Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are widespread, and most people come into contact with them at some point in their lives. Whilst infections often go unnoticed, they can have serious long-term health consequences, including various types of cancer. For a long time, prevention efforts focused primarily on protecting girls. Today, however, we know that the HPV vaccine is an important step in cancer prevention for children and young people of both sexes. In this article, you will find out why protection is important for everyone, from what age the vaccine is particularly beneficial, and what else you should know about HPV.

A flu-like infection, often referred to as a cold, is an infection of the nasal mucosa and the upper respiratory tract. A cold usually begins with a sore throat or a tickle in the throat, followed shortly afterwards by a runny nose. Depending on the pathogen and the severity of the cold, a cough, fever, aching limbs and a headache may also occur. In this article, you will learn all about the causes, symptoms and correct treatment of flu-like infections.

If you have a fever, the best remedies are rest, plenty of fluids and, depending on your symptoms, medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Home remedies such as calf compresses or ‘vinegar poultices’ can also provide relief. It is important to note that a fever is not an illness, but a natural defence mechanism of the body. You can read more about this here.

It often starts off innocently enough: a tickle in the throat that suddenly becomes much more uncomfortable when you swallow. In most cases, it’s caused by a harmless viral infection, and the symptoms can be effectively relieved with simple measures. In this article, you can read about which home remedies really do help and when you should seek medical advice for a sore throat.

The flu vaccine administered via nasal spray is a needle-free alternative for children and young people. It contains attenuated influenza viruses and is administered directly via the nasal mucosa, where it triggers a local immune response in the respiratory tract. As part of the public vaccination programme, it is available free of charge for children in Austria from their paediatrician. Read all about how it works, its protective effect, possible side effects and the benefits of the nasal spray vaccine against seasonal flu here.

Scarlet fever is a highly contagious infectious disease. Characteristic symptoms include fever, a sore throat, a rash and what is known as ‘raspberry tongue’. With early antibiotic treatment, the disease can usually be treated quickly and effectively. Read on to find out exactly what scarlet fever is, how it is transmitted, what the symptoms are and how it is treated.

The rotavirus vaccine is an oral vaccine that protects against infection with rotaviruses. Rotaviruses are the most common cause of viral diarrhoea in infants and young children. In this age group in particular, rotavirus infection can be more severe than in older children or adults. In this article, you will find out why and when the rotavirus vaccine is recommended, as well as other important information about the rotavirus vaccine.

The RSV vaccine protects against infection with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can cause respiratory symptoms – sometimes severe and life-threatening – particularly in infants, young children and older adults. RSV vaccinations have been authorised in Austria since 2023. In this article, you can read about who they are recommended for, which vaccines are available, when the best time to get vaccinated is, and everything else you need to know on this topic.

Whooping cough (pertussis) is an infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that affects both children and adults. It is highly contagious and is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Whooping cough is usually accompanied by severe coughing fits and can be particularly dangerous for babies and young children. In this article, you will find comprehensive information on the symptoms of whooping cough, treatment options and preventive measures.

The chickenpox vaccine protects against infection with the highly contagious varicella-zoster virus. In this article, you will find out who should be vaccinated, what the Austrian vaccination schedule entails, and other important information about the chickenpox vaccine.