COMMON CHILDHOOD INFECTIONS
Jen Mitchell1-19-2011
Health, Safety, and Nutrition
A relevant Health Issue Concerning Young Children
What Do I Need To Know?
causes signs and
symptoms contagiousness prevention
Duration Prevention and
Treatment (when applicable)
and when to call a doctor.
Teachers need to be familiar with the various aspects of common infections among children
List of SOME of theMost Common Infections
Ear Infection (Middle Ear/Chronic) Chickenpox Cold Sores Common Cold/Flu Diarrhea Fever
This is a list of some common childhood infections. To find a list of all common infections please visit http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/index.html
Why Do I Need To Know?1) Teachers need to be able to meet
children’s needs in order to best educate them. *When a child is sick, he/she cannot be expected to perform at their normal academic level.2) Teachers need to be looking out for each child’s best interest, the well and the sick. *Allowing sick children to remain in the classroom endangers the other children as well as the teacher.
Middle Ear Infection/Chronic Ear Infection:
Causes: Can be caused by exposure to cigarette
smoke, bottle-feeding, and day-care attendance, is more common in boys than girls, can seem hereditary, and is more likely during cold and flu season.
Signs/Symptoms:Ear pain, tugging/pulling at the ear,
irritability, crying more than usual, eating less, sleeping less, fluid draining from the ear
Temporary hearing difficulties: (resulting in) lack of response to sounds, turning up volume, speaking louder, apparent inattentiveness
Fever, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, ear popping, and symptoms similar to that of a runny nose or cough
Duration: Varies ( at least 2-3 days, even without
treatment, but up to several months)
Prevention (In classroom):Good hand-washing, up-to-date
immunization recordsCall a doctor when:The discomfort/pain persists
ChickenpoxCauses:the varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
Signs/Symptoms: itchy skin rash (beginning on the abdomen
and spreading to almost everywhere on the body)
First appear as pimples or bug bites until turning into reddish blisters
Possibility of fever, stomach pain, soar throat, headache, sick feeling before rash appears
Contagiousness:VERY CONTAGIOUS from about 2 days before rash
appears until all blisters have crusted over
Duration:A total of about 12-14 days
Prevention: The chickenpox vaccine and booster shot
Call a Doctor When:Blisters seem to be infected, doctor may proscribe
antibiotic
Cold SoresCauses:Kissing or sharing utensils with infected person
Signs/Symptoms:Blisters on lip and inside mouth, gums possibly red/swollenCan lead to fever, body aches, trouble eating, sick feeling,
irritability, swollen neck
Duration:About 1 week
Prevention/Treatment:Don’t share utensils, wash hands often, keep children from
touching eyes (can be very serious)
When to call a doctor:The child has a weak immune system, sores don’t heal in 7-10
days on their own, sores are near eyes, sores are frequent
Cold/FluCauses:Rhinoviruses in air, dry air lowers resistancePerson to person contact or viral particles in air
Signs/Symptoms:Runny, stuffy nose, sneezing, irritated throat, cough, headache,
mild fever, less appetite, body aches, sleepiness/fatigue, and watery to thick, green snot
Contagiousness: Most in first 2-4 days, up to 3 weeks!
Causes:Rhinoviruses in air, dry air lowers resistancePerson to person contact or viral particles in air
Signs/Symptoms:Runny, stuffy nose, sneezing, irritated throat, cough, headache,
mild fever, less appetite, body aches, sleepiness/fatigue, and watery to thick, green snot
Contagiousness: Most in first 2-4 days, up to 3 weeks!
Prevention/Treatment:Wash hands, don’t touch hands or mouth, cover noses and mouths
when sneezing/coughing (use shirt sleeve, not hand), don’t pick up used tissues or anything that has been used by a person with a cold
Fluids, rest, comfort, possibly an antibiotic if it’s the flu
It could be the flu when:Onset is sudden, fever is high, exhaustion is severe, head-ache
persists, appetite severely decreases, muscles ache, the child has chills
Diarrhea Causes:Contaminated water supplies, person-to-person contact (dirty hands),
food-poisoning, some pets, direct contact with fecal matter
Signs /Symptoms: Watery, runny bowel movements, also fever, loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, weight loss, dehydration
Prevention:Wash hands often, especially before and after restroom use and
eating timesKeep bathrooms clean, wash fruits and veggies, keep kitchen and
utensils clean, refrigerate meats (and leftovers) in timely manner, wash pet supplies outside, keep pet feeding areas separate from kitchen/dining area
Call a Doctor When: diarrhea persists, fever, dehydration ( refusal to drink, dry mouth, no
tears when crying, lack of urine, lethargy, sunken eyes), vomiting continues, diarrhea contains blood/mucus, severe abdominal pain
FeverCauses:Infection, overdressing (especially infants), Immunizations
(babies/young children)
Call a Doctor When: You are in doubt and need advice, baby is younger than 3
months is 100.4, older child is 102.2, child refuses liquid, can’t drink adequately, diarrhea or vomiting persist, dehydration, specific complaint, fever 24 hours (younger than 2), 72 hours (older than 2), recurrent fevers, chronic medical problem, rash, painful urination
Treatment: Ibuprofen, not aspirin!Sponge-bath, lightweight clothing, water & electrolytes (not
sports drinks), cool temp. of room, don’t force feed, rest, home from school
Seek Emergency Care for Fever When: inconsolable crying, extreme irritability,
lethargy/difficulty waking, rash or purple spots on skin,
Blue lips, tongue, or nails Infant soft spot is sunken or bulgingStiff neck, headache, limpness/refusal to
move, difficulty breathing, drooling, seizure, stomach pain
In the classroom, teachers should quietly address these issues. Children should not be ostracized but rather removed from classrooms as quietly as possible. This prevents unnecessary embarrassment to the child and talk among children.
In a class of young children, prevention should be mentioned (cleanliness and germ prevention).
In a class of older children, prevention should be discussed, possibly one-on-one with children.
Again, the full list of common childhood diseases and information about them can be found at http://
kidshealth.org/parent/infections/index.htmlThese include but are not limited to:
Head lice, Mononucleosis, Pinkeye, and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)-All important for parents and teachers to know about.