Title: Common Childhood Illnesses
1Common Childhood Illnesses
- Transmission
- Symptoms
- Prevention
2(No Transcript)
3How 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
4Most 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
5INHALATIONWhat can you catch?
- colds and flu
- TB
- measles
- mumps
- rubella
- whooping cough
- chickenpox
- conjunctivitis
- viral gastro-enteritis
6INHALATIONPREVENTION 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
72. 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...
8INGESTIONWhat can you catch?
- salmonella
- food poisoning
- dysentery
- hepatitis A
- threadworms
9INGESTION 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
103. 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
11INOCULATIONWhat can you catch?
- HIV which can lead to AIDS
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
12INOCULATION 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
13SKIN 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
14SKIN 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
15HEAD 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
16Common childhood infections you may come across
- Chickenpox
- German measles (Rubella)
- Measles
- Meningites
- Mumps
- Tonsillitis
- Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
- Gastro-enteritis
17Chickenpox
- 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
18Rash of chickenpox
19Rubella (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
20Rubella 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.
21Measles
- 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
22Meningitis
- 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.
23Viral 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
24Viral 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
25Mumps
- 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
26Fifth 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
27Whooping 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.
28Tetanus
- 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.
29Preventing 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
30Raising 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
31Case 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?
32Case 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
33Case 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