The children have a weak immunity as it is still in the developing stage and thus are susceptible to many diseases. The diseases can be classified as:
Common viral infections: These include:
- Measles
- Chickenpox
- Fifth disease (Erythema infectiosum)
- Sixth disease (Roseola infantum)
- Mumps
- Poliomyelitis
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
- Hepatitis
- Chikungunya
- HIV (not very common and occurs only if the mother is infected)
- Influenza
Common bacterial infections: These include:
- Brucellosis
- Staphylococcal infections
- Pneumococcal infections
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Enteric fever
- Leprospirosis
- Tetanus
- Tuberculosis
- Rickettsial and mycoplasma infections
Fungal infections:
- Invasive candidiasis
- Aspergillosis
- Mucormycosis
- Cryptococcosis
Protozoal infections:
- Malaria (most common)
- Lieshmaniasis
- Giardiasis
- Amebic meningoencephalitis
Gastrointestinal diseases:
- Vomiting (common)
- GERD (Gatroesophageal reflux disease)
- Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain (common)
- Acute appendicitis
- Acute diarrhea (very common)
Hematologic diseases:
- Anemia (common)
- Thalassemia
- Leukemia
- Leucocytosis
- Leukopenia
Diseases of the ear, nose and throat:
- Acute otitis media
- Rhinitis
- Nasal obstruction
- Epistaxis (nosebleeds)
- Cleft lip and cleft palate
- Tonsillitis
Diseases of the respiratory system:
- Cough
- Hemoptysis (blood stained cough)
- Common cold
- Sore throat
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
Diseases of the heart:
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
- Tetralogy of fallot
- Coarctation of aorta
Congenital disorders due to genetic abnormality:
- Turner syndrome
- Down’s syndrome
- Klinefelter’s syndrome
There are many other diseases that occur in children but the above mentioned diseases are the ones that commonly occur. There are various reasons the parents bring their children to the doctor but most fall in one of the following:
- For diagnosis of an acute illness (otitis, respiratory, infection, convulsions, appendicitis, etc.)
- For diagnosis and/or investigation of a chronic illness (for example, failure to thrive, recurrent wheeze, protracted diarrhoea)
- For delay in reaching developmental milestones
- For advice on immunization, nutrition, growth, normal variations
- For reassurance of normality
- For recognition and/or confirmation of a syndrome complex