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Top 5 Commonly Found Diseases in Children

By Cathy Whims on November 2, 2013

Children are more prone to so many diseases in their childhood as their immunity power is low.

There are many other reasons to fall sick like when they come in contact with infected bacteria or viruses.

This happens due to improper hand wash or having unhygienic or contaminated food, water and many more. Here are some of the most common diseases or concerns in children.

Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is one of the bacterial infections caused by bacterium Bordetella Pertussis. The symptoms showed by infected child are fever, continuous coughing, wheezy breathing and nasal discharge.

Incubation period: This period starts from seventh day of exposure to infection.
Infectious period: This infection is more contagious in first week of exposure to bacteria with severe cold. Irritated cough continues up to three months but the disease wears off within seven weeks. The diseased child should be kept away from other children.
Treatment: Diseased child should be given very light food due to risk of vomiting. Fresh air is required to the child. Complete five days Antibiotic treatment is more effective for full recovery.

Scarlet Fever

A strain of streptococcus bacterium causes severe scarlet fever. It also spreads by droplet infection from sneezes and coughs of diseased persons. Symptoms are sore throat, fever and flushed face.

The infected kids’ skin gets peels off and the tongue turns to pink color resulting in strawberry tongue. You will notice rash which is pink-red colored on groin or armpits spreading to neck and torso that is rough to touch.

Incubation period: Between three- eight days from being exposed to infection.
Infectious period: It is more infectious during first few days but after having antibiotic treatment for three days will reduce the effect of infection. Infected child should be kept away from school.
Treatment: Antibiotic treatments give you complete recovery from infection and keep away from other children.

Tonsillitis

It is an infection to tonsils [Symptoms of Irritated Tonsils] which is caused by bacteria or virus. Most of the causes are due to virus. It is common in children of five to 15 years old.

Incubation period: The period is between 2-4 days. It can be quite painful and make one exhausted.
Infectious period: It spreads from one person to another through throat or nasal fluids including salvia, hand contact or airborne droplets. It can remain contagious for up to 2 weeks without treatment.
Symptoms: Characterized sore throat with swollen tonsils, fever, headache and pain while swallowing. You will notice swollen glands of neck filled with pus in tonsils.
Treatment: Antibiotics are preferred when a child is infected with bacteria. When a child frequently experiences the symptoms of swollen tonsils, it is preferred to get operation.

Common Child Diseases – Ear Infections

Middle ear infection is generally caused due to virus but could be bacterial too.

Incubation period: It is between 5-7 days.
Infectious period: It may or may not infect other person in contact the infected person.
Symptoms: Fever, reduced hearing, earache and tinnitus. Fluid discharge from ear drum is also common symptom.
Treatment: if your child notices ear discharge, seek doctor’s advice. He may suggest some antibiotics.

Gastroentiritis

Gastroenteritis is caused by virus usually triggers diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain [Causes Of Stomach Pain in Kids]. It is infectious disease that spread from person to person. Children get infection when they come in contact with infected person and having contaminated food or by swimming in the water which consists of germs.

Incubation period: It is generally 24 hours to 5 days depending on the bacteria. The known range for norovirus is 10-50 hours.
Infectious period: The time during which a sick person can give the illness to others is slightly different for each virus.
Treatment: If your child experiences frequent stools or vomiting, you should seek medical advice. Replace the fluids which are lost due to frequent stools with oral re hydration liquids as the kids are more prone to dehydration.