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Helpful Hints on Identifying Infection in your Child

Children are such amazing creatures because they are susceptible to hundreds of different illnesses and yet, many of them bounce back until the next infection brings them down. Thanks to immunizations, many of the things that children died of over a hundred years ago, is virtually gone.

However, just because vaccinations have greatly helped, that doesn't mean that children don't get sick, because they seem to all the time! Colds, flu, diarrhea, bruises, bumps and cuts … all open a child up to a variety of different infections. And some kids go on and on, even if they are sick, so sometimes it can be hard to identify those times when infection may indeed be a problem. Here are some helpful hints on identifying infection in your child:

1. Fever - Having a fever means that your child's body is trying to fight off an infection of some sort. A fever is official when an oral temperature reading is at least 100.4°F or higher. If you have a younger child, you might have to take a temperature under the arm. Therefore, your child has a fever if the under the arm temperature is at least 99.4°F or higher.

2. Fast Breathing or Coughing - These two signs signal that your child likely has a respiratory illness.

3. Diarrhea - Of course, loose bowels is a signal of a variety of things from food contamination to a particular medication upsetting the stomach. Whatever the reason, most children do not get this unless there is something going on infection-wise.

4. Headache and stiff neck - There are a few scary infections like meningitis that present its symptoms in this fashion. In fact, these are the primary signs of it and you should take it vary seriously by taking your child to the doctor right away.

5. Runny nose - While this can be a sign of allergies, chances are that your child has a cold caused by a virus that has to run its course. The only thing you can do is treat the symptoms and make your child comfortable.

6. Sore throat - This particular symptom is caused by a variety of factors, one of which is strep throat. This condition normally requires antibiotics. Other reasons for sore throats in children could be sinus drainage or in rare cases, tonsillitis.

7. Rash, blisters or sores - Hmmm, your child definitely has health issues if they develop a rash or some type of skin lesion. Even if kids have received a vaccination for chicken pox, it is possible for them to still get it. This could cause a rash or blisters just as much as a few other conditions might as well.

8. Earache - Many children has such small Eustachian tubes that fluids back up behind the ear drum and have a hard time draining. When the fluid cannot drain, many times it can become infected. The normally grayish eardrum becomes red, a sure sign of infection. While some children show absolutely no signs of discomfort, others will clutch an ear or have a small fever.

Your child could have any of these symptoms or none at all. Each child is different and bears an infection in various ways. As the parent, it is your job to look for those health cues in order to help determine if your child has an infection. If your child does have an illness, the first stop should be a call to the doctor.