The average preschooler gets six colds a year. That’s
just a statistic — until you add the runny noses, coughs, sneezes,
fevers, fitful sleep and tears that go with it. And colds are just
one of the respiratory infections that abound from late autumn
through early spring.
Doctors split respiratory infections into upper, middle and
lower. The upper respiratory infections — those in the nose,
throat, sinuses and ears — include the common cold. Middle
respiratory infections include illnesses such as croup, and lower
respiratory infections refer to illnesses such as pneumonia and
bronchitis.
"Upper respiratory
infections usually are minor illnesses even though they may be major
nuisances,” says Dr. Susan J. Hubbard, a private practice
pediatrician and a member of the medical staff at Children’s Medical Center
Dallas. "The symptoms often can be managed at home without a
doctor visit.” Frequent colds don’t suggest any underlying medical
problem, Dr. Hubbard adds.
What to look for
The main symptoms of upper
respiratory infections include fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore
throat, loss of appetite, headache, body aches and fatigue. Lower
respiratory infections — infections of the airways and lungs —
often are more serious. They usually include tightness in the chest, a
cough that produces colored mucus, difficulty breathing and
fever.
Blame these infections on
viruses and bacteria. Bacteria cause otitis media (ear),
tonsillitis (tonsils), pneumonia (lungs), bronchitis (airways), sinusitis
(sinuses), pharyngitis (throat) and whooping cough (airways).
Viruses cause the common cold (rhinovirus), the flu (influenza),
pneumonia and more.
Without
tests, it’s tough to tell viral and bacterial infections apart. But in
a child with a cold or cough, suspect bacteria if a fever comes
back after the first few days or the discharge from a runny nose or
cough is yellow or green. If a sick child starts breathing
rapidly, drools, has trouble swallowing or seems very irritable or
lethargic, you should call the doctor right
away.
Doctors may use antibiotics against bacteria, but
antibiotics won’t work on a virus. Children with a virus usually
get treatment just for the symptoms. Ask your doctor before giving
young children over-the-counter remedies.
An
ounce of prevention
Viruses lurk in airborne particles
from sneezing, coughing and breathing, as well as surfaces that sick
people touch. Make sure children wash their hands regularly —
especially after handling things touched by other children or sick
people. Infants are most susceptible between the age of 6 months and
one year. That’s because the antibodies they got from mom are
ebbing and the baby’s immune system is still
developing.
Resources
Children’s Medical
Center
