VIRAL ILLNESSES IN CHILDREN Flashcards
What is does the term ‘exanthem’ mean when used in the context of viral exanthem?
Exanthem is applied to diseases in which a rash is a prominent manifestation.
What is the organism that causes measles?
Paramyxovirus
Why are outbreaks of measles increasingly being seen in the UK?
Because the immunization rate fell after public concerns about the safety of the MMR vaccine with regard to increase likelihood of developing autism. This was subsequently found to be a false link.
What are the clinical features of measles?
Prodrome: irritable, conjunctivitis, fever
Koplik spots: white spots (‘grain of salt’) on buccal mucosa
Rash: starts behind ears then to whole body, discrete erythematous maculopapular rash becoming blotchy & confluent
How is measles transmitted and what is the incubation period?
Droplet spread
10 days
What are the acute complications of measles?
Febrile convulsions Otitis media Tracheobronchitis Pneumonia Rarely encephalitis
What is the very rare immune mediated neurodegenerative disease that can occur 7-10 years after measles infection?
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
How do you definitively diagnose measles?
Buccal swab analysis
Specific IgM in serum samples ideally taken 3 days after development of rash
How do you manage someone with measles?
This viral disease is managed purely symptomatically. It is however a notifiable disease.
What is the other name for rubella?
German measles
What is the virus that is responsible for rubella?
Rubivirus
What is the most important complication of rubella?
Devastating effect on the fetus in cases of maternal infection in early gestation
What are the clinical features of rubella?
Low-grade fever
Rash: pink maculopapular, initially on face before spreading to whole body, usually fades by the 3-5 day
Lymphadenopathy: suboccipital and postauricular
What are the rare complications of rubella in children?
Arthritis of small joints
Encephalitis
Thrombocytopenia
How is rubella diagnosed?
It is usually a clinical diagnosis based on features of the rash. However, this sometimes makes it difficult to differentiate from other viral exanthems.
Detection of rubella specific IgM can be used to confirm diagnosis if picture is unclear.
What are the main features of damage caused by congenital rubella where the mother contracted the virus in the first 10 weeks of gestation?
Sensorineural deafness Congenital heart disease (PDA, pulmonary stenosis) Cataracts, glaucoma, retinopathy Hepatosplenomegaly Growth retardation
What are the main features of damage caused by congenital rubella where the mother contracted the virus in weeks 13-16?
An element of hearing impairment
How should women contemplating pregnancy be managed with regard to rubella?
Screened for antirubella IgG. Those pregnant women found to be seronegative should have the vaccine AFTER delivery. Those in whom you suspect a high likelihood of congenital rubella should be consulted with regard to termination.
What is the organism responsible for erythema infectiosum?
Parvovirus B19
What are the other names used for erythema infectiosum?
Slapped cheek syndrome
Fifth disease
How does transmission of parvovirus B19 (erythema infectiosum) occur?
Respiratory secretions
Vertically
Blood products
What are the clinical features of erythema infectiosum?
Lethargy
Fever
Headache
‘Slapped-cheek’ rash spreading to proximal arms and extensor surfaces
In what 2 groups of patients is erythema infectiosum (parvovirus B19) particularly dangerous?
Virus suppresses erythropoiesis for up to 7 days, therefore it is particular dangerous in children with haemolytic anaemias such as sickle cell or hereditary spherocytosis. In these patients, parvovirus infection can cause an aplastic crisis.
Pregnant women are another group in which this virus is dangerous. Infection during pregnancy can cause hydrops fetalis and death.
How is the diagnosis of erythema infectiosum (slapped-cheek disease) confirmed?
Specific IgM can be detected 2 weeks after exposure
How many human herpes viruses have been identified?
8
What is the most common clinical manifestation of human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) in childhood?
Gingivitis