Download Common Childhood Illness

Common Childhood Illness
Chicken Pox
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A person with chickenpox is contagious 1-2 days
before the rash and until 6 days after the first blister
appears. Children should stay away from school or
childcare facilities throughout this contagious
period. Adults with chickenpox who work amongst
children, should also remain at home.
It can take from 10-21 days after contact with an
infected person for someone to develop chickenpox.
This is how long it takes for the virus to replicate
and come out in the characteristic rash in the new
host.
Chicken Pox
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Chickenpox is highly contagious and is easily
spread from person to person by breathing in
airborne respiratory droplets from an
infected person's coughing or sneezing or
through direct contact with the fluid from the
open sores. A person who is not immune to
the virus has a 70-80% chance of being
infected with the virus if exposed in the early
stages of the disease.
Shingles
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Reactivation of Herpes Zoster
Herpes Simplex
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Cold sores
Molluscum Contagiosum
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Viral infection
No reccomendation to be kept away from
school, or from activities such as swimming.
Fifth Disease
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Fifth disease is a common childhood infection causing
a slapped cheek appearance and a rash.
Fifth disease is caused by a virus. It most commonly
affects young children and often occurs in several
members of the family or school class. Thirty percent
of infected individuals have no symptoms.
Infective from 14 days before and ceasing at the onset
of the rash.
No recommendation to keep away from school once
well
Impetigo
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Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection. It is often
called school sores because it most often affects
children. It is quite contagious
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During the infectious stage, i.e. while the
impetigo is oozing or crusted:
Cover the affected areas.
 Avoid close contact with others.
 Affected children must stay away from school until
crusts have dried out.
 Use separate towels and flannels.
 Change and launder clothes and linen daily.
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Viral Warts
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No recommendation to keep away from school
or activities.
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Warts are tumours or growths of the skin caused by
infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). More
than 70 HPV subtypes are known.
Warts are particularly common in childhood and are
spread by direct contact or autoinocculation. This
means if a wart is scratched, the viral particles may be
spread to another area of skin. It may take as long as
twelve months for the wart to first appear.
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In children, even without treatment, 50% of warts
disappear within 6 months; 90% are gone in 2 years.
They are more persistent in adults but they clear up
eventually.
Many people don't bother to treat them because
treatment can be more uncomfortable and troublesome
than the warts - they are hardly ever a serious problem.
However, warts may be painful and they often look ugly
and cause embarrassment.
Treatment
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Occlusion
Chemical treatment.
Cryotherapy
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
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Hand foot and mouth disease is a common mild
and short-lasting condition most often affecting
young children during the summer months.
Hand-foot-and-mouth is due to a viral infection,
usually Coxsackie virus. It is very infectious, so
several members of the family or a school class
may be affected.
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After an incubation period of 3 to 5 days, the
infection results in flat small blisters on the
hands and feet, and oral ulcers. These are
sometimes painful, so the child eats little and
frets. There may be a mild fever.
No recommended period to be off school
once well
Sunburn
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Prevention rather than cure!
Simple mosturisers or aftersun lotions and pain
relief.
See GP or casualty if severe.
Conjunctivitis
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Bacterial
Viral
Allergic
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For Infective conjnctivitis
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No recommended period to keep child off school
once well
Scabies
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Exclude from school until treated
Tinea
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Fungal infection.
Presents differently in different areas of the
body.
Athletes foot
 Ringworm
 Scalp ringworm
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Scalp ringworm is most commonest between
3 and 7 years of age. It is slightly more
common in boys than girls.
Some infections are more common in
crowded living conditions. The fungus can
contaminate hairbrushes, clothing, towels and
the backs of seats. The spores are long lived
and can infect another individual months
later.
Zoophilic infections are due to direct contact
with an infected animal and are not generally
passed from one person to another.
Threadworms
Thread worms
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Main symptom is itch.
Treat all members of the household, even if no
symptoms. (1/3 of infections asymptomatic)
Hygiene measures required even after treatment
to prevent reinfection. Handwashing, short nails,
discourage thumb sucking, cleaning bedlinen
and bathrooms.
Humans are the only host for threadworms
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http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gastroenteritis/
Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/Overview.a
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