Childhood illnesses: The facts

While vaccines have made some childhood illnesses rare, many others remain a fact of life. They range from common infections like croup to mysterious ailments like Kawasaki disease. In the following slides, you'll learn the facts about two dozen childhood illnesses. Always seek medical advice for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Croup

The hallmark of croup is a tight cough that sounds like a barking seal. The cause of the cough is inflammation in the upper airways, usually due to a virus. If breathing becomes severely impaired, hospital treatment may be needed. However, most kids get better on their own in about a week. Croup is most common in toddlers.

Bronchiolitis (RSV)

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. When it affects the lungs it causes bronchiolitis. It is most common in babies under 12 months old, and occurs most often between October and March. The infection begins with flu-like symptoms, including a fever, runny nose and cough. Some young children with their first RSV infection will develop noticeable wheezing, and may need treatment in hospital. RSV tends to be milder in older children and adults.

Ear infection

Young children are prone to ear infections because of their small Eustachian tubes. These tubes connect the ears to the throat and they may get blocked when a cold causes inflammation. This traps fluid inside the middle ear, behind the eardrum, allowing germs to breed. The symptoms include fever, fussiness and ear-pulling. Most ear infections are due to viruses and go away on their own. Childhood vaccinations help prevent infections from certain bacteria that can cause ear infections.

Glue ear

Glue ear refers to a build up of fluid in the middle ear, usually without any pain. The medical term for glue ear is otitis media with effusion and it often follows an acute ear infection. The fluid usually clears up on its own. If it lingers and threatens to interfere with a child's hearing, grommets (ear tubes) may be recommended to help the fluid drain.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease causes a fever along with blisters on the inside of the mouth, the palms of the hands, the buttocks and the soles of the feet. It is usually caused by coxsackie A virus. Most cases are not serious and last a week to 10 days. Hand, foot and mouth disease is not the same as foot and mouth disease, which affects farm animals.

Conjunctivitis

Tears, redness, discomfort, discharge and crusty eyelashes are all signs of conjunctivitis. Often caused by the same viruses as the common cold, conjunctivitis spreads rapidly in schools and nurseries. Seek medical advice to determine whether your child needs treatment. Most cases clear up in four to seven days.

Slapped cheek

Slapped cheek syndrome or fifth disease causes a bright red rash on a child's face. A rash may also appear on the torso, arms or legs. The culprit is parvovirus B19, a virus that may cause mild cold-like symptoms before the rash is seen. Slapped cheek syndrome usually affects children aged between three and 15. Most cases develop during winter or early spring. The symptoms usually disappear in a few days but can last four to five weeks.

Rotavirus

The NHS estimates that every child will have at least one rotavirus infection before they are five. The main symptoms are vomiting and watery diarrhoea, which can make babies become dehydrated very quickly. It is more common in winter and spring. A rotavirus vaccine is available for babies, but is not currently part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.

Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is a very rare condition that mainly affects under fives. Doctors have yet to discover what causes it. The symptoms include a fever, patchy rash, swelling and redness of the hands and feet, bloodshot eyes and chapped, red lips. Without treatment, the illness can damage the heart and may be fatal. If you think your child has Kawasaki disease, seek urgent medical attention.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is usually a mild infection but is a very infectious condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Chickenpox is most common in children under 10. It is most common in winter and spring. Chickenpox can cause dangerous complications in newborn babies, adults and pregnant women. Once you've had chickenpox it is rare to catch it a second time. A vaccine is available against chickenpox for some people in at-risk groups.

Measles

If your children have had their MMR jabs, you probably don't have to worry about measles, although there are still some cases among unvaccinated children. The infection starts with a fever, runny nose and cough. As these symptoms fade, a full-body rash appears. Most children get better in two weeks, but some develop pneumonia or other problems.

Mumps

Mumps is another childhood illness that was very common before the MMR vaccine was developed. The infection often causes no symptoms, but when it does, the classic sign is swollen glands between the ear and jaw. This creates the appearance of "hamster cheeks." Despite high vaccination rates, there are still cases, usually amongst unvaccinated teenagers and young adults.

Rubella (German measles)

Rubella, also called German measles, is a mild virus that usually causes no serious problems other than a fever and a rash. However, it can harm the unborn baby if a pregnant woman becomes infected. The symptoms are a low grade fever and a rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body. The MMR childhood vaccination protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Whooping cough

Whooping cough, caused by infection with Bordella pertussis bacteria, makes children cough so hard, they run out of breath and inhale with a "whoop." The infection is most severe in infants and may require hospital treatment. The medical term for the disease is pertussis – the "P" in the DTaP vaccine.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation or infection of the tissue around the brain and spinal cord. In older children, teenagers and adults, the main symptoms are severe headache, vomiting, fever and stiff neck. Young children may have flu-like symptoms. Viral meningitis is usually mild, but bacterial meningitis is more severe with serious consequences if it isn't treated quickly. The best way to prevent meningitis is by ensuring that vaccinations are up to date.

Sore throat

Most children get a sore throat now and then, usually due to a common cold virus. So how can you tell if it's caused by a more serious streptococcal or other infection? Sneezing or a runny nose point to a cold. Seek medical advice if a sore throat lasts more than a week, or if there's pain or difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, a rash, pus in the back of the throat or fever.

Scarlet fever

Sometimes a rough, pink-red rash accompanies a sore (strep) throat. This is known as scarlet fever. The rash usually appears 12 – 48 hours after the fever and often begins on the chest and abdomen and spreads all over the body. It is sometimes accompanied by a strawberry-looking tongue. Without treatment, it can lead to rheumatic fever and, in rare cases, heart damage. Scarlet fever is rare in the UK because of the use of antibiotics for strep infections.

Reye's syndrome

You probably know you should never give aspirin to children under 16, except on a doctor's advice. Reye's syndrome is the reason. This life-threatening condition may affect children who take medication containing aspirin during a viral illness. Symptoms include dramatic behaviour changes, seizures and coma. Reye's syndrome has become very rare since the aspirin health warnings were issued in the 1980s.

MRSA

MRSA is known as a "superbug" because it doesn't respond to some antibiotics. MRSA can cause skin infections such as boils and abscesses. MRSA infections usually develop in people being treated in hospital, especially intensive care units and surgical wards.

Impetigo

Impetigo is another bacterial skin infection. It most commonly causes clusters of tiny blisters on the skin that ooze and form a golden crust. Touching the fluid can spread the infection to other parts of the body or other people. It is often caused by staph bacteria but also can be caused by strep bacteria. Impetigo is most common in children because of close contact in schools and nurseries. If treated with antibiotics, the sores usually heal without leaving scars.

Ringworm

Yet another skin infection, ringworm is actually caused by a fungus - no worms involved. It causes a red, scaly ring on the skin or a round patch of hair loss on the scalp. The fungus spreads easily from child to child, so sharing combs, brushes, towels and clothes should be avoided. Ringworm is treated with antifungal medication.

Lyme disease

The hallmark of Lyme disease is a target-shaped rash that appears around one to two weeks after a tick bite, though not everyone will develop the distinctive bull's eye rash. The rash may be accompanied by a fever, chills and body aches. Lyme disease is not common. There are around 1,000-2,000 cases of Lyme disease in the UK each year, with the infected ticks commonly found in woodland and heathland areas. Without treatment, Lyme disease can affect the joints, nervous system and heart.

Flu

Is it a cold or the flu? These illnesses can have similar symptoms. The flu more commonly causes high fever, chills, body aches, extreme fatigue and nausea or vomiting. While most children get better on their own, the flu can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, especially in younger children. Flu jabs are currently only recommended for children in at-risk groups.

Seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergies, like hayfever, are not an infection, but a reaction to microscopic particles like pollen (seen here in pink). Symptoms may include sneezing, watery eyes and a runny or stuffy nose and may only occur in spring or autumn. There is no cure for hayfever, but there are ways to help control the symptoms.

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