| Common Childhood Infections |
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Part 1 |
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There was a time when childhood infections killed thousands of children. Today, vaccines protect against many of those infections, but you cannot immunize your child against every infectious disease. If you know the signs and symptoms of the most common childhood infections, you can at least help your sick child get better. It is also important to know when to contact you pediatrician. Do so if you see signs of any of the following illnesses and are concerned (especially if your child is under 2 months of age.) Use this page as a guide to common childhood infections.
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| Causes of Infections: |
| Most infections in children are caused by
viruses, but they can also be caused by bacteria. Bacteria can
live in certain parts of the body with causing any harm. They
cause infections when they move to parts of the body where they do not
belong. The can also come into the body from the outside; in the
body they can cause an infection that requires treatment with an
antibiotic. Most viral diseases are not treated with an antibiotic
because antibiotics do not work on viruses. Instead, the body get
rid of viruses on its own. When your child has a virus, your
pediatrician will tell you how to make your child more comfortable. you
should also make sure your child gets plenty of rest and eats a balanced
diet.
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| Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) |
| Pinkeye is an infection that causes painful
or itchy, red eyes. The undersides of your child's eyelids may
also be irritated.
To treat pinkeye, your pediatrician may prescribe warm compresses and antibiotic drops or ointment. If the redness and swelling remain after a few days of treatment, it may mean a virus or allergy is causing the pinkeye. Let your pediatrician know if your child has eye irritation with a high fever, sluggishness, or more severe swelling and redness around the eye. These could be signs of more serious infection. |
| Sty |
| A tender, local swelling and redness on your child's eyelid are usually signs of a sty. This is an infection in a gland of the eyelid. To treat a sty, apply warm compresses often. Let your pediatrician know if this does not work. He or she may then prescribe an antibiotic ointment or refer your child to an eye doctor who can drain the sty surgically. Sties are not very contagious. |
| Vomiting and Diarrhea |
| Vomiting and diarrhea are the reasons many
parents call the pediatrician. These illnesses are usually caused
by viruses that infect the intestine. They usually last only about
a day or two, but in some cases they can last up to a week.
If your child is throwing up, your pediatrician may tell you to not give food and fluid for a few hours. You can then give your child small sips of clear fluids, later followed by easy-to-digest foods. This will help prevent more vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. Diarrhea is frequent, loose, watery stools. You may need to stop feeding your child solid foods and milk for 12 to 24 hours and instead give an oral electrolyte solution to prevent dehydration. You can buy this at your local drugstore. Glardia is a parasite that infects the bowel and often causes prolonged diarrhea. It can be a problem, especially for those in child care centers and rural areas. If your child's diarrhea does not clear up, your pediatrician may test for Giardia. Disease caused by Giardia is treated with medication. Mild vomiting and diarrhea rarely cause dehydration. However, if your child is dehydrated, she/he may:
Some children may throw up many times over several days. If this occurs, and you notice any of the other symptoms listed previously, your pediatrician will want to examine your child. These symptoms may indicate dehydration or, less often, the first signs of a rare condition known as Reye syndrome. As Reye syndrome has been linked with taking aspirin during certain viral illnesses, you should never give aspirin to an infant or child. If dehydration occurs, your child may need to have an intravenous (IV) tube inserted to receive fluids through her/his veins. To reduce the chance of dehydration, call your pediatrician early if your child has vomiting or diarrhea that will not go away. Back to the top |
| Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) |
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are found
in children from infancy through adolescence. A UTI occurs in the
kidney or bladder and can cause the following symptoms.
Treatment of UTIs consists of taking an antibiotic for about 10 days. Even through your child shows signs of improvement within 1 to 2 days of starting to take an antibiotic, he/she must still finish the entire prescription. X-rays and other tests are often needed to help determine the causes of the UTI. |
| Impetigo (skin infection) |
| Your child may have a skin infection called
impetigo if a scratch turns into a yellow, oozing, crusty sore
surrounded by redness. Impetigo can spread on the skin
quickly. It can also spread to other people if they touch the
infected skin lesions, by fingers, or from soiled clothing. This
infection is most common in warm weather.
An antibiotic, taken by mouth or in ointment form, is used to treat impetigo. If any of these illnesses or infections develop, remember that your pediatrician is your best source help. Most important, if the illness or infection does not seem to go away, or appears to get worse, your pediatrician needs to know. Always call when you are concerned! |
| Signs of infection in an infant |
These are the signs of infection in an
infant under 2 months of age. Since infections can be especially
dangerous in a child this young, call your pediatrician right away if
your child develops any of these symptoms.
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* This information is not a substitute for professional medical care. Diagnosis and treatment should be done only by your health care provider. For more information contact your local health department or physician.