Common Childhood Illnesses: Prevention and Treatment
You can do a lot to help your child stay healthy, and your pediatrician is a great resource to turn to for tips on illness prevention. Dr. David Yip at Angel Pediatrics in Anthem, AZ, offers comprehensive pediatric medicine services, including diagnosis and treatment of common childhood illnesses.
What You Need To Know About Common Childhood Illnesses
One of the best ways to prevent illnesses is to have your child vaccinated for protection against flu, covid, and other serious illnesses and diseases. Other prevention tips to help protect your child’s health include:
- Teaching your child about frequent hand washing
- Talking with your child about avoiding touching their face with their hands
- Making sure your child eats a healthy diet and gets plenty of rest to build a strong immune system
- Keeping your child away from sick children and adults
No matter how careful you and your child are, chances are good that your child will become sick from bacteria or a virus, or both. If your child develops a cold or the flu, symptoms may be mild enough for you to treat your child at home. You should:
- Give your child over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines, and Children’s Tylenol
- Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids and gets enough rest
- Keep your child out of school until your child feels better
Sometimes a cold or flu can develop into a more serious condition, so bring your child to visit the pediatrician if your child has:
- A fever lasting longer than 2 days
- A fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit if your child is under 2 months old
- A fever of at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit if your child is older
Fever is often the first sign of an infection, and infections need to be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your pediatrician. Common infections affecting children include:
- Strep throat
- Ear infections
- Eye infections, including pink eye
- Skin infections
In addition to a cold, flu, or an infection, your pediatrician is an expert at diagnosis and treatment of:
- Headaches and sinus issues
- Allergies and asthma
- Rashes and other skin irritations
- Fractured or broken bones
- Injuries from an accident or sport
Want To Know More?
To learn more about common childhood illnesses and their treatments, and how to prevent them, call Dr. Yip at Angel Pediatrics in Anthem, AZ, at (623) 551-0442. Call today.