2.1 Identify the signs and symptoms of common childhood illnesses.
Illness
Symptoms
Causes
Development Period
Chickenpox (Most children catch chicken pox at some point.)
Rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid –filled blisters. Headache, joint pain and a very high temperature.
Chickenpox is spread in the same way as a common cold or flu.
They crust over to form scabs, which eventually drop of. It takes seven to ten days for the symptoms to show after you have come into contact with the virus.
Mumps
It’s most recognizable by the painful swellings at the side of the face under the ears (the parotid glands), giving a person with mumps a distinctive "hamster face" appearance. Other symptoms include headache, joint pain and a high temperature, which may develop a few days before the swelling of the parotid glands.
Mumps is caused by the mumps virus, which belongs to a family of viruses known as paramyxoviruses. Paramyxoviruses is a common infection. It is an airborne virus that is easily spread in the same way as colds and flu
Mumps is spread in the same way as colds and flu through infected droplets of saliva that can be inhaled or picked up from surfaces and transferred into the mouth or nose. A person is most contagious a few days before the symptoms develop and for a few days afterwards.
Meningitis
(There are 2 types of meningitis which is called bacterial and viral).
Severe headache, vomiting, high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or over, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, rapid breathing, a general feeling of being unwell, a distinctive skin rash (although not everyone will have this).
Meningitis can be caused by bacteria or a virus.
Meningitis usually comes on suddenly and can be easily confused with flu, as many of the symptoms are the same.
Measles
Cold-like symptoms, red eyes and sensitivity to light, a high temperature (fever), greyish white spots in the mouth and throat.