Respiratory Infections in Children

Study Notes

Respiratory Infections in Children

Common Cold (Colds): A frequent childhood illness caused by various viruses, notably rhinoviruses. Symptoms include stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, and sometimes fever, headache, or body aches. Colds are highly contagious, spreading through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects.
Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the throat (pharynx) and tonsils, respectively, often caused by viral or bacterial infections. Symptoms include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swollen glands, hoarseness, fever, chills, headache, fatigue and sometimes nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
Croup: A common respiratory illness predominantly affecting children aged 6 months to 3 years, typically in the autumn and winter. Caused primarily by viral infection (usually parainfluenza viruses). Characterized by a barking cough, stridor (a harsh, noisy breathing sound), and a hoarse voice, often worse at night.
Acute Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes (the airways in the lungs). Usually follows an upper respiratory infection, often caused by viruses. Symptoms include a dry or mucus-filled cough, runny nose (often preceding the cough), chest congestion, fatigue, slight fever, and sometimes sore throat, body aches, and muscle pain. Typically lasts 7-14 days, but coughing can persist for 3-4 weeks.
Bronchiolitis: Infection of the bronchioles (the smallest airways in the lungs). Primarily affects children under two years old, often caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Symptoms can include congestion, a runny nose, fever, cough, wheezing (a whistling sound during breathing), and difficulty breathing. Can mimic a common cold initially, and symptoms worsen over time.
COVID-19: Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While children often experience milder symptoms than adults (which can include fever, cough, loss of taste/smell, skin discoloration, sore throat and other symptoms), severe cases can require hospitalization and supportive treatment.
Diagnosis includes a patient's history, physical examination, and tests like X-rays, blood tests, and pulse oximetry to rule out other conditions and aid in diagnosis.

Treatment of Respiratory Infections

Viral infections: Generally, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, such as rest, fluids, pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen), and cough medicine (for children over 4 years).
Bacterial infections (if diagnosed): Treatment involves antibiotics.
Severe cases: May require hospitalization, intravenous fluids, oxygen, and other supportive care.
General Tips: Raising a child's head to aid breathing, using bulb syringes to clear mucus, and providing plenty of fluids are often beneficial in managing symptoms, particularly with croup and bronchiolitis.