Infectious Diseases in Pediatrics

Synonyms

Infectious diseases in childhood; Childrens' diseases; Childhood diseases

Definition

Due to their frequency in childhood, infectious diseases play an important role in pediatrics. They are divided into infections that exclusively or predominantly appear in children, or at particular stages of childhood (e. g. newborns or babies), and those which occur both in children and adults. The severity of an infectious disease can vary considerably at different phases of life.

Basic Characteristics

Special Features in Pediatrics

Children are not simply little adults. Even though they are targets of the same pathogens as adults, the consequences of an infection for children can be quite different. As the body surface is relatively greater in children, as is the percentage of water, clearly when replacement is required there is a relatively higher need for fluids and electrolytes per kilogram body weight. The younger a child is, the more it is