Common Childhood Diseases

Common Childhood Diseases
Children are usually vaccinated from birth against various common childhood diseases. Most can be contagious while others are not. Contagious diseases are transmitted one to another, in environments such as day-care centers, classrooms, and common play areas.

Many common childhood diseases, once contracted could result in lifelong immunity in the infected child. Vaccinations provide immunity to some diseases.

Parenting is no easy task and it is when these precious bundles of joy get sick that parents get worried and want to do their best and work wonders to make the pain and discomfort go away. This is not always possible, and contracting any of the common childhood disease can be possible at any time and age.

Here is a list of common childhood disease.

Chickenpox - once contracted the body is immune to a further attack at a later stage or age. Symptoms include, red, itchy, spots or blisters that is scattered throughout body. The child may have a slight fever. Treatment could be in the form of calamine lotion to reduce itching. Antiviral medicine if the outbreak if severe and some mild medication for the fever may be administered. Incubation period would usually be between 10 - 20 days. Chickenpox can be considered contagious from a few days before and after the disease. The child should not attend school. Plenty of fluids should be included in the normal diet. In some cases antibiotics would be prescribed.

Whooping cough - symptoms include fits of coughing, wheezy breathing and vomiting. Symptoms may become worse and flare up at night. There is no particular treatment; children should be given small amounts of food to prevent vomiting and plenty of fresh air. Incubation period would usually be 7 days after exposure. The disease is contagious during the first week. The child should be kept away from school.

Viral infection - Symptoms include rash, fever, muscle aches and headache. It is also know as "slapped cheek" syndrome. Treatment should be sought if the symptoms are severe and the child in uncomfortable. Incubation period is up to 14 days and is mostly seen in children between the ages of 4 and 12.

Strep Throat - the child will have a sore and red throat with symptoms including vomiting, headache, fever and abdominal pain. The child may have difficulty swallowing and the glands on the side of the neck may swell. This is a bacterial infection that is diagnosed by swabbing the back of the throat. Treatment is through Antibiotics, which reduces the child's fever and provide quick comfort.

Common Cold - this is a viral infection. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose and fever, vomiting, diarrhea and body aches. A common cold does not last very long the only treatment is something warm preferably chicken soup and a mild antibiotic for the fever.

Scarlet fever - symptoms include slight fever, sore throat and a rash in the armpits or groin and the skin peels. Treatment is in the form of antibiotics. The incubation period is 5 - 8 days.

Hand, foot and mouth disease - symptoms include small spots and blisters in the mouth and on the feet and hands. The child may have a slight fever for a couple of days.

There is no such treatment other than plenty of fluids. The disease is contagious.