Common childhood diseases

Question 1

What are the clinical features of measles?

Answer 1

Acute febrile examthematous illness with characteristic lesions on buccal mucosa called koplik spots
Accompanied by red eyes and dry cough
Respiratory transmission
Infectious during prodrome
Possible complications include bacterial superinfection, encephalitis, bronchiectasis, sclerosing panencephalitis

Question 2

What are the clinical symptoms of Reye syndrome?

Answer 2

A rare complication of influenza, chickenpox and other viral diseases.
May be associated with aspirin use
Nausea and vomiting
Rapid development of encephalopathy, hepatic failure, hypoglycaemia seizures and coma
30% fatality rate
Treatment is supportive

Question 3

What are the clinical features of rubella?

Answer 3

Respiratory spread
Congenital rubella the most important cause of deafness and blindness
No prodrome
No or low grade fever
Lymphadenopathy
Infectious for up to 10 days from onset of rash
Avoid contact with pregnant women

Question 4

What is erythema infectiousum/ slapped cheek/ fifth disease?

Answer 4

Parvovirus b19 infection
Mild fever and malaise
Bright red flushed cheeks with circumoral pallor
May have pruritic or not rash to trunk
Avoid contact with pregnant women

Question 5

What are the clinical features of roseola infantum/ sixth disease?

Answer 5

Human herpes virus 6
High fever up to 40c
Runny nose
Rash appears after fever falls (approx 3 days) mainly on trunk

Question 6

What are the clinical features of hand, foot and mouth?

Answer 6

Cocksackie a virus
Incubation period 3-5 days
Initial fever, headache, malaise
Sore mouth and throat
Rash appears after 1-2 days
Infectious until blisters have gone

Question 7

What are the clinical features of scarlet Fever?

Answer 7

Group a streptococcus pyogenes infection
Prodrome of malaise, sore throat, fever, vomiting Rash appears on second day of illness. Feel like fine sandpaper
Treat with phenoxymethylpenicillin

Question 8

What are the clinical features of Kawasaki disease?

Answer 8

Fever, non exudative conjunctivitis, irritable, rash, dry, red, cracked lips, strawberry tongue, red palms and soles with induration and oedema, desquamation of finger tips
Main complication is coronary aneurysm
Treat early with IVIG and aspirin to prevent

Question 9

What are the clinical features of mumps?

Answer 9

Respiratory spread
Incubation period 2-3 weeks
Fever, headache, malaise for 5-7 days
Involvement of salivary glands common 
Unilateral or bilateral involvement of parotid
Symptomatic treatment
Possible complications:
- Orchitis, usually unilateral, occurs in 25% of post pubertal males. 
- aseptic meningitis
- pancreatitis