Respiratory infections in children

Abstract

Respiratory tract infections are the commonest pediatric problem brought to primary care physicians for treatment. The following overview of these disorders focuses on practical questions and therapy. What is an excessive number of "colds"? Which cases of pharyngitis deserve antibiotic therapy, with or without culture? How do I differentiate croup from epiglottitis? Is there any way to help the child with recurrent acute or serous otitis media to prevent future morbidity? The answers to these questions and others are discussed below, as well as some of the potential advances in therapy that are under review.