Childhood Viral Infections Flashcards
Name 6 notifiable diseases
Acute meningitis Acute poliomyelitis Measles Mumps Rubella Smallpox
What antibodies are in breast milk?
IgG
IgA
Virus that causes measules
Paramyxovirus- enveloped single stranded RNA virus
Describe the transmission for measles
Person-person. Droplet spread
Infectivity of measles and incubation period
4 days before rash to 4 days after disappearance (10-12 days incubation)
Natural hosts for measles
Only humans
Clinical features of measles
Rash, fever, conjunctivitis, coryza and cough
Koplick spots 1-2 days before rash.
Complications of measles
Otitis media Pneumonia Diarrhoea Acute encephalitis Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
Describe the features of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
Rare, fatal, late (7-30 yrs after measles) infection in pregnancy- 20% foetal loss
Treatment for measles
Supportive
Antibiotics for superinfection
Prevention of measles
MMR-1yr
Describe the causative organism for chicken pox
Varicella Zoster Virus-herpes virus- DNA virus
How is VZV transmitted?
Respiratory spread/personal contact
Incubation period for VZV
14-15 days
Infectivity of VZV
2 days before onset of rash until vesicles dry up.
Describe the rash in VZV
Centripetal (starts on trunk and diffuses peripherally)
Macular?papular>vesicuar>papular
Complications of VZV
Pneumonitis (increased risk for smokers)
CNS involvement
Thrombocytopenic purpura
Shingle (zoster)
Treatment for VZV
Aciclovir
Chlorpheniramine can relieve itch (>1yr)
Prevention for VZV
Live vaccine- 2 doses (not routine)
VZ immunoglobulins given in high risk cases
Where is Rubella a problem?
Poland
Causative organism for rubella
Togavirus, RNA virus
Transmission for rubella
Droplet spread
Incubation period for rubella
14-21 days
Infectivity of rubella
1 wk before rash to 4 days after
Clinical features of rubella
50% infectious children are asymptomatic. Non specific prodrome. Lymphadenopathy. V. non specific rash-behind ears, face and neck
Complications of rubella
Thrombocytopenia. Post infectious encephalitis, arthritis
Complications of rubella in pregnancy
‘congenital rubella syndrome’- more severe when contracted early in pregnancy.
Cateracts and other eye defects
Deafness
Cardiac abnormalities
Microcephaly
Retardation of intra-uterine growth
Inflammatory lesions of brain, liver, lungs and bone marrow