Kids, like adults, are not immune from the occurrence of various ailments. The list of childhood diseases includes many serious and dangerous conditions. Among them, pig, chickenpox, and measles deserve special attention. How these diseases manifest themselves, what treatment is needed, and whether prevention can protect against these ailments - questions that all parents ask.
What kind of mumps disease
One of the well-known childhood ailments is mumps. In the people, this disease is called a mumps. This is an acute infectious disease in which the glandular organs and the central nervous system are affected. Mumps is mainly found between the ages of 5 and 15 years. Much less often, the ailment is detected in younger and older children. The maximum incidence is observed in winter and spring.
Speaking of what “mumps" is, it is worth considering the causative agent of the disease. They are the virus. Its source is people with mumps. The virus is excreted from the body with saliva, so the route of transmission is airborne. Children can become infected from each other while in the same room. The transmission of the pathogen through infected objects is also possible. It can be toys, towels.
Symptoms of Mumps
Parents who do not know what “mumps" is worth remembering the following:
- after the causative agents of mumps enter the body, the incubation period begins (its duration can be from 11 to 26 days);
- the first symptom that can occur is an increase in temperature to 38–39 degrees;
- in children it becomes inflamed, swells, the parotid gland on one side becomes painful;
- in a couple of days, the opposite parotid gland swells (pains are felt, they intensify when chewing food, swallowing, opening the mouth).
The period of fever lasts about 3-4 days. Then the condition normalizes a little. After a while, the temperature rises again. The pathological process covers other organs. As a rule, on day 6-8, the testis is affected in the boys. It increases, severe pains arise in it. After a couple of days, the inflammation begins to subside and gradually disappears. Quite often, after damage to the salivary glands, the pancreas is involved in the pathological process. Mumps in children at this time is manifested by the following symptoms, which disappear on average per week:
- pain in the abdomen;
- nausea;
- vomiting
- decreased appetite;
- violation of the stool (diarrhea or constipation);
- dryness and texture of the tongue.
Treatment and prevention of mumps
With mumps, treatment can be carried out at home. Pediatricians prescribe:
- bed rest;
- frequent drinking;
- food intake in the first days in liquid or semi-liquid form;
- rinse your mouth after eating boiled water, 2% sodium bicarbonate solution;
- the application of dry heat to the salivary glands.
If the testicle becomes inflamed, pancreatitis or other complications (for example, meningoencephalitis) occur, then urgent hospitalization of the sick child is necessary.
Mumps in children is a disease that can be avoided. The main preventive measures are vaccinations. The vaccine is administered twice - at 12-18 months and between 2 and 6 years. Prevention of the disease also consists in the isolation of sick children at home or in the hospital. This measure, taken in a timely manner, allows to prevent the spread of the pathogen.
The essence of chickenpox
A list of childhood diseases includes chickenpox, or chicken pox. In medicine, this term refers to an infectious disease that occurs with fever and the occurrence of a vesicular (vesicle) rash. It usually develops in children under 10 years old. The maximum likelihood of chickenpox in the winter-spring period.
The causative agent is a virus from the herpes virus family. If it enters the non-immune organism, then chicken pox begins to develop. If the pathogen appears in the immune system, then herpes zoster occurs. The virus is transmitted from sick people by airborne droplets.
Clinical picture of chickenpox
After the pathogen enters the body after 13-17 days, the initial symptoms of chickenpox occur . In children , the body temperature rises to 38 degrees, there is a headache, weakness. A rash appears on the head under the scalp and face. It can cover the entire body.
Rashes are initially pinkish spots. In their place in a short period of time, papules and vesicles with transparent contents appear. After a couple of days, they burst or dry out. Dark brown crusts begin to form on the body. Sick children at this time complain of itching. After 1-3 weeks, the crusts disappear. In their place on the skin no scars remain.
Treatment and prevention of chickenpox
Children with chickenpox do not need specific treatment. Parents only need to observe them and perform the following actions:
- when itching occurs, trim the nails in children in order to prevent combing;
- lubricate the bubbles with a 1-2% solution of potassium permanganate or 1% alcohol solution of brilliant green;
- give antibiotics if they have been prescribed by a doctor in order to eliminate bacterial complications.
Specific disease prevention is the introduction of Vericella-Zoster - immunoglobulin (VZIg). It is given to susceptible children at high risk of chickenpox. There is also non-specific prophylaxis. It consists in isolating the patient, regularly ventilating the room and conducting wet cleaning.
What is measles and how is it manifested
Measles is also on the list of childhood diseases. This is a disease of an infectious nature, which is characterized by fever, catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, upper respiratory tract and nasopharynx and a maculopapular rash. The causative agent of measles is an RNA-containing virus from the paramyxovirus family. It is transmitted from sick children to healthy through the air. The incubation period lasts from 8 to 17 days.
For measles, belonging to such a group as dangerous diseases in children, 4 periods are characteristic. The first of them is called the initial one. Its duration is from 3 to 4 days. At this time, sick children begin to act up. They become lethargic, inactive. Their appetite decreases, their sleep worsens. The temperature rises to 38-39 degrees. In some cases, pain in the abdomen and loose stools appear. Diagnosis of measles can be made according to Belsky-Filatov-Koplik spots. They arise opposite small molars on the inflamed mucous membrane of the cheeks a couple of days before the end of the initial period.
On the 4th or 5th day of measles in sick children, a rash period begins. On the first day, the scalp, neck, and skin behind the ears are affected. The next day of the disease is characterized by the appearance of rashes on the arms and trunk. On the third day, the rash can already be seen on the lower extremities.
The next stage in the development of the disease is the period of pigmentation. Rashes acquire a dull shade, turn light brown. They fade on the face, trunk, limbs. The patient's general condition improves, body temperature returns to normal. On the skin, a bran-like peeling becomes noticeable. It is observed throughout the week. The convalescence period is characterized by prolonged asthenia (increased fatigue and unstable mood) and anergy (decreased immunity).
Treatment and prevention of measles
Measles in children, symptoms and treatment, prevention is an important topic, because the disease is dangerous. It can lead to death in severe illness. There is no specific treatment for the disease. Only therapy is prescribed to eliminate the symptoms:
- to reduce pain and fever, doctors prescribe Paracetamol or Ibuprofen;
- to facilitate inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract - mucolytics, expectorant drugs;
- to relieve itching - Delaxin powder, which is necessary for daily body rinsing and washing;
- antibiotics are used to eliminate pneumonia and bacterial complications.
Measles prevention is the introduction of a vaccine. The first vaccine is given in 12-15 months. Revaccination is performed at 6 years and 11 years (in the absence of vaccination at 6 years). These preventive measures are called specific. Nonspecific prevention is the early isolation of a sick child.
The list of childhood diseases includes not only the diseases considered. There are other ailments. Almost all diseases can be saved by a preventive measure. If suspicious symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.