Managing Common Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Infections in Children
Gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory diseases are major causes of morbidity for young children, particularly those attending preschool.1 According to a Dutch study, children attending preschool are 40% more likely to develop gastroenteritis and 20% more likely to have influenza-like illness compared to those who are not in school settings.1 In a US study, children of households living below the poverty line were 9% less likely to miss school but 23% more likely to have had a GI or respiratory infection.2
Common gastrointestinal illness
Gastrointestinal symptoms and diseases represent one of the major reasons for paediatricians' requests for specialist consultations and hospital admissions.3
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National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Influenza and Children. Available at: https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/influenza-and-children/.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/index.html.
American family Physician. Treating the Common Cold in Children. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Sep 1;100(5):online.
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Wald E, Applegate K et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Bacterial Sinusitis in Children Aged 1 to 18 Years. Pediatrics 2013; 132 (1): e262–e280.