Childhood Skin Rashes « Woodland Road Surgery

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Childhood rashes are common and aren’t usually a cause for concern. Most rashes are harmless and disappear without the need for treatment.

However, see your GP if your child has a rash and seems unwell, or if you’re worried. They’ll be able to investigate the cause and recommend any necessary treatment.

This page may give you a better idea about what could be causing the rash, but don’t use this to self-diagnose your child’s condition – always see a GP for a proper diagnosis.

The most common causes of rashes in children are:

• cellulitis
• chickenpox
• eczema
• erythema multiforme
• hand, foot and mouth disease
• impetigo
• keratosis pilaris (“chicken skin”)
• measles
• molluscum contagiosum
• pityriasis rosea
• prickly heat
• psoriasis
• ringworm
• scabies
• scarlet fever
• slapped cheek syndrome
• urticaria (hives)

The skin rash of meningitis is also covered on the page. Although meningitis has become less common over recent years, it’s important to be aware of the rash and the other signs and symptoms of meningitis.

The causes of skin rashes in babies have a separate page.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin and underlying tissue. The affected area will be red, painful, swollen and hot. It often affects the legs, but can occur anywhere on the body. Your child will probably also have a fever.

See your GP immediately if an area of your child’s skin suddenly turns red, hot and tender. If you can’t see your GP on the same day, go to a walk-in centre or minor injuries unit.

Cellulitis can usually be diagnosed by assessing the symptoms and examining the skin. It usually responds well to treatment with antibiotics.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a viral illness that most children catch at some point. It most commonly affects children under 10 years of age.

A rash of itchy spots turns into fluid-filled blisters.  They crust over to form scabs, which after a while drop off. Some children only have a few spots, whereas others have them over their entire body. The spots are most likely to appear on the face, ears and scalp, under the arms, on the chest and belly, and on the arms and legs.

There’s no specific treatment for chickenpox, but you can take steps to relieve the symptoms. For example, paracetamolcan help relieve fever (don’t give aspirin to children under 16), and calamine lotion and cooling gels can be used to ease itching.

Read more about treating chickenpox.

Eczema

Eczema is a long-term condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. The most common type is atopic eczema, which mainly affects children but can continue into adulthood.

Atopic eczema commonly develops behind the knees or on the elbows, neck, eyes and ears. It isn’t a serious condition, but if your child later becomes infected with the herpes simplex virus, it can cause the eczema to flare up into an outbreak of tiny blisters called eczema herpeticum, and will cause a fever.

About one in five children in the UK has eczema, and in 8 out 10 cases it develops before the age of five, often before a child’s first birthday.

Read about treating atopic eczema.

Erythema multiforme

Erythema multiforme is a skin rash (usually mild) that’s caused by an allergic reaction to the herpes simplex virus.

The spots look like targets, with a dark red centre and paler ring around the outside. The hands or feet tend to be affected first, followed by the limbs, upper body and face.

Your child will probably feel unwell and may have a fever, which you should be able to treat with over-the-counter medicine. It may take from two to six weeks before they feel better. See your GP if your child has a rash and seems unwell.

In rare cases, erythema multiforme can be triggered by a reaction to certain medications, such as an antibiotic or anticonvulsant. This more severe form is called Stevens-Johnson syndrome and it can be life-threatening.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common infection that causes mouth ulcers and spots on the hands and feet.

It’s most common in young children (particularly those under 10), but it can also affect older children and adults.

There’s no cure for hand, foot and mouth disease, so you have to let it run its course. Your child’s immune system will fight the virus and it should clear up within 7 to 10 days.

Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. If eating and swallowing is uncomfortable, give them soft foods, such as mashed potatoes, yoghurt and soup.

Children don’t need to stay off school or nursery if they have hand, foot and mouth disease.

Impetigo

Bullous impetigo rashNon-bullous impetigo rash

Impetigo is a common and highly contagious skin infection that causes sores and blisters. It isn’t usually serious and often improves within a week of treatment. There are two types of impetigo – bullous and non-bullous.

Bullous impetigo typically affects the trunk (the area of the body between the waist and neck), and causes fluid-filled blisters that burst after a few days to leave a yellow crust.

Non-bullous impetigo typically affects the skin around the nose and mouth, causing sores that quickly burst to leave a yellow-brown crust.

See your GP if you think your child has impetigo. Antibiotics, in the form of a cream or tablets, will be prescribed. This should reduce the length of the illness to around 7 to 10 days.

Keratosis pilaris (“chicken skin”)

Keratosis pilaris is a common and harmless skin condition. The skin on the back of the upper arms becomes rough and bumpy, as if covered in permanent goose pimples. Sometimes, the buttocks, thighs, forearms and upper back can also be affected.

Keratosis pilaris typically begins in childhood and gets worse during puberty. Some people find it improves after this and may even disappear in adulthood.

There’s no cure for keratosis pilaris, and it often gets better on its own without treatment. However, there are some measures you can take that may improve your child’s rash, such as using non-soap cleansers rather than soap, and an emollient to moisturise their skin. Your GP or pharmacist will be able to recommend a suitable cream.

Measles

Measles is a highly infectious illness that most commonly affects young children. It’s now rare in the UK because of the effectiveness of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The measles rash is red-brown blotches. It usually starts on the head or upper neck and then spreads outwards to the rest of the body. Your child may also have a fever and cold-like symptoms.

Call your GP surgery immediately if you think your child has measles. It’s best to phone before visiting because the surgery may need to make arrangements to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.

Measles usually passes in about 7 to 10 days without causing further problems. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to relieve fever, aches and pains (don’t give aspirin to children under 16). Also, make sure your child drinks plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Read more about treating measles.

Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that causes clusters of small, firm, raised spots to develop on the skin.

It commonly affects young children aged 1 to 5 years, who tend to catch it after close physical contact with another infected child.

The condition is usually painless, although some children may experience some itchiness. It usually goes away within 18 months without the need for treatment.

Molluscum contagiosum is highly infectious. However, most adults are resistant to the virus, which means they’re unlikely to catch it if they come into contact with it.

Pityriasis rosea

Pityriasis rosea is a relatively common skin condition that causes a temporary rash of raised, red scaly patches to develop on the body. Most cases occur in older children and young adults (aged between 10 and 35).

The rash can be very itchy. In most cases, it clears up without treatment in 2 to 12 weeks, although in rare cases it can last up to 5 months.

Emollients, steroid creams and antihistamines can be used to help relieve the itchiness. The rash doesn’t usually leave scars, although the skin can sometimes be discoloured afterwards.

Read more about the treating pityriasis rosea.

Prickly heat (heat rash)

Prickly heat (heat rash), also known as miliaria, is an itchy rash of small, raised red spots that causes a stinging or prickly sensation on the skin.

It occurs when the sweat ducts in the outer layer of skin (epidermis) are obstructed. You can get a heat rash anywhere on your body, but the face, neck, back, chest or thighs are most often affected.

Infants can sometimes get a prickly heat rash if they sweat more than usual – for example, when it’s hot and humid or if they’re overdressed. It isn’t a serious condition and rarely requires any specific treatment.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a long-lasting (chronic) skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.

The severity of psoriasis varies greatly from person to person. For some people, it’s just a minor irritation, but for others it can have a major impact on their quality of life.

There’s no cure for psoriasis, but there are a number of treatments that can help improve the symptoms and appearance of skin patches. For example, topical corticosteroids are creams and ointments that can be applied to the skin.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a highly infectious fungal skin infection that causes a ring-like red or silvery patch on the skin that can be scaly, inflamed or itchy.

Ringworm often affects the arms and legs, but it can appear almost anywhere on the body. Other similar fungal infections can affect the scalp, feet, groin and nails.

Ringworm can usually be easily treated with antifungal medicines, which are available from a pharmacy. Ringworm of the scalp can cause scaling and patches of hair loss. It’s treated with antifungal tablets, often combined with antifungal shampoo.

Scabies

Scabies is a contagious skin condition that’s intensely itchy. It’s caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin.

In children, scabies is usually spread through prolonged periods of skin-to-skin contact with an infected adult or child – for example, during play fighting or hugging.

The mites like warm places, such as skin folds, between the fingers, under fingernails, or around the buttock creases. They leave small red blotches, which are often found on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. In infants, blisters are commonly found on the soles of the feet.

See your GP if you think your child has scabies. It’s not usually a serious condition, but it does need to be treated. Your GP will prescribe a lotion or cream. Read more about treating scabies.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a highly contagious bacterial infection that usually affects children between 2 to 8 years of age. It causes a distinctive pink-red rash, which feels like sandpaper to touch and may be itchy.

It often starts with a sore throat, fever and headache, with the rash developing 2 to 5 days after infection. The rash usually occurs on the chest and stomach before spreading to other areas of the body, such as the ears and neck.

Scarlet fever usually clears up after about a week, but see your GP if you think your child may have it.  Antibiotics are used to treat it (liquid antibiotics, such as penicillin or amoxicillin, are often used to treat children).

Slapped cheek syndrome

Slapped cheek syndrome – also known as fifth disease or parvovirus B19 – is a viral infection that’s common in children aged 6 to 10.

It causes a distinctive bright red rash to develop on both cheeks. This can look alarming, but it usually clears up by itself in 1 to 3 weeks.

Unless your child is feeling unwell, they don’t need to stay away from school. Once the rash appears, the infection is no longer contagious. However, it’s a good idea to notify your child’s school about the infection.

Urticaria (hives)

Urticaria – also known as hives, weals, welts or nettle rash – is a raised, itchy rash that can affect one part of the body or be spread across large areas. It’s a common skin reaction that often affects children.

Urticaria occurs when a trigger causes high levels of histamine and other chemical messengers to be released in the skin. These substances cause the blood vessels in the skin to open up, resulting in redness or pinkness, and swelling and itchiness.

There are many possible triggers of urticaria, including allergens, such as food or latex, irritants, such as nettles, medicines, and physical factors, such as heat or exercise. Sometimes, a cause can’t be identified.

The rash is usually short-lived and mild, and can often be controlled with antihistamines.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges).

The classic rash associated with meningitis usually looks like small, red pinpricks at first. It then quickly spreads over the body and turns into red or purple blotches.

Get immediate medical advice if, upon pressing the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin, the rash doesn’t fade.

Read more about the symptoms of meningitis.

You can also use the meningitis symptom alert to help you recognise the signs, which includes a printable checklist.

Types, Symptoms, and Treatment in Adults and Babies

Viral infections are illnesses caused by a virus rather than bacteria or fungi. Many viral infections, especially those that tend to affect toddlers and children, can cause skin rashes.

While they can look alarming, these rashes usually aren’t a cause for concern, and they disappear once the infection clears up. Viral rashes are caused by either an immune response to the virus or damage to skin cells from the virus.

Read on to learn more about the symptoms of viral rashes, including when you should reach out to a healthcare professional.

The characteristics of viral rashes can vary greatly. However, most look like splotchy red spots on lighter skin or purplish spots on darker skin.

These spots might come on suddenly or appear gradually over several days. They can also appear in a small section or cover multiple areas. For example, a measles-related rash starts on your cheeks before eventually spreading to your torso and limbs.

Viral rashes might also feel itchy or painful to the touch. The best way to identify a viral rash is to check for any symptoms of a viral infection, such as:

• fever
• chills
• body aches
• fatigue

Measles

Share on PinterestMeasles is a highly contagious viral infection. It can cause many symptoms, including a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body. phichet chaiyabin/Shutterstock

Measles is a highly contagious disease among people who are not protected by a vaccine. It can be dangerous in young children and infants.

The measles rash generally starts off as a red, blotchy rash on the face. Over the course of a few days, it can spread to the torso and then the rest of the body.

The rash typically consists of flat pink or red spots that appear 3 to 5 days after infection. On darker skin, it can be flesh-colored to slightly purplish-gray, with flat to slightly raised bumps.

The rash occurs because your immune system detects the virus as it travels through your bloodstream. Immune cells then release chemicals to destroy the virus. However, these chemicals also cause skin inflammation, resulting in a rash.

Symptoms of measles infection may include:

• high fever with spikes of more than 104° F (40° C)
• cough
• runny nose
• conjunctivitis, a condition where the eyes become red and watery
• blotchy rash that spreads from the face to the body

German measles (rubella)

Share on PinterestRubella is a viral illness that causes a rash on the face that spreads to the rest of the body. Akkalak Aiempradit/Shutterstock

The rubella virus, also known as German measles, typically causes mild illness in both children and adults. However, this can cause stillbirth or miscarriage and severe birth defects in developing babies.

People with rubella can pass the virus to others by sneezing and coughing as well as through their saliva. They may be contagious for a full week before they develop a rash. They’ll usually continue to be contagious for another week after the rash appears.

The rash caused by German measles typically starts on the face, and within 3 days, it spreads to the rest of the body. The rash can appear red on light skin. It may be hard to see on darker skin but feel rough or bumpy to the touch.

Symptoms of German measles can include:

• low-grade fever
• headache
• swollen lymph nodes
• cough or runny nose

Mononucleosis (mono)

Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This virus is common in teenagers and young adults but can occur at any age. A rash may occur with infection, though it is not the primary symptom.

Like its nickname — the kissing disease — suggests, mono is passed through bodily fluids like saliva.

Mono can have three different types of rashes. Mono rashes can appear as:

• A generalized rash. This looks like generalized red spots on lighter skin to pinkish-purple on darker skin, and it can be either flat or small bumps.
• A drug rash. Mono is caused by a virus and isn’t treated with an antibiotic. Someone may be mistakenly diagnosed with strep throat and treated with an antibiotic, which may result in a drug rash. The rash is usually temporary, and it will likely be itchy, raised, and splotchy.
• Petechiae. These can look like small reddish-purple dots on the skin or inside the mouth. They happen from broken capillaries. When you apply pressure, petechiae stay the same color.

Symptoms of mononucleosis may include:

• fatigue
• fever of 101°F (38.3°C) to 104°F (40°C)
• sore throat
• swollen lymph nodes
• rash

Chickenpox

Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, causes a rash with fluid-filled pustules. This virus is highly contagious to those who have not been vaccinated.

You can catch chickenpox by coming into contact with the saliva of a person who has the virus, such as when they sneeze or cough. You can also get the disease by touching the blisters or the liquid inside the blisters. Pregnant people can also pass chickenpox to their babies before birth.

For those who have received one or two doses of the chickenpox vaccine, milder breakthrough cases can occur, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The chickenpox rash typically has three phases:

1. Raised bumps appear on the skin. Depending on the color of your skin, they may appear pink, red, brown, or purplish.
2. These bumps then become fluid-filled blisters.
3. The blisters eventually burst and scab over.

Symptoms of chickenpox may include:

• itchy rash
• fever
• tiredness and feeling unwell
• headache
• loss of appetite

Shingles

Shingles infection is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, you are at risk of developing shingles.

The risk of reactivating the virus increases with age, and 1 out of every 2 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime, according to the CDC.

You can get shingles from direct contact with blisters or the fluid inside them.

Shingles involves a reactivation of the chickenpox virus that’s lying dormant in your nerves. When the virus reactivates, it travels down your nerves to your skin. As the virus spreads there, the shingles rash begins to form.

Though similar to chickenpox spots in children, the shingles rash and illness are often more severe in adults. Older adults may also be at risk for complications such as nerve pain, blindness, and neurological conditions.

People who develop shingles often note that pain occurred at the site where the rash develops. Unlike the rash caused by a chickenpox infection, a shingles rash typically occurs on one side of the body, often in a single area or stripe.

Symptoms of a shingles infection may include:

• rash that can occur in a single area of the skin
• fever
• headache
• fatigue
• chills
• photosensitivity (sensitivity to light)
• upset stomach

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Share on PinterestHand, foot, and mouth disease is a common infectious disease that’s caused by the coxsackievirus. adriaticfoto/Shutterstock

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by viruses in the enterovirus family. It commonly affects children under age 5, but it can affect people of any age.

It can be very contagious but does not typically cause serious illness. You can get hand, foot, and mouth disease by coming into contact with the bodily fluids of a person who has the virus. This includes:

• saliva
• mucus
• feces
• the fluid inside of their blisters

Like its name suggests, the rash associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease often occurs on those parts of the body.

People with the virus can develop painful sores on the back of the mouth and a rash on their skin. This rash can look like flat, red to purple spots or liquid-filled blisters.

While it often appears on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, it can show up on other parts of the body as well. Per the CDC, this might include the:

• knees
• elbows
• buttocks
• genital area

Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease can include:

• fever
• flu-like symptoms
• rash
• mouth sores
• sore throat
• headache
• reduced appetite
• malaise or generally not feeling well

Fifth disease

Share on PinterestFifth disease is a viral illness caused by parvovirus, which can cause a ‘slapped cheek’ rash. Kardelen Yang?n via Wikipedia

Fifth disease is a viral illness that can cause a red rash on the cheeks or limbs. It is also known as slapped cheek disease.

In children, fifth disease can be mild, but it may be more severe for:

• adults
• people who are pregnant
• people with weakened immune systems

This virus spreads through bodily fluids, such as the respiratory particles in saliva and mucus, when a person with the virus coughs or sneezes. It can also be passed during pregnancy to an unborn child and by blood.

The rash caused by fifth disease more commonly appears in children, per the CDC. It may be itchy or go through periods of itchiness. Some people may develop a second rash on another part of the body a few days later.

Symptoms of fifth disease can include:

• fever
• rash
• runny nose
• headache
• joint pain and swelling

Roseola

Share on PinterestRoseola is a common viral illness in small children. It causes a rash that usually occurs after a fever. phadungsak sawasdee/Shutterstock

Roseola, also known as sixth disease, is a contagious illness that typically affects children 6 months to 2 years old. The virus enters the body through the nose and mouth from the respiratory droplets of a person with the virus.

Children with roseola often experience a rash after symptoms of high fever and mild respiratory illness.

The rash caused by roseola tends to first appear on the trunk of the body before spreading to the arms and legs.

The spots can appear pink or slightly darker tones, depending on the color of the child’s skin. When touched, the spots may become lighter in color, a sign that the small capillaries are dilated. On darker skin, this may be harder to see.

The rash often appears as the fever decreases.

Symptoms of roseola include:

• respiratory symptoms
• sudden high fever
• fever that continues for 3 to 4 days
• swelling of the eyelids
• irritability
• rash

West Nile virus

Share on PinterestWest Nile virus can cause a rash that may resemble rashes from other viral illnesses. Sejvar JJ. (2014). Clinical manifestations and outcomes of West Nile virus infection. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/6/2/606

The West Nile virus is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. It can affect people of all ages.

Many people who have this virus don’t develop any symptoms of the disease. But 1 in 5 people may develop a fever that occurs with other symptoms, including a rash.

The West Nile virus can cause a maculopapular rash, with both flat discolored spots and raised bumps. It tends to appear on the trunk and limbs 5 days after other symptoms, such as fever and fatigue, begin.

Symptoms of the West Nile virus include:

• fever
• fatigue
• headache
• body aches
• joint pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• rash

Some people with the West Nile virus develop a serious and sometimes fatal illness that affects the central nervous system. Severe symptoms may include:

• high fever
• disorientation
• stiff neck
• coma
• tremors
• paralysis

Zika virus

Share on PinterestZika virus is a recently discovered viral illness that can cause rash. Koenig KL, et al. (2016). Identify-isolate-inform: A tool for initial detection and management of zika virus patients in the emergency department. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/72w2v02d

The Zika virus is mostly spread by Aedes mosquitos that have the virus. A person who contracts the virus while pregnant can also pass the virus to their child, which may cause birth defects.

The Zika virus rash often appears as red spots and blotches that start on the face. It then spreads to the torso and limbs, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

According to a 2020 study, itchiness also tends to occur with an infection.

Symptoms of Zika infection may include:

• rash
• itchiness
• joint pain
• headache
• fever
• muscle weakness
• conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Dengue fever

Dengue fever is a disease transmitted by an infected mosquito. It can cause either mild or severe illness.

Rash may occur in two phases of the disease. It can first appear as facial flushing that feels warm to the touch. A second rash can also occur 3 days to 1 week following the fever.

This rash has flat pinkish or red spots that can merge together. There may be circular areas where the skin is clear and central pinpoint spots that bleed, often called white islands in a sea of red.

Symptoms of dengue fever can include:

• fever
• rash
• nausea and vomiting
• pain behind the eyes
• muscle, joint, or bone pain

Warning signs of severe dengue usually begin 24 to 48 hours after the fever has gone down and can include:

• pain in the abdomen
• bleeding from the nose or gums
• blood in vomit, which can appear like coffee grounds
• blood in stool, which may appear like red blood or black stool

While it’s always a good idea to talk with a doctor when you notice a new rash, you should definitely make an appointment if you have a rash that:

• lasts longer than a week, especially if it doesn’t seem to be improving
• starts to blister
• spreads rapidly or is all over your body
• shows signs of redness, swelling, and oozing
• is painful

Many viral infections can cause a skin rash. Most viral infections clear up on their own, but some may require antiviral medication. Contact your doctor if the rash doesn’t seem to be getting any better after a week.

You should also reach out to a healthcare professional if you have a rash and live in or have recently visited a tropical or subtropical climate. Viruses spread by insects tend to be more common in these areas and may require antiviral medication.

Measles or chickenpox: doctor Markova explained how to tell one from the other by the rash

• Health

After a covid respite, measles began to take on active action: outbreaks were reported in one region or another since the beginning of the year. From January to March, more than a thousand people fell ill in the country.

April 27, 20231

Source:

iStockphoto

Some statistics

Already in January 2023, local outbreaks of measles began to be recorded in Novosibirsk, Omsk, Altai Territory, Samara, Volgograd. From the last – an outbreak in Dagestan. According to the local Rospotrebnadzor, by April 20, 188 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles were registered in the republic.

In St. Petersburg, the incidence has also increased, and at times. If for the whole of last year, according to “Doctor Peter”, only one imported case was detected in the city, then by the end of April the number of cases officially reached 33, including 14 children. Recall that before the start of the pandemic in St. Petersburg, dozens of cases were registered for three years in a row – for example, in 2019, the number of cases of measles in the city was about a hundred. However, COVID-19 curbed the infection for a while.

Total 1089 cases of measles were registered in the country from January to March . This was announced by the head of the federal Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova. However, as noted by the chief sanitary doctor, the risks of a measles epidemic in Russia are excluded . This is due to the high vaccination coverage of the population, which on average exceeds 95%. At the same time, recent foci of infection in regions with the most difficult epidemiological situation — in the Novosibirsk and Samara regions, as well as in the Republic of Dagestan — have been localized.

Is it measles or chickenpox?

These infections are often confused, because for a person far from medicine, they are in many ways similar. What do they have in common and how do they differ from each other, we asked Daria Markova, Deputy Director for Pediatrics at the SM-Clinic in St. Petersburg.

Both measles and chickenpox are viral infections, and they also have a common mode of infection – airborne droplets. If measles mainly enters the body through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth, then chickenpox can also be obtained by direct contact with a rash or saliva of a sick person.

They also have in common that both diseases are considered childhood diseases, although in reality it is easy to get infected with them in adulthood. In addition, they are more likely to cause more serious complications in adults than in children.

Measles is especially dangerous for the immune system and the central nervous system.

• With measles, the level of vitamins C and A in the body is sharply reduced, which leads to a weakened immune system and increases the chances of catching other infections. So, in adults, the disease can flow into pneumonia or acute otitis media with the threat of damage to the auditory nerve.

• One of the most serious CNS complications of this infection is encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain tissue.

Chicken pox can cause such serious diseases as:

“Both diseases are dangerous for pregnant women. Chickenpox transferred in the first trimester can lead to the death of the fetus or the development of congenital chickenpox syndrome in it. Measles, in turn, is dangerous for miscarriage and severe disorders in the development of the fetus, ”added Daria Markova.

Read also

Three differences between measles and chickenpox

1. Both infections are characterized by a sharp increase in temperature. But with measles, it is usually slightly higher than with chickenpox – about 39.5-40 degrees .

2. Measles is characterized by whitish spots that appear on the oral mucosa . Outwardly, they resemble semolina. No other infectious disease has this symptom.

3. Measles can be recognized by painful sensations and itching in the eyes . Since the mucous membranes are the first to take the hit, measles is often accompanied by conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the outer mucous membrane of the eyes.

How to distinguish measles from chickenpox by rash

Measles is characterized by a rash in the form of bumps rising above the skin – papules surrounded by red spots. The rash appears in stages: first on the head, neck and shoulders, and then on the chest, arms and legs.

With chickenpox, the rash looks like small blisters with liquid . As the disease progresses, they burst and are replaced by small sores, which eventually become covered with a crust. The rashes are uneven and can appear simultaneously all over the body, but often on the scalp. Bubbles of the rash can be not only on the skin, but also on the mucous membranes, for example, in the mouth or in the perineum. For measles, this is uncharacteristic.

Previously, Nadezhda Almasri, a pediatrician at the Gemotest laboratory, spoke about the seven most common misconceptions about measles.

How and when to get vaccinated against measles

Measles is vaccinated in childhood. According to the National Immunization Schedule, the child receives the first dose of the vaccine at the age of 6 years, the second – at 6 years of age. As a rule, this is enough to form immunity to measles for the next 18-20 years. To prolong the effect at the age of 25, doctors recommend another scheduled revaccination.

Adult vaccination has its indications. First of all, it is advised to get vaccinated if a person was not vaccinated in childhood or if he does not know about it for sure. Women can be additionally vaccinated at the stage of pregnancy planning. Finally, vaccination is indicated before traveling to countries with a high incidence of measles. For adults, vaccination is carried out in two stages, while the second dose is administered 1-2 months after the first to develop a full immune response.

Text author: Anastasia Romanova

whooping cough, scarlet fever, measles, chickenpox, rubella and mumps

There are a number of infectious diseases that are commonly called children’s, since they are ill mainly in childhood. As a rule, a child gets sick with childhood infections only once, then he develops strong immunity for life. Childhood infections are measles, rubella, scarlet fever, chickenpox (chickenpox), mumps (mumps), and whooping cough.

Symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in children (chickenpox)

If after a short fever, runny nose and redness of the eyes/throat, a rash appears on the child’s body, then any mother will understand that it is chickenpox. All parents should know the symptoms and treatment of chickenpox in children, because it is important not only to diagnose the infection in time, but also to carry out competent treatment.

The first sign of chickenpox is a characteristic rash – small, reddish-pink nodules with uneven edges, which most often appear on the face and upper limbs. After a few hours, a small bubble forms on the surface of the nodule, which is filled with a translucent yellowish liquid. After 8-12 hours, the bubbles open on their own, the rash becomes covered with a dense crust, which gradually disappears.

The incubation period of chickenpox is 3-5 days, at this stage it is not possible to identify the disease. Parents should, when the first symptoms of chickenpox appear, consult a doctor (call him at home), but no specific treatment will be prescribed. With chickenpox, symptomatic therapy is recommended – for example, a child may need antipyretics, drugs that relieve itching of the skin. Very rarely, doctors prescribe Cycloferon, which is able to prevent the development of a purulent bacterial infection against the background of chickenpox, which greatly facilitates the course of the disease.

A chickenpox infection in a kindergarten implies its closure for quarantine.

Symptoms and treatment of scarlet fever in children

Scarlet fever is an acute infectious disease characterized by intoxication, fever and profuse punctate rash. The source of infection is a sick child, or a healthy carrier of streptococci – it is this pathogenic microorganism that provokes the development of scarlet fever.

Symptoms and treatment of scarlet fever in children are well known to doctors, so there will be no problems with diagnosis. This disease always begins acutely, with a sharp rise in temperature, up to 39degrees. The child complains of headache and nausea, there is pain when swallowing. Already at the end of the first day of the disease, a small and itchy rash appears, which rapidly covers the entire body. To the touch, the skin becomes excessively dry, reminiscent of sandpaper.

Treatment of scarlet fever is carried out at home, only in case of a severe course of the disease the child can be placed in a hospital. To suppress streptococcus, antibiotic therapy is prescribed, the throat must be rinsed with a solution of furacilin or infusions of chamomile / calendula. Without fail, as part of the treatment of scarlet fever, antihistamines and vitamins are prescribed.

Symptoms and treatment of whooping cough in children

Whooping cough most commonly affects children under 5 years of age who have not been vaccinated. It is generally accepted that whooping cough is most dangerous for children of the first year of life, at an older age the disease is milder.

All parents need to know the symptoms and treatment of whooping cough in children, because this disease is infectious and a sick child can infect all surrounding children. As a rule, the disease begins with a slight fever, general weakness and a slight cough. Then, after a few days, the child begins to worry about a specific cough with tears and spasms, upon hearing which, the pediatrician will immediately suspect whooping cough. It is noteworthy that before this whooping cough appears, parents consider their child to be healthy, but with a slight cold – he may even attend preschool, which leads to the spread of infection.

Treatment is prescribed by a doctor, having previously made an analysis for whooping cough – a bacterial culture on biomaterial from the pharynx of a sick child. This, firstly, makes it possible to clarify the diagnosis, and secondly, it helps to identify the true causative agent of the infection and select a competent / effective treatment.

As a rule, treatment is carried out with the help of antibacterial drugs, antihistamines and antitussives are also prescribed.

Mumps, measles and rubella

These diseases are also considered infectious and dangerous. For example, the symptoms of mumps in children would be:

• temperature increase up to 40 degrees;
• ear pain;
• increased salivation;
• pain when chewing and swallowing;
• swelling of the cheek from the side of the affected parotid gland.