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When to take your child to hospital

The decision to take your child to hospital is difficult and this post attempts to help the parent who is unsure. Those symptoms such as cough, fever, or vomiting are common but occasionally may herald the onset of a more serious condition.
Wheeze in young children
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Wheeze in 1-5 year olds – Preschool Asthma

Many toddlers and young children will experience ‘wheezy’ episodes associated with a cough and runny nose. This article helps parents manage wheezy toddlers.
Wheeze in young children
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Asthma

This article discusses asthma, background, different types and the current available medications.
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Bronchiolitis

  How Do You Catch It? The virus is spread when infected mucous is sneezed or coughed into another child's face or onto table tops or objects such as toys. Infection occurs when the child touches these surfaces and then his/her…
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Cough

Cough is an essential way in which the lungs expel unwanted material. It is a protection for the more fragile areas of the lungs. Unfortunately cough can be distressing particularly during the night. There is little role for cough medicines in children though they are marketed very well. The most common cause of cough is a simple viral bronchitis after an upper respiratory tract infection.
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Pneumonia (Chest Infection)

Pneumonia implies an infection that has infiltrated the tissues of the lungs. In children the most common cause is viral, but often it is difficult to determine whether bacterial or viral. In more serious cases the child will need hospitalisation for oxygen and intravenous medication. The vaccine prevenar has dramatically reduced the incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia, which was the most common cause of life threatening pneumonia in children. Hib vaccine is also effective against a bacteria called haemophilus.
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Croup

Croup is a barking cough caused by a virus that infects the larynx. Sometimes the larynx is so inflamed a noise called a stridor occurs, which can be quite distressing and if severe will require treatment in hospital.