Common ChildhoodCommon ChildhoodDiseasesDiseases

ChickenpoxChickenpox

IncubationIncubation: It takes from 10-21, usually 14-: It takes from 10-21, usually 14-16 days, after being exposed until symptoms 16 days, after being exposed until symptoms develop.develop.

ContagiousContagious: From 1-2 days before the rash : From 1-2 days before the rash begins until blisters have become scabs.begins until blisters have become scabs.

ExclusionExclusion: Until all the blisters have dried : Until all the blisters have dried into scabs and no new blisters or sores have into scabs and no new blisters or sores have stared within the last 24 hours; usually 6 stared within the last 24 hours; usually 6 days after the rash begins.days after the rash begins.

Conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis “Pinkeye”“Pinkeye”

IncubationIncubation: It takes 1-12 days depending : It takes 1-12 days depending on the organism, usually 1-3 days, after on the organism, usually 1-3 days, after exposure for symptoms to begin.exposure for symptoms to begin.

Contagious:Contagious: While symptoms are While symptoms are present.present.

Exclusion:Exclusion:      Usually no exclusion.       Usually no exclusion. However, if the student has a fever, eye However, if the student has a fever, eye pain, and pus contact your healthcare pain, and pus contact your healthcare provider. Children with bacterial provider. Children with bacterial conjunctivitis are not to return to school conjunctivitis are not to return to school before 24 hours after antibiotic therapy before 24 hours after antibiotic therapy started.started.

CroupCroup

Duration: The symptoms of croup generally peak 2 to 3 Duration: The symptoms of croup generally peak 2 to 3 days after the symptoms of infection start. Croup days after the symptoms of infection start. Croup resulting from viral infection usually lasts less than a resulting from viral infection usually lasts less than a week.week.

Complications: The vast majority of children recover from Complications: The vast majority of children recover from croup with no complications. Rarely, some children croup with no complications. Rarely, some children will develop complications such as ear infection or will develop complications such as ear infection or pneumonia.pneumonia.

Prevention: Frequent hand washing and avoiding contact Prevention: Frequent hand washing and avoiding contact with people who have respiratory infections are the with people who have respiratory infections are the best ways to reduce the chance of spreading the best ways to reduce the chance of spreading the viruses that cause croup.viruses that cause croup.

Normal Airway Airway Causing Croup

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Fifth DiseaseFifth Disease

Incubation: Incubation: 4-21 days, usually 1-14 4-21 days, usually 1-14 days from time of infection to onset days from time of infection to onset of symptoms.of symptoms.

Contagious:Contagious: Most contagious before Most contagious before onset of rash, and is unlikely to be onset of rash, and is unlikely to be contagious after the rash begins.contagious after the rash begins.

Exclusion:Exclusion:      None, if other rash      None, if other rash causing illness is ruled out y a causing illness is ruled out y a healthcare provider; since persons healthcare provider; since persons with fifth disease are no longer with fifth disease are no longer infectious once the rash begins.infectious once the rash begins.

GiardiasisGiardiasis

TransmissionTransmission: Contaminated water : Contaminated water animal reservoir animal reservoir

SymptomsSymptoms: foul-smelling diarrhea, : foul-smelling diarrhea, cramps, flatulence, fatty stools cramps, flatulence, fatty stools

ComplicationsComplications: Severe : Severe malabsorption disease malabsorption disease

PathogenesisPathogenesis: Cysts hatch after : Cysts hatch after passage through stomach; passage through stomach; trophozoites have sucking disks to trophozoites have sucking disks to attach to intestinal lining, resulting in attach to intestinal lining, resulting in malabsorption of nutrients malabsorption of nutrients

TreatmentTreatment: Quinacrine or : Quinacrine or metronidazole metronidazole

Hand, Foot, Hand, Foot, Mouth DiseaseMouth Disease

HFMD is a mild illness that gets better in a HFMD is a mild illness that gets better in a few days, without any treatment. Antibiotics few days, without any treatment. Antibiotics will not be any help in treating it because it will not be any help in treating it because it is a virus. is a virus.

Do not give aspirin, or medications Do not give aspirin, or medications containing aspirin, to children under sixteen containing aspirin, to children under sixteen years old. You should encourage your child years old. You should encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids to reduce the chance to drink plenty of fluids to reduce the chance of dehydration due to the high temperature. of dehydration due to the high temperature.

The spread of hand, foot and mouth disease The spread of hand, foot and mouth disease can be reduced by frequent handwashing, can be reduced by frequent handwashing, putting your hand over your mouth when putting your hand over your mouth when coughing and sneezing into a handkerchief coughing and sneezing into a handkerchief or tissue. or tissue.

HaemophiluHaemophilus influenzaes influenzae

Mainly affects infants and children up to 5 years. Mainly affects infants and children up to 5 years. Meningitis symptoms - generally unwell, fever, headache, Meningitis symptoms - generally unwell, fever, headache,

vomiting, irritability, neck stiffness, refusing feeds, drowsiness, vomiting, irritability, neck stiffness, refusing feeds, drowsiness, confusion, seizures, coma. Sensorineural hearing loss and confusion, seizures, coma. Sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental disorders may result as sequelae of neurodevelopmental disorders may result as sequelae of meningeal infection. meningeal infection.

Epiglottitis - rapid onset of fever and dyspnoea (breathing Epiglottitis - rapid onset of fever and dyspnoea (breathing difficulty) progressing to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), difficulty) progressing to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), pooling of oral secretions and drooling of saliva.  Affected pooling of oral secretions and drooling of saliva.  Affected individuals characteristically sit upright with their neck individuals characteristically sit upright with their neck extended and tongue protruding to mitigate the effects of extended and tongue protruding to mitigate the effects of airway obstruction. airway obstruction.

Can also cause septic arthritis, cellulitis, pneumonia, Can also cause septic arthritis, cellulitis, pneumonia, septicaemia, osteomyelitis, bacteraemia and empyema in septicaemia, osteomyelitis, bacteraemia and empyema in infants and young children.  Individuals with septicaemia may infants and young children.  Individuals with septicaemia may develop gangrene requiring limb amputation.  develop gangrene requiring limb amputation. 

Disseminated intravascular coagulation may result from Disseminated intravascular coagulation may result from septicaemic shock septicaemic shock

Head Head LiceLice

Don'tDon't use a hair dryer on your child's hair after use a hair dryer on your child's hair after applying any of the currently available scalp applying any of the currently available scalp treatments, because some contain flammable treatments, because some contain flammable ingredients. ingredients.

Don'tDon't use a cream rinse or shampoo/conditioner use a cream rinse or shampoo/conditioner combination before applying lice medication. combination before applying lice medication.

Don'tDon't wash your child's hair for 1 to 2 days after wash your child's hair for 1 to 2 days after using a medicated treatment. using a medicated treatment.

Don'tDon't use sprays or hire a pest control company use sprays or hire a pest control company to try to get rid of the lice, as they can be to try to get rid of the lice, as they can be harmful. harmful.

Don'tDon't use the same medication more than three use the same medication more than three times on one person. If it doesn't seem to be times on one person. If it doesn't seem to be working, your child's doctor may recommend working, your child's doctor may recommend another medication. another medication.

Don'tDon't use more than one head lice medication at use more than one head lice medication at a time. a time.

Hepatitis Hepatitis AA

Follow good hygiene and avoid crowded, unhealthy Follow good hygiene and avoid crowded, unhealthy living conditions. living conditions.

Take extra care, particularly when drinking and Take extra care, particularly when drinking and swimming, if you travel to areas of the world where swimming, if you travel to areas of the world where sanitation is poor and water quality is uncertain. sanitation is poor and water quality is uncertain.

Never eat shellfish from waters contaminated by Never eat shellfish from waters contaminated by sewage. sewage.

Remind everyone in your family to Remind everyone in your family to wash their handswash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet thoroughly after using the toilet and before eating.and before eating.

Use antiseptic cleansers to clean any toilet, sink, Use antiseptic cleansers to clean any toilet, sink, potty-chair, or bedpan used by someone in the potty-chair, or bedpan used by someone in the family who develops hepatitis. family who develops hepatitis.

ImpetigImpetigoo

Incubation: Incubation: 1-10 days from the 1-10 days from the time a person is exposed until time a person is exposed until symptoms develop. symptoms develop.

Contagious:Contagious: Until sores are Until sores are healed, or person has been healed, or person has been treated with antibiotics for a full treated with antibiotics for a full 24 hours.24 hours.

Exclusion:Exclusion:      Until child has       Until child has been treated with antibiotics for been treated with antibiotics for a full 24 hours.a full 24 hours.

Neisseria Neisseria meningitimeningitiss

• Incubation: This varies with the Incubation: This varies with the organism causing the meningitis. organism causing the meningitis. The incubation periods for the The incubation periods for the most common causes of meningitis most common causes of meningitis range from 2 days to 2 weeks.range from 2 days to 2 weeks.

• Duration: Even with proper Duration: Even with proper treatment, bacterial meningitis treatment, bacterial meningitis may take days (and sometimes may take days (and sometimes weeks) to resolve, and recovery weeks) to resolve, and recovery from its effects may take even from its effects may take even longer. Most cases of viral longer. Most cases of viral meningitis resolve completely meningitis resolve completely within 1 to 2 weeks.within 1 to 2 weeks.

PinwormPinwormss

Remind your child to wash his or her Remind your child to wash his or her handshands after using the toilet, after after using the toilet, after playing outside, and before eating. playing outside, and before eating.

Make sure your child showers or Make sure your child showers or bathes every day and changes bathes every day and changes underwear daily. underwear daily.

Keep your child's fingernails short and Keep your child's fingernails short and clean. clean.

Tell your child not to scratch around his Tell your child not to scratch around his or her bottom or bite his or her nails. or her bottom or bite his or her nails.

Wash your child's pajamas every few Wash your child's pajamas every few days. days.

PneumoniPneumoniaa

• Incubation: The incubation period for pneumonia varies, Incubation: The incubation period for pneumonia varies, depending on the type of virus or bacteria causing the depending on the type of virus or bacteria causing the infection. Some common incubation periods are: infection. Some common incubation periods are: respiratory syncytial virus, 4 to 6 days; influenza, 18 to respiratory syncytial virus, 4 to 6 days; influenza, 18 to 72 hours.72 hours.

• Duration: With treatment, most types of bacterial Duration: With treatment, most types of bacterial pneumonia can be cured within 1 to 2 weeks. Viral pneumonia can be cured within 1 to 2 weeks. Viral pneumonia may last longer. Mycoplasmal pneumonia pneumonia may last longer. Mycoplasmal pneumonia may take 4 to 6 weeks to resolve completely.may take 4 to 6 weeks to resolve completely.

• Contagiousness: The viruses and bacteria that cause Contagiousness: The viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia are contagious and are usually found in pneumonia are contagious and are usually found in fluid from the mouth or nose of an infected person. fluid from the mouth or nose of an infected person. Illness can spread when an infected person coughs or Illness can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes on a person, by sharing drinking glasses and sneezes on a person, by sharing drinking glasses and eating utensils, and when a person touches the used eating utensils, and when a person touches the used tissues or handkerchiefs of an infected person.tissues or handkerchiefs of an infected person.

Be Safe Vaccinate!

Pneumonia

ScabieScabiess

Doctors treat scabies by Doctors treat scabies by prescribing a medicated cream or prescribing a medicated cream or lotion to kill the mites. The cream lotion to kill the mites. The cream will need to be applied to the skin will need to be applied to the skin all over the body, not just the all over the body, not just the area with the rash, and usually area with the rash, and usually must remain on the skin for 8 to must remain on the skin for 8 to 12 hours before it can be washed 12 hours before it can be washed off. After applying it, don't wash off. After applying it, don't wash your hands - scabies mites love your hands - scabies mites love the area between the fingers! You the area between the fingers! You may want to apply the may want to apply the medication before your child goes medication before your child goes to bed, then wash it off in the to bed, then wash it off in the morning.morning.

ShinglesShingles

Treatment with an antiviral can Treatment with an antiviral can reduce the severity of the reduce the severity of the nerve damage and speed nerve damage and speed healing. If you suspect you healing. If you suspect you have shingles, see your doctor have shingles, see your doctor within 72 hours of the first sign within 72 hours of the first sign of the rash.of the rash.

While these treatments can While these treatments can reduce the symptoms of reduce the symptoms of shingles, they are not a cure. shingles, they are not a cure. The antivirals do weaken the The antivirals do weaken the virus and its effects, but the virus and its effects, but the outbreak still tends to run its outbreak still tends to run its course.course.

Strept Throat / Strept Throat / scarlet feverscarlet fever

Spread:Spread: Breathing in droplets from an infected  Breathing in droplets from an infected person’s coughs and sneezes.  Touching your person’s coughs and sneezes.  Touching your mouth or nose after coming into contact with mouth or nose after coming into contact with secretions.secretions.

Incubation:Incubation:     2-5 days from exposure to onset of      2-5 days from exposure to onset of symptoms.symptoms.

Contagious:Contagious:     Until 24 hours after antibiotic      Until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.treatment begins.

Exclusion:Exclusion:      Until 24 hour after antibiotic      Until 24 hour after antibiotic treatment begins, and child is without fever for 24 treatment begins, and child is without fever for 24 hours.hours.

Scarlet Fever

ThrushThrush

Most infants naturally have the yeast Most infants naturally have the yeast candida albicancandida albican in their mouths. Because in their mouths. Because their immune systems are not yet mature, their immune systems are not yet mature, the amount of yeast in the mouth can the amount of yeast in the mouth can overgrow and lead to an infection. (Adults overgrow and lead to an infection. (Adults and older kids who have weakened and older kids who have weakened immune systems because of an illness or immune systems because of an illness or something like chemotherapy also can get something like chemotherapy also can get oral thrush.)oral thrush.)

Oral thrush usually occurs within the first 6 Oral thrush usually occurs within the first 6 months of life, and a baby with the months of life, and a baby with the infection will develop cracked skin in the infection will develop cracked skin in the corners of the mouth, and whitish or corners of the mouth, and whitish or yellowish patches on the lips, tongue, or yellowish patches on the lips, tongue, or inside the cheeks.inside the cheeks.