3 Most Common Pediatric Illnesses

Children get sick all too often. Sometimes it feels like they hardly get over one illness and they go right into another, leaving you completely frazzled and sleep deprived. If you are a parent and this is exactly how you feel right now, it may help to know that all children get sick. It is like a rite of passage that they all have to go through and usually, the illness will just go away on its own after a while and there is absolutely no cause for concern. Knowledge is power however and knowing a little bit about the most common children diseases can help you administer the required treatment calmly and without getting overly stressed.

3 of the most common pediatric illnesses are:

1. Hand, foot and mouth disease

2. Influenza

3. Asthma

Causes & Symptoms of Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease

Usually seen in 2-6 year olds, hand, foot and mouth disease is a very contagious disease caused by a viral infection. It can be spread by direct contact and also by inhaling infected air. The symptoms include low grade fever along with small sized red dots on the hands and foot and in the mouth, which quickly develop into tiny blisters. Washing your child’s hand frequently through the day is the best way to manage the painful symptoms.

Causes & Symptoms of Influenza

Influenza, or flu, is arguably the most common of all childhood illnesses. It is not uncommon for a child to be sick with the flu at least 3 or more times in a year. Caused by the influenza virus, the symptoms of this condition are typically all over body aches, high fever up to 104 F, headache, nausea and sometimes uncontrollable shivering.

Influenza is contagious. Be prepared for everyone in the family to get it one after another. It can be spread easily by breathing in the air that contains infected droplets or simply holding the infected person’s hands. Taking your child for an influenza vaccination every year is the best way to keep this disease at bay.

Causes & Symptoms of Asthma

Asthma is a medical condition that blocks the airway, resulting in difficulty breathing. Asthma flare ups are commonly caused by mold, pollen, dust mites and pet dander. If your child has asthma, it is crucial to always have the prescribed asthma medication handy to assist with breathing in case of a flare up, which could happen anytime and anywhere.