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Common Childhood Diseases

Children often fall victim to a variety of diseases because of their contact with infected children and their poor hygiene practices. While some of these contagious diseases, such as impetigo, arise from contact with bacteria, viruses cause others. The viral diseases are generally considered more serious, as antibiotics can't treat them.

However, you can get your child vaccinated for some of these diseases. If your child has been afflicted with a viral disease for which no vaccine exists, (s)he is likely to develop a lifelong immunity to it. Here is a breakdown of some of the most common childhood viral and bacterial diseases, including information on how to treat each. As with any condition that jeopardizes your child's health, seek immediate medical attention for proper diagnosis.

Chicken Pox Symptoms
Although chicken pox is a common childhood disease, most kids are vaccinated for it at a young age with the varicella vaccine. However, your child can still contract chicken pox even if (s)he has been vaccinated for it. Because chicken pox has an incubation period of ten to twenty days, your child can be exposed to the virus long before (s)he shows any symptoms. The symptoms of chicken pox are:

• fever
• itchiness
• red spots on the body.

Some children get many spots on their bodies while others only get a few. Chicken pox is a highly contagious virus that remains contagious from the moment the disease is contracted until the scabs have fallen off.

Chicken Pox Treatment
Because the main symptoms of chicken pox are itchiness and fever, treatment of it centers on muting the symptoms until the virus has run its course. To treat the itchy spots and keep your child from scratching them, use calamine lotion. For the fever, administer Tylenol. If your child has a severe case of chicken pox, your pediatrician might prescribe an anti-viral medication. Rest and extra fluids are recommended.

Chicken pox sores will continue to reappear for four to five days. Continue treatment until no new sores appear and the scabs have fallen off.

Whooping Cough
Whooping cough, also known as bordatella pertussis, has an incubation period of ten to fourteen days before symptoms arise. The symptoms of whooping cough are:

• fits of coughing
• vomiting
• wheezy breathing.

Whooping cough symptoms tend to get worse in the evening.

Whooping Cough Treatment
Because chicken pox is a bacterial disease, treatment revolves around a regimen of antibiotics. The best treatment for whooping cough is to expose your child to fresh air, especially at night when symptoms worsen. To control the vomiting, feed your children smaller meals.

Although whooping cough is most contagious during the first week when your child is displaying the symptoms, (s)he can remain slightly contagious for five to seven weeks. As a result, keep your child away from other children, especially those who are less than one year old.

Measles
Measles, a viral disease, has an incubation period of ten to twelve days before symptoms appear. The symptoms of measles include:

• fever that lasts for about three days
• Koplik's spots (bright red spots with white centers) inside the mouth (This only occurs in some children.)
• red eyes 
• red, itchy rash that starts at your child's head and then spreads downward
• runny nose.

More serious cases of measles will cause the child to suffer from diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis. Most children are immunized against measles with the MMR vaccine, which also immunizes against mumps and rubella.

Measles Treatment
As a viral disease, measles treatment revolves around muting the symptoms. Most parents find that rest, over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, for the fever and calamine lotion for rashes tend to work well for treating measles. Extra fluids are also recommended. 

Mumps
Mumps used to be a common childhood disease, but now most children do not get it because of the MMR vaccination. Children between the ages of two and twelve who are not vaccinated are usually the ones to contract mumps. The incubation period is variable, ranging from twelve days to 35 days. Symptoms for mumps include:

• fever
• headache
• orchitis (swelling of the testicles) 
• sore throat 
• swelling of the parotitis glands behind the ear and lower jaw.

While orchitis can cause sterility in adults, it usually doesn't lead to infertility in children.

Mumps Treatment
Treatment usually includes rest and giving your child Tylenol for pain. Ice or heat packs can be applied to the swollen glands. Salt-water gargles can help with the sore throat, and extra fluids are recommended.

Meningitis
Meningitis, an infection caused by either bacteria or a virus, can affect anyone at any time. Meningitis causes an inflammation of the membranes around the brain. The symptoms of meningitis are:

• fever
• headache
• photophobia (light sensitivity)
• stiff neck
• vomiting.

Meningitis Treatment
While cases of bacterial meningitis can be a life-threatening disease, viral meningitis is less serious. However, seek immediate medical attention if you think your child might have meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics. Viral meningitis is treated with corticosteroids to prevent brain inflammation and anticonvulsants to prevent seizures. Most children with meningitis spend time in the hospital.