Each year, millions of children experience at least one seasonal illness. Just because an illness is common, doesn’t mean it won’t feel like a big deal when it’s your child suffering though. Knowing how to treat these common illnesses will help you stay calm and feel prepared if your child does get sick.
Sore Throat
A sore throat can happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s a side effect of another illness like the cold or flu, other times it’s its own issue. If your child has a sore throat that you think is caused by a viral infection, let them get plenty of rest and encourage them to drink liquids. Soothing cough drops and throat spray can offer temporary relief if your child is old enough.
If the sore throat appears suddenly, lasts for an extended period of time, or gets worse rapidly, visit an urgent care center right away. Strep throat can cause a sore throat that’s highly contagious and requires antibiotics to get better. The test is a simple swap with rapid results so treatment can be prescribed the same day if they do have strep.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis in children is most commonly caused by a virus. A viral infection will not respond to antibiotics, so treatment is mostly focused on symptom management. Rest, liquids, and keeping the air around your child moist.
If bronchitis does not get better within two weeks, it may be caused by a bacterial infection. Bacterial bronchitis requires a prescription antibiotic. Visit a nearby urgent care center to accurately diagnose your child’s type of bronchitis to ensure you have the right treatment available.
Common Cold
A common cold does not usually require prescription treatment. Manage your child’s symptoms using over the counter medication approved for their age. A cold should improve within a week. If your child is experiencing sinus pain and pressure beyond a week, visit an urgent care center.
Prolonged sinus symptoms after a cold could be a sign of a sinus infection that requires antibiotics. At an urgent care center, they will assess your child’s symptoms to determine if their cold turned into a sinus infection.
Most childhood illnesses resolve themselves with enough time and rest. If you feel like your child is getting worse or over the counter medications aren’t helping their symptoms, getting a professional opinion at urgent care is always a good idea.
