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Childhood Diseases
Measles
An infectious disease, normally of childhood, caused by a virus. The noticeable symptom is a pink rash, which appears on the face, neck and body. Measles can affect people of any age; but its not normally caught by adults because most people who catch the disease in childhood gain life-long immunity. Babies of mums who have had measles inherit a temporary immunity that lasts for about six months after birth.
The first symptoms of the disease look like a cold; i.e. sore eyes, sneezing, coughing and a runny nose. The child might have a temperature rising occasionally to as much as 41c (106f) by the fourth day. The rash, which is many small red spots, appears from three to five days after the onset of other symptoms and lasts for four to seven days. The rash usually starts behind the ears and on the forehead, and spreads quickly, to cover the entire body. The fever begins to subside when the rash appears. Measles can be confirmed with a throat swab and is a notifiable disease. Complete recovery from measles usually takes two/three weeks, unless complications set in.
Measles is an immunosuppressant. In other words, it can suppress the immune system, which means the patient can easily catch other infections, from the common cold to pneumonia, and so careful convalescence is important. The patient should be isolated in a well-ventilated room, not merely to prevent others from catching the disease, but also to protect the patient from secondary infection. The patient's eyes could be sensitive to light, so, close the curtains to keep in a darkened room. Some people have even used sunglasses. Plenty of liquids should be given and bed rest until the temperature is normal. Other ways to get the temperature down - wash with a tepid flannel, give a tepid bath or administer Calpol. The measles virus is spread mainly through infected droplets in the air when a person coughs or sneezes. It is extremely rare for a person who has had measles to catch it a second time.
Mumps
An infectious disease that generally affects children during childhood. It is caused by a virus transmitted in the saliva of an infected person. The symptoms appear two or three weeks after exposure. One attack usually, but, not always gives immunity for life.
The most typical symptom of mumps is the swelling of the face and neck. This is because the parotid gland is inflamed and has swelled. It is a saliva-secreting gland below the ear. The swelling can start on one side at first then, after a day or two, appear on the other side. Symptoms the patient may have are; a headache. Fever can run as high as 43.3°C (104°F). Sometimes they may vomit. In mild cases, hardly any of these may appear.
In men or in teenage boys, mumps sometimes affects the testicles. This infection produces a painful inflammation and swelling of one or both testicles. Only some areas of the testicles are affected, so, it is rare for infertility or sterility to follow an attack of mumps. Teenage girls are at the same ovary risk as boys.
Mumps only infrequently attacks mature women. When it does, it usually affects the breasts and ovaries. Another disease, such as inflammation of the lymph nodes, may give the same symptoms as mumps so, it is important to get a correct diagnosis.
If the child has a fever, they should stay in bed until it returns to normal, take plenty of fluids and take all appropriate precautions associated with a fever. If there is no temperature, keep the child home until the swelling has gone.
Men and teenagers should stay away from a child with mumps to avoid any risk to the sex glands.
Mumps is still considered a mild virus.
Rubella
Rubella is known as German Measles or even three-day measles. Rubella is an infectious virus with symptoms consisting of a pink rash on the face, neck and body, fever, tenderness in the lymph nodes and joint pain are rare. The rash tends to last one to three days and recovery happens without any specific treatment.
One attack generally gives immunity for life.
If a woman contracts Rubella during the first 3 months of pregnancy, it may result in the baby having defects.
Occasionally, the embryo or foetus dies and is spontaneously aborted.
If the woman becomes pregnant again, the new baby will be fine.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by "a bacterium". The infection first lodges in the upper respiratory tract, producing symptoms like a common cold i.e. sore throat, fever, and weakness. A grey membrane forms in the throat, closing the air passages.
As the "a bacillus" multiplies, it produces a powerful toxin that will circulate throughout the system. The patient will be very weak and sick. The heart muscles and nerves, especially the cranial nerves, could be involved. Swallowing will be difficult, vision is disturbed and the pulse is weak.
Left untreated, diphtheria is often fatal.
Penicillin quickly given and absolute bed rest are a must for recovery.
It was formerly one of the most common, fatal childhood diseases. It didn't happen so much among adults because most of them had gained immunity early in life by exposure to it.
Diphtheria is now rare in most western countries.
Tetanus
Tetanus is a serious infectious disease that causes spasms of the voluntary muscles. Clamping of the jaws usually begins first, hence the common name of Lockjaw. It is caused by bacterium in soil where it can remain inactive for years; it is also in the intestines of man and animals.
Tetanus invades the body through wounds that are large and have been contaminated by soil or manure. When in the tissues, the bacteria produce a toxin, which is usually formed under conditions where there is no oxygen i.e. where a lot of tissue damage or if pus is present. The poison then irritates the nerves so that the muscles go into spasms. The patient usually has convulsions and they may have a severe spasm in which the whole body arches backwards.
In cases of severe wounds, you may be advised to have an injection of tetanus. If a person contracts tetanus, the same injection is used along with penicillin. Tranquilizing drugs may be given to control the convulsions. If these measures fail, a tracheotomy may be necessary to provide free passage of air to the lungs. Breathing may have to be assisted with a machine and this has reduced tetanus deaths due to respiratory failure.
Once the patient has recovered from the disease, they should be immunized against it. Having the disease does not produce immunity.
Polio
An infection of the central nervous system. Sometimes can result in paralysis. Polio is a virus, which, in most cases, enters through the nose or mouth and attacks the nerves controlling the muscles.
Polio can attack people of any age. There are people in Britain who suffer from the effects of polio who contracted the disease in a tropical country; many of them are middle aged.
Polio begins with a fever, headache, vomiting, drowsiness and stiffness in the neck and back. Some serious childhood diseases start the same way, so, contacting your doctor is important. As the polio progresses, the muscles that are affected weaken and develop spasms and may in one to seven days, become paralyzed.
There is no specific treatment, but most will recover with skilled nursing. The patient should be treated in hospital.
There are two types of polio vaccine. A dead polio virus (the Salk vaccine) that is injected into the body, and the live virus (the Sabin vaccine) given orally. These are most commonly used.
Whooping Cough
A very contagious disease of the bronchial tubes and upper respiratory passages. Usually a childhood disease of the under tens and is dangerous in early infancy.
Few children get whooping cough more than once.
The onset of symptoms is usually seven to fourteen days.
The early stage is much like a heavy cold with a temperature and a persistent cough and lasts a week or two. Then the cough gets much worse and the patient will begin to 'whoop' (the sound of the cough is more like a bark). This stage can last up to four weeks from the start of the illness and it will gradually subside. The disease is still contagious during this time. The patient should stay in bed while having a fever and plenty of fresh air might lessen the severity of the cough. Try to get thepatient to eat small amounts to prevent undue loss of weight.
Chickenpox
This is a common illness with a rash, fever, sore throat, aches and poor appetite. The rash itself progresses to fluid filled blisters that become crusty before healing. It can be particularly uncomfortable for a child as the rash can result in itching. One remedy to relieve the discomfort is to apply camomile lotion or a warm bath infused with camomile teabags. Chickenpox is rarely devastating but there are rare complications which include shingles, encephalitis and pneumonia. Adults are particularly vulnerable to the severe complications of chickenpox.
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