Let’s face it—little kids are magnets for germs. Between day care, school and their questionable hygiene habits, they’re constantly picking up new bugs. Why is this? Because their immune systems are still in training mode, gearing up to fight off all the congestion, coughs and random mystery illnesses that come their way. The good news is that you can protect against the germ invasion in many cases.
We’ve turned to two pediatric specialists to arm you with game-changing prevention tips and give you the scoop on the 10 most common early childhood illnesses. Plus, next steps for when you can’t diagnose an illness at first.
1) Cold & Flu
Cold and flu season is the time of year when your hand sanitizer feels like a trusty sidekick, especially when your toddler explores in public spaces. A cold and the flu are both viral respiratory illnesses that are highly contagious. Both are spread through respiratory droplets when someone coughs, sneezes or talks, and if someone touches a contaminated surface and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth. This is bad news at a stage when your kid seems to put almost everything in their mouth.
Common Symptoms
Colds rarely cause your child to have a fever; however, a fever and chills are often associated with the flu. Dr. Preeti Sharma, pediatric pulmonologist at Children’s Health in Dallas and associate professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says, “Sometimes the symptoms for a cold and the flu overlap. A cold is typically milder with sore throat and congestion, and the flu is more severe and includes body aches, gastrointestinal issues and tends to last a little longer.”
Prevention Tips for the Cold & Flu
Avoiding the cold or the flu can be tough for young children because they tend to be in group environments, such as day care or preschool. “What’s most helpful is encouraging them to wash their hands as often as possible. Another good practice is teaching them to cover their cough or sneeze. Most importantly, however, is to keep kids home when they are sick to help prevent the spread of illness,” Sharma says.
How to Treat a Cold or the Flu
Sharma warns parents to ignore the adage “Feed a cold, starve a fever.” She says, “Both are signs of illness. When you are ill, your body is working harder. It’s important to fuel yourself when you are sick. Stay well hydrated and focus on good nutrition.” While there is no vaccine for the common cold, there is one surefire way to reduce the chances of your kids getting the flu. Sharma advises everyone to get vaccinated. “Flu shots are approved in children ages 6 months and up,” she says. For a cold, the best thing parents can do is keep their kids home and allow them to rest. In some cases of the flu, children may be prescribed antiviral drugs to help their little bodies fight against the virus.
2) Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV is one of the leading causes of respiratory infections in children 5 and younger. Consider it a cold’s bigger, stronger cousin. RSV doesn’t mess around—it’s extremely contagious. It spreads fast through droplets from coughs and sneezes. But that’s not all. The virus lingers on surfaces too. Touch a contaminated doorknob, then your face, and you’ve just given RSV an invitation to spread. For most people, RSV remains contagious for three to eight days. However, it’s a whole different story for infants—they can spread this virus for up to a staggering four weeks.
RSV hits infants particularly hard and is the leading cause of hospitalization in babies younger than 1 year old. Up to 3% of babies who get RSV need a hospital stay, and may require oxygen, IV fluids or other more intensive treatment.
RSV Common Symptoms
The symptoms of RSV mimic those of the cold but are more amplified. Your child may experience the following:
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Loss of appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
How to Treat RSV
Sharma says, “For most children, they will get through RSV like they would a cold. These illnesses will usually resolve with supportive care. However, for kids that have underlying lung problems or other medical problems, RSV could lead to complications like pneumonia.” Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help bring down a fever, and a few drops of nasal saline followed by gentle suctioning can work wonders to help your little one breathe more easily.
3) Pink Eye
Pink eye, aka conjunctivitis, is hands down the most common eye issue kids deal with. There are multiple culprits behind conjunctivitis. Kids can catch pink eye from bacteria or viruses, but pink eye can also be caused by allergies or irritants from a child’s environment. This kind isn’t contagious.
Common Symptoms
If their eyes are red, itchy, swollen, or oozing gross white, yellow, or green goop, chances are they’ve got it.
Treatment and Prevention of Pink Eye
“Viral and bacterial infections can cause very different symptoms,” Sharma explains. “There are no great medicines to treat viruses. Bacterial infections tend to require antibiotics because it’s a foreign pathogen in a specific area of the body.” For bacterial conjunctivitis, your pediatrician or eye doctor may provide antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Parents can use a warm washcloth to help ease their child’s discomfort. Like many illnesses, the best way to prevent spreading is through regular hand washing and by avoiding children you know are ill. To stave off reinfection, you should wash your kids towels, washcloths, and pillowcases following each use.
4) Fifth Disease
Fifth disease is a common viral illness that tends to affect children from the age of 5. It is caused by the parvovirus B19, and your kids will typically catch it during the winter and spring months. Fifth disease spreads through droplets when others cough, sneeze or touch a germy surface. Interestingly, it’s most contagious before the rash appears when symptoms resemble a common cold. By the time the rash develops, the body has already been fighting the virus, and a child is no longer contagious. While it might sound alarming, most kids recover quickly without any complications.
Common Symptoms of Fifth Disease
The illness often starts subtly, with symptoms that mimic a mild cold like a low fever, headache and stuffy or runny nose. These symptoms typically fade, making it seem like the illness is gone. But then, a red rash appears within a few days. The first stage is bright red cheeks (resembling a slapped cheek), followed by a rash that spreads to the chest, back, arms and legs. As the rash progresses, it develops into a lacy, net-like appearance. The rash can last one to three weeks, coming and going before disappearing completely.
Treating Fifth Disease
Since the illness is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not effective. Fortunately, it’s usually mild and resolves on its own. Parents can make sure their child gets plenty of rest and can give them acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to help with fever and aches, but pediatricians say no to giving aspirin to children because it can cause Reye syndrome. An antihistamine can help with itching. You can also try adding oatmeal to your child’s bath or use an oatmeal bath product. Parents may also want to dress their children in loose-fitting cotton clothing.
5) Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease (HFM)
HFM is a notorious troublemaker for kids under 5. HFM spreads fast. Child care centers, preschools and playgrounds are hotbeds for this pesky virus. Sharma says, “Hand, foot and mouth disease is one that sneaks up on people. Kids remain contagious for a little while. The best preventative tips are frequent hand washing and isolating your child until the lesions have scabbed over.”
HFM Common Symptoms
This viral party crasher loves to leave its mark with painful, red blisters on the mouth, throat, hands, feet, and, yes, even the diaper zone. Aside from the obvious red blisters, kids often get a fever that’ll make them crankier than normal. Swallowing can become a painful ordeal, which can lead to dehydration.
Treating Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease
There’s no magic cure or miracle vaccine for HFM, but there are ways to make your little one feel a bit better. Parents can stock up on cold treats to numb mouth pain and use lukewarm soap and water to ease discomfort caused by blisters. Lasting up to 10 days, popsicles and patience may be the keys to getting through HFM with your sanity.
6) Ear Infection
Ear infections strike when inflammation (usually from trapped bacteria) wreaks havoc in your child’s middle ear—the cozy space connecting the ear to the back of the nose and throat. In most cases, when your kid catches a cold or some nasty upper respiratory bug, bacteria hitch a ride through the eustachian tubes where fluid starts pooling behind the eardrum.
Common Symptoms
“Signs of an ear infection may be difficult to detect. There is often a fever, and little ones will be fussier, not wanting to drink from a bottle because of pain, or they may have disrupted sleep and may be pulling at their ear,” Sharma says. Other symptoms might include fluid draining from the ear, a loss of balance or trouble hearing.
Treating an Ear Infection
Most ear infections will sort themselves out. Doctors will typically employ the “wait-and-see” strategy paired with some trusty over-the-counter pain meds because overusing antibiotics can turn bacteria into antibiotic-resistant supervillains. If your kiddo is getting chronic ear infections (five or six a year), it might be time for a more permanent fix. Doctors can perform a quick surgical procedure to insert tiny tubes into the eardrums that will improve airflow, prevent fluid buildup and generally keep the peace in those tiny ears.
7) Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis, often called the “stomach flu,” is an illness caused by an infection and inflammation of the digestive system. The usual suspects causing gastroenteritis are viruses, bacteria, toxins, or even parasites. While the condition can be uncomfortable, the good news is that it often resolves on its own in just a few days.
Common Symptoms
Dr. Bradley Mercer, pediatrician at Cook Children’s Pediatrics Forest Park in Fort Worth, says that the biggest risk with gastroenteritis is dehydration. “Signs to watch for include dry cracked lips and a dry mouth; decreased urine output and very dark urine; drowsiness or irritability; cold or dry skin; low energy levels, appears weak or limp; no tears when crying; and eyes sunken or a baby’s soft spot (fontanelle) sunken in.”
Other symptoms for parents to watch out for are:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Lethargy
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Treating Gastroenteritis
Mercer advises encouraging children to take oral rehydration solutions because milk or juice might make matters worse. “Commercially available solutions such as Pedialyte, Gastrolyte or Enfalyte will contain the properly balanced amounts of water, sugars and salts to promote absorption of the fluid…Give your child 5–10 milliliters (1–2 teaspoons) of one the previously mentioned drinks every five minutes, slowly increasing the amount as your child tolerates. If you breastfeed your child, continue to do so,” he says.
8) Sore Throat & Strep Throat
A sore throat is basically throat discomfort—usually thanks to a pesky cold virus. On the flip side, strep throat is next level. It’s caused by the Streptococcus bacteria and comes with more drama like fever, swollen tonsils and white patches.
Common Symptoms
Expect chills, loss of appetite, stomach pain and nausea. If your kids are coughing and sneezing, it’s a safe bet that it’s not strep throat. Sharma says, “Strep throat is bacterial, and we can determine its presence with a throat culture or swab … We also look at what is happening in the community.” Mercer agrees that it can be difficult to distinguish between a sore throat and strep throat. He says, “Studies have been done that shows that without the proper tests, physicians can’t tell the difference half the time. The only accurate way to diagnose strep is through a strep screen or a throat culture.”
While it’s uncommon, strep can lead to scarlet or rhematic fever, which can cause more severe conditions that affect the heart. Sharma says, “A fever is the body’s way of telling us that it is fighting off an infection. It’s an indication that our immune system is doing its job … Any fever above 100.3 in very young infants is concerning because their immune systems are not fully developed. In older children, it is more important to monitor how your kid is feeling rather than relying solely on temperature itself. Parents should be alert as to if their child is eating, drinking, playing, and how they are acting. If your child is not acting like themself, especially not keeping food or drink down, you should seek attention.”
Strep Throat Treatment
Unfortunately, this is one that doesn’t just go away. You’ll likely need antibiotics to kick it to the curb.
9) Croup
Croup is a virus that inflames your child’s airways, causing that infamous barking cough. Croup mostly targets kids under 5, making its grand entrance in the fall. The good news is that your kids usually bounce back in about a week. While at first it may just seem like a common cold, the virus tightens your kiddos upper airways and can affect their ability to breath.
Common Symptoms
Croup symptoms normally start slowly and may begin with a runny nose and then worsen to a barking cough. Other mild symptoms include:
- Fever
- Rash
- Hoarseness
- Eye redness or pink eye
- Swollen lymph nodes
In more severe cases of croup, parents may notice that their child has:
- Difficulty breathing
- Restlessness or nervousness
- Retractions (sucking in the skin around your child’s ribs and the top of their breastbone)
- Cyanosis (bluish skin color)
Treating Croup
Most cases are mild and can be handled at home. Acetaminophen works wonders. For kids 6 months or older, ibuprofen is also an option. Hydration and a lot of rest are key when your kid has croup. For more serious cases, a doctor may prescribe a steroid to shrink airway swelling or provide a breathing treatment. Sharma says, “We don’t recommend any cough or cold medicine for children. There is no concrete evidence these are helpful. These products are tested in kids. We do suggest supportive care such as the medications Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever or discomfort, as well as nasal saline drops or nasal suction to clear congestion. Warm humid environments like the bathroom with the shower running can sometimes provide relief of the nasal congestion as well.”
10) Pneumonia
Pneumonia is more than just a lung infection—it’s a battle ground where air sacs are overwhelmed by pus and fluid instead of air. While viruses like the flu or RSV are frequent offenders, bacteria are also notorious for causing more severe cases. Bacterial pneumonia can escalate quickly, marked by a sudden high fever and intense coughing. It’s crucial to identify the type of pneumonia, as the treatment varies greatly between viral and bacterial origins.
Common Symptoms
- Fever
- Persistent cough
- Chills that shake you up
- Rapid breathing or struggling for air
- Grunting or wheezing that breaks the silence
- Chest and belly pain that refuses to ignore
- Vomiting
- Decreased activity levels
- Loss of appetite
Treatment for Pneumonia
For viral types, antibiotics won’t help; instead, antiviral medications might be the chosen arsenal if caught early. Bacterial battles, however, are fought with antibiotics, often manageable from the comfort of home. Parents can arm their children with rest, ample fluids and fever management with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Recovery times can vary—bacterial pneumonia often clears within one to two weeks, while viral types might linger for up to six weeks.
Pneumonia itself isn’t contagious, but the pathogens causing it are. These germs can travel through air droplets from coughs or sneezes, or by sharing utensils and handling contaminated items. Mercer says, “To help reduce your child’s chances of infection, follow these tips: have them wash their hands, don’t let them share food or drink, have them avoid exposure to other people with illness and replace their toothbrush after starting antibiotics.”
When You Can’t Diagnose An Illness at First
The truth is, not every illness fits neatly into a checklist. Sometimes parents must become medical detectives and look at the clues or get medical professionals involved to diagnose what’s ailing their kiddos. When even your pediatrician is stumped, here are steps to find a solution:
- Seek Answers: Don’t hold back—discuss every concern and symptom with your pediatrician.
- Request More Testing: Feel something’s being missed in diagnosing your child? Request more tests—be it blood work, nasal swab, scans or something else. For example, something like human metapneumovirus—a little-known respiratory virus that has spiked recently—can be tested for. Even if there’s no specific treatment, it might give you peace of mind to know just what’s causing your little one’s illness.
- Record Every Detail: Absorbing a sea of medical information in one go is a challenge for anyone. This is especially true when the information is about your child’s health. That’s why it’s crucial to actively record every symptom and significant moment during medical appointments. Don’t hesitate to ask for a comprehensive summary of their medical records.
- See a Specialist: If your primary care provider can’t pinpoint what’s causing your toddler’s symptoms, don’t hesitate to ask for a referral to a specialist.
- Explore Genetic Testing: Genetic testing can help in diagnosing rare illnesses in your child. It’s often an essential part of understanding their medical condition, especially if parents can’t find any answers with their pediatrician.
- Get a Fresh Perspective: Still unsure? A second opinion might shed new light on finding a diagnosis for your child.
RELATED: Natural Ways to Boost Your Child’s Immune System
Top image: iStock
