ROME, Ga., Dec. 3, 2024 – Parents and caregivers spend a lot of time teaching their children to share, but unfortunately that sharing includes germs. Between daycare and school, fun festivals and holiday activities, the fall and winter months generally coincide with an influx of sicknesses.
Dr. Mark Boudreau, with Atrium Health Floyd Pediatrics on Shorter Avenue in Rome, is here to help your family prepare specifically for the season. Boudreau shares what you need to know about the most common illnesses seen during this season, including symptoms and where to go for treatment.
Most common illnesses
Respiratory viruses, including colds, flu and RSV, are the most common illnesses during the fall and winter months. An increase in bacterial infections, including strep throat, are also more common. Also, both viral and bacterial cases of pneumonia are not uncommon.
“Sometimes it is hard to diagnose these because many symptoms are common with other winter illnesses," Boudreau said. “The key is to pay attention to how your kids feel."
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, here is a brief overview of the most common illnesses:
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, RSV can be serious, especially in infants and older adults who are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization.
RSV may not be severe when it first starts. However, it can become more severe a few days into the illness. Early symptoms of RSV may include a runny nose, eating or drinking less, and cough, which may progress to wheezing or difficulty breathing. Infants who get an RSV infection almost always show symptoms.
This is different from adults, who can sometimes get RSV infections and not exhibit symptoms. In very young infants (less than 6 months old), the symptoms of RSV infection may include irritability, decreased activity, eating or drinking less, apnea (pauses in breathing for more than 10 seconds), and fever (though fever may not always occur with RSV infections).
- COVID: COVID is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. It can be very contagious and spreads quickly. The virus most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, the flu, or pneumonia. Most people with covid have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill. Symptoms may include: fever or chills; cough; muscle or body aches; sore throat; nasal congestion or runny nose; headache; diarrhea; nausea; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; and loss of smell or taste.
- Streptococcus (strep throat): Strep throat is a mild infection in the throat and tonsils that can be very painful. Doctors can do a quick test to see if a sore throat is strep throat. Antibiotics can help people with strep throat feel better faster and prevent spreading it to others. Symptoms include: fever; pain when swallowing; sore throat that can start very quickly and may look red; red and swollen tonsils; white patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils; tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth; and swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck.
- Flu (Influenza): Flu is a very contagious viral infection that affects the air passages of the lungs. It's one of the most severe and common viral illnesses of the winter season. Most children are ill with the flu for less than a week. But some children have a more serious illness and may need to be treated in the hospital. Symptoms include fever (which may be as high as 103°F to 105°F); body aches; headache; sore throat; cough that gets worse; tiredness; and a runny or stuffy nose. In some cases, your child may also have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Pneumonia: Pneumonia might start out with symptoms similar to a cold, but can be far more serious. Some symptoms include chest pain when breathing or coughing, fever or chills, nausea, vomiting and mental confusion. Serious cases of the flu can also lead to pneumonia, which is why getting the annual flu vaccine is so important.
The difference between cold and flu
It's important to note that a cold and the flu have different symptoms:
Cold symptoms
- Low or no fever
- Sometimes a headache
- Stuffy, runny nose
- Sneezing
- Mild or hacking cough
- Mild body aches
- Mild tiredness
- Sore throat
Flu symptoms
- High fever
- Headache in most cases
- Clear nose, or stuffy nose in some cases
- Sneezing in some cases
- Cough, often turning severe
- Severe body aches
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue) that can last weeks
- Sore throat in some cases
A cold is often mild but can produce a hacking cough that can last as long as 10 days. The flu can cause severe symptoms and lead to problems, especially in children, such as pneumonia and even death, so it's important to see your pediatrician for a diagnosis.
Here to help finding the right level of care
Boudreau said it is important to contact your pediatrician's office to see if you should take your child in for evaluation.
“These illnesses can all be very serious, and it is important to seek medical attention quickly," he added.
Atrium Health Floyd offers on-demand video visits, eVisits and even live chat to help you get convenient, expert care without leaving your home.
How to avoid illnesses
Unfortunately, there is no sure way to avoid every illness, but the key to avoiding most common illnesses is to keep your body as strong as possible and stay away from illness when able.
“Frequent handwashing is always important, especially this time of the year," Boudreau said. “Parents should also make sure their kids get any available vaccines that can prevent serious illness."
Don't be misled
There are many misconceptions when it comes to common fall and winter ailments:
- Antibiotics do not help viruses, like the flu, RSV and COVID.
- Green mucous does not mean your child has a bacterial infection.
- Though not as common, colds can cause fevers too.
- Just because you do not have a fever, does not mean you are not contagious.
- Dairy is not bad for colds and flus. In fact, it is a good source of vitamins and protein when your child's appetite is likely down.
- The flu shot will not give a child the flu. Because it is a dead or inactivated form of the virus, you cannot get sick from it. However, because it triggers an immune response, there may be mild side effects that feel similar to the flu.
- No over-the-counter medications will cure a virus. They may help symptoms, but make sure to talk to your pediatrician about what is safe to use in your child.