Children are very susceptible to illnesses, in part because their immune systems are not fully mature.
Breastfeeding of course provides some immunity to common illnesses, but nowadays most children are weaned by the time they are 1 year old.
Children also have a habit of exploring the world around them with their mouths and their hands. Anything that comes into contact with their mouth and hands can potentially cause an illness.
The good news is that the more your child is exposed the stronger their immune systems will become, and their ability to fight off infection in the future.
Some of the most common childhood illnesses and symptoms to be on the look out are listed below:
Colds/Cough Cold and coughs are usually caused by viral infections, thus must be spread by person to person contact, not through the weather alone. Common symptoms of a cold include a stuffy nose, cough, possible sore throat and occasionally a temperature. Colds can become more severe and result in bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. Signs that a cold is becoming worse and may need medical treatment include green or yellow nasal discharge, fever lasting more...