Are respiratory infections common in babies?

In a young infant, the small size of the air passages through the nose and between the ear and throat can cause problems not seen as often in larger children and adults. Infants and young children average 6 to 10 upper respiratory infections each year.

How common are respiratory infections in children?

Children develop on average six viral respiratory tract infections each year. Upper respiratory tract infections: Symptoms occur mainly in the nose and throat. Viral upper respiratory tract infections may occur at any age and include the common cold.

Is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants under 1 year of age?

Respiratory syncytial virus and influenza viruses Worldwide, respiratory syncytial virus is by far the most common cause of viral lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children.

Why are infants at risk for respiratory infections?

Newborns are more susceptible to infections, presumably because of their immature and inexperienced immune systems. The most common dangerous condition in newborns and infants are lower respiratory tract infections caused by viruses, especially respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

What are common respiratory issues with pediatrics?

Expertise in the full range of pediatric respiratory conditions

• Chronic cough.
• Wheezing.
• Recurrent respiratory infections and pneumonia.
• Exercise limitation.
• Asthma.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Lung diseases of premature infants including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (chronic lung disease)
• Primary ciliary dyskinesia.

What is the common respiratory disease?

Some of the most common are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. In addition to tobacco smoke, other risk factors include air pollution, occupational chemicals and dusts, and frequent lower respiratory infections during childhood.

Which is the most common infection of a child’s respiratory tract?

Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.

How can I prevent my baby from getting RSV?

RSV Prevention

1. Avoid kissing your baby if you have cold symptoms.
2. Clean and disinfect hard surfaces.
3. Don’t let anyone smoke around your baby.
4. If possible, keep your baby away from anyone, including siblings, with cold symptoms.
5. Keep your baby away from crowds.
6. Ask people to wash their hands before they touch your baby.

What are the first signs of RSV?

Initial signs of RSV are similar to mild cold symptoms, including congestion, runny nose, fever, cough and sore throat. Very young infants may be irritable, fatigued and have breathing difficulties. Normally these symptoms will clear up on their own in a few days.

What are common upper respiratory disorders in pediatrics?

URIs are the most common infectious diseases. They include rhinitis (common cold), sinusitis, ear infections, acute pharyngitis or tonsillopharyngitis, epiglottitis, and laryngitis—of which ear infections and pharyngitis cause the more severe complications (deafness and acute rheumatic fever, respectively).

Why does my child keep getting upper respiratory infections?

There is a wide range of conditions that may predispose a child to repeated respiratory infections. Some of these include: Congenital abnormalities of the upper or lower airways, such as bronchial hypoplasia or bronchial stenosis, tracheal conditions such as tracheomalacia, and more. Nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum.

Why are respiratory diseases common in children?

Diseases that impact the respiratory system – the nose, throat and lungs – are very common, especially in children who have not yet built up immunity to common viruses and bacteria that can cause such problems.