HEALTH, SAFETY & NUTRITION DECE 1442

Common Diseases

Identify early symptoms

It is important that you learn to recognise the signs and symptoms of illness in a child. It is not the job of childcarers to diagnose diseases or illnesses. It is your job to: Recognise promptly when a child is ill Respond to symptoms Monitor a childs condition Arrange for children to be collected as soon as possible in the case of minor illness. Get emergency assistance urgently if necesary and know which signs and symptoms indicate that immediate medical help is needed. Do all you can make a child comfortable until they leave your care. Record the illness Do what you can do to stop te spread of infection

Cough Irritable/ fretful behavior Runny/ Blocked Nose Vomiting/ Diarrhoea

Swollen glands

Common Signs of Ilness

High Temperature

Headache

Reduced appetite Flushed/ pale complexion / lip area

Tiredness/ Disturbed Sleep

Lack of desire to play

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Signs and Symptoms of illness need to call for urgent medical attention

Breathing difficulties

Severe headache accompanied by a stiff neck or a dislike of light

Unusual, high-pitched crying in babies

Child cannot easily or fully be roused from sleep or a state of drowsiness

Child seems to be in significant pain

High-Temperature that cannot be lowered

Rash that remains when pressed with a glass

Convulsions

Child will not drink fluids

Vomitting for more than 24 hours

Baby becomes unresponsive and/or their body seems to be floppy

Common Childhood Illness

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Chickenpox
Chickenpox is an itchy and highly contagious condition, which is spread by droplet infection. Causes spots that blister, weep and subsequently crust over. Caused by viral infection called herpes zoster

Recognising

Pimple

blister

crust

scab

Begins with fever, headache, sore throat, loss appetite, tiredness Spots appear in groups, initially on the torso and then more groups of spots appear anywhere on the body over several days. The spot turn into fluid-filled blisters, which weep and then dry after about three days. As the spots appear in successive groups, they will also dry up in successive groups.

Initial actions
Comfort and reassurance are needed If the initial spots appear in day care setting, the childs parents must be contacted. Paracetamol is usually given to reduce the discomfort. Antihistamines can be useful in reducing the irritation Calamine or similar lotion can be applied to the spots to soothe them. Using bicarbonate of soda in a cool bath can also help reduce the itching.
What causes Chickenpox

Caused by the

VaricellaZoster

Ongoing care
Paracetamol is usually given as needed to reduced a raised temperature. Calamine and bicarbonate of soda may be used over a few days Ensure the child has plenty of fluids and is kept comfortable. Cut fingernails short to avoid scratching. In young babies, cotton mittens can be useful.

Possible complications
Some children have internal spots (nostrils, throat, vagina, anus) Secondary infections can occur through scratching Encephalitis inflammation of the brain (rare but serious) Pneumonia inflammation of the lungs ( rare but serious)

Immunisation
Varicella Vaccine. 2 doses of the varicella vaccine are recommended. At least 3 month interval between the first and second booster dose

Incubation period and potential to infect others

The incubation period for chickenfox can be up to 21 days. Children are infectious for about 3 days prior to the first spots appearing. They remain infectious until all the scabs have dried over.
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Rubella (German Measles)

Rubella is usually only a mild condition in children. It involves a high temperature and all-over rash. Causes By virus Sneeze
Cough Direct contact

ee Passed on through droplet infection Recognising

The appearance of the rash is usually preceded by a raised temperature Mild fever The all over pale rash, which usually starts on the face, does not itch Glands are often swollen behind the ears and in the neck Swelling in joints Initial actions Give paracetamol to reduce the temperature Drinking plenty of fluids should be encouraged Ongoing Care Avoid contact with women who are or could be pregnant No other special care is needed, and children usually recover quickly Possible Complications In children and adults there are unlikely to be complication For an infected foetus, complications can include; Loss of hearing or vision Impaired hearing or vision Heart deformities Learning difficulties
Excluded at least 7 days after appearance of rash
Rubella is typically mild in kids, who often can be cared at home. Rubella cannot be treated with antibiotics

Immunisation Rubella vaccine is given as part of the MMR triple vaccine at the ages of 15 months and at 4 years old. Incubation period and potential to infect others The incubation period for rubella is 4-21 days Children are infectious from about 7 days prior to the rash appearing and until 4 -5 days afterwards
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Measles
Measles is a highly contagious virus with a distinctive rash It can be a very serious condition Causes The virus is passed through droplet infection Cough, Sneezes, contact with contaminated articles

Recognising measles Children usually appear unwell for 3-4 days before the rash appears. Runny nose and general cold symptoms are common The rash is dense, blotchy and red, usually starting on the neck and face before spreading down over the whole body. White spots from inside the mouth, on the cheeks (Kopliks Spots) Eyes become sore and avoidance of bright lights is common (Eyes sensitive to light)

Initial actions Paracetamol should be given to reduce the raised temperature Plenty of fluids should be encouraged Refer child to doctor Children will normally be most comfortable resting with curtains closed to reduce the light

Ongoing Care Give paracetamol as necessary Maintain high fluid intake

Good personal hygiene Exclude child for at least4 days after rash appear

Possible complications Eye infections may need antibiotics Ear infections may need antibiotics Hearing needs to be checked within a few weeks of illness if ears were affected Inflammation of the brain can occur Immunisation Measles vaccine is given as part of the MMR

Incubation period and potential to infect others The incubation period is 8-14 days. Rash develops approximately 14 days after exposure. Children are infectious from the day before the symptoms appear until 4-5 days afterwards
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Mumps Mumps is an inflammation of the salivary glands which are found in front of and below the ears It can be a very painful condition Causes Causes by virus and spread by droplet infection Recognising mumps Initially children feel unwell for 2-3 days before the swelling occurs Swelling and tenderness occur on either or both sides of the face A raised temperature is usual Earache is common Eating and drinking can cause pain due to restricted movement of the jaw Initial actions Give paracetamol to reduce the temperature Encourage the child to drink plenty of fluids Ongoing Care Paracetamol given shortly before meals will help pain when eating Easy to eat foods should be offered such as soup, jelly or stewed fruits Possible complications Hearing loss or even deafness can occur Meningitis Orchitis Immunisation Mumps vaccine is given as part of MMR triple vaccine at 15 months and at 4 years old Having the condition provides the body with natural immunity
Cough

Sneeze ee
Direct contact

Incubation period and potential to infect others 14-21 days Children continue to be infectious for several days after the symptoms have appeared

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Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease This is a mild, but highly infectious condition which is common in children of pre-school age Causes Viral condition spread by droplet infection called Coxsackie
Person to person through Virus transmitted

Recognising A childs temperature may be raised slightly Very small blisters are often found inside the cheeks Sore throat and mouth, difficulty swallowing

direct contact with saliva, nasal discharge or feces

Blistery spots with a red surrounding edge appear about 2 days after the mouth blisters on hands and fingers and tops of feet Initial actions Give paracetamol to reduce the raised temperature Give plenty of fluids, avoid anything that might irritate the sore mouth Foods suitable for a slightly sore mouth should be offered Exclude for several days Practice frequent handwashing, clean/disinfect surface Ongoing care Prolonged mouth blisters may require an appointment with the doctor No real complications noted No immunisation available

Incubation period and potential to infect others 3-6 days Healing can take up 2-3 weeks

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Coughs and Colds Mild to quite severe Highly contagious Causes By viral infections through droplet infection Recognising Start with raised temperature and runny nose and eyes Accompanying coughs can be dry and ticklish or deep and chesty Initial actions Give paracetamol to reduce the raised temperature Plenty of fluids should be offered Possible complications Ear infections may require antibiotics Chest infections may require antibiotics No immunisation Unknown incubation period

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Meningitis Caused by different organisms and can be either viral or bacterial Recognising In babies High temperature Drowsiness and irritability Vomiting Crying and restless The fontanelles may bulge in a very young babydue to pressure inside the skull In children Headache Vomiting Averting of eyes from the light A stiff neck Gradual loss of consciousness Seizures

The symptoms will rapidly increase and the child will quickly become very ill Septicaemia may develop (infection of the blood) The septicaemia rash looks like bruising The septicaemia rash is flat with dark, purple or pink spots The septicaemia rash does not fade or disappear when pressed The development of septicaemia rash is an extreme emergency Initial actions Take the child to hospital Keep the child in darkened room until emergency services arrive Reassure the child as best as you can and try to reduce their temperature Ongoing care Intravenous antibiotics will be given by doctor A lumber puncture is carried out to check that the condition is meningitis and to identify the correct type of the condition Possible complications Bacterial meningitis can cause deafness, brain damage, epilepsy and in some cases death Immunisation Vaccinations are only available against bacterial forms of meningitis Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C vaccines are given to infants as part of the infant screening program Incubation perios and potential to infect others Varies with the infecting organism. 2-4 days average
Exclude child until medical treatment is completed

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