Most Common Winter Diseases among Children & its Symptoms

Winter is here and your child needs extra care! Wondering because your child possesses a weak immunity system? Let’s break this myth today! The most common disease any child could be affected with during winters is“Flu;” not because your child has a weak immunity system, but because the virus of the Flu can stay stable for a longer time in the cold climate.

Another major reason for your children getting affected so soon with the winter illness is because of staying indoors for a longer duration. With the fear of catching a cold & flu by going out, the majority of you keep your children indoors thinking it is the best alternative to protect your kids from their cold weather. This is the biggest mistake you can make as a parent! Yes, you read that right, staying indoors leads to proximity amongst the children which in return transmits the viruses at a greater speed and increases the risk of getting infected.

We are listing below a few of the winter diseases and their symptoms for you to take precaution at an early stage for your children:

1. Flu: Also known as Influenza; flu is one of the most common respiratory viruses & an infectious one that is seen amongst children during winter. Symptoms related to flu are as follow:

• Running nose
• Cough
• High Fever (ranging in between 103-104 degrees F)
• An ache in the body & muscles
• Congestion
• Possibility of diarrhea/vomiting
• Red eyes (mild signs of conjunctivitis)

2. RSV: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is another common respiratory infection that occurs amongst children of less than 2 years and further leads to bronchiolitis. Symptoms related to RSV are as follow:

• Fast breathing
• Running nose
• Fever
• Cough
• Nasal congestion

3. Strep Throat: It is one of the contagious bacterial infections which occur amongst children belonging to the age group of 5-15 years. Symptoms related to Strep Throat are as follow:

• Facing trouble in swallowing
• Fever
• Headache
• Stomach-ache
• Soreness in throat
• Cough and running nose accompanied by red rashes

4. Stomach Flu: Also known as stomach bug; stomach flu is viral gastroenteritis – an intestinal infection and is caused by a virus named norovirus. These stomach viruses are considered to be extremely contagious which cause severe symptoms in children that can differ from time to time. Symptoms related to Stomach Flu are as follow:

• Diarrhea (watery in form)
• Pain in abdomen
• Vomiting
• Fever (very mild)
• Fatigue
• Headache

5. Common Cold: Even this is one of the viral infections that can easily occur amongst children during the winter season. Several viruses cause colds lasting up to 5-14 days during winter. The most common symptoms related to Common Cold are as follow:

• Cough
• Fever
• Running nose
• Soreness in throat
• Congestion

Here are a few easy and must to follow guidelines to prevent your child from getting ill during winter:

• Get the flu vaccine
• Eat healthy food
• Drink plenty of food
• Take proper rest
• Wash hands on a frequent basis

Conclusion: If you start observing any of the above-mentioned symptoms in your child during winter, immediately consult your pediatrician. In a case where the situation goes out of control, reach out to your nearest hospital with PICU – Paediatric Intensive Care Unit; a unit which is specially developed for taking care of children suffering from critical illness.