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Viral Infections in Childhood: The Common Cold
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Description
Upper respiratory tract viral infections
are generally known as the common cold . Upper
respiratory tract infections usually give children stuffy, runny noses
for about a week. Colds are most often caused by 1 of 4 different kinds
of viruses:
- Rhinoviruses .
- Parainfluenza viruses .
- (RSV).
RSV is the most common cause of bronchitis and pneumonia in infants
up to one year of age.
- Coronaviruses .
Sometimes, a particular cold virus spreads to attack other parts of a
child's respiratory system. Then the cold may lead to certain complications,
including:
Symptoms and Signs
A child with a cold generally sneezes, has a stuffy or runny nose and
sometimes a mild fever and may also feel sick or vomit, have diarrhoea,
or complain of body aches.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is generally based on the symptoms presented. The cold should
pass after a week or so of its own accord but if it does not, this may
indicate complications which merit a visit to the doctor. For more details
on the treatment of specific complications, go to the page concerned:
, ,
,
or .
The information in this page is presented in summarised form and has been taken
from the following source(s):
1.
Intelihealth.com, Children's Health Section: http://www.intelihealth.com/
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Introduction
