Here - Health Promotion Agency

Illness and accidents
ILLNESS INFECTIOUS PERIOD
INCUBATION PERIOD
(The time between
catching an illness and
becoming unwell)
(When your child can
give the illness to
someone else)
CHICKEN POX
11–21 DAYS
From the day before the
rash appears until all the
spots are dry.
From a few days before
until 4 days after the
appearance of the rash.
MEASLES
7–12 DAYS
MUMPS
14–21 DAYS
From a few days before
becoming unwell until
swelling goes down.
Maybe 10 days in all.
PARVOVIRUS
B19
(ALSO CALLED
FIFTH DISEASE
OR SLAPPED
CHEEK DISEASE)
Variable
1–20 DAYS
It is most infectious in the
days before the rash
appears.
RUBELLA
(GERMAN
MEASLES)
14–21 DAYS
One week before and at
least 4 days after the rash
first appears.
WHOOPING
COUGH
7–14 DAYS
From the first signs of the
illness until about 6 weeks
after coughing first starts.
If an antibiotic is given,
the infectious period is up
to 5 days after beginning
the course of treatment.
HOW TO RECOGNISE IT
Begins with feeling unwell, a rash and maybe a slight
temperature. Spots are red and become fluid-filled blisters
within a day or so. Appear first on the chest and back, then
spread, and eventually dry into scabs, which drop off. Unless
spots are badly infected, they don’t usually leave a scar.
Begins like a bad cold and cough with sore, watery eyes.
Child becomes gradually more unwell, with a temperature.
Rash appears after third or fourth day.
Spots are red and slightly raised; may be blotchy, but are not
itchy. Begins behind the ears, and spreads to the face and neck
and then the rest of the body. Children can become very
unwell, with cough and high temperature.
The illness usually lasts about a week.
At first, your child may be mildly unwell with a bit of fever,
and may complain of pain around the ear or feel
uncomfortable when chewing. Swelling then starts under the
jaw up by the ear. Swelling often starts on one side, followed
(though not always) by the other. Your child’s face is back to
normal size in about a week. It’s rare for mumps to affect
boys’ testes (balls). This happens rather more often in adult
men with mumps. For both boys and men, the risk of any
permanent damage to the testes is very low.
Begins with a fever and nasal discharge. A bright red rash
similar to a slap appears on the cheeks. Over the next 2-4
days, a lacy type of rash spreads to the trunk and limbs.
Can be difficult to diagnose with certainty. Starts like a mild
cold. The rash appears in a day or two, first on the face, then
spreading. Spots are flat. On a light skin, they are pale pink.
Glands in the back of the neck may be swollen. Your child
won’t usually feel unwell.
Begins like a cold and cough. The cough gradually gets worse.
After about 2 weeks, coughing bouts start. These are
exhausting and make it difficult to breathe. Your child may
choke and vomit. Sometimes, but not always, there’s a
whooping noise as the child draws in breath after coughing.
It takes some weeks before the coughing fits start to die down.
WHAT TO DO
No need to see your GP unless you’re unsure whether it’s chicken pox, or your child is very
unwell and/or distressed. Give plenty to drink. Paracetamol will help bring down a
temperature. Baths, loose comfortable clothes and calamine lotion can all ease the itchiness.
You should also inform the school/nursery in case other children are at risk.
Keep your child away from anyone who is, or who is trying to become,
pregnant. If your child was with anyone pregnant just before he or she became
unwell, let that woman know about the chicken pox (and tell her to see her GP).
Sometimes chicken pox in pregnancy can cause miscarriage or the baby may be
born with chicken pox.
See your GP. If your child is unwell give him or her rest and plenty to drink. Warm drinks
will ease the cough. Paracetamol will ease discomfort and lower the temperature. Vaseline
around the lips protects the skin. Wash crustiness from eyelids with warm water.
Your child may not feel especially ill and may not want to be in bed. Baby or junior
paracetamol will ease pain in the swollen glands. Check correct dosage on pack. Give
plenty to drink, but not fruit juices. They make the saliva flow, which can hurt. No need to
see your GP unless your child has stomach ache and is being sick, or develops a rash of small
red/purple spots or bruises.
Although this is most common in children, it can occur in adults. In the majority of cases
it has no serious consequences, but it may cause complications for people with chronic
anaemic conditions (e.g. sickle cell disease). Rarely, in pregnant women who are not
immune to the disease, the infection may result in stillbirth or affect the baby in the womb.
Pregnant women who come into contact with the infection or develop a rash
should see their GP as soon as possible.
Give plenty to drink.
Keep your child away from anybody you know who’s up to 4 months pregnant (or trying to
get pregnant). If your child was with anyone pregnant before you knew about the illness, let
her know. If an unimmunised pregnant woman catches German measles in the first 4
months of pregnancy, there is a risk of damage to her baby.
Any pregnant woman who has had contact with German measles should see her
GP. The GP can check whether or not she is immune and, if not, whether there
is any sign of her developing the illness.
If your child has a cough that gets worse rather than better and starts to have longer fits of
coughing more and more often, see your doctor. It’s important for the sake of other
children to know whether or not it’s whooping cough. Talk to your GP about how best to
look after your child and avoid contact with babies, who are most at risk from serious
complications.
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