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Kid Advice > What's Going Around
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Allergies
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Symptoms:
Seasonal allergies, or hayfever, are very common at this time of year. Typical symptoms include watery, itchy, red eyes; a clear runny nose; sneezing; and an itchy palate or throat. The most common triggers are trees in the spring, grasses in the summer, and weeds in the fall.
Many effective non-sedating medications are now available for children over the age of 2 years without a prescription for treatment of seasonal allergies. These include loratadine (generic Claritin), Claritin, and Zyrtec. These medications can be given as needed for allergy symptoms. If you think your child has seasonal allergies and he or she is not responding to medication OR if you are not sure, please make an appointment in our office. If your child is under the age of 2 years and you suspect seasonal allergies, please contact our office.
Many children do not require allergy testing if they respond to treatment with medication as needed.
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See Also:
hay fever, allergic rhinitis
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Colds and Upper Respiratory Infections
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Symptoms:
Colds, upper respiratory infections, and URIs are common terms we use to describe viral illnesses that cause nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, and cough. The fever usually lasts for 2-3 days, and the cough with congestion and runny nose may last for 5-10 days. The typical preschool-age child may experience 6-10 colds per year. Most colds resolve on their own with rest and fluids, but some may lead to ear infection, sinus infection, asthma attack, or other complications. If you are concerned about the possibility of one of these complications, please have your child seen in our office for an evaluation.
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See Also:
colds, sinus pain and congestion
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Cough
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Symptoms:
We are currently seeing children and adolescents with cough, typically one of the most prominent and bothersome symptoms of viral respiratory infections at this time of year. Coughing is an important and beneficial reflex that our bodies need to clear secretions and to keep open our major airways during the course of a viral cold or upper respiratory infection. However, severe or persistent cough can be associated with asthma, pneumonia, sinus infections, and bronchiolitis, and should be evaluated by your health care provider.
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See Also:
colds, cough
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Pink Eye
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Symptoms:
We are currently seeing children and adolescents with "pink eye." Also known as conjunctivitis, this condition can be caused by either a viral or bacterial infection. Viral pink eye typically appears as red and watery eyes, and is accompanied by common viral cold or upper respiratory symptoms. This type of pink eye should resolve itself as the viral cold improves. Bacterial pink eye usually appears as red eyes with yellow or green discharge. Upon awakening, the eyes often are matted shut with dried discharge. This type of pink eye also may be associated with a viral cold, but the bacterial eye infection itself requires antibiotic eye drops to cure. Good handwashing is very important because both viral and bacterial pink eye infections are very contagious.
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See Also:
eye, pus or drainage, pink eye/conjunctivitis
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Poison Ivy
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Symptoms:
Itchy, itchy, pink bumpy rash occurring after exposure to plant oils
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See Also:
poison ivy, oak or sumac
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Sore Throats
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Symptoms:
We are currently seeing cases of sore throats, also known as pharyngitis or tonsillitis, meaning that the pharynx and the tonsils are inflamed and irritated. Most often, a sore throat is part of a viral cold or upper respiratory infection, and will improve itself as the cold improves. Sometimes, your child may develop a fever, a sore throat, a headache, a rash, or a stomachache without any other viral symptoms, such as a cough, a runny nose, and congestion. These symptoms most often are associated with strep throat. Bacteria, called Group A strep, cause this type of sore throat. Strep throat typically is seen in school-age children during the late fall, winter, and spring seasons. To diagnose strep throat, your physician will require a swab of your child's throat, and prescribe antibiotics to cure it.
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See Also:
sore throat, strep throat-acute, strep throat-recurrent
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Tick Bites
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Symptoms:
We are currently seeing children with tick bites. Tick bites typically occur during the spring and summer months when children are more likely to be outdoors. Most bites are harmless, and the tick can be removed easily; however, the skin must be examined carefully and thoroughly to find any attached ticks. Several species of tick can transmit diseases when they attach to human skin. The wood tick or the dog tick bite can cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever, while the deer tick bite can lead to Lyme disease,
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See Also:
tick bite, lyme disease
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