Becoming a parent is one of the most jubilant occasions in one’s life but as much as it is joyous, the mammoth responsibility it bears can get you downtrodden easily. It perfectly is normal to feel overwhelmed, perplexed, out of sorts, or plain anxious. There will be instances where you will be shamed for not doing enough, feeling guilt for being not perfect, and a lot more but let me tell you this too is part of the adventure called parenting. But your first step towards good parenting should be to know about all the common diseases in children.
I have three kids and being well informed and well equipped with up-to-date knowledge always helped in several ways. It enabled me to do the best I can. Looking at the years of parenting I have gone through I can see that whenever I was confused, I did not know what’s wrong with the baby or what to do next was mostly due to lack of knowledge. This could be about diseases, doctors, or the school to select.
While here we may not be able to help you with everything you are in a fix about a small help we can offer is about the health of your child. We have listed down some of the important diseases that you as a parent should know and recognize so, god forbade, if you come across any in your family you can make better decisions.
Definitely, we do not recommend self-diagnosis or medicating a child without consulting a doctor. The data here is just for informational purposes and not for medical use. You should always consult a pediatrician for any ailment a child may present with.
Learn more about your child’s health.
Common Diseases In Children
1. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
The respiratory syncytial virus is a leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in babies aged up to 4 months. It can present with symptoms similar to the flu. It is milder in grown-up kids but infants may develop wheezing and in serious situations may need hospitalization.
2. Ear Infections
These are common in babies and children because of their small and horizontal auditory canals. Symptoms include:
- Tugging at ear
- Fussiness
- Crying
- Fever
If t is a viral infection it will go on its own in 5-7 days whereas bacterial infection in the ear might need an antibiotic course. To address serious ear-related issues it is always better to find and consult the best ENT specialists.
3. Croup
It is a viral respiratory infection that causes cough with a distinct barking sound that mostly occurs at night. Your doctor may refer to this as laryngotracheobronchitis. You can spot this with symptoms like:
- Barky cough
- Stridor
- Hoarse voice
- Fever
Children under 5 years are affected by croup most commonly. Many of them get better on their own while some may need hospitalization due to impaired breathing.
4. Pinkeye
Watery red eyes with swollen crusty eyelids are a sign our child has got pinkeye. it is a viral infection that spreads fast from one child together. Schools and daycares are the most common places for the spread of this infection. Though it clears in around 4 days you can see your child’s doctor decide if he needs some treatment.
5. Fifth Disease
Having a rash on the cheek with symptoms of flu dictates the presence of the fifth disease also termed as the slapped cheek. This rash may also appear at the torso, arms, or legs. It’s due to a virus named human parvovirus B19. It is more common in children above 5 years of age and may take up to 10 days till it goes away.
6. Rotavirus
An infection due to rotavirus can cause vomiting and watery diarrhea. Luckily there are vaccines available for protection. Do get your child vaccinated against rotavirus. It can quickly lead to dehydration in babies especially and that may become dangerous if prompt medical attention is ignored.
7. Chickenpox
Itchy red blisters on the body can easily be prevented through the varicella vaccine. The vaccine is a great way to prevent dangerous complications in high-risk groups such as pregnant females and newborns. Even if your child gets chickenpox after vaccine it will be far milder and will clear in a week or so.
Learn more about chickenpox.
8. Measles
A full-body rash after a session of cold is measles. it is included in routine vaccination so you do not need to worry if you are getting your child vaccinated as per the recommended schedule. Most kids take up to 2 weeks till they feel better a small number may develop complications.
9. Mumps
Swelling in the area between the ear and jaw is a classic symptom of mumps. It is a vaccine-preventable disease but breakouts may occur. If your child has mumps it is recommended to keep him at home to prevent spread to others.
10. Reye’s Syndrome
The use of aspirin in children can lead to a dangerous condition called Reye’s syndrome. This is why aspirin use is prohibited in children. Do not administer any medicine for flu or cold that has aspirin in it. Always check active ingredients for OTC medicine before administering any to the child.
Similarly identifying a ringworm infection, recognizing yellow crusty clusters of rashes are impetigo, knowing Lyme disease appears in form of a target-like rash, and know-how of how to spot and deal with seasonal allergies will make you feel more in control when any such situation arises.
Being well equipped with knowledge will help in the prevention as well as better management of diseases. Parenting is one hell of a task and we are here to help you through it. They say it needs a village to raise a kid. Curate your clan, people you can rely on, be a help and get help. Know that going through it alone will wear you off so take a bit of help whenever offered. It needs the best of you so take good care of yourself so you can offer the best of your best self.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with top nutritionists in Pakistan through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online appointment booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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