What are viral respiratory tract infections?
Your respiratory tract is your breathing passages. It includes your nose, throat, windpipe, and your lungs and their airways. Many viruses can infect your respiratory tract. Common viral respiratory tract infections include the common cold and flu.
Upper respiratory infections, such as colds and flu, affect mostly the nose and throat.
Lower respiratory infections, such as croup, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia, affect mostly the lungs and airways.
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On average, children get 6 viral respiratory infections a year—the infections tend to spread from child to child in day care centers and schools
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Viral respiratory tract infections cause a runny nose, cough, and scratchy throat
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Most infections aren't severe, but some infections cause dangerous breathing problems
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Washing hands helps prevent these infections from spreading
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The flu vaccine prevents flu, but there aren't any vaccines for colds or other viral respiratory tract infections
What causes viral respiratory tract infections in children?
Many different viruses cause respiratory tract infections. Children get these infections from other children who are sick. Mucus from a sick child's runny nose is full of viruses. The mucus gets on children's hands and whatever the children touch gets covered with viruses. If healthy children touch something covered with viruses and then touch their nose or mouth, they can get the infection.
Viral respiratory tract infections spread easily among groups of children, such as children in child care centers or schools.
What are the symptoms of a viral respiratory tract infection?
Symptoms include:
Often, viral respiratory infections trigger asthma attacks in children with asthma.
A severe infection can cause:
When should my child see a doctor for a viral respiratory tract infection?
How can doctors tell if my child has a viral respiratory tract infection?
How do doctors treat viral respiratory tract infections in children?
How can I prevent a viral respiratory tract infection in my child?
To keep infections from spreading:
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Wash your hands and your child's hands often
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Keep sick children home from school or day care
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Get the flu vaccine for all adults and children 6 months or older
