Childhood Acute Illnesses to Look Out For
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Did your child suddenly come down with a virus and you have no idea what to do next? Don’t worry, Village Pediatrics in Plano, Tx has you covered. We proudly offer same day services to help your child feel well again, as quickly and safely as possible.
While many different illnesses swarm around all year long, it’s much easier to have a peace of mind when it comes to your child’s health with caring providers in your corner. If you child begins to display signs of the flu or mono (which has similar symptoms to influenza), or develops a fever, please contact Village Pediatrics for a proper diagnosis and effective treatment plan.
Conditions and Symptoms
Mono
You may have heard of this illness referred to as the “kissing disease”. As it turns out it is a real thing, but in the medical world it’s known as mono (or mononucleosis). This contagious illness is most often detected among teens and caused by the transmission of saliva. Aside from kissing, this virus may also be spread through sharing utensils or drinking after someone infected with mono, in addition to exposure of a casual sneeze or cough from someone who has mono. Therefore, mono could be passed to other family members in the home, especially children as they may not have built up antibodies against it yet like many adults.
Symptoms of mono include:
- Skin rash
- Fever
- Swollen tonsils
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Swollen spleen
- Sore throat
- Headache
Certain symptoms of mono may imitate the flu virus. The good news is, mono is not as easily spread as other viruses and usually the infection is found to naturally go away on its own with plenty of rest.
Flu
It is very common for anyone to contract influenza when flu season rolls around. The flu virus is a respiratory condition that is highly contagious, which can be passed from person to person up to a distance of six feet. Unfortunately, peak seasons for the flu virus last half a year (fall and winter), so the best prevention method is to get the flu vaccine for anyone 6 months old and above.
Symptoms of the flu virus include:
- Chills or fever
- Body pain or aches
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Exhaustion or fatigue
- Little to no appetite
Recommended Treatments
Although there is no official cure for mono, it is an illness that typically heals over time. Depending on the severity, symptoms may last anywhere from two to four weeks on average. Those recovering from mono are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, get an adequate amount of rest and take over-the-counter pain reliever as needed.
Similar to mono, the flu virus requires a great deal of self-care in order for symptoms to wear away as well. At home treatments for the flu consist of staying hydrated, a lot of rest, remedies to soothe the throat (warm tea, lozenges, or soup) and over-the-counter medicine. Usually the flu will run its course through your child’s body over several days, so continue to treat the symptoms.
If you observe your child is experiencing flu-like or mono symptoms for a prolonged amount of time, they don’t seem to be improving or spike a temperature occurs, please click here or text (469) 382-3796 to schedule an appointment.
