There are several respiratory diseases that affect millions of children in the United States, including asthma a sinus infection, bronchitis, strep throat, influenza and the common cold.
The number of cases has risen in recent years with a rate of 724 emergency room visits per 10,000 children in 2018. For asthma alone, there was a rate of 105 emergency room visits per 10,000 children, and 619 emergency room visits per 10,000 children for all other respiratory causes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Mild and severe symptoms of these diseases include coughing, wheezing, congestion, chest pain and shortness of breath and they can impair a child’s development by causing them to miss school days and limit their activities.
There are ways parents can help prevent these diseases from spreading by practicing good hygiene, and in its ongoing commitment to helping parents protect their children, South Texas Health System Children’s will host its next “Let’s Talk Children’s Health” webinar on respiratory diseases. This special online seminar will teach parents about the best hygienic practices they can adopt to keep their children healthy.