There are many common illnesses that children will be exposed to as they grow and develop, below is a list of the most common ones our service is asked about.
Click to open each common illness
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Chickenpox is an acute, infectious disease caused by the Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) and is most commonly seen in children below the age of 10 years. It is intensely itchy and painful and is transmitted through personal contact or droplet spread and can spread quickly. Chickenpox has an incubation period of 1 to 3 weeks.
Children may present symptoms such as:
- Fever.
- General malaise.
- Loss of appetite a few days before flat, red spotty rash appears.
- Red spotty rash normally begins followed by vesicles (fluid filled blisters) on the scalp, face and back and can spread to any part of the body including the mucus membrane, throat and genital area which is not always obvious.
- Chickenpox is infectious from a day or 2 before the rash appears up until the vesicles are dry or crusted over which can take up to 14 days. Sometimes, fresh red spots are seen next to the vesicles and crusts.
Anyone with chickenpox is infectious until the last spot has crusted over.
Chickenpox is usually relatively mild and can be dealt with at home. However, as with most illnesses, there is always a chance of complications such as breathing difficulties, drowsiness or has a very high fever. Chickenpox can be life-threatening for children with a suppressed immune system.
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Measles is a very infectious viral illness that starts in the respiratory system. The first sign of symptoms develop roughly 10 days after infection, they include:
- cold-like symptoms such as sneezing, coughing or runny nose
- sore red eyes that may be sensitive to light
- high temperature (40°C)
- small grey/white spots on the inside of the cheeks.
A few days after the initial symptoms, a red/brown blotchy rash will appear, usually starting at the head or upper neck and then spreading outward to the rest of the body.
If you suspect someone has measles they should be seen by a GP as soon as possible.
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Slapped cheek syndrome, also known as fifth disease is caused by the parvovirus B19 and is common in children. It is not normally necessary to see your GP if slapped cheek is suspected as symptoms should clear up on their own within a few weeks.
Symptoms often begin with:
- A fever (temperature over 38C)
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Nausea and/or diarrhoea
- Red rash may appear on one or both cheeks
The virus is passed from person to person through coughs and sneezes, so it is important to wash your hands and where possible cough/sneeze into a tissue and dispose of it.
Slapped cheek is characterised by a red rash on one or both cheeks normally lasting 1-2 weeks. A raised, itchy rash may develop on the chest, arms and legs a few days after the rash on the cheeks and should resolve within a within a few weeks.
Once the rash has developed your child should no longer be infectious and there is no need to keep your child away from nursery or school. It is however advised to inform the nursery/school of the suspected parvovirus B19 infection.
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Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection which anyone can get but Is especially common in young children. It’s important to remember Impetigo is very contagious.
Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, which then can burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches. These patches can get bigger, be itchy, sometimes painful, spread to other parts of your child’s body, and look like ‘cornflakes’ stuck on your child’s skin.
Impetigo stops being contagious:
- 48 hours after your start using the treatment from the GP
- When the patches dry out and crust over (if you do not get treatment)
Impetigo is usually treated with an antibiotic cream to help speed up recovery and help avoid reinfection. Impetigo usually gets better 7 to 10 day when treated.
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Head lice or nits can occur in anyone of any age, but are particularly common in children aged four to eleven as they are passed by contact from one head to another in the hair.
Head lice are often discovered by feeling an itchy scalp, or something moving in the hair.
They can be difficult to spot in the hair as they are very small insects. Their eggs can also be present in the hair, but only by discovery of live lice can it be certain that someone has an active case of head lice.
There is no evidence to say head lice have a preference for clean or dirty hair and they cannot be prevented, however frequent regular checking and early detection and treatment can help reduce the spread.
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Threadworms are common in the UK and will most often appear in your poo as small white pieces of thread. Threadworms are easily treatable at home and do not normally require involvement from your GP.
Threadworms can cause some discomfort to children, such as; extreme itching around the anus (particularly at night), alongside irritability and bedwetting. In girls, Threadworms can migrate to the vagina, causing itching and soreness.
Threadworms are spread and caught very easily. The Threadworms lay eggs which cause itching around the anus (bottom). When you scratch, the eggs get stuck to your fingers, which then transfer to other surfaces. Eggs can live for up to 2 weeks outside of the human body.
Who can help?
If you’re worried about your child’s development, a health professional in our team will be able to offer advice and support. You can Call Us on 0300 029 50 50 or Text Us on 07520 649887 to start a conversation. **Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm excluding bank holidays**
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Delivering excellence in Children and Young People’s Services:
a partnership between Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
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