Childhood Illness
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Acute vs Chronic
Acute and Chronic are medical terms.
Acute illness or injury describes something that is happening right now, or over the last few days. This is the way to describe a cold, a stomach bug, or a sprained ankle.
Chronic illness or injury describes something that’s been happening for more than a few months. This is the way to describe conditions with names like ADHD, anxiety, asthma, or conditions without names, like knee pain or belly pain that have lasted for more than a few months.
Acute Problems
Acute illnesses are a fact of life, especially for babies and children (and their parents by extension!). Children are expected to get at least 6 febrile illnesses a year for the first 2-4 years of life. That’s a lot! In reality, babies in daycare often have at least 1 illness per month. Babies who are home with a sitter or family member tend to have fewer illnesses, but spending time with other children in school or daycare will still expose them to some germs. It can be hard and scary to watch your child fight an illness. Here are some ways to feel prepared!
Fever
Inflammation and Injury
Skin Stuff
Chronic Problems
When something happens for longer than a few months, it is usually called chronic. A child might show signs of a condition, like asthma or eczema, but doctors won’t make a diagnosis (give it a name) immediately. Read on to learn about some common chronic problems for kids. If your child has a chronic problem, they may need to see a doctor every 3-6 months to keep things under control.
Asthma
Allergies
Obesity - Coming Soon
ADHD - Coming Soon
Anxiety - Coming Soon
How do I know?
Children often complain of pain or other feelings. Sometimes, it’s a convenient way to get out of chores. Sometimes, it’s real. When children complain over and over again, parents can feel overwhelmed or confused. Here are some tips when your children have been complaining of pain or other feelings:
Check In
As a parent, you need to be aware of what your child is feeling. Set a timer on your phone to check in once per day. Try to ask the same questions everyday. You child may shrug for the first few days, but they will start to remember these details because they know you are going to ask. Your doctor can help you decide which questions are most helpful.
Make a Plan
If your child complains of pain or tired, they need to rest. Set a period of time - like 5 or 15 minutes. Rest needs to be still and quiet. No parents, no screens, and nothing else rewarding. Parents can check in periodically, but not sit and snuggle. Whenever a kid feels better, they can go back to life. If they had to sit out a chore, they go back to the chore. It’s not a punishment for pain; it’s taking the pain seriously. We might miss some fun things in life because of pain.