Common childhood diseases

Chickenpox

Symptoms

Red, quite itchy, spots or blisters are typically scattered over the entire body, spreading to the arms, legs and face.
The condition, caused by the varicella zoster virus, most commonly occurs during the first decade of life.
The child has a moderate fever and mild flu-like symptoms prior to the rash becoming apparent.
It's possible for some children to have these early symptoms and to develop little or no rash, yet still to acquire long-term immunity from the condition.
As a rule, the older the infected child is, the more severe the disease.

Treatment

Symptomatic treatment with calamine lotion and/or antihistamines, eg Piriton to reduce itching.
To reduce fever give paracetamol, eg Calpol and/or ibuprofen, eg Junifen.
Should the spots become secondarily infected with bacteria, an antibiotic may be necessary. Antiviral medicine is sometimes prescribed in severe cases.

Incubation period

Between 10 to 20 days from being exposed to the infection and showing symptoms.

Infectious period

Chickenpox is highly contagious from a few days before the disease breaks out until the last blister has crusted over, which usually occurs within a week of the first spots appearing.
The child should be excluded from school during this time and avoid contact especially with pregnant women who have not previously had the condition and anyone who is known to have a compromised immune system, eg receiving chemotherapy.
The condition is transmitted through droplet infection from coughing or sneezing and from the fluid within the blistering rash.

Whooping cough

Symptoms

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection affecting the respiratory system, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
The condition is characterised by fever, nasal discharge and long fits of coughing followed by wheezy breathing and possibly vomiting. Symptoms are typically worse at night.

Treatment

Antibiotic treatment is usually successful leading to a full recovery. Fresh air is important.
Because of the risk of vomiting, the child should be given small meals more often, instead of a few large ones.

Incubation period

This begins from seven days after exposure to the condition.

Infectious period

The disease is especially contagious during the first week, while the child still has a trace of a cold.
Although the irritating cough has been known to go on for up to 3 months, the infectiousness wears off within five to seven weeks.
It is important to keep the child away from other children under the age of one year.
Children should be excluded from school until they have completed five days of antibiotic treatment.

Prevention

In the UK, children are vaccinated against the condition with a series of three injections, one month apart starting at 2 months; and again with a 'pre-school booster' injection aged between 3 and 4 years.

'Fifth' disease (erythema infectiosum)

Symptoms

The condition is due to infection with Parvovirus B19. The child will sometimes initially develop mild flu-like symptoms.
All will eventually have red specks, firstly on the cheeks, and later spreading to involve the arms, thighs and buttocks.
These are often blurred which makes it look like the child has been slapped.
For this reason, fifth disease is often known as 'slapped cheek' syndrome. It can last up to 14 days and is mostly seen in children between the ages of 4 and 12.

Treatment

It cannot be treated, but disappears by itself. It is usually quite a mild illness.

Incubation period

Two weeks between being exposed to the infection and showing symptoms.

Infectious period

Once the rash appears, the disease is no longer infectious.

Complications

Pregnant women should avoid being in contact with children with fifth disease as it may cause a miscarriage.
Pregnant women with a child who contracts fifth disease should contact their doctor. The incubation period is a couple of weeks.

Three-day-fever (roseola infantum)

Symptoms

A child with three-day-fever has a high fever for three days.
The fever then drops and the child develops a rash consisting of pale, reddish spots, perhaps with small heads. It affects the body and spreads to the arms and legs, lasting for about 12-14 hours. Then its over. It is mostly seen in children under the age of three years.

Treatment

Undress the child to ensure they aren't too warm.
Give the child fever reducing medication (such as paracetamol (eg Calpol) and ibuprofen (eg Junifen)) to control their temperature and plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Incubation period

Between 10 to 15 days from being exposed to the infection and showing symptoms.

Infectiousness

It is contagious during the whole period of the disease and up to two to three days after.
Avoid contact with other children less than three years of age during the whole period. Children may go back to childcare when their temperature has returned to normal.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Symptoms

This condition can be due to a number of different enteroviruses, causing the child to develop a large number of small spots and blisters, particularly in the mouth and on the feet and hands. The disease can cause a fever of up to 39ºC for a few days.

Treatment

As with most diseases causing a fever, it is important to make sure the child gets plenty to drink. If the ulcers in their mouth are severe it may help to mash up the child's food.

Incubation period

Two to three days between being exposed to the infection and showing symptoms.

Infectious period

The disease is contagious as long as blisters or spots are still present. Once the rash has disappeared the child is able to return to child care/school once they are considered to be well enough to do so.

Scarlet fever

Symptoms

This condition is caused by a strain of streptococcus bacterium and is caught through droplet infection from the coughs and sneezes of an infected individual.
The child has a slight to moderate fever, a sore throat and a flushed face.
The characteristic rash, which is often located in their armpits or groin, spreading to the torso and neck is typically slightly rough to the touch and pink-red in colour. The child's skin peels and they get a coarse, pink tongue – a condition known as strawberry tongue.

Treatment

Antibiotics are usually given for this disease. It is important to keep the child at home and avoid contact with other children.

Incubation period

Three to eight days between being exposed to the infection and showing symptoms.

Infectiousness

Scarlet fever is contagious for the first few days, but after three days of antibiotics the risk is almost gone.
The disease remains contagious for between 10 days and 3 weeks if left untreated.
Children should be excluded from school for five days after commencing antibiotic treatment.
FROM: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/childrensdiseases.htm