Communicable Childhood Diseases

Chickenpox

  • Characterized by spots that look like small “drops of water” which start on face, scalp and then spreads to chest, abdomen, back, legs and arms also mild headache, fever, fatigue, poor appetite, and itching.
  • Spreads through direct contact and by air breathing, coughing or sneezing.
  • Seen during the winter and spring season.
  • Keep child at home until vesicles are all crusted and dried.
  • Treatment is to relief the itching with cold creams, reducing fever with antipyretics, resting, and drinking plenty of fluids.

Measles

  • Characterized by fever, runny nose, and cough, rash all over the body, red/watery eyes, body ache and tiny white spots on the tongue (koplisks' spots).
  • Spreads by air breathing, coughing or sneezing.
  • Those who have had Measles before will not get it again.
  • Treatment is to relief the itching with cold creams, reducing fever with antipyretics, resting, and drinking plenty of fluids.

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease (HFMD)

  • Common in children and is characterized by painful sores inside and around the mouth area, a rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; fever, poor appetite, fatigue and a sore throat.
  • Spread through touching surfaces already infected and from coughs and sneezes of the infected person.
  • Treatment is to relief the itching with cold creams, reducing fever with antipyretics, resting, and drinking plenty of fluids.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

  • It is an infection of the whitish part of the eye affecting one eye then spreading to the other (viral secondary to the common cold or bacterial). It can be allergic (non-contagious) affecting both eyes at the same time, usually seasonal or related to the use of substances like cosmetics or perfumes.
  • Characterized by a watery discharge (viral), thick whitish sticky discharge (bacterial), irritation, and a red eye.
  • It is transmitted by direct contact with the infected eye or by contaminated articles.
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