Infectious Diseases
in Children
Pneumonia, diarrhoea, typhoid, dengue and the everyday fevers in between: what to watch for, when to worry, and how to prevent them.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Chitrakshi Tewari, MD (Paediatrics)
Most childhood infections, such as colds, fevers, sore throats and tummy bugs, are viral and settle with rest, fluids and time. Signs that need prompt care include difficulty breathing, a persistent high fever, dehydration, or a drowsy, unresponsive child. Good hygiene and vaccination prevent many. Dr. Chitrakshi Tewari offers prompt online advice, red-flag screening and clear home-care plans.
Why infections deserve respect, not panic
Infections are the most common reason parents seek a paediatrician, and the vast majority are mild and self-limiting. But a few matter enormously. The WHO reports that pneumonia remains the single largest infectious cause of death in children under five worldwide, and diarrhoeal disease is close behind, with over 400,000 young children lost to it each year. Almost all of these deaths are preventable with vaccination, early recognition and simple, correct treatment.
The goal of this guide is exactly that: helping you tell an everyday viral fever from something that needs urgent attention.
Common infections in Indian children
- Fast breathing, chest pulling in with each breath, or difficulty breathing
- Fever in a baby under 3 months, or fever lasting more than 5 days at any age
- Signs of dehydration: sunken eyes, no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, unusual drowsiness
- Refusing all feeds, repeated vomiting, or inability to keep fluids down
- Bleeding spots on the skin, severe tummy pain, or a seizure with fever
What matters most at each age
The rules of the game change with age. Here is what to prioritise:
- Any fever of 38°C or more means a same-day doctor visit, always; small babies can worsen quickly
- Do not give paracetamol first and wait to see: get the baby seen
- Feeding counts as a vital sign: refusing feeds or fewer wet nappies matters as much as the fever
- Dehydration is the main danger in diarrhoea: ORS after every loose stool, plus zinc, as WHO recommends
- Fast or laboured breathing at rest is the sign that separates a cold from pneumonia
- Febrile seizures can happen with rapid fever rises: frightening, usually brief and harmless
- Six to eight colds a year is normal; it is immune training, not weakness
- Teach the boring superpowers: handwashing, covering coughs, staying home when unwell
- Keep vaccinations current, including the yearly flu vaccine; prevention beats every treatment
Danger signs check
Tick anything happening right now. This checklist is for an ill child today, not for general worry.
Private to you: nothing you tick is stored or sent anywhere. This check is educational, not a diagnosis, and it does not replace a consultation.
Getting home care right
- Fluids first: small, frequent sips prevent most complications of common infections.
- ORS and zinc for diarrhoea: the WHO and UNICEF standard. ORS after each loose stool, zinc daily for 14 days, and keep feeding.
- Fever is a symptom, not the enemy: treat for comfort with the correct paracetamol dose for weight, not by age chart alone.
- No leftover antibiotics: most fevers are viral. Antibiotics used without need are one of the biggest drivers of resistance in India.
Prevention: the strongest medicine
Vaccination on schedule is the single most powerful protection your child has, followed by handwashing, safe drinking water, well-cooked food, mosquito protection during dengue season, and breastfeeding in infancy. If your child has missed doses, catch-up schedules exist for nearly every vaccine.
I help families triage infections online: deciding what can safely be managed at home, what needs tests, and what needs urgent in-person care. Families on my wellness plans also get vaccine planning, catch-up schedules and sick-day support through the year, wherever you are in India.
Myths vs facts
Half of parenting a condition is un-learning what neighbours, forwards and well-meaning relatives insist on. Tap each card:
Colds and flu are viral; antibiotics do nothing against viruses, add side effects, and breed resistant bacteria that endanger the whole family. Fluids, rest and time are the real treatment.
Fever is the immune system doing its job. The aim of paracetamol is comfort, not a perfect number. What matters is how the child looks and drinks, and the danger signs on this page.
A comfortable lukewarm bath or sponging is perfectly safe and often soothing. What actually matters: fluids, rest, and watching for danger signs, not avoiding water.
Teething can cause fussiness, drooling and a slightly warm baby, not a true high fever. A fever of 38°C or more deserves to be treated as infection until proven otherwise.
Sources & further reading
- World Health Organization, Pneumonia in children fact sheet.
- World Health Organization, Diarrhoeal disease fact sheet (ORS and zinc standard of care).
- Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices, immunisation schedule.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, fever and infection guidance for parents.
This guide draws on the standard international sources above. It is educational and does not replace personalised advice from your child's doctor.
Dr. Chitrakshi holds an in-person OPD at Yashoda Hospital & Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 6:00–8:00 PM, for children from birth to 18 years, and for pregnant, peripartum and postpartum mothers. Charges are as per hospital OPD rates. Clinic details & directions
Worried about infectious diseases?
Talk it through with a paediatrician, online, from anywhere in India.
Questions parents ask
Every child is different. If your question is not answered here, ask it in a consultation, that is exactly what they are for.