My son is sick all the time. If you are a parent of a preschooler, have you ever thought that? If so, do you also have worried that these diseases often mean that your child might t123ener serious underlying disease?Pediatricians and family doctors often hear this concern from parents. Most often, parents tell them it’s nothing really bad, it’s just another cold, ear infection or another, or another coughing fit and will happen. But how do doctors know that’s true, and when we began to worry that a number of infections may be too many? Preschool children suffering from many infections, especially upper respiratory infections (IRS). Children under three years old are on average five to six year IRS, although having up to 10 a year is not necessarily out of the ordinary. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC) surveyed nearly 3,000 parents in households to find out if their children had experienced symptoms of IRS during the previous two weeks. A third of children under three years had suffered, and one quarter of children aged between three and five years.These are many respiratory illnesses. No wonder, then, that many parents think their kids are sick all the time.The place where children spend their days IRS can determine how many suffer. Preschool children younger than spend the day with six or more children of their age, as is common in a daycare setting, are most IRS suffer. The CDC study found that half of children attending day care and those children had an average infection rate of 50 percent more than those who spent the day with other children. This is not surprising considering how young children share with each other hugs, toys and cookies. However, a parent whose child is in day care, does something this increased number of infections? Is your child at risk for serious complications?
According to several studies, evidence indicates that children who regularly attend day care three years before the IRS suffer less during their first years of primary school. So it seems that things are balanced; children are not exposed to respiratory viruses because too many were in daycare with these viruses are found later.
Is it possible that children who suffer from numerous additional problems with IRS? In general, the answer is “no”, but some children have other health problems, especially those under two years old. The main complication of otitis media is the IRS, the scientific name for middle ear infection. Generally, the lower the children suffer when their first ear infection, most likely to suffer more ear infections. The family medical history can also affect how likely are children to ear infections. Another complication is accompanied by wheezing IRS. If your child has problems with repeated attacks of otitis or wheezing, you should consider temporarily reduce your child’s exposure to other children.
Although the IRS are common among preschoolers, there are times when a doctor may suspect that there is another problem. For example, if a child is suffering from high fever, severe rash or diarrhea, it is possible that your immune system is weakened. A key warning sign of serious health issues is when a child is not developing, that is, not gaining weight, lose weight or does not reach normal developmental milestones.
If you are concerned your child is sick too often, discuss the situation with your child’s physician. However, for most preschool children, suffering from IRS is simply a normal part of growing up.
Christopher M. Johnson, MD, MA is a pediatrician who practices in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more information, visit their website, www.chrisjohnsonmd.com . |
