You can't always keep your child germ free. Here are a few common childrens illnesses caused by germs, viruses, and bacteria.
Even healthy kids can get sick once in a while. Taking good care of yourself does not always guarantee that you will not get sick. Sometimes you just can't avoid germs that other people are carrying. Children are especially accessible to illness. Here are some of the common illnesses and conditions that can be caused by germs.
Blackheads and pimples found on the face are commonly known as acne. It is a condition that has many wive's tales surrounding it. Some people will tell you that it is caused by eating too much chocolate, or greasy foods. In reality, acne is caused by bacteria and oil on the skin. This clogs the pores, causing the skin to become inflamed. Despite beliefs to the contrary, washing your face cannot prevent acne and most young people are stricken with some form of it.
Athlete's foot doesn't only affect athletes. It is caused by fungus that grows on the feet. Kids who wear their sneakers without socks create the ideal environment for the fungus that causes athlete's foot to thrive, causing itching and peeling of the skin, especially between the toes. Relief can usually be found in a simple over the counter powder or cream that is applied directly to the affected area.
Bronchitis affects many youngsters. It is caused by an infection of the tracheal or bronchial tubes. When the virus infects the cell lining of the trachea, the tube that carries air from the throat to the chest, or the bronchial tubes, which lead from each lung and meet at a fork in the trachea. Bronchitis must be treated by a doctor, often times requiring a hospital stay.
Everyone gets chicken pox, which is caused by an easily spread virus. In fact, 98% of kids between the ages of 1 and 10 contract the disease, which causes a rash made up of clear blisters, called vesicles, on the skin. These are very itchy and form scabs and possibly scars when they dry.
Another pesky virus which is spread easily causes the common cold. The cold is a virus that is contracted more often than any other disease. Contrary to popular belief a cold is not caused by playing in the cold too long, going out with a wet head or without a hat, but by the cold virus invading and infecting the respiratory tract. Though there is no known cure for the common cold, there are a number of over the counter remedies that can relieve the symptoms related to a cold.
When a virus attacks the voice box, or larynx, the croup ensues, which causes the voice to become hoarse and squeaky with an annoying, painful cough. Another disease caused by a virus is influenza, which infects the entire respiratory tract, causing high fever, body aches, sore throat and more.
Two illnesses caused by fluid build-up are acute otitis media, or ear infection, and strep throat. An ear infection is caused when fluid, usually evacuated through the Eustachian tube, are not able to pass through this tube due to swelling. This fluid becomes infected, presses against the eardrum, and causes pain. Strep throat is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus which damages cells at the back of the throat, causing the damaged cells to send out fluid, causing the throat to swell and become red and sore. Another throat illness is tonsillitis. this occurs when the tonsils become swollen and enlarged. Pus sacs will develop and it will be painful to swallow.
These are only a few of the illnesses and diseases that can affect our children. Though you may not be able to keep your kids from getting these illnesses, by being diligent you should be able to catch them in the early stages, saving them a lot of pain and aggravation.
