Common Childhood Illnesses

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Common Childhood Illnesses

• Transmission
• Symptoms
• Prevention

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(No Transcript)
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How Disease Is Transmitted

• The process begins with someone who has the
  infection
• The infectious pathogen (bacteria, virus, fungus,
  or parasite) leaves the sick persons body
• The infectious pathogen reaches another child and
  enters his body
• The child develops the infection

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Most common ways of the infection transmission in
child care

• 1. INHALATION
• inhaling droplets of moisture containing viruses,
  bacteria, etc, from an infected person who has
  coughed or sneezed
• touching surfaces covered by droplets or from the
  persons hands and then touching our own face or
  eyes
• surfaces include door knobs,
• telephones, toys, flush handles

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INHALATIONWhat can you catch?

• colds and flu
• TB
• measles
• mumps
• rubella
• whooping cough
• chickenpox
• conjunctivitis
• viral gastro-enteritis

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INHALATIONPREVENTION of the INFECTION

• difficult to avoid getting infected
• cover mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing
• wash hands if you have contact with items or
  fabrics contaminated with droplet fluids
• encourage parents to keep their infectious child
  away from nursery until they are well

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2. INGESTION

• eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated
  water
• sucking fingers, thumbs, biting finger nails,
  smoking a cigarette with dirty hands
• hands can become contaminated from touching pets,
  farm animals, raw meat and poultry, soiled
  nappies, toilets...

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INGESTIONWhat can you catch?

• salmonella
• food poisoning
• dysentery
• hepatitis A
• threadworms

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INGESTION PREVENTION of the INFECTION

• you can have some control over getting infected
• always wash hands after touching animals and
  pets, using the toilet and changing nappies
• always wash hands before and after preparing food
  and before eating
• follow good practices for storing,
• cooking chilling and re-heating food

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3. INOCULATION

• by blood or certain body fluids from an infected
  person, getting into the body of another person
• through cuts or damaged skin
• by injection through the skin e.g.
• body piercing, tattoos, IV drug
• use, blood transfusion

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INOCULATIONWhat can you catch?

• HIV which can lead to AIDS
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C

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INOCULATION PREVENTION of the INFECTION

• you can have a lot of control over getting
  infected
• cover any cuts and abrasions with water proof
  dressing if giving care or dealing with blood
• use of disposable plastic
• aprons and disposable
• gloves when dealing with
• body fluids
• wash hands after removing
• gloves

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SKIN to SKINand HEAD to HEADWhat can we catch?

• cold sores via kissing
• body lice - and in clothing and bedding
• fungal infections - ringworm, athletes foot
• warts and verrucaes
• impetigo - and from items soiled with pus
• HEAD to HEAD - head lice

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SKIN to SKIN PREVENTION

• you can have some control over getting infected
• make sure that all people are treated so that
  they are no longer infectious to others
• avoid contact with infected areas either by
  person covering with dressing or carer using
  gloves
• washing skin immediately after contact can reduce
  transmission of infection

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HEAD to HEAD PREVENTION

• can be difficult to avoid getting infected during
  close social interaction
• make sure that all children are treated to
  prevent re-infection
• check young childrens heads after each hair
  wash, on wet hair, using a detection comb

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Common childhood infections you may come across

• Chickenpox
• German measles (Rubella)
• Measles
• Meningites
• Mumps
• Tonsillitis
• Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
• Gastro-enteritis

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Chickenpox

• droplet spread e.g. via coughing and sneezing or
  by direct contact with blister fluid
• incubation period 13-17 days
• infectious 4 days before onset of rash until 5
  days after appearance of first spots. May return
  to nursery after 5 days of spots appearing if
  feeling well
• pregnant women should seek antenatal advice
  first 20 weeks and last 3 weeks

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Rash of chickenpox
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Rubella (German measles)

• caused by virus which causes mild fever and a
  rash
• fever, swollen neck glands, fine rash
• spread by direct contact with sneezing or
  coughing incubation period 16-18 days
• The disease is potentially serious because of the
  ability to produce defects in a developing fetus
  if the mother is infected during early pregnancy

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Rubella syndrome is a group of physical
abnormalities that have developed in an infant as
a result of maternal infection with rubella
virus. It is characterized by rash at birth, low
birth weight, small head size, heart
abnormalities, visual problems and bulging
fontanelle.
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Measles

• caused by a virus, rare in this country since
  introduction of MMR vaccine
• fever, conjunctivitis, cough and/or spots on
  cheeks or inside mouth. 3-7 days later red,
  blotchy rash appears which lasts 4-7 days.
  Complications of pneumonia can occur. Incubation
  7-14 days
• spread by contact with coughing and sneezing

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Meningitis

• meningitis is an inflammation of the brain
  membranes
• caused by different bacteria and viruses
• symptoms include severe headache / high pitched
  cry in babies, drowsiness, stiff neck, repeated
  vomiting, irritability, fever, dislike of bright
  lights
• CAN CAUSE DEATH!

• GLASS TEST
• Press the side of a glass firmly against the
  rash.
• If the rash fades and loses colour under pressure
  it is not a meningitis rash.
• If it does not change colour, you should contact
  a doctor immediately.

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Viral gastro-enteritis

• can be caused by bacteria or virus
• sudden onset of vomiting and or diarrhoea
• very infectious (from spray created when ill)
• usually short-lasting 24/48hrs
• thorough cleaning of wide area after illness
  episodes and isolation can reduce spread

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Viral hepatitis (can be of A, B or C type)

• hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver
• hepatitis A is caught by swallowing the virus
  (contaminated food, water and from hands soiled
  with faeces)
• after 6 weeks - lethargy, nausea, pain in abdomen
• no treatment, usually full recovery
• vaccination can protect contacts and travellers

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Mumps

• caused by a virus
• fever, swelling of one or more salivary glands in
  the neck.
• mumps virus can cause meningitis and deafness
• passed from one person to another via droplets
  (sneezing, coughing) or direct contact with
  saliva
• incubation normally 18 days but can be 12-25 days

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Fifth disease (slapped cheek disease)

• caused by a virus. Usually mild
• red rash on cheeks, followed by lace-like rash on
  the body and limbs for up to 3 weeks
• infectious before onset of rash. Mostly spread by
  droplets
• pregnant women should seek advice ASAP especially
  if in first 20 weeks

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Whooping cough (Pertussis)

• the signs of the disease are coughing fits
  accompanied by a loud "whooping" sound as the
  child inhales, and vomiting.
• the complications of whooping cough include
  pneumonia and brain damage caused by oxygen
  deficiency.
• can be treated with antibiotics or prevented by
  immunization.

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Tetanus

• is transmitted when tetani bacillus enters open
  wounds
• the signs of the disease are muscle spasms
  throughout the entire body, lockjaw, paralysis of
  the respiratory muscles, irritability, fever
• can be prevented by immunization.

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Preventing InfectionsPromote Good Practice

• establish a daily cleaning routine - pay
  particular attention to play areas and surfaces,
  toilets, kitchens, highchairs and nappy changing
  areas
• establish a rota for cleaning toys, sand, water
  play areas, etc.
• provide suitable handwashing facilities and
  ensure regular use!
• ensure disposable gloves and aprons are available
  for nappy changing and when carrying out first aid

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Raising Childrens Awareness

• teach the importance of regular handwashing and
  supervise, especially after going to the toilet
  and before eating
• cleaning teeth
• wiping noses and disposing of tissues
• covering mouths when coughing or sneezing

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Case Scenario

• A worried mother calls the nursery on Monday
  morning to inform you that her son has been
  admitted to hospital with suspected meningitis.
  Her son has been attending the nursery full time
  and was present the previous Friday.
• What should you do in this situation?

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Case Scenario 1 Answers

• Dont panic!
• Ask for help inform your supervisor contact
  local NHS unit who will establish the facts and
  advise (including advice to parents)
• If confirmed as a case of meningitis, it will be
  necessary for GPs to follow up close contacts
• close contacts include family members, kissing
  contacts and those who have stayed overnight with
  the family during the past 10 days

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Case Scenario Answers (cont)

• ensure that you are aware of the signs and
  symptoms of meningitis
• if you suspect symptoms in another child seek
  medical assistance promptly
• if another suspected case arises within a 4 week
  period then prophylactic antibiotics may be
  administered - the NHS unit will determine this