Respiratory Illnesses in Children

West Coast PediatricsBlog, Disease

Respiratory illnesses in children are very prevalent at this time and are more severe than in past years. This is probably because this is the first full season since the COVID-19 masking and social distancing has ended. Adults and children do not have the normal immunity they had in the past seasons. Here are the most common respiratory illnesses found in children.

 

Common Cold Symptoms

  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Headache
  • Body aches

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Symptoms

  • Runny nose
  • Decrease in appetite
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Fever
  • Wheezing

Influenza (Flu) Symptoms

  • Fever/chills in some
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Coughing
  • Headache
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting and diarrhea in some, especially children

COVID-19 Symptoms

  • Fever/chills
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Headache
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

As you can see, these four respiratory illnesses have very similar symptoms making it difficult to distinguish by symptoms alone. While most of these illnesses are not severe enough for hospitalization, some children especially very young infants can develop respiratory distress which requires treatment in a hospital setting.

 

Parents should take any respiratory illness seriously, especially this year. If your child is experiencing any of the symptoms above, make an appointment with your pediatrician to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Early intervention of respiratory illnesses in children will lower the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.