What is croup? DEFINITION: Laryngotracheobronchitis, or croup, is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract causing difficulty breathing and cough. SYMPTOMS: Fever Congestion Hoarseness Noisy inspiration Barking cough Difficulty breathing CAUSES: Viruses such as: Parainfluenza virus Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Human metapneumo virus Influenza virus CONTAGION: The viruses causing croup are contagious. The symptoms [...]
What is Whooping Cough (Pertussis)? DEFINITION: An intense cough with difficulty breathing caused by the pertussis bacterium. SYMPTOMS: Congestion Cough Cold symptoms The cough is mild at first but gradually worsens to the point where the child is coughing so hard and so quickly that they have to forcefully inhale, making a whooping sound. CAUSES: [...]
What is sinusitis? DEFINITION: Inflammation and infection of the sinuses (small cavities in the facial bones). SYMPTOMS: Headache Congestion Cough Bad breath Facial pain Fever Sore throat CAUSES: Bacteria including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae non-typeable and less commonly, staphylococcus and anaerobes. Viruses including adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus, and rhinovirus. CONTAGION: Sinusitis [...]
Bronchiolitis, caused by RSV, is an illness of the lower respiratory tract that usually includes wheezing due to inflammation of the small airways of the lungs. SYMPTOMS Congestion Sneezing Fever Followed by: Wheezing Coughing CAUSES AND TRANSMISSION This is a viral illness, most commonly caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (hereinafter "RSV"). It is transmitted [...]
When the fall season comes around it is not uncommon for certain illnesses to spike. Many of the illnesses that peak are allergies, common colds, noroviruses, sore throats, ear infections, pink eye and the flu. It’s important to know the illnesses that thrive in fall and winter to help prevent the spread of them. COMMON [...]
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