How to avoid, treat winter illnesses

Gigi Chawla, MD, senior medical director of primary care for Children’s Minnesota, joined WCCO Mid-Morning hosts Kylie Bearse and Jason DeRusha to share ways that parents can avoid and treat illnesses in winter with their children.

Illnesses common in winter

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): It starts as a bad cold and gives kids a troublesome cough
• Influenza: Symptoms include a high fever and bad cough
• Hand, foot and mouth disease: HFM causes painful blisters in the throat, on the tongue, gums, hard palate or inside the cheeks.
• Strep throat: Symptoms of strep throat, which is common among young children and teens, include fever, stomach pain and red, swollen tonsils.
• Whooping cough (pertussis): Whooping cough is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis (or B. pertussis). It’s characterized by severe coughing spells, which sometimes can end in a “whooping” sound when the child inhales.

Any time you have concerns about your child’s health, give us a call.