Common Childhood Illnesses

Illness

Symptoms

Treatment

Bronchiolitis

• Usually affects babies in their first 12 months.
• Viral respiratory infection
• Airways become inflamed and fill with mucous and affects lung function.
• Passes via coughing, sneezing and direct contact (eg tissues.)

• Runny nose, sneezing and fever
• Cough develops over a couple of days.
• Wheeze on outward breath.
• Difficulty breathing - laboured breath with chest rising more than normal.

• Visit your Doctor for advice
• If your baby is having trouble breathing seek urgent medical assistance.

Chicken Pox (Varicella-zoster virus)

• Highly contagious
• Spread through direct contact with person or lesion or droplets from coughing or sneezing
• Contagious period from 2 days before the rash develops until all blisters have formed a dry scab.
• Incubation period is 10-21daysafter exposure.
• Avoid contact with pregnant women.

• Fever, sore throat and headache.
• An itchy skin rash over the whole body.
• Rash-small blisters surrounded by pink areas.
• Blisters will gradually burst and form a scab (about 5 days after appearing).
• Blisters may appear in the mouth.

Treat the symptoms:

• Give Paracetamol/Ibuprofen
• Cool baths
• Cool cloth compresses
• Topical cream (ask your pharmacist for advice) Complications can arise - see your Doctor if concerned.

Common Cold

• Upper respiratory Tract Infection
• Sneezing coughing
• Direct contact
• Contagious until symptoms clear

Any or all of:

• Blocked or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Fever

Treat the symptoms:

• Plenty of fluids
• Give Paracetamol/Ibuprofen
• Nasal spray or drops. Ask your pharmacist for advice

Visit your doctor if:

• Ongoing high fever
• Breathing difficulties
• Intense headache
• Stiff neck
• Lethargic

Conjunctivitis

• Inflammation of the membranes in the eye.
• Highly contagious and can be passed via hand to eye contact or via cloth to cloth.
• Incubation period is a few days up to a week.

• Discharge from the eye, white or yellow in colour.
• Eyes may be stuck together after sleeping.
• Eyes may be itchy and irritable.
• May appear blood shot.

• Seek medical advice; antibiotic drops may be necessary
• Use a sterile cloth or fresh cotton wool that is moistened with saline solution and bath the eye from the outside in towards the nose.
• Wash your hands after each treatment.
• Do not share towels or cloths while discharge is present.

Constipation

• Breastfed babies rarely become constipated- it is not unusual to have 7-10 days between bowel motions.
• More likely to occur in bottle fed babies
• Older children can be constipated after the introduction of new foods as their bodies adapt to it.

• Infrequent stools and
• Difficulty passing stool and
• Hard pellet like stools and
• Pain on passing a stool and occasional bleeding from the rectum.

• Increase fluids
• A warm bath
• Raise legs and gently move up and down
• Increase fibrous foods (older children)
• Regular exercise
• Allow time to sit on the toilet with no pressure or time constraints
• Massage the stomach area
• If this is a regular problem seek medical advice

Cough

• Usually part of, or follows on from, an URTI.
• Contagious until symptoms clear.

• The cough may be dry or produce mucous
• Similar to a cold
• Look for signs of whooping cough, croup, bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

• Increase fluids
• If a bacterial infection is present; antibiotics may be used.
• See your doctor if symptoms persist or you're concerned.

Cradle Cap

• An oily secretion from the scalp.

• Yellow crust or scale on scalp.
• May have an unpleasant odour.

• Soften the crust with a mild moisturizer or oil.
• Leave on overnight and wash off. The crust may need to be assisted off the scalp with gentle rubbing or by using a fine tooth comb.

Croup

• A viral illness causing acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
• Commonly affects young children and babies.
• Involves airways becoming swollen and narrow
• Passed via coughing and sneezing
• Symptoms peak on 2nd or 3rd day.

• General cold symptoms at first
• Barking cough (sounds like a seal)
• Hoarse voice
• Breathing is noisy.
• Symptoms are usually worse at night.

Severe symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing
• High fever and drooling

• Initial treatment is to place the child into a steamy room. Run the hot taps in the bathroom or laundry. Beware of scalds.
• See your doctor if you suspect croup.
• If it is a severe attack call an ambulance  
• Sleeping close by to your child is often a good idea.

Dehydration

• Can occur very quickly in babies as a result of repeated vomiting, diarrhea, heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

• Listless and apathetic
• Eyes and fontanelle will appear sunken
• Urine output is decreased
• Skin will remain gathered after being pinched
• Dry mouth with increased thirst.

• Seek urgent medical attention.
• Try to maintain or increase the intake of fluids to prevent dehydration from occurring.
• Give electrolyte solution.

Diarrhoea

• A viral or bacterial infection that can be passed via hand to hand contact.

• Cramp and abdominal pain.
• Loose and explosive bowel motions.
• Frequent watery motions
• May be discoloured
• Possible dehydration

• Seek medical advice.
• Be vigilant with hand washing hygiene to prevent spreading the infection.
• Continue to breastfeed and maintain fluid levels.
• Give electrolyte solution. To older children.

Ear infection

• Usually a viral infection with occasional secondary bacterial infection.
• Often follows a cold (URTI)
• Inflammation of the lining of the middle ear.

• Ear pain
• Fever
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite

• See your Doctor for advice.
• Antibiotics are only useful if it is a bacterial infection.
• Treat the symptoms
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen may help
• Warm compress on the ear

Fever

• May be caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
• Young babies can have a fever from being over heated.
• Occasionally follows routine immunizations.

• Your baby is considered to have a fever when your baby's temperature rises above 37.5oC
• High temperature is considered to be over 39oC
• Baby may feel hot to touch.
• Baby may shiver or feel very hot.
• Rapid rise in temperature or prolonged high fever may cause a febrile convulsion.

• Treat the symptoms with paracetamol or ibuprofen to make your child comfortable.
• Remove excess layers of clothing.
• Bath with a tepid sponge/cloth (water should be around 37oC)
• Increase fluids

Seek medical advice if

• Your newborn presents with a fever.
• A high fever is present or,
• Has difficulty breathing or,
• Is lethargic and non-responsive or,
• Has a rash
• You are concerned.

Flu (Influenza)

• Sneezing coughing
• Direct contact
• Contagious until symptoms clear

Symptoms may include:

• High Fever
• Chills and sweating
• Headache
• Weak and tired
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Chesty cough

Treat the symptoms:

• Plenty of fluids
• Give Paracetamol/Ibuprofen
• Nasal spray or drops. Ask your pharmacist for advice

Visit your doctor if:

• Ongoing high fever
• Breathing difficulties
• Intense headache
• Stiff neck
• Lethargic
• You are concerned in any way

Gastroenteritis

• This can be a viral or bacterial infection.
• Can be a serious disease in young babies due to dehydration.

• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain and cramps.
• Fever
• Dehydration can result.
• May have blood in the stool.

• Continue to breastfeed and offer extra water or electrolyte solution.
• Replace formula with water or electrolyte solution until vomiting stops.

Seek medical attention if:

• Symptoms persist for more than 24 hours
• You suspect dehydration
• You are concerned in any way Be vigilant with hand washing.

Roseola

• A viral infection

• High fever for about 3 days
• Loss of appetite.
• Swollen lymph glands in the neck
• Followed by a rash (pink/red spots) all over the body.

• Contact your doctor for confirmation of the rash.
• Manage the symptoms with paracetamol/ibuprofen and cool sponges.
• Increase fluids

Threadworm

• A parasite infestation.
• Also known as pinworm.
• Infection occurs after ingesting a pinworm egg.
• Worm eggs can survive outside the body for up to 14 days, usually in dirt or dust.

• Itchy bottom
• Loss of appetite or fussy eating
• Worms may be visible in stools or from the anus at night

• Seek medical advice
• Be vigilant with hand washing.

Thrush

• A fungal infection.
• Caused by the abnormal growth of yeast, Candida albicans.
• Infection can be transmitted by direct contact.

Oral Thrush:

• Sores inside the mouth.
• A build up of cottage cheese like discharge from the mouth.

Topical rash:

• Often occurs in the nappy region and folds of the skin nearby.
• Distinct red inflamed rash
• White spots (pustules) may be present

Seek medical advice.

Oral Thrush:

• Antifungal drops or gel by prescription
• Your nipples may be infected as well so should be treated.
• Teats from bottles may need to be discarded or will need to be thoroughly sterilized.

Topical rash:

• Your doctor may prescribe an anti fungal cream.  Follow their directions.
• Allow nappy free time.
• Use a nappy that draws urine away from baby's skin.

Urinary Tract Infection

• A bacterial infection.
• Occurs more frequently in girls.
• Untreated UTI can cause damage to the kidneys.
• To prevent infection always wipe from front to back during a nappy change.

• Unexplained high fever
• Increased urine output.
• Painful or burning sensation with urination
• Offensive odour
• Older children may have daytime and nighttime accidents.
• Can only be confirmed by a urine analysis.

• Seek medical advice.
• A urine sample will need to be taken.
• Antibiotics may be necessary
• Increase fluids.
• Follow up investigations may be warranted.

Vomiting

• Usually caused by a viral infection.
• The main concern for an infant or child suffering from vomiting is dehydration.

• Stomach cramps followed by an episode of vomiting.
• Often accompanied by diarrhoea.

More serious symptoms that need urgent medical attention:

• Vomiting after a head injury
• Vomit is bright yellow or green
• Vomit contains blood
• Constant stomach pain
• High fever is present
• Dehydration is evident

• Continue to breastfeed and offer extra water or electrolyte solution.
• Replace formula with water or electrolyte solution until vomiting stops.

Seek medical attention if:

• Symptoms persist for more than 24 hours
• Your child is unable to retain clear fluids.
• You suspect dehydration
• You are concerned in any way.
• Be vigilant with hand washing.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

• A bacterial infection
• Highly contagious to an un-immunised child.
• Spread via sneezing, coughing and direct contact
• Contagious period is from onset of symptoms to no symptoms are present (up to 3 months)
• Incubation period is 5 - 15 days after contact with an infected person.

• Initial symptoms are similar to a common cold.
• Cough develops where child may have a coughing spasm lasting for a minute or more.
• Characteristic "whooping" sound as the child tries to draw breath.
• Difficulty breathing
• Face may turn red or blue
• May vomit after an attack.
• May have no other symptoms between attacks.

• Seek medical advice
• Prevention through the routine immunization schedule is recommended.