Health and Wellness Tips

Last Updated 5/26/2011

Source:

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide

(Copyright © 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics)

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus called varicella zoster.

Signs and Symptoms

Most children with chickenpox have relatively mild symptoms. They commonly develop a very itchy, blister-like rash that appears 10 to 21 days after exposure and infection with the virus. The blisters usually appear first on the torso and scalp, often surrounded by a reddened area. They may spread to other parts of the body, including the face, arms, and legs. In time, the blisters become crusty before finally healing. Most children develop a mild fever during the course of the infection.

What You Can Do

If your child has chickenpox and is feverish or uncomfortable, you may choose to give him appropriate doses of acetaminophen (keep in mind, however, that a fever helps the body fight off an infection). Never give aspirin to a child with a fever.

Try to prevent your child from scratching the rash, or the rash itself could become infected with bacteria and may leave small scars. Keep fingernails trimmed. Bathe him or her with soap and water or, if you choose, oatmeal baths sold in pharmacies. An antihistamine is useful to decrease itch.

Keep your child away from other children who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, especially children with weakened immune systems. The contagious period begins 1 to 2 days prior to the first appearance of the rash and continues for another 5 to 7 days (or 24 hours after the last new blister develops). Children with chickenpox should be kept home from school until the rash has crusted over.

When to Call Your Pediatrician

Most children with chickenpox do not need to be seen by a pediatrician. However, contact your pediatrician if your child has a high fever (temperature greater than 102°F or 38.9°C) or if the fever lasts for more than 4 days.

Also, notify your pediatrician if your child has any signs of a bacterial infection, such as part of the rash becoming extremely red, tender, and warm, or if your child’s symptoms seem much worse.

Treatment

Your pediatrician can prescribe an antiviral medication called acyclovir that can reduce the symptoms of chickenpox. However, to be most effective, it must be given within 24 hours after the disease begins. This medicine is most often prescribed for teenagers and for children with asthma or a skin condition called eczema rather than otherwise healthy young children.

What Is the Prognosis?

As uncomfortable as chickenpox may be, the disease clears up completely without complications in most children. Bacterial infections do occur in some children. These are usually mild skin infections, but at times the infection can be more severe and involve the tissues under the skin and the muscles. In these cases, antibiotics and surgery are needed to control the bacteria.

A few children will have a more severe disease affecting the brain during the rash or a few weeks after the rash. Although most of these children recover, some will be left with damage to the brain.

Prevention

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a first dose of the chickenpox vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age for all healthy children who have never had the disease. A second dose should be given at 4-6 years of age (but may be given earlier, if at least 3 months after the first dose). Until your child reaches his first birthday, the best way to protect him from chickenpox is to keep him away from children with the active disease. Keep in mind that an infant will have immunity during the first few months of life if his mother has had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine at some point in her life.

Source:

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide
(Copyright © 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics)

Fifth Disease (Parvovirus B19) is a contagious virus. Its most notable symptom is a bright red patch or rash on your child’s cheeks. It can be spread from one person to another through droplets or secretions (eg, saliva, sputum). It can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. The virus can cause serious illness in a fetus or any child who has a certain type of anemia (low red blood cell count).

Outbreaks of parvovirus B19 infections occur from time to time in elementary and middle schools during the late winter and early spring months.

Signs and Symptoms

In the initial stages of fifth disease, your child may develop mild cold-like symptoms including a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, mild fever, muscle soreness, itching, fatigue, and headaches. Less commonly, your child may experience aches in the knees or wrists.

After 7 to 10 days of these first symptoms, the distinctive rash of fifth disease may appear. It typically starts on the face, giving the child a “slapped cheek” appearance. A slightly raised rash in a lacelike pattern may develop on the torso and then spread to the arms, buttocks, and thighs. Five to 10 days later, the rash will tend to fade. It may reappear briefly weeks or months later, especially when your child becomes hot while exercising, bathing, or sunbathing.

The incubation period from exposure to the virus to the beginning of symptoms usually ranges from 4 to 14 days. The rash appears 2 to 3 weeks after your child becomes infected. Once the rash is present, your child will no longer be contagious.

When To Call Your Pediatrician

If your child’s symptoms seem to get worse with time or if he/she develops joint swelling, contact your pediatrician. If your child has sickle cell disease, contact your doctor whenever your child gets a fever or seems especially pale.

How Is The Diagnosis Made?

Your pediatrician will diagnose fifth disease by examining the rash, which has a distinctive look. In some cases, your doctor will conduct a blood test that can detect antibodies to parvovirus B19.

Treatment

Most children with fifth disease are treated only with symptomatic care to make them feel more comfortable. If a fever is present, your pediatrician may recommend acetaminophen to lower the temperature as well as to reduce the intensity of any aches and pains that are part of the illness. Your pediatrician also may advise using antihistamines to relieve any itching associated with the rash.

What Is The Prognosis?

Most children infected with parvovirus B19 have only a mild illness that goes away on its own. However, children with blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia or a weakened immune system can become seriously ill if they develop fifth disease and should be seen by a doctor immediately. The infection can also be serious if it is contracted by pregnant women. Fifth disease can result in serious complications such as damage to the fetus, miscarriages, or stillbirths.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of spreading fifth disease, good hygiene is important, including frequent hand washing.

Children who have fifth disease rash are no longer contagious and may attend child care or school. However, during the early stages of the virus when he/she may have a fever, keep him/her away from other children until the fever subsides.

Source:

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide (American Academy of Pediatrics) www.healthychildren.org

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease is a viral infection that causes mouth ulcers and tiny blisters on the hands and feet

Symptoms

• Small, painful ulcers in the mouth, especially on tongue and sides of mouth (in all children)
• Small, thick-walled water blisters (like chickenpox) or red spots located on the palms, soles, and webs between the fingers and toes (70%)
• 1 to 5 water blisters per hand or foot
• Small blisters or red spots on the buttocks (30%)
• Low-grade fever less than 102° F (39° C)
• Mainly occurs in children age 6 months to 4 years

Causes

• Coxsackie A-16 virus
• Not related to animal disease

Return to School

• Can return to child care or school after the fever is gone (usually 2 to 3 days). The rash is not contagious.

Source:

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide (American Academy of Pediatrics) www.healthychildren.org

CATHERINE COOK HEAD LICE AND NIT (EGGS) POLICY:

Any student with live lice or nits should not be sent to school and will be sent home early from school if found by a teacher or the school nurse. Head lice is easily transmitted. If one member of the household is diagnosed with head lice or nits, please check any students in the household and confirm they are lice- and nit-free before sending them to school.

Parents are expected to treat head lice promptly by shampooing the infected child’s head with anti-lice shampoo. Effective treatment of head lice requires the removal of both lice and nits from the hair, as lice shampoos alone do not remove nits. The nits must be combed out or manually removed. In some cases, over-the-counter products fail to kill live lice. If this occurs, please contact your health care provider, as they may be able to order a prescription medication for treatment. Upon returning to school, it is advised that students with long hair wear it up and tight to the head for two to three weeks until it is confirmed that no additional lice or nits are found. Continuous checking may be required for all types and lengths of hair for up to three weeks to avoid re-infestation.

Regular checks are a good way to spot head lice before they have time to multiply and infest your child's head. It is strongly recommended that every parent check their child’s hair by using a "wet technique" once a week to check for lice or nits.

Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice. Lice is spread most commonly through hair-to-hair contact. It can also be transferred by sharing hats, combs and brushes, and other hair accessories.

Please read below for further instructions.

Diagnosing and Treating Head Lice at Home
For weekly checks, or if you are concerned that someone has head lice, you can usually diagnose this at home. You will need 2 common items:

• Bright light
• Fine-tooth comb or lice comb

How to check your child:

1. Wet the hair of the adult or child. This may help to visualize nits or lice.
2. Sit the person under a bright light.
3. Separate hair into sections. Beginning at the scalp, slowly comb outward through the hair section by section.
4. Wipe the comb on a paper towel after each comb through to remove any nits or lice.
5. Do not confuse dandruff or other hair debris with nits or lice.

Tips to Rid Your Home and Car of Lice:

1. Wash all linens and clothing your child has been in contact with in hot water and dry on high heat (if possible).
2. Items that cannot be washed or vacuumed (e.g. stuffed animals, special pillows, etc.) can be placed in a tightly closed plastic bag for 48 hours.
3. Vacuum the house, mattress, furniture, car upholstery, and child car seats.
4. Lice and nits generally do not survive off of their hosts beyond 48 hours.

For more information on lice, please see these websites:

https://identify.us.com/idmybug/head-lice/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/

Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection that often appears around the nose, mouth, and ears. More than 90 percent of impetigo cases are caused by staphyloccus or “staph” bacteria, while the rest are caused by streptococcus bacteria (which also are responsible for “strep” throat and scarlet fever). If staph bacteria are to blame, the infection may cause blisters filled with clear fluid. These can break easily, leaving a raw, glistening area that soon forms a scab with a honey colored crust. By contrast, infections with strep bacteria usually are not associated with blisters, but they do cause crusts over larger sores and ulcers.

Treatment

Impetigo needs to be treated with antibiotics, either topically or by mouth, and your pediatrician may order a culture in the lab to determine which bacteria are causing the rash. Make sure your child takes the medication for the full prescribed course, or the impetigo could return.

One other important point to keep in mind: Impetigo is contagious until the rash clears, or until at least two days of antibiotics have been given and there is evidence of improvement. Your child should avoid close contact with other children during this period, and you should avoid touching the rash. If you or other family members do come in contact with it, wash your hands and the exposed site thoroughly with soap and water. Also, keep the infected child’s washcloths and towels separate from those of other family members.

Prevention

The bacteria that cause impetigo thrive in breaks in the skin. The best ways to prevent this rash are to keep your child’s fingernails clipped and clean and to teach him not to scratch minor skin irritations. When he does have a scrape, cleanse it with soap and water, and apply an antibiotic cream or ointment. Be careful not to use washcloths or towels that have been used by someone else who has an active skin infection.

When certain types of strep bacteria cause impetigo, a rare but serious complication called glomerulonephritis can develop. This disease injures the kidneys and may cause high blood pressure and blood to pass in the urine. Therefore, if you notice any blood or dark brown color in your child’s urine, let your pediatrician know so he/she can evaluate it and order further tests if needed.

Source:

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide (American Academy of Pediatrics)

www.healthychildren.org

Almost every child has influenza from time to time. Commonly called the flu, the high fever and muscle aches caused by influenza are hard to ignore, often forcing the most active child into bed for a few days of rest and recovery.

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu infections are highly contagious. They spread easily in schools, households, child care settings, the workplace, and any other places where groups of people are together. Your child can catch the flu if someone around him/her has the infection and sneezes or coughs, sending viral droplets into the air where they can be breathed in by others. He/she can also get the disease by touching a toy that has been contaminated by someone with the infection and then putting her hand or fingers into her mouth or nose. Children are most contagious during the 24 hours before symptoms begin and the period when their symptoms are at their worst.

Although there are 3 influenza viruses—types A, B, and C—most flu outbreaks are caused by A or B. Epidemics of influenza usually occur during the winter months, often lasting through March.

Signs and Symptoms

When your child gets the flu, he/she will probably develop a fever (temperature greater than 100°F), usually quite rapidly, often accompanied by the chills, headaches, lack of energy, a dry cough, and muscle aches and pain. As the illness progresses, other symptoms such as a sore throat and runny or stuffy nose may develop and worsen. Some children also have abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Particularly in infants, influenza can cause ear infections, croup, bronchiolitis (an infection of the lungs’ small breathing tubes), or pneumonia.

What You Can Do

You’re probably familiar with many of the home treatments for the flu. They’ve been used by generations of parents, although they are not as useful in getting rid of the virus as some parents think. Your child may benefit from getting plenty of rest, and he/she should drink liquids to prevent dehydration.

To help make your feverish child more comfortable and reduce fever, some pediatricians recommend giving him/her acetaminophen (although there’s evidence that a fever is the body’s way of fighting off the invading infection). However, do not give aspirin to any child or teenager who has a temperature. The use of aspirin in such circumstances has been associated with a rare but very serious illness called Reye syndrome. Be sure to read the labels on any medicine you plan to give to your child because some medicines contain aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) as part of their ingredients.

When to Call Your Pediatrician

Contact your pediatrician early if your child has flu symptoms—some antiviral medicines work best if given within the first 48 hours after symptoms begin. In particular, let your doctor know if a fever continues, your child complains of an earache, or he/she has a cough that does not go away.

Some of the common signs of complications associated with the flu include an ear infection, a sinus infection, or pneumonia. Complications are more likely to occur in a child who has an underlying health problem, including heart disease, lung disease, a weakened immune system, or a malignancy.

Source

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide
(Copyright © 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics)

Mononucleosis is also known as Epstein-Barr virus. This virus is spread from one person to another in saliva, blood, and other body fluids.

Signs and Symptoms

Many children infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have no symptoms or only very mild ones. When there are signs and symptoms of mononucleosis, they usually include the following:

• Fever
• Sore throat, including white patches in the back of the throat
• Swollen lymph glands in the back of the neck, groin, and armpit
• Fatigue

In addition to these classic symptoms, some children may also have one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

• Chills
• Headache
• Decreased appetite
• Puffy eyelids
• Enlargement of the liver and spleen
• Oversensitivity to light
• Anemia

When to Call Your Pediatrician

Contact your pediatrician if your child has the major symptoms described above, especially a fever, sore throat, fatigue, and enlarged glands.

How Is the Diagnosis Made?

The diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis is usually made through a medical history, physical examination, and blood tests. These tests may include a complete blood count to check for unusual looking white blood cells (atypical lymphocytes). Blood tests can also detect increases in antibodies against EBV.

Treatment

Much of the treatment for mononucleosis is aimed at making your child more comfortable until the infection goes away on its own. For example

• Some pediatricians may recommend giving your child acetaminophen to reduce the fever and ease pain.
• Sore throats can be treated by gargling with warm water and salt.
• Bed rest can be important for a child feeling fatigued.

What Is the Prognosis?

Most cases of infectious mononucleosis clear up in 1 to 3 weeks (although symptoms, particularly fatigue, can last for several additional weeks in some children). Patients with abnormal immune systems can have a more severe infection that further weakens the immune system, resulting in cancers or death caused by liver failure and bacterial infections.

Prevention

It is difficult to prevent the spread of this virus because people who have been infected can spread the virus for the rest of their lives. Your child should avoid infected saliva by not sharing drinking glasses, water bottles, or eating utensils.

Source:

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide (American Academy of Pediatrics) www.healthychildren.org

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that pink eye results in redness, irritation, purulent yellow drainage, or inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a clear membrane covering the white of the eye and the eyelids. The conjunctiva usually reacts to bacteria, viruses, allergy causing agents, irritants, or diseases of other parts of the body. Viruses that spread from other different ailments like colds, sore throats, respiratory infections, and others usually cause viral conjunctivitis or contagious pink eye. Certain types of bacteria that have made their way to the eye cause bacterial Conjunctivitis. Common bacteria include staphylococci and streptococci. Allergic reactions to different substances such as fumes, cosmetics, medication, and many others cause allergic Conjunctivitis.

A good rule of thumb is that if a child wakes up in the morning with crusty yellow drainage sticking to their eyelashes, wash it off with a warm washcloth and if it re-appears within the hour it is considered pink eye requiring anti-biotic eye drops from your pediatrician.

Source:

When your child has strep throat, there’s a chance that he/she will get a rash known as scarlet fever or scarlatina. The symptoms of scarlet fever begin with a sore throat, a fever of 101-104°F (38.2–40°C), and headache. This is followed within twenty-four hours by a red rash covering the trunk, arms, and legs. The rash is slightly raised, which makes the skin feel like fine sandpaper. Your child’s face may turn red, too, with a pale area around the mouth. This redness will disappear in three to five days, leaving peeling skin in the areas where the rash was most intense (neck, underarms, groin, fingers, and toes). He/she may also have a white coated, then reddened, tongue and mild abdominal pain.

Treatment

Call your pediatrician whenever your child complains of a sore throat, especially when a rash or fever also is present. The doctor will examine him and swab his throat to check for strep bacteria. If strep throat is found, an antibiotic (usually penicillin or amoxicillin) will be given. If your child takes the antibiotic by mouth, it’s extremely important to complete the entire course because shorter treatment sometimes results in a return of the disease.

Most children with strep infections respond very quickly to antibiotics. The fever, sore throat, and headache usually are gone within 24 hours. The rash, however, will remain for about three to five days.

If your child’s condition does not seem to improve with treatment, notify your pediatrician. If other family members develop a fever or sore throat at this time—with or without a rash—they, too, should be examined and tested for strep throat.

If not treated, scarlet fever (like strep throat) can lead to ear and sinus infections, swollen neck glands, and pus around the tonsils. The most serious complication of untreated strep throat is rheumatic fever, which results in joint pain and swelling and sometimes heart damage. Very rarely, the strep bacteria in the throat can lead to glomerulonephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys, causing blood to appear in the urine and sometimes high blood pressure.

Source:

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide (American Academy of Pediatrics) www.healthychildren.org

The most common infection caused by group A streptococci is a sore throat known as strep throat. Streptococcal sore throats (pharyngitis) are especially common among school-aged children and teenagers..

Signs and Symptoms

When group A streptococcus infects a child younger than 3 years, the symptoms tend to be milder than in older children. Infants with a streptococcal infection may have a low fever and thickened nasal discharge. Toddlers may have a fever, irritability, decreased appetite, and swollen glands in the neck.

When a child is older than 3 years, he may have more serious streptococcal-related symptoms such as a red and very painful sore throat, a high fever (greater than 102°F or 38.9°C), white patches of pus on the tonsils (but not always), swollen glands in the neck, and stomach ache.

An infected child will become ill two to five days after being exposed to streptococcal bacteria.

What You Can Do

Home remedies such as gargling with warm salt water may relieve some of your child’s throat pain. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help lower body temperature and lessen the pain.

When to Call Your Pediatrician

If your child has a sore throat, especially with pus on the tonsils or swollen glands, contact your pediatrician.

How Is the Diagnosis Made?

Your doctor will swab your child’s throat and tonsils to test whether he has a GAS (Group A Strep) infection. Most pediatricians’ offices have quick-result streptococcal tests that can help diagnose streptococcal infection in several minutes. A culture may be sent out to determine the most effective antibiotics to treat the infection with. This result will not be for 48 hours.

Treatment

The primary treatment is penicillin taken orally, such as: ampicillin, amoxicillin, or oral cephalosporins. If your child is allergic to penicillin, oral erythromycin is usually chosen.

Prevention

Group A streptococcal infections are very contagious. Throat infections, for example, are passed through the air by sneezing, coughing, or touching an infected child.

Source:

Immunizations & Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent's Guide (American Academy of Pediatrics) www.healthychildren.org