Toddlers, between the ages of 12 and 24 months, can pick up any number of respiratory illnesses. Figuring out which your child has can be tricky. While you should always refer any illness to your doctor for diagnosis, there are a few telltale signs that can help you diagnose common childhood respiratory illnesses.
 
If your child has a low fever, a cough, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat and possibly muscle aches, a loss of appetite, and headaches, then your child probably has a common cold.
A child who has a deep, loud cough that sounds like a bark, particularly at night, and has trouble breathing, and possibly a low fever, probably has croup.
 
When a child has a wet cough that produces yellowish or greenish phlegm, a congested nose and a low fever, combined with wheezing, trouble breathing or fatigue, then there’s a good chance that child has bronchitis.
 
A child who has symptoms of a cold, such as a runny nose, and a low fever, but also has trouble breathing that is fast and laboured, a bluish, discoloured skin and a non-productive cough, then the problem may be bronchitis RSV.
 
Flu combines all the symptoms of a cold with a high fever, and it’s onset is much more rapid than a cold. It’s most common in winter, or when another family member is infected.
 
There are plenty of other respiratory diseases that toddlers and young children can get, many of which are very dangerous. Since most respiratory diseases share symptoms, it’s important that you have your toddler examined and treated by your doctor as soon as possible.

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