Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in 3-Year-Old Children
A 3-year-old child typically experiences 3 to 8 upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) per year. 1
Frequency of URTIs by Age
- Children under 5 years of age have 3.8 to 5 infections per person per year 1
- In infancy (0-2 years), the mean annual number of respiratory infections is 3.4 episodes 2
- At pre-school age (3-5 years), children average 2.3 respiratory infection episodes annually 2
- Children in daycare settings experience more frequent and longer-lasting respiratory infections than those in home care 3
Duration and Characteristics of URTIs
- The mean duration of an upper respiratory tract infection ranges from 6.6 days (for 1-2 year-old children in home care) to 8.9 days (for children under 1 year in daycare) 1
- Upper respiratory tract symptoms may last more than 15 days in approximately 7% (1-3 year-old children in home care) to 13% (2-3 year-old children in daycare) of cases 1
- Children in daycare are more likely to have protracted respiratory symptoms compared to those in home care 3
Common Symptoms and Patterns
- Typical symptoms include sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, hyposmia/anosmia, facial pressure, postnasal drip, sore throat, cough, ear fullness, fever, and myalgia 1
- Symptoms follow three patterns of resolution: (1) fever and myalgia; (2) sneezing and sore throat; and (3) cough and rhinorrhea, with the latter being more persistent 1
- A change in color of nasal discharge is not a specific sign of bacterial infection, as mucopurulent secretions can occur after a few days of viral infection 1
Risk Factors for Increased Frequency
- Daycare attendance significantly increases the risk of respiratory infections 1, 3
- Back-to-back infections are particularly common in winter months and can result in chronic cough 1
- Coinfection with multiple organisms can increase the duration of symptoms 1
Complications
- Of all respiratory tract infections in young children, approximately 29% are complicated by otitis media 3
- Children in daycare are more likely to develop otitis media as a complication during the first two years of life 3
- Sinusitis can occur as a complication of viral URTIs, with children being particularly susceptible due to their higher frequency of URIs compared to adults 4
Normal vs. Concerning Frequency
- Based on a twofold standard deviation of the mean number, up to 8 respiratory infection episodes per year at pre-school age (3-5 years) could be regarded as normal 2
- Episodes within these reference values should not cause unwarranted concern or intervention because of suspected immunodeficiency 2
Prevention Strategies
- Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all children 6 months and older to prevent respiratory infections 1
- Pneumococcal vaccination helps prevent bacterial pneumonia that can occur following influenza infection 1
- Proper hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with sick individuals can help reduce transmission of respiratory pathogens