pediatric Partners. We are here for you and your children during regular office hours and in our After Hours Clinic.
Pediatric Partners has three locations to better serve our patients. The Evans office is at 411 Town Park Blvd.; the downtown Augusta office is at 1303 D’Antignac St., Suite 2600; and the new Grovetown office is at 5135 Wrightsboro Road. For more information about Pediatric Partners, call the office at 706-854-2500, visit PedPartners.com, or follow the Pediatric Partners of Augusta Facebook page.
