Childhood Illnesses Essay

2.1 There are many childhood illnesses listed below are some examples†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Croup – A child can get croup at any time of the year, although it’s more likely to occur during late autumn/ early winter. This may be because there is more are :- a sore throat, runny nose, high temp and a cough. Over a day or 2 specific symptoms of croup will develop these include a bark like cough, a horse or croaky voice, difficulty breathing ( a harsh grating nois;lk.e when they breathe in) and have difficulty swallowing. If a child shows signs of suffering with Croup seek medical advice / visit GP. Measles – The initial symptoms of measles appear around day 10 after you have had the measles infection and last for up to 14 days. The measles rash usually appears within a few days. The initial symptoms are :- cold-like symptoms ( runny nose, watery eyes etc) eyes will be red and light sensitive, a temp peaking at 40.6ËšC/105F for several days ( their temp will then start to fall but will increase again once the rash appears) small greyish-white spots in the mouth and throat, tiredness ,irritability, lack of energy, aches and pains, poor appetite and a red/brown rash. The Measles rash appears 2-4 days after thee initial symptoms and can last for up to 8 days. The rash usually starts behind the ear then spreads to the head, neck and the rest of the body. The spots will usually get bigger and join up together. If you suspect a child has Measles seek medical advise/ visit GP. Mumps – The symptoms of mumps usually develop 14-25 days after the child has become infected. This is known as â€Å" the incubation period†. Swelling of the glands being the most common symptom that a child has Mumps (they are just below each ear). Other symptoms may include headache, joint pain, feeling sick, dry mouth, belly pain, feeling very tired, loss of appetite and a high temp (38ËšC/100.4ËšF) or above. Seek medical advice/ visit GP if you suspect a child has Mumps. Chicken Pox – The most common sign that a child has Chicken pox is a red rash that can cover their entire body. However, ever before the rash appears the child may have shown flu- like symptoms. Soon after an itchy rash will appear. Some children may only get a few spots while other will be completely covered. The spots normally appear in clusters and tend to be behind their ears, on their face, in their scalp, under their arms and behind their knee’s. But the spots can appear anywhere including in their mouth and ears. The rash will start small but will develop quickly within 12-24 hours and the spots will develop into blisters and become increasingly itchy. If you suspect a child has Chicken pox seek medical advice/ visit GP. Whooping Cough – The symptoms of Whooping Cough can take between 6-20 days to develop. Whooping cough tends to develop in stages from mild symptoms at first followed by a period of more severe symptoms before improvement begins. The early symptoms of Whooping cough are often similar to those of the common cold. These early symptoms can last for up to 2 weeks before becoming more severe. The second stage is often characterised by intense bouts of coughing. This is often known as â€Å" the paroxysmal stage† and has the following symptoms :- intense coughing that brings up phlegm, a â€Å"whoop† sound with each intake of breathe after coughing, vomiting after coughing, tiredness and redness after coughing. Each bout of coughing usually lasts between 1-2 minutes, but several bouts may occur in quick session and last several minutes. Young children may also seems to choke or become blue in the face when they have a bout but they should return to normal once its finished. Seek medical advice/ visit GP if you suspect a child has Whooping cough. Rubella – The symptoms of Rubella take 2-3 weeks to develop. During this incubation period the child may have a slightly raised temperature and complain that they are getting a cold. The main Rubella symptoms are the rubella rash this is a distinctive red-pink colour. The rash appears as spots which may slightly itch usually starting behind the ear before spreading around the head and neck area. They may also have swollen lymph modes and a high temp. Ear infection – A pain in the ear is the number 1 symptom of an ear infection. The child may not be able to communicate their pain but they will be pulling at their ear and it will look red in colour. Other symptoms of an ear infection are a child complaining that it hurts to swallow. They may also have difficulty sleeping due to the pain. There may also be an unpleasant smell coming from the ear. They may also appear to be unsteady on their feet due to a lack of balance and have trouble hearing quieter noises ( may request things are turned up) If you suspect a child has an ear infection seek medical help/ visit GP has the child will require anti-biotics. Conjunctivitis – is a infection in the eye. It’s very common in the under 5 year olds. The signs to look out of ( as conjunctivitis is very contagious) are teary, red, itchy, painful eye. The eyelid may become swollen and my be weeping a yellow/green discharge which makes it difficult to open. Have a high temp and be sensitive to light. If you suspect a child is suffering from Conjunctivitis seek medical help/ visit GP has the child will require a course of anti- biotic cream. Impetigo – is one of the most common skin infections among children usually affecting pre-school and school age children. A child is more likely to develop impetigo if they have already been irritated by other skin problems such as eczema, poison ivy, insect bites and cuts/grazes from a recent injury. The symptoms that a child has impetigo are clusters of red bumps/blisters around an area of redness. There may be fluid oozing from the blister or look dry and crusty. The sores usually appear around the mouth and nose, or on skin not covered by clothing. Seek medical help/visit GP if you suspect a child has impetigo has its highly contagious and the child will need a course of anti- biotics.