- Common cold The common cold is a frequent infection that affects young children, causing them to feel unwell, with symptoms like a high fever, runny nose, nasal congestion, frequent sneezing, and a sore throat. The common cold can occur any time of the year, especially in winter when the incidence is higher. On average, children experience colds 3-8 times a year due to the many strains of viruses causing colds. After recovery, the child’s immune system improves against the viruses they were previously infected with, but they can still catch another strain. Therefore, parents should consistently maintain their child’s health to prevent frequent illnesses.
- Influenza (Flu) Influenza comes in strains A and B and spreads easily among children, especially in places where many children gather. The flu spreads through respiratory droplets, coughing, or sneezing. Timely treatment is crucial because untreated flu can lead to bronchitis or complications such as pneumonia, which can be serious. The flu can also spread through droplets of mucus and saliva. If a sick child coughs or sneezes and touches surfaces or other people, the virus can spread easily. Signs of flu include sudden high fever, headache, body aches, severe fatigue, and coughing with a runny nose.
- Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease Common in children under 5 years old, this disease starts with a mild fever and fatigue, followed by sore mouth ulcers. The child may refuse to eat due to painful red spots on the tongue, roof of the mouth, and inside the cheeks, which eventually turn into fluid-filled blisters. These spots can also appear on the hands, feet, and buttocks, though they are not itchy. The fever usually subsides within 3 days, and symptoms improve within 7-10 days, but parents should monitor the child’s condition closely.
- Viral gastroenteritis This condition results from direct contact with the virus, and is common in children under 5 years old. Symptoms include watery diarrhea without mucus, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, fever, or a runny nose and cough. If symptoms persist for several days, it can lead to dehydration and irritated skin around the anus. If a child has severe diarrhea, parents should take them to the hospital promptly.
- Chickenpox Chickenpox is highly contagious and can spread rapidly through close contact, such as touching or coughing on someone with the virus. Symptoms begin with a headache, body aches, loss of appetite, and red spots that develop into fluid-filled blisters with red halos. As they heal, they turn white, scab over, and eventually fall off, leaving dark spots. While the disease usually resolves on its own, it’s important to monitor for possible bacterial infections in the blisters, which can lead to pus-filled sores.
Popular infectious diseases in children
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