Common Pediatric Illnesses

Introduction

For parents, it’s a chance to bond with their child, and for doctors and nurses, it’s an opportunity to learn more about the health of your patients. In this article, we’ll take a look at some common pediatric illnesses that affect children and teens. We’ll also discuss what you can do if your child comes down with these illnesses—from taking care of symptoms to getting them treatment early on.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a common childhood illness that causes fever, headache and itchiness. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).

Symptoms usually appear about 10–14 days after exposure to the virus, but may occur as long as 3 weeks after infection. Symptoms often begin on one side of the face or body and then spread to other areas over several days. The rash starts with tiny red spots that become raised bumps before crusting over with white scabbing lesions that peel off easily in sheets.

Fifth Disease

Fifth disease is a common illness in children, but it’s important to know that there is no treatment needed. Children who have this condition will have a high fever and feel tired. They may also develop a rash on their face and neck that looks like measles (mumps), with small bumps in the center of each spot.

The symptoms usually appear within 10 days of exposure to an infected person or pet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infection that causes sores to form on the hands and feet, but not the mouth. The rash appears on all four limbs and can last from 1 to 3 weeks before it heals. HFMD should be treated with antibiotics if it’s severe enough to cause illness or if symptoms persist beyond 24 hours after treatment begins.

If you think your child may have HFMD, call their doctor immediately because they can spread it through close contact with others who are infected or by touching contaminated objects such as toys or doorknobs without washing their hands first! You should also let other parents know about this possible situation so they can take precautions too; otherwise there’s no way of knowing whether another child has been exposed too many times without knowing what happened at school today!

Hives

Hives is a common skin condition that causes small red bumps to appear on the skin. The cause of hives is not always known, but it’s most commonly caused by an allergic reaction to something you have eaten or touched. Hives can also be caused by stress, anxiety and viral infections.

If your child has hives:

• Call your doctor right away if you see any of these signs:

• Itching or rash that won’t go away

• Swollen lymph nodes under the arm (lymphadenopathy)

Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a contagious viral skin infection that can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact. The most common age groups affected are children between 5 and 9 years old, as well as young adults between 15 and 24 years old.

Molluscum contagiosum occurs in many parts of the body including the face, chest and genital area; however it’s most commonly found on the arms or legs (e.g., elbows). It will usually appear as small bumps with a white center surrounded by clear fluid which may look like pus when squeezed or squeezed out of its opening onto toilet paper or tissue paper — this makes it easy for family members to spread these bumps around from one person to another!

Roseola

Roseola is a viral illness that causes a rash and fever. It is most common in children under 5 years old, but can occur in older children and adults as well. Roseola is not serious, but can be uncomfortable and cause some mild symptoms like headache, fatigue and sore throat.

Roseola can be caused by the herpes virus (herpes simplex), Epstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus (CMV). The most common symptoms include:

• Rash on face or neck followed by fever

• A bump on the back of hands that looks like small pimple with a red base

Ringworm

Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis or tinea capitis, is a fungal infection that causes a circular rash on the scalp and body. The fungus that causes ringworm usually lives on your skin in areas where you come into contact with soil or dust.

Ringworm can be very itchy if left untreated and adults should be aware of how they can prevent spread of the disease to others. It’s also not contagious so there’s nothing to worry about if someone has ringworm!

Viral conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)

Pink eye is usually caused by a virus. Symptoms include redness and irritation of the eye. It can also cause pain and discomfort, but not always. The treatment for pink eye is to wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after touching anyone with infectious illness or contact lenses that are not wearing properly (such as if you have worn them in your eyes). You should also use an antibiotic ointment on the affected area twice a day for about three days until symptoms disappear completely.

The best way to prevent pink eye is to keep yourself clean and avoid sharing utensils or eating directly off the same plate as someone who has itchy eyes!

Takeaway:

In the end, it’s important to remember that children can get sick. It may seem like a simple fact of life, but it’s something that parents should be prepared for. If your child does get sick and needs medical treatment, you’ll want to make sure you know what questions to ask about their condition and about how they’re doing after receiving care.

Conclusion

The most common pediatric illnesses are relatively easy to treat and prevent. The best way to prevent them is by keeping your child’s immune system strong, which can be done by getting them vaccinated against various diseases.