6 common childhood illnesses
When you have kids, you worry about their health — constantly. Here are six common childhood illnesses that you may not recognize:
1. RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is even more common than the flu and causes many of the same symptoms, including fever, runny nose and cough. The RSV infection can be contracted at any age, but it’s particularly dangerous for babies under 1 year old. For infants RSV is the most common cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
2. Fifth disease
Caused by the human parvovirus B19, fifth disease causes a red rash on the face that looks like a slap mark. Fifth disease can feel like a cold before the rash develops, but it doesn’t always make a child feel sick. Up to 20% of children get the virus before age 5, and most don’t even show symptoms.
3. Croup
Any parent who has heard a distinct barking cough in the middle of the night knows what croup is. Croup is caused by human parainfluenza viruses and lasts about a week. About six in 100 children get croup each year, and nearly 6 percent of them are hospitalized. Croup is most common in 2 year olds.
4. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease causes a fever with sores or blisters on the inside of the mouth as well as the hands and feet and sometimes the buttocks. The disease causes discomfort but is not usually serious. Hand, foot and mouth disease goes away on its own after a week.
5. Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a rash that sometimes accompanies strep throat, an infection that causes a very sore throat and high fever. The bright red rash resembles a sunburn and spreads all over the body, beginning with the chest and abdomen. Scarlet fever was once a deadly disease, but now it is just a rash that’s easily treated with antibiotics.
6. Impetigo
This very contagious, bacterial skin infection is most common among children ages 2 to 6 years. With impetigo, clusters of itchy little sores form, secrete fluid then crust over. Touching the fluid can spread impetigo to other parts of the body and to other people. Antibiotics are needed to clear up the infection.
In most cases, these common illnesses are preventable with consistent hand washing and covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing.
Source: Web MD
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