Children's Health

All children get sick from time to time. When your child isn't feeling well, you would want to know how to recognise the symptoms, what can you do to help, and when to call the doctor.

Common infectious diseases that affects kids

Common Cold

With Children getting as many as eight colds per year or more, this contagious viral infection of the upper respiratory tract is the most common infectious disease and the number one reason kids visit the doctor and stay home from school.

The first symptoms of a cold are often a tickle in the throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. Kids with colds may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, mild fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and loss of appetite.

When to call the doctor

If your child's symptoms get worse instead of better

If your child's symptoms appear at the same time every year, or occur when your child is exposed to pollen, dust, animals, or another substance, your child could have an allergy
If your child who has trouble breathing or wheezes when he or she catches a cold could have asthma.

Also call the doctor if your child has any of these symptoms:

• coughing up a lot of mucus
• shortness of breath
• unusual lethargy/tiredness
• inability to keep food or liquids down or poor fluid intake
• increasing headache or facial or throat pain
• severely painful sore throat that interferes with swallowing
• High fever (38.0° C) or higher that lasts for more than a day
• chest or stomach pain
• swollen glands in the neck
• earache