Ask the Experts: Frequently asked questions about children and illness
Certain illnesses are more common in children. Between daycare and school, kids are constantly being exposed to new germs. It takes time for the immune system to mature and fight off germs, so younger children come down with sniffles, coughs, and minor illnesses more frequently.
As a parent, it helps to know what your children are thinking and feeling when they become ill so that you can help comfort and teach them about being sick and staying well.
What are good practices to help avoid illness?
Get vaccinations. There is misinformation about vaccines out there but rest assured that all recommended childhood vaccines are scientifically proven to be safe and effective. Talk to your doctor about the recommended vaccination schedule for children and if you’re concerned about vaccine safety.
Wash hands regularly. Getting your child into the habit of washing their hands is one of the most powerful ways to prevent illness. Encourage them to wash their hands before and after eating, after using the bathroom, and after coming home from playing outside or in a public area.
Cover coughs and sneezes. You and your child can help prevent the spread of illness by covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.
Disinfect toys, electronics, and communal objects. Bacteria can survive on some surfaces for many days. Use alcohol wipes or rubbing alcohol to clean favorite toys, tablets, phones, doorknobs, and any other commonly touched household objects. Wash bath towels and bedsheets in hot water every week.
Eat healthy and exercise regularly. Following a healthy diet and exercising are powerful ways to boost the immune system.
Start good habits early. Explain early and often why good hygiene matters. Integrate good hygiene habits into daily routines—and don’t forget to tell your child when they’ve done a good job.
What are some common childhood illnesses?
Common cold. The common cold is the most frequent illness that children contract. Cold viruses are airborne, meaning they’re spread when a sick person coughs or sneezes. Some symptoms of a cold are fever, coughing/sneezing, congestion/runny nose, sore throat, body aches and fatigue. The best way to prevent the common cold is to wash hands regularly and avoid contact with sick individuals when possible.
Flu. The flu has similar symptoms to the common cold but is more severe and can also cause a high fever or chills, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea. During the fall and winter months, the influenza virus can spread very easily, and the most effective way to prevent the flu is to receive the flu vaccine each year. Doctors can test for the flu to confirm a diagnosis and may prescribe medication as treatment. Children should stay home from school if they have the flu, both to avoid spreading the virus and to get lots of bed rest.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral infection that usually affects infants and children younger than five years old but can occur at any age. One of the identifying symptoms is a rash commonly found on the hands and feet. In the first three to five days, children may have a fever or sore throat, and eat and drink less. Most children have mild symptoms for seven to ten days. Treatment of symptoms includes acetaminophen for pain and fluids. Hand foot and mouth disease spreads easily through person-to-person contact, through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and through contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. Children with hand foot and mouth disease should stay home from daycare or school until there are no new red spots and all current sores are scabbed over, and they have been afebrile for 24 hours.
Strep throat. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes a sore, swollen throat. Children should see a doctor for strep throat because most cases require medication to get better. Strep bacteria can travel through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or it may be transferred on the surfaces of shared objects. In addition to regular hand washing, kids should avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking glasses, and food with others. Wash lunchboxes and utensils in hot, soapy water every day. Symptoms of strep throat include sore or itchy throat, Red or inflamed tonsils, trouble swallowing, and fever.
Pink eye. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is the inflammation of the eye and inner eyelid. Pink eye can have several causes but is most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria that are transferred from a child’s hands to their eyes. Pink eye can be successfully avoided through regular hand washing and taking any prescribed allergy medications. Symptoms of pink eye include pink or reddish discoloration of the white part of the eye, itchiness or irritation of the eye, a gritty feeling, as if there’s sand or another irritant in the eye, discharge from the eye, excessive tear production, an eyelid that feels “sticky” or swollen, and blurry vision.
How can you communicate with children about illness?
Illness is an emotionally charged experience for all of us. In addition to the general discomfort we all feel, illness can bring fear and anxiety, especially with a trip to the doctor's office. This is particularly true for young children. It's important for you to remain positive while your child is feeling ill to help minimize the fear and anxiety.
A child's social world is turned upside down, too, when illness strikes. Eating and sleep habits are usually disrupted. Routine daily activities -- like going to a play group or school -- are interrupted. Since kids thrive on routines, the change in normal, daily activities can be upsetting and disorienting. Reassure your child that once he or she is well, normal routines will return.
An additional lesson kids learn about being sick is that others step in to care for and comfort them. In this way, getting sick has a lot to do with learning about yourself and others. Kids not only benefit directly from the care and love you offer when they're sick, but they can learn from your example how to care for others, such as siblings or pets, in a similar, empathizing way.
Cami Barger-Jones, MD, is a pediatrician at Riley Physicians Pediatrics - Muncie. Learn more at https://www.rileychildrens.org/find-a-doctor/physician/cami-s-barger-jones.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ask the Experts: Frequently asked questions about children and illness
