10 common children's health problems

Children are prone to health concerns and they deserve quality medical care. Parents need to be aware of the common conditions that can affect their child and follow the necessary treatment guidelines to make sure their child gets the best care. While your kid may have one of several health ailments, there are some common problems that children often face. It is always helpful to know about them so you can provide appropriate care to your child.

1. Sore throat
It is a common condition among children and can even be painful. A sore throat won’t need antibiotics if it is caused by a virus. In such cases, specific medications are not required. Your child should get better on his/her own in 7-10 days. Other than that, strep throat infection often causes sore throat. The diagnosis of strep cannot be done by just looking at the throat. An in-office or lab test is needed for confirming the diagnosis. Your child will be prescribed antibiotics if he/she tests positive for strep. Make sure your child takes the full course of antibiotics, even if the symptoms go away or start getting better.

2. Ear Pain
It is also common among children there are many probable causes, including swimmer’s ear, ear infection, sinus infection, pressure from a cold, and teeth pain radiating to the ears. You need to visit a child specialist in Delhi to have the cause of ear pain diagnosed. Your pediatrician may recommend antibiotics if the ear pain causes pain in both ears, if your child has a high fever, and there are other indications of illness.

3. Urinary Tract Infection
UTI or Urinary Tract Infection, also known as a bladder infection, occurs due to the build-up of bacteria in the urinary tract. Some symptoms of a bladder infection include burning or pain while urinating, the need of urinating urgently or frequently, bedwetting, back or side pain, and abdominal pain. The doctor will likely take a urine sample and test it for UTI to determine the appropriate treatment.

4. Skin Infection
If your child has a skin infection, a skin test in the form of a swab or culture may be needed for determining the most appropriate treatment method. Inform your doctor if he/she has a history of staph infection, MRSA or if he/she has been exposed to other resistant bacteria.

5. Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is an infection of the large, central airways in the lungs and is more commonly seen among adults. The condition is usually associated with a chest virus that doesn’t require antibiotics

6. Bronchiolitis
This condition is common among young children and infants during the flu and cold season. There may be a wheezing sound when your child breathes. It is usually caused by a virus and doesn’t need antibiotics for treatment. Rather, the usual treatment aims at improving the comfort of your child, with your child being closely monitored for issues in breathing or eating and indications of dehydration. Children with underlying health concerns or those who were born prematurely may require different treatment plans.

7. Pain
The child specialist in Delhi might prescribe medications to relieve pain in children. The dosage depends on the weight of your child, so consult with your child’s pediatrician about it. In case of common injuries or issues like a sprained ankle, sore throats, or ear pain, it is not appropriate to give narcotic pain medications to children.

8. Common Cold
Viruses in the upper respiratory tract commonly cause cold, particularly in young children. Your child may get cold 6-8 times a year and the symptoms may last for up to 10 days, including runny nose, cough, and congestion. There is no need for antibiotics with common colds. Green mucus isn’t necessarily an indication that antibiotics are needed. However, if your doctor suspects a sinus infection, he or she will perform a physical exam and check your child’s symptoms to determine if antibiotics are the appropriate choice.

9. Bacterial Sinusitis
This condition is caused when bacteria get trapped in the upper respiratory tract. If symptoms of cold such as cough or nasal discharge, or both, last for more than 10 days without improving, sinusitis is suspected. If the condition is associated with a thick yellow nasal discharge and persistent fever for 3-4 days, your doctor may recommend antibiotics. Visit Rainbow Hospital, best children hospital in Delhi to know more about the treatment.

10. Cough
Cough is commonly caused due to viruses and doesn’t need antibiotics. If your child is 4 years old or younger, cough medicine should be avoided. This is because cough medicines tend to not work in younger children and there is even a risk of some serious side effects. Even for children aged 4-6 years old, it shouldn’t be administered unless your doctor advises it.