Common
Childhood
Diseases
Health 3 ( October 6, 2021
Children are prone to getting sick
during the first few years of life as their
bodies build immunity to infections.
Infections
An infection occurs when another organism enters
your body and causes disease. The organisms that
cause infections are very diverse and can include
things like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
You can acquire an infection in many different ways,
such as directly from a person with an infection, via
contaminated food or water, and even through the
bite of an insect.
Types of Infections
Viral infections
Fungal infections
Bacterial infections
Parasitic infections
Viral infections
Viral diseases are extremely widespread
infections caused by viruses, a type of
microorganism
Chickenpox
Flu (influenza)
Infectious mononucleosis
Mumps, measles and rubella
Shingles
Bacterial infections
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms. They’re very diverse,
coming in a variety of different shapes and sizes.
Bacteria can be found in all sorts of environments, including soil,
bodies of water, and in or on our bodies. Some can survive extreme
temperatures or even radiation exposure.
sore throat
bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs),
bacterial food poisoning, often caused by E. coli, Salmonella, bacterial
cellulitis, such as due to Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Fungal infections
Fungi are another diverse group of organisms that can include
things like yeasts and molds. They can be found throughout the
environment, including in the soil, indoors in moist areas like
bathrooms, and on or in our bodies.
ringworm
athlete’s foot
thrush
aspergillosis
Parasitic Infections
Parasites live on or in a host organism and get food or other nutrients at the
host’s expense. There are three types of parasites that can cause illness in
humans:
Protozoa: small, one-celled organisms
Helminths: larger, worm-like organisms
Ectoparasites: organisms such as fleas, ticks, and lice
malaria
toxoplasmosis
tapeworm infection
roundworm infection
pubic and head lice
scabies
Common
Childhood
Diseases
Common Cold
Colds are caused by viruses in the upper respiratory tract.
Many young children—especially those in child care—
can get 6 to 8 colds per year.
Symptoms of a cold (including runny nose, congestion, and
cough) may last for up to ten days.
Influenza/flu
More commonly known as the flu, influenza
is a type of virus that spreads easily when
infected people cough or sneeze.
This common childhood illness has symptoms that include
fever, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, and chills. Most
cases can be treated at home by managing symptoms
with medication, fluids, and rest.
Chickenpox
The chickenpox virus is an airborne disease, meaning it
spreads easily when an infected person sneezes and
coughs. Symptoms to watch out for include:
A rash on the arms, legs, torso, and/or face, which may appear as
raised red bumps or blisters
Fatigue or unexplained tiredness
Lack of appetite
Dengue
Dengue fever is a viral disease spread only by certain mosquitoes – mostly Aedes aegypti
or "dengue mosquitoes", which are common in tropical areas around the world.
Signs and Symptoms:
sudden onset of fever, extreme tiredness
intense headache (especially behind the eyes)
muscle and joint pain (ankles, knees and elbows)
loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a metallic taste
flushed skin on face and neck, fine skin rash as fever subsides
red rash on arms and legs, itching, peeling of skin and hair loss
minor bleeding (nose or gums) and heavy menstrual periods.
Rabies
Rabies is a disease of the nervous system caused by the rabies
virus. Rabies infects domestic and wild mammals, and is
spread to people through close contact with infected saliva.
Symptoms of rabies include
loss of appetite, cough, fever, headache, muscle aches,
nausea, sore throat, vomiting and fatigue. Many people have
pain and tingling (sometimes itching) or numbness at the wound
site.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a coxsackie virus. It occurs mainly in the summer and
early fall and is most common in children under 10 years of age.
Signs and symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease usually startsuddenly and may include:
Fever
Sore throat
Headache
Small painful blisters inside the mouth on tongue and gums (last 4 to 6 days)
Blisters may appear on the palms of child’s hands, on their fingers,and on the soles of their feet for 7 to 10
days
Measles
Measles is one of the most contagious communicable diseases. It is
caused by the measles virus and is a leading cause of
vaccinepreventable deaths in children worldwide.
Signs and symptoms of measles may include:
Fever, cough, runny nose, and watery inflamed eyes
Small red spots with white or bluish white centers in the mouth
Dusky red, blotchy rash that begins on the face and spreads allover the body
Rash begins on 3rd to 7th day of illness and lasts 4 to 7 days
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. There are
many different kinds of salmonella bacteria. Most of the time, the
bacteria infect the intestines of people and animals, causing a
diarrhea illness.
Signs and symptoms of salmonellosis occur suddenly and may include:
Headache
Fever
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramps
Nausea and sometimes vomiting
Urinary Tract Infection
Bladder infections, also called urinary tract infections or UTIs,
occur when bacteria build up in the urinary tract. A UTI can be
found in children from infancy through the teen years and into
adulthood.
Symptoms of a UTI includes
pain or burning during urination,
the need to urinate frequently or urgently,
bedwetting or accidents by a child who knows to use the toilet,
abdominal pain, or side or back pain.
Sore Throat
Sore/strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes a sore, swollen
throat. Strep bacteria can travel through the air when an infected
person coughs or sneezes or it may be transferred on the surfaces
of shared objects.
Symptoms of strep throat include:
Sore or itchy throat
Red or inflamed tonsils
Trouble swallowing
Fever
Cough
Coughs are usually caused by viruses and do not
often require antibiotics.
Cough medicine is not recommended for children
4 years of age and younger, or for children 4 to 6
years of age unless advised by your doctor.
Mumps
Mumps is a viral illness that typically starts with flu-like
symptoms and then results in acute painful swelling of the
salivary glands
. Symptoms generally appear more than two weeks after
exposure, and the illness lasts seven to 10 days.
Prevention Tips for Common Childhood
Illnesses
While different illnesses are caused by a variety of parasites, viruses,
and bacteria, a lot of common childhood illnesses tend to spread in
similar ways. That means taking a few preventative steps can help
ward them off.
Get vaccinations
Wash hands regularly
Cover coughs and sneezes.
Disinfect toys, electronics, and communal objects.
Eat healthy and exercise regularly
Start good habits early
