Baby infection after. Specific childhood infections

In junior childhood the immune system continues to form, so kids are prone to frequent illnesses. Mostly these are infectious diseases: bacterial and viral. The expanded circle of communication of the child also contributes to their occurrence: on a walk with other children or in a child care center.

In addition, not all children are taught the rules of hygiene at this age; there may still be a habit of pulling various objects, toys or fingers into their mouths. Therefore, most children cannot avoid bacterial and viral diseases.

The most common childhood illnesses at an early age are infections: endless colds, intestinal infections, influenza, tubinfection (tubintoxication), etc.

It is advisable for parents to know their manifestations, which will help to timely suspect the disease and consult a doctor. Symptoms of intoxication at the onset of infections may be similar, but there are still specific manifestations.

ARVI

According to statistics, ARVI is the most common disease in children, especially at an early age in the cold season. ARVI accounts for 90% of all infections in children. On average, a child can get a respiratory infection up to 6-8 times a year.

This frequency is due to the fact that the body has not yet met the virus and has not developed antibodies to it. Frequent ARVIs are not a manifestation of an immunodeficiency state in a child, they only reflect the frequency of contact with the source of a viral infection.

Respiratory infections caused by parainfluenza viruses, influenza viruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses, rhinosyncytial viruses are more common. More than 300 species of pathogens are known, and there is no cross-immunity between them.

Different respiratory viruses affect mucosal cells at different levels respiratory tract: rhinovirus - in the nasal cavity, parainfluenza - in the trachea and larynx, influenza - in the trachea and bronchi. The main reason the disease is an underdevelopment of the immune system: interferon (a substance that provides local immune protection of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract) is produced in children in smaller quantities and more slowly than in adults.

More susceptible to disease are children born and not received breastfeeding (that is, not protected by maternal antibodies to viruses); weakened children suffering from hypotrophy, allergic diseases.

A child becomes infected by airborne droplets in public transport, in a store, in a kindergarten. Viruses are contained in the exhaled air of the patient, are released when coughing and sneezing. The incubation period (the time from infection to the onset of disease manifestations) is often several hours, but no more than 3 days.

The symptoms of ARVI are:

• an increase in temperature - from subfebrile numbers to high fever (can last for several days);
• (because of her, the child becomes moody);
• joint and muscle pain;
• loss of appetite;
• catarrhal phenomena (nasal congestion, perspiration and sore throat, cough, hoarseness).

There are distinctive features in symptoms, depending on the type of pathogen:

1. When parainfluenza the general condition of the child suffers less, the onset of the disease is usually gradual, the temperature rises within 37.5 0 C. The characteristic distinguishing features are nasal congestion, hoarseness, dry, rough ("barking") cough, and a complication can be false croup or stenosis of the larynx, manifested by difficulty breathing.
2. Adenovirus infection more often causes severe intoxication (headache, lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite), high temperature and prolonged (up to 2 weeks) fever. Persistent symptoms This infection is: runny nose (due to inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose), sore throat (tonsils become inflamed, tonsillitis develops), lacrimation (), multiple enlargement of the lymph nodes.

On examination, redness and enlargement of the tonsils are revealed, purulent discharge from the lacunae of the tonsils. Swelling of the eyelids, redness of the conjunctiva may appear first on one eye, and then on the other, and persist for a week or more.

At an early age with adenovirus infection manifestations from the outside can also be found digestive tract: watery stools with mucus for 3-4 days, in rare cases and vomiting.

1. For respiratory syncytial infection (RSV infection) the defeat of both the lower and upper respiratory tract is characteristic: against the background of an increase in temperature, a runny nose appears; at first dry, and from 3-4 days with sputum, cough; shortness of breath with shortness of breath.

Every fourth child develops pneumonia (). The appearance of cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle and shortness of breath indicates the severity of the infection and is an indication for hospitalization of the child. Croup can also be a complication. The course depends on age: the smaller the child, the greater the risk of a severe course. Immunity is unstable, possibly recurrent disease RSV infection after some time.

1. Flu : of the three main types of virus in children, viruses B and C cause disease more often. Distinctive features are the predominance of symptoms of intoxication: high fever with chills, pain in eyeballs (complaints of children "eyes hurt"), headache, lack of appetite, weakness. Of the catarrhal phenomena, there is a dry cough (with damage to the trachea). On days 4-5, it becomes wet.

Children with ARVI should be treated by a pediatrician. Properly prescribed treatment reduces the risk of complications. Hospitalization is required in case of severe illness. The child is recommended to bed rest, plenty of warm drinks (juices, decoctions of dried fruits and rose hips, tea with lemon). This does not mean that the baby needs to be forcibly held in bed. When he feels bad, he himself will tend to lie down. As you feel better, let him move, but active games and gymnastics should be excluded.

Children under 3 years old need drug treatment... All drugs for the treatment of ARVI are divided into 2 groups: and symptomatic drugs.

At an early age, the following antiviral drugs are used (but only as prescribed by a pediatrician!):

• Grippferon (nose drops) - has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory effect;
• Viferon (rectal suppositories, nasal ointment);
• Anaferon for children - homeopathic remedy in the form of tablets for resorption (for babies, the tablet must be dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water);
• Remantadine and Relenza for the treatment of influenza;
• Groprinosin - activates the immune system and prevents the spread of infection.

Antiviral drugs have the greatest effect when prescribed from the first day of illness.

Antibiotics have no effect on the virus. They are assigned when severe course diseases, weakened children with the threat of bacterial infection layering, since in 10% of cases a viral infection is complicated as a result of the development of a bacterial disease.

Symptomatic treatment consists in eliminating the manifestations of a respiratory disease. The temperature should not be reduced below 38 ° C: with fever, interferon, which suppresses the multiplication of the virus, is produced in the body faster. Reducing the temperature, thereby oppressing defensive reactions the organism itself. Only with a predisposition to febrile (that is, with an increase in temperature) seizures, a lower temperature (above 37.5 0 C) is also reduced.

As antipyretics, drugs containing Ibuprofen and Paracetamol (Nurofen, Efferalgan-baby, Panadol-baby) are used. Aspirin is contraindicated in children. With nasal congestion, Otrivin-baby, Nazol-baby, etc. are prescribed, but for no more than 5 days. In case of inflammation in the throat, sprays up to 2 years of age should not be used because of the risk of bronchospasm. If you can teach the child to gargle, then rinse with a solution of furacilin or chlorophyllipt, as well as chamomile infusion.

To get rid of a dry cough, it is important to ensure that your baby is drinking enough and moisturizing the air. To facilitate the discharge of sputum when wet cough mucolytics are used. At an early age (from 2 years old), Ambroxol (Lazolvan, Ambrobene), Bromhexine in syrup, ACC can be used.

Inhalation is effective in fighting cough. They are conveniently carried out using (an inhalation device, convenient for use at home; read how to use a nebulizer). When normal temperature you can use hot foot baths, after which you need to wipe your feet thoroughly and pour mustard powder into your socks (you can leave it overnight).

Laryngitis

Laryngitis in children early age can manifest itself not only with a cough, but also with difficulty breathing.

Inflammation of the larynx (laryngitis) - enough frequent illness in young years. A variety of it is croup or stenosing laryngitis, which can develop against the background of a respiratory infection or be of an allergic nature.

The incidence of croup is explained by anatomical features: swelling of the mucous membrane easily occurs in the vocal cords, therefore, with inflammation, with the accumulation of mucus, reflex muscle spasm, the passage of air during inhalation is difficult.

Most often, croup occurs in babies at the age of 2-3 years with parainfluenza, but it can also be caused by adenoviruses and rhinosyncytial viruses. Overweight and allergic problems in the child are contributing factors.

Signs of croup (which can develop at night) are hoarseness or complete loss of voice, "barking" cough, shortness of breath, restlessness of the child. If symptoms of croup appear, you need to call an ambulance without delay.

Parents' tactics before the arrival of the doctor:

• you should calm the baby, provide access to moist air and drink plenty of fluids;
• give an antipyretic agent (if there is a high fever);
• restore breathing through the nose with drops.

The development of croup is an indication for hospitalization of a child in a hospital, where they can use: inhalations with bronchial dilating agents, mucolytics; inject and corticosteroids, depending on the severity of the croup.

Enterovirus infection

An infection caused by enteroviruses is also a common disease in babies in the first 3 years of life. The virus is very resistant to external environment, is excreted from the patient's body and virus carrier when coughing and talking, as well as with feces.

Infection is possible by airborne droplets, by contact and household (through toys and other objects), by fecal-oral route (through food and water) if hygiene rules are not followed. The incubation period is 2-10 days.

The onset of infection is acute. Fever is high and may be wavy. The infection is characterized by symptoms of damage to the respiratory and digestive organs against the background of intoxication. Since the virus multiplies in the lymph nodes, there is an increase in them in the neck and in the submandibular region.

One of the signs of the disease is a rash on the skin of the upper half of the trunk and arms in the form of red spots or bubbles. The rash disappears after 4-5 days, leaving a slight pigmentation.

The defeat of various internal organs with the development of such forms of infection:

• sore throat with lesions of the oropharynx (with a rash on the mucous membrane of vesicles with liquid contents, which open up with the formation of ulcers, covered with a white bloom);
• conjunctivitis with eye damage (redness of the mucous membrane, lacrimation, photophobia, swelling of the eyelids);
• myositis with damage to the muscles of the trunk or limbs (soreness in the area of \u200b\u200bthese muscles);
• enteritis with lesions of the intestinal mucosa is manifested by liquid stools of the usual color without mucus and blood against the background of fever or without it;
• in the heart, damage to different parts is possible: the heart muscle (with development), the inner membrane and valves (endocarditis), or all membranes (pancarditis); the manifestation will be increased heart rate, pain in the heart, drop in pressure, rhythm disturbance;
• defeat nervous system leads to the development (inflammation of the lining of the brain) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain substance), the signs of which are intense headache, repeated vomiting, convulsions, paralysis and loss of consciousness are also possible;
• damage to the liver cells causes the development of hepatitis, the symptoms of which will be pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea, fever, weakness.

Specific remedies for treatment enterovirus infection no, symptomatic treatment is carried out, diet therapy is prescribed. Measures are taken to prevent dehydration, detoxification therapy is prescribed. The duration of the disease is up to 2 weeks.

Whooping cough

DTP vaccine save from whooping cough

This bacterial infection caused by whooping cough. Infection by airborne droplets occurs through close contact with a patient, who can become an adult, since immunity after vaccination is noted only for 5-10 years. Whooping cough is especially dangerous for children under 2 years old. The prevalence of the disease has decreased due to the planned, but still it is often recorded due to the refusal of some parents to vaccinate their child.

The incubation period is 5 days on average. The onset of the disease is acute. Symptoms resemble ARVI: low temperature, dry cough, well-being suffers little. It is difficult to diagnose whooping cough at this stage.

But gradually the baby's condition worsens, the cough becomes paroxysmal, spasmodic. During an attack, the child's face becomes red-cyanotic. The intensity of the attacks increases, during the attack, temporary respiratory arrest (apnea) may occur.

Frequent attacks of coughing lead to poor circulation, including cerebral circulation. At the end of the attack, there may be vomiting or a lump of vitreous mucus.

In severe cases, the child is hospitalized. Treatment includes antibiotic therapy (Augmentin, Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Rulid), oxygen therapy, sedatives, anticonvulsants, antiallergic drugs, mucolytics (thinning phlegm), immunomodulators. In severe cases, corticosteroids are used.

Pertussis treatment is a very lengthy process. Coughing fits continue even after the destructive effect of the antibiotic on the whooping cough bacteria, which is associated with the defeat of the cough center by the toxins of the pathogen.

Any stimulus can provoke an attack. Therefore, you should provide the baby with a calm environment (eliminate stress), give chopped food in small portions. It is very important to walk in the early morning by the reservoir, and in the apartment - ensuring the flow of fresh, moist air.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is an acute bacterial infection caused by streptococcus, characterized by the appearance of a sore throat, a rash, symptoms of intoxication, fever and the possible development of allergic and purulent-septic complications... The incidence is higher in the autumn-winter season. After the illness, strong immunity develops.

Children usually get sick after 2 years, they become infected more often in kindergarten, where outbreaks and epidemics can occur. The disease is usually transmitted by contact and airborne droplets, but the food route of infection is not excluded. A sick child is dangerous to others from 1 to 21 days inclusive. The infection can be transmitted through a third party (when not the child himself is in contact with the sick person, but, for example, the parent, who then passes the infection on to his child).

The incubation period is 3-7 days. The onset of the disease is acute, the baby becomes lethargic, a headache appears, fever rapidly builds up with chills (the temperature reaches 39-40 0 С), vomiting may appear. On the very first day of the disease, a small-point, bright pink rash appears against the background of redness of the skin.

The predominant localization of rashes is on the lateral surfaces of the body, in natural skin folds (axillary, inguinal, gluteal), on the face. Puffiness of the face and a pale nasolabial triangle, where there is no rash, are characteristic of scarlet fever; feverish glitter of eyes; red lips.

A mandatory manifestation of scarlet fever is: enlarged tonsils and the soft palate are bright red, on the surface and in the lacunae of the tonsils, pus. Submandibular lymph nodes are enlarged and painful. Typical changes are noted in the language. First, it is coated, from 2-3 days it begins to clear, acquiring by the 4th day characteristic appearance: bright red, with prominent papillae ("crimson tongue").

In a severe course of the disease, there may be excitement of the child, delirium, convulsions, which indicates damage to the central nervous system. The rash lasts about a week and disappears (without pigmentation). Peeling of the skin is noted at 2-3 weeks from the onset of the disease. A characteristic symptom of scarlet fever is lamellar peeling on palmar surface hands and feet.

Complications of an infectious-allergic nature from the kidneys and heart in young children are rare. Pneumonia may develop. Carrier bacteria can persist for up to a month after an illness or longer (in the presence of chronic inflammation in the nasopharynx).

Children with scarlet fever are usually treated at home, providing the child with isolation (in a separate room for 10 days) and separate dishes. Bed rest is prescribed for up to 10 days to prevent complications. A mechanically and thermally sparing diet (mashed warm food), drinking plenty of fluids is recommended. Children with severe illness are hospitalized.

Drug treatment includes:

• antibiotic therapy (the basis of treatment): antibiotics of the penicillin series are used (inside or intramuscularly), and if they are intolerant - macrolides (Erythromycin, Sumamed, etc.) - the duration of the course and the dose is determined by the doctor;
• antiallergic drugs (Cetrin, Suprastin, Tavegil, etc.);
• vitamin therapy;
• local treatment: gargling with extracts of chamomile, sage, calendula, furacilin solution.

The child is admitted to the nursery 22 days after the illness. After scarlet fever, lifelong immunity is noted.

Rubella

A viral, non-severe infectious disease with airborne infection. Children over a year old are sick, as earlier they were protected by antibodies received from the mother. The contagiousness of the virus is not high, therefore, infection occurs only with close contact with the patient.

The incubation period is 2-3 weeks. Already at the end of this period, slight malaise and an increase in the occipital, posterior cervical and parotid lymph nodes are noted ( distinctive feature rubella).

The onset of infection is acute with a moderate rise in temperature. Pink spots appear on the oral mucosa. Then a rash appears on the face. Very quickly, during the first day of the illness, it spreads over the entire surface of the body, and may be accompanied by a lung.

The rash is profuse, most of its elements are on the back and buttocks of the child, but they do not exist on the palms and soles. The rash has the appearance of spots that rise somewhat above the surface of the skin. On the face, the rash tends to merge.

On the 3rd or 4th day, the rash turns pale and disappears without a trace. Slight peeling may remain. The enlargement of the lymph nodes persists for about 2 weeks. Atypical forms diseases proceed without rashes, but the infectious period is not reduced.

With rubella, symptomatic treatment is carried out (antipyretic drugs, antiallergic drugs, drinking plenty of fluids). The prognosis is usually good, complications are extremely rare. The infectious period is 2 weeks (one week before the rash and a week after).

Chickenpox

A common sign of chickenpox is a blistering rash all over the body.

The infection spreads through the fecal-oral route through water, food, household items, toys, dirty hands (some children at this age continue to stick everything in their mouths). There is a seasonal rise in the incidence in the summer-autumn period.

The clinical manifestations of AEI in young children have much in common, regardless of the type of pathogen:

• acute onset of the disease;
• symptoms of intoxication (fever, malaise, weakness, lack of appetite);
• intestinal dysfunction (nausea, vomiting, loose stools);
• stomach ache.

The nature of the chair may differ:

• abundant, watery - with AEI caused by viruses and opportunistic microflora;
• scanty, with an admixture of mucus and streaks of blood - with dysentery;
• abundant, such as swamp mud - with salmonellosis, etc.

When rotavirus infection catarrhal manifestations in the form of a runny nose, cough are often noted. For dysentery, a characteristic symptom is false urge to bowel movement.

Almost 70% of AEI cases in younger age have a mild to moderate degree. In severe cases, due to frequent vomiting and profuse stools, dehydration may develop.

The doctor makes the diagnosis based on clinical manifestations and the results of the study (bacteriological culture of feces and vomit, serological and immunological analysis blood).

Mild forms of OCI can be treated at home. Moderate and severe forms require medical supervision, intravenous administration of solutions for the purpose of detoxification and replenishment of fluid and mineral losses, therefore, children are treated in a hospital.

Treatment for OCI includes:

• bed or semi-bed rest;
• diet: exclude fresh fruits and vegetables, broths, fresh pastries and juices; feeding in small portions is introduced (but often), the use of fermented milk products, mucous soups and cereals is recommended;
• rehydration (restoration of the water-salt balance to the norm): the introduction of solutions in the form of a drink (Regidron, Glucosol, Oralit, carrot-raisin broth, chamomile infusion) or drip introduction of special solutions into a vein (in severe cases). The amount of fluid required is determined by the doctor depending on the degree of dehydration and the age of the child.
• antibacterial and antiviral drugs, their dosage and the duration of the treatment course should also be selected by a doctor (Nifuroxazide, Ersefuril, Viferon are more often used);
• enterosorbents (promoting the elimination of toxins from the body) - Smecta, Polyphepam, Enterosgel (after 2 years);
• restoration of normal intestinal microflora: probiotics are used (, Bifiform, Bifidumbacterin, Enterol);
• symptomatic treatment (antipyretics, enzymatic drugs, etc.).

Affective respiratory attacks (ARP)

They talk about ARP when the baby literally "walks in" crying, freezes on inhalation, his lips turn blue, and breathing stops for a short time (for 30-60 seconds) (apnea). There is a spasm of the muscles of the larynx, and such attacks resemble laryngospasm. In addition to "blue" attacks, there are also "white" ones, which develop in response to pain and resemble fainting: the baby turns pale, the pulse is dramatically slowed down or disappears for a short time.

Single ARP, as a manifestation of strong negative emotions, at an early age are noted in every fourth person. healthy child, and in 5% of children they are repeated many times.

The appearance of ARP is promoted by a lack of calcium in the body, which leads to spasm of the larynx. With the syndrome of increased nervous excitability, the likelihood of seizures increases. A hereditary predisposition to their appearance is not excluded.

Usually ARPs occur at 2-3 years of age. The frequency of attacks varies, from several a day to one a year. They appear reflexively and then can disappear without a trace, being an age feature. But such a child must also be shown to a psychologist.

Studies have shown that ARPs occur equally often in naughty babies with a tendency to hysteria, and in children with normal behavior. The supervision of a pediatric neurologist is necessary to exclude neurological and cardiological pathology. There are also data on the relationship of ARP with blood diseases.

Parents' tactics for ARP in a child:

• during an attack, take the child in your arms, do not panic;
• to restore breathing, you need to pat the child on the cheeks, massage the ears, wipe the face with cold water;
• some children calm down faster if left and walked away;
• try to distract the child with any action, without focusing on his behavior;
• not to indulge the whims of the baby and not to protect him from negative emotions, you should teach him to manage emotions.

Medication is usually not required. With recurring ARPs, you should use the help of a psychologist.

Worm infestations (helminthiasis)

In the presence of pinworm children are worried about severe itching in the anal area, especially strong at night... In a dream, children comb the skin in the perineum, pinworm eggs fall under the baby's nails, which causes repeated self-infection.

There are common signs of helminthiasis:

• decreased appetite;
• increased salivation;
• lack of body weight with proper nutrition;
• frequent nausea, vomiting;
• abdominal pain (usually paroxysmal, in the navel);
• bloating;
• unstable stools (diarrhea and constipation);
• pallor of the skin;
• increased fatigue;
• allergic manifestations on the skin;
• restless sleep;
• unreasonable temperature rise 37.1-37.5 0 С;
• imbalance and moods.

When ascariasis Due to migration in the body, worms can cause foci of inflammation of the lung tissue, which is manifested by paroxysmal dry cough, shortness of breath, bronchospasm and even hemoptysis. Skin allergic manifestations such as urticaria are also characteristic.

Abdominal pain can be so severe that it mimics an acute surgical pathology (“ sharp stomach"). A massive invasion of roundworms can cause or blockage of the biliary tract and jaundice.

In case of invasion whipworm one of the symptoms of the disease is anemia or edema of different localization.

Complications of enterobiasis are often recurrent vulvovaginitis (inflammation of the vagina) in girls, urinary incontinence, eczema of the anal region, appendicitis.

Children with helminthiases are included in the group of frequently ill patients (acute respiratory infections, stomatitis, pyoderma, etc.). Neurological manifestations often develop: headache, dizziness, obsessive tics (sniffing, blinking, grimacing).

The diagnosis can be confirmed by analyzing stool for eggs of worms, scraping from the folds of the perianal region (for pinworms). Sometimes the study has to be repeated several times.

In the treatment of helminthiasis, chemotherapy is used, homeopathic remedies, phytopreparations. Onions, pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, walnuts.

Of medications Vermox (Mebendazole) is more commonly used. Effective drugs are also Diphezil, Kvantrel. But you should not self-medicate. Each drug has both indications and contraindications. Treatment should be prescribed by a pediatrician or infectious disease specialist.

Resume for parents

The main diseases in children from one to three years of age are viral or bacterial infections. A child at this age begins to walk in kindergarten, the number of contacts increases, therefore it is not so easy to protect a child from diseases.

The baby's immune system is still developing. Breastfeeding and the transmission of maternal antibodies to the baby are important. You can strengthen the child's body by hardening.

It is important that parents adhere strictly to hygiene rules and instill hygiene skills in children from early childhood. Parents need to know the signs of the most common childhood illnesses in order to seek timely medical attention. Self-medication is dangerous!

Which doctor to contact

If the baby is sick, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician, and in a serious condition (intractable fever, repeated vomiting, child's sleepiness and impaired consciousness, rapidly spreading skin rash and other severe symptoms) must be called " Ambulance". The child is likely to need treatment in the infectious diseases ward.

Additionally, you may need to consult specialized specialists depending on the affected organs. So, with myocarditis, the patient is examined by a cardiologist, with meningitis, encephalitis - by a cardiologist, laryngospasm, otitis media - by an ENT doctor. Gastroenterologist, pulmonologist advise the patient in the development of hepatitis and pneumonia, respectively.

If a child suffers from colds more than 6 times a year, he may need to consult an immunologist.

1, average: 5,00 out of 5)

This collection is intended for a wide range of readers. It describes the most common acute infectious diseases in children. Along with such childhood infections as measles, scarlet fever, chickenpox, etc., diseases are included that are equally common in adults, but pose a great danger to children. These are influenza and epidemic hepatitis (Botkin's disease), diseases that have attracted special attention in recent years.

What causes all these diseases, how they are infected and what measures can be taken to prevent them - this is the main content of this section.

The section is designed for a wide range of readers. It provides basic information about widespread infectious diseases in children. Particular attention is paid to caring for sick children at home and preventing infectious diseases.

Infectious diseases in children

Other diseases and injuries occurring in children

The fight against childhood infectious (infectious) diseases has been and remains one of the main tasks of public health.

This fight is now becoming especially important in connection with the decree providing for a sharp decrease in the incidence of infectious diseases and the complete elimination of some of them.

Numerous cadres of medical workers are engaged in solving this problem, starting with prominent scientists of all specialties (microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, pediatricians) and ending with nurses. However, for this struggle to be more successful, parents must take an active part in it. Without the conscious and active help of broad strata of the population, many preventive measures, that is, measures that help prevent the disease, become much less effective. But in order to provide this help, you need to know the main signs of these diseases, ways of spreading and measures to prevent them.

This section was written to familiarize a wide audience with the most common childhood infectious diseases and modern methods their prevention and treatment. The so-called childhood infections include: diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, chickenpox, rubella, mumps, poliomyelitis. The name "childhood infections" has become widespread, but these diseases can also be in adults, but more often they affect children aged 1 to 8 years. The predominant incidence of these infections in childhood is explained by the ease and speed of their spread with a large possibility of contact (especially in child care facilities, kindergartens, nurseries, schools).

Many parents believe that every child must inevitably endure childhood infectious diseases, and the sooner he gets sick, the easier it will be to endure the disease. This is, of course, not true. It should be remembered that almost any disease can be prevented and that every disease, including an infectious one, weakens the child's body and inhibits its development, sometimes by for a long time... The younger the child, the more harm the disease brings him. Therefore, the joint efforts of parents and medical workers should be aimed at preventing the occurrence of infectious diseases, especially in the first years of a child's life.

The socio-economic importance of childhood infectious diseases is also very high: they disrupt normal life childcare facilities, quarantines interrupt mothers from production, sometimes for a long time, which interferes with the work of production, creates difficulties in family life and leads to large expenditures of public funds.

Propedeutics of childhood diseases

In the third edition of "Propedeutics of Childhood Diseases", all the main sections of the teaching about a healthy child, about his nutrition and caring for him were revised anew and underwent some revision from the standpoint of the basic ideas of the physiological teachings of IP Pavlov. All chapters were also supplemented and changed in accordance with new literature data and our own experience.

We tried to give the student a short textbook that would allow him, not only from the standpoint of creative Soviet Darwinism and the physiological doctrine of I.P. Pavlov, to master the foundations of the doctrine of a healthy child, but which would interest him and help him fall in love with his future specialty - pediatrics. We wanted the student - the future pediatrician - to understand the enormous importance of knowing the age characteristics of a healthy child and the decisive influence on the development of children and the resistance of their body to any negative influences of the correct organization of their environmental factors, care for them, their nutrition and upbringing.

In practical lessons in the course of propaedeutics of childhood diseases, the student must acquire the correct skills for objective research of the child in order to be able to catch even insignificant deviations from the norm noted in initial phases diseases. Helping the student in this is also one of the tasks of the textbook.

A pediatrician in his daily work should focus on the prevention of childhood diseases and already at the student's bench "acquire a taste" for this work. This is one of the main tasks of correct education of a student of the pediatric faculty; a textbook on the propaedeutics of childhood diseases should help teachers in this work.

In describing the methodology for the study of children and the general semiotics of childhood diseases, we considered it necessary to dwell only on the features of using the main clinical methods assessment of the health status of children of different ages. The theoretical foundations of these methods are presented additionally in practical classes and are described in detail ”in the textbooks of diagnostics and propaedeutics of internal diseases. We are sincerely grateful to all the comrades who sent us their critical remarks, and we are especially grateful to the members of the Academic Council of the Leningrad State Pediatric Medical Institute for all their valuable comments and instructions made by them during the discussion of the second edition of our textbook.

All critical remarks that will be made to us about the third edition of "Propedeutics of Childhood Diseases" will be accepted with sincere gratitude.

The published textbook - "Propedeutics of Childhood Diseases" - is intended for students of pediatric faculties of medical institutes. When compiling the textbook, the experience of teaching the propaedeutics of childhood diseases to students of the Leningrad State Pediatric Medical Institute was used and criticism made in relation to the chapters written for the "Manual on Pediatrics" by MS Maslov, AF Tura and M.G. Danilevich (vol. I, 1938). These chapters, largely revised, form the basis of this textbook.

Perhaps there will be defects in our work, so we will accept with gratitude all the instructions and comments that will be made by the heads of departments, practitioners and the students themselves.

The fourth edition, the appearance of which arose already two months after the publication of the third edition, comes out without any significant changes and additions and only errors and misprints that have accidentally crept in have been corrected.

The content and objectives of the course of propedeutics of childhood diseases

The original content of pediatrics as one of the medical disciplines has expanded significantly. Pediatrics has long ceased to be a science only about the treatment of sick children and is now considered as a teaching about a healthy and sick child. This teaching covers physiology, dietetics, hygiene, pathology and treatment of a child from birth to puberty. Modern pediatrics pays particular attention to great attention prevention of diseases in children. Every pediatrician in their daily life practical work should not only be a full-fledged attending physician who knows how to make an accurate diagnosis and correctly treat a sick child, but he should also be a good preventive doctor, who knows perfectly well the child's diet, who knows how to organize the necessary care and establish a rational regimen for an individual healthy child of any age, so and for the whole children's team. The children's doctor should not be aloof from the issues of raising children. All these various aspects of the activity of the pediatrician, the student should learn and study mainly during the course of clinical pediatrics. Propedeutics of Childhood Illness is an introduction to the pediatric clinic.

The course of propaedeutics of childhood diseases includes the following four main sections: 1) anatomical and physiological characteristics of children, including the laws of the physical and neuropsychic development of a child; 2) the method of objective research of children, including the features of collecting anamnesis; 3) general semiotics of childhood diseases; 4) the diet of a healthy child with the basic elements of the technology of baby food.

Without a clear knowledge of these sections, the preventive and curative work of a pediatrician is absolutely unthinkable. A correct assessment of the data of ordinary physical, laboratory and other methods of clinical research of a child and an understanding of the originality of the pathology of children are possible only if there is enough deep knowledge age anatomical and physiological characteristics of a growing child's body. Without knowledge of the laws of the physical and neuropsychic development of children, it is impossible to carry out the correct organization of social and individual protection of childhood, it is impossible, therefore, to ensure the prevention of childhood diseases. This knowledge should underlie the rationally set physical education of children.

The clinical study of children requires a significant uniqueness of medical technology, the study of which should also be included in the course of the propaedeutics of childhood diseases.

Brief information on general semiotics major diseases children should provide the student with the correct orientation during the course of faculty and hospital pediatrics.

In the activities of a pediatrician, as mentioned above, preventive and curative work are closely and inextricably linked. That is why, in the course of propaedeutics of childhood diseases, great attention should be paid to the diet of a healthy child and the basics of individual hygiene of children as the main elements in the daily preventive work of every practical pediatrician. The preventive aspect of the activities of pediatricians has acquired particular importance in the Soviet Union, since in our country the vast majority of children, starting from a very early age, are served by preventive and curative children's institutions, in which their life and health largely depend on the correct way of doing things.

It would be a big mistake to think that one can become a good pediatrician without a thorough knowledge of general theoretical disciplines (anatomy, histology, physiology, pathophysiology, etc.) studied in junior courses, and clinical disciplines in various sections of adult pathology studied in senior courses. A pediatric doctor can only be guided correctly and confidently in all theoretical and practical issues of his specialty if he has good general medical training in all disciplines included in the program of higher medical school. Only under this condition will he clearly understand all the features of the physiology and pathology of children at different age periods.

It should be especially emphasized that every pediatrician should know very well infectious diseases childhood and should be well versed in matters of general and private epidemiology.

The need for such versatile knowledge undoubtedly makes pediatrics a difficult specialty, but on the other hand, this path of study provides in the future good pediatrician a wide outlook and extremely interesting and fruitful opportunities for practical and scientific activity.

Children's infectious diseases have been known since antiquity. Written sources from Mesopotamia, China, ancient Egypt (II-III centuries BC) indicate a description of cases of tetanus, poliomyelitis, erysipelas, mumps and fever in children. And only since the XX century vaccine prevention of such diseases has been introduced. Historically, infectious diseases that occur mainly in children are called childhood diseases.

So, childhood infections - This is a group of infectious diseases that are registered in the overwhelming majority in the children's age group, are transmitted from a sick child to a healthy child and are capable of acquiring an epidemic spread (that is, acquiring an outbreak or mass character).

What could be the reason for the allocation of childhood infections into a separate group? Due to the high prevalence, the first meeting with the causative agent of the infection occurs precisely in childhood. In rare cases, a child manages to live to an adult state without becoming infected from patients or carriers of the causative agents of these infectious diseases. After a disease, persistent (sometimes lifelong) immunity is formed, so most adults do not suffer from these diseases again.
Due to close contacts in the children's age group, when one sick person occurs, infection of the rest is almost always observed.

What infections are called childhood infections?

1. Traditional childhood diseases with an aerogenic mechanism of infection (rubella, chickenpox, whooping cough, diphtheria, measles, scarlet fever, mumps, poliomyelitis, pneumococcal infection, hemophilic infection)
2. Infections occurring both in the children's age group with the possibility of developing outbreaks of the disease in collectives and among adults with various mechanisms of infection (meningococcal infection, infectious mononucleosis, acute respiratory diseases, acute intestinal infections, acute viral hepatitis A).

A child can become infected with almost any infectious disease through accidental contact with a sick person. An exception is the first year of a baby's life, when maternal antibodies to many diseases circulate in his blood, which protects his body from infection when meeting an infectious pathogen.

Causes of childhood infections

The source of infection is humans. It can be painful with a clinically expressed form of the disease, an asymptomatic form of the disease, as well as a carrier of an infectious pathogen.

One of the most frequent questions of parents: when does a patient become contagious and how long can he infect?

Contagious period in childhood infections

Disease	The beginning of the infectious period	Is the child contagious during the illness	Is the child contagious after the disappearance of the complaints (recovery)
		The period in which you can infect others (contagious period)
Rubella	3-4 days before symptoms appear	the entire period of the rash + 4 days
Measles	4 days before symptoms appear	the entire period of the rash + 4 days
Chickenpox	from the first symptoms of the disease	the entire period of the rash + 5 days
Scarlet fever	from the first symptoms of the disease	first days of illness	not contagious
Whooping cough	the day before the onset of symptoms	1 week of illness \u003d 90-100% "infectiousness", 2 weeks. \u003d 65%, 3 weeks. \u003d 35%, 4 weeks \u003d 10%	more than 4 weeks
Diphtheria	with the onset of the disease - the first symptoms	2 weeks	more than 4 weeks, "carrier" more than 6 months
Mumps (mumps)	1 - 2 days before the first symptoms	up to 9 days of illness	not contagious
Polio	1-2 days before the first complaints	3-6 weeks
Hepatitis A	from 3 - 23 days	the entire period of jaundice, 1 month	months
Dysentery	from the first symptoms of the disease	the entire period of illness	1 - 4 weeks, months
Salmonellosis	from the first symptoms of the disease	the entire period of illness	3 weeks, then more than a year in 1 - 5% of patients

Infection mechanism with traditional childhood infections - aerogenic, and route of infection: airborne. Infectious nasopharyngeal mucus, bronchial secretion (phlegm), saliva, which when coughing, sneezing, talking, the patient can spray in the form of a fine aerosol at a distance of 2-3 meters from himself. All children who are close to the sick person are in the contact zone. Some pathogens spread well at a distance. For example, the measles virus in the cold season can spread through the ventilation system in a separate building (that is, patients can be from the same entrance of the house, for example). Also, the contact-household transmission route (household items, toys, towels) is of epidemiological significance. In this regard, everything depends on the stability of pathogens in the external environment. But, despite this, an example is the high infection rate with chickenpox by the contact-household route with the resistance of the virus in the external environment for only 2 hours. The causative agents of scarlet fever and diphtheria are highly resistant in the external environment, therefore, the contact-household route is also significant. Also, in some diseases, infection occurs through the fecal-oral route (intestinal infections, hepatitis A, poliomyelitis, for example), and factors of transmission can be both household items - toys, furniture, dishes, and infected food.

The susceptibility to childhood infections is quite high. Of course, specific prevention (vaccination) does its job. Due to it, an immunological layer of people immune to measles, mumps, poliomyelitis, whooping cough, diphtheria is created. However, unvaccinated children who are at risk remain quite vulnerable. In childhood infections, it is characteristic frequent occurrence collective outbreaks of infection.

Features of the course of childhood infections

Children's infectious diseases have a clear cycle. There are several periods
diseases flowing from one to another. Allocate: 1) incubation period; 2) prodromal period; 3) the height of the disease; 4) the period of convalescence (early and late).

Incubation period - this is the period from the moment a child contacts a source of infection until a symptom of the disease appears. During this period, the child is called contact and is in quarantine (under the supervision of medical workers). The quarantine can be minimum or maximum. Typically, the quarantine period is set for the maximum incubation period. During this period, the health of the contact child is monitored - they measure the temperature, monitor the appearance of symptoms of intoxication (weakness, headaches, and others).

The incubation period for childhood infections

Rubella from 11 to 24 days
Measles 9 to 21 days
Chickenpox 10 to 23 days
Scarlet fever from several hours to 12 days
Whooping cough 3 to 20 days
Diphtheria from 1 hour to 10 days
Mumps (mumps) 11 to 26 days
Poliomyelitis 3 to 35 days
Hepatitis A from 7 to 45 days
Dysentery 1 to 7 days
Salmonellosis from 2 hours to 3 days

As soon as one of the complaints appears, the second period begins - premonitory, which is directly related to the onset of the disease. For the most part, the onset of the disease in childhood infections is acute. The child is worried about the temperature, symptoms of intoxication (weakness, chills, headaches, fatigue, sweating, loss of appetite, drowsiness, and others). The temperature reaction can be different, but in the vast majority of children - the right type fever (with a maximum in the evening and a decrease in the morning), the height of the fever may vary depending on the pathogenicity of pathogens of childhood infections, the infectious dose, and the reactivity of the child's body itself. More often it is a febrile temperature (more than 38 °) with a peak by the end of the first or second days of the disease. The duration of the prodromal period is different depending on the type of childhood infectious disease, but on average 1-3 days.

The height of the disease characterized by a specific symptom complex (that is, symptoms characteristic of a particular childhood infection). The development of specific symptoms is accompanied by a continuing fever, the duration of which is different for different infections.

A specific symptom complex is the sequential occurrence of certain symptoms. For whooping cough, this is a specific cough that has a dry and paroxysmal character with several short cough thrusts and a deep wheezing breath (reprise). For mumps (mumps), this is an inflammation of the parotid, submandibular and sublingual salivary glands (swelling of the parotid region, soreness when touched, puffy face, pain in the affected area, dry mouth). Diphtheria is characterized by a specific lesion of the oropharynx (enlarged tonsils, edema and the appearance of a characteristic grayish fibrinous plaque on the tonsils). For hepatitis A, the peak period is manifested by the appearance of jaundice. With poliomyelitis, a characteristic lesion of the nervous system.

However, one of the most common manifestations of childhood infections is rash (infectious exanthema)... It is the rash that is "frightening business card»Infections in children and requires correct decoding. The rash can occur at once or in stages.

With rubella, the rash has a small-spotted, and then a maculopapular character, occurs mainly on the extensor surfaces of the limbs and the trunk - the back, lower back, buttocks, the background of the skin is not changed. First appears on the face, then spreads to the trunk during the day. Disappears without a trace.

With measles, a maculopapular rash is observed, a descending sequence of rashes is characteristic (1 day of rash - face, scalp, upper chest, 2nd day of rash - trunk and upper half of the arms, 3rd day of rash - lower arms, lower limbs, and the face turns pale), the rash tends to merge, after disappearance, skin pigmentation remains. Sometimes a rubella rash resembles a measles. In this situation, a specific symptom comes to the doctor's aid - Filatov-Koplik spots (on the inner side of the cheeks, whitish-greenish papules that appear on days 2-3 of the illness).

Filatov spots with measles

With chickenpox, we see a vesicular rash (vesicular), the elements of which are located against a background of redness. First, this spot, then it rises, a bubble with a serous transparent liquid is formed, then the bubble dries up, the liquid disappears and a crust appears. Typical rashes with repeated rises in temperature every 2-3 days. The period from the moment the rash appears until the crusts completely disappear lasts 2-3 weeks.

With scarlet fever on a hyperemic background of the skin (background of redness), abundant pinpoint rash... The rash is more intense in the area of \u200b\u200bskin folds (elbow folds, armpits, inguinal folds). Nasolabial triangle pale and rash-free. After the rash disappears, peeling, lasting 2-3 weeks.

Meningococcal infection (meningococcemia) is characterized by the appearance of a hemorrhagic rash, first of a small, and then a confluent character in the form of "stars". The rash often appears on the buttocks, legs, arms, eyelids.

In addition to the rash, any childhood infection is characterized by lymphadenopathy (an increase in certain groups lymph nodes) ... Participation lymphatic system - an integral part of the infectious process in infections. With rubella, there is an increase in the posterior cervical and occipital lymph nodes. With measles, the cervical lymph nodes are enlarged, with chickenpox - behind the ear and cervical, and with scarlet fever - the anterior cervical lymph nodes. With mononucleosis - a strong increase in the posterior cervical lymph nodes (packets of lymph nodes are visible when the child's head turns).

The period of convalescence (recovery) characterized by the extinction of all symptoms of infection, the restoration of the functions of the affected organs and systems, the formation of immunity. Early convalescence lasts up to 3 months, late convalescence affects the period up to 6-12 months, and less often - longer.

Another feature of childhood infections is the variety of clinical forms. Allocate
manifest forms (with characteristic symptoms diseases) mild, moderate, severe, erased forms, subclinical (asymptomatic), abortive forms (interruption of the course of infection).

The expected complexity of infections in children is the risk of rapid development of severe
complications. These can be: infectious-toxic shock at the onset of the disease (a critical drop in pressure, which is more often observed with meningococcal infection, scarlet fever), neurotoxicosis with high temperature (developing cerebral edema), sudden stop breathing or apnea with whooping cough (due to oppression of the respiratory center), true croup syndrome in diphtheria (due to powerful toxic edema of the oropharynx), viral brain lesions (rubella encephalitis, measles encephalitis, chickenpox encephalitis), dehydration syndrome (in acute intestinal infections) , broncho-obstructive syndrome, hemolyticouremic syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome.

Considering all of the above, it is necessary to maintain a critical attitude towards the condition of the child and seek medical help in a timely manner.

Symptoms of childhood infections requiring medical attention

1) Febrile temperature (38 ° and above).
2) Severe symptoms of intoxication (lethargy, drowsiness of the child).
3) The appearance of a rash.
4) Vomiting and severe headache.
5) The appearance of any symptoms against a background of high fever.

Diagnosis of childhood infections

A preliminary diagnosis is made by a pediatrician. What matters: the patient's contact with other patients with infection, data on vaccinations (vaccinations), characteristic symptoms of infection.

The final diagnosis is made after laboratory tests.
- Non-specific methods ( general analysis blood, urine, feces, biochemical blood tests, blood electrolyte studies), instrumental diagnostic methods (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI if indicated)
- Specific methods for detecting pathogens and / or their antigens (virological, bacteriological, PCR), as well as for detecting antibodies to pathogens in the blood (ELISA, RNGA, RTGA, RA, RPHA and others).

Basic principles of treatment of childhood infections

The goal of treatment is the recovery of a small patient and the restoration of impaired functions of organs and systems, achieved by solving the following tasks:
1) fight against the pathogen and its toxins;
2) maintaining the functions of vital organs and systems;
3) increasing the immunological reactivity (resistance) of the child's body;
4) prevention of complications of childhood infection.

Treatment tasks are carried out by carrying out the following activities:
1. Timely identification and, if necessary, hospitalization of a sick child, the creation of a protective regime for him - bed in severe and moderate condition, good nutrition, drinking regimen.
2. Etiotropic therapy (specific drugs aimed at inhibiting growth or destroying the pathogen). Depending on the infection, antibiotic drugs and antiviral agents are prescribed. An incorrect interpretation of the diagnosis and the appointment of etiotropic treatment not according to the profile will lead to a possible aggravation of the infection and the development of complications.
3. Pathogenetic therapy is mainly associated with infusion therapy solutions of a certain orientation (glucose-salt solutions, colloids, plasma, blood preparations), as well as specific parenteral drugs (protease inhibitors, glucocorticosteroids and others), immunomodulators.
4. Syndrome therapy is carried out for any infection (antipyretic, antiemetic, vasoconstrictor, expectorant, antitussive, antihistamines and many others).

How to prevent infections in childhood?

1) Strengthening the child's body and increasing its resistance to infections (hygiene, hardening, walking in the fresh air, good nutrition)
2) Timely access to a doctor at the first symptoms of infection
3) Specific prevention childhood infections - vaccination. For many childhood infections, vaccination is introduced in National calendar vaccinations - measles, rubella, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, parotitis, Hepatitis B). Currently, vaccines have been created for other infections (chickenpox, meningococcal infection, pneumococcal infection, hemophilic infection). Parents' neglect of routine vaccination of children without special medical reasons creates a vulnerable layer of non-immune children, primarily susceptible to infection with infectious pathogens.

Infectious disease doctor N.I. Bykova

Children's infectious diseases are a group of infections that people usually get sick in childhood, and after the disease, persistent immunity remains, therefore, repeated cases of infection are extremely rare.

This article will look at common childhood infections such as chickenpox (chickenpox), measles, rubella, mumps (mumps), whooping cough, and parvovirus infection. Many of them occur with a rash on the skin, an increase in body temperature and a deterioration in the general condition of the child, however, in most cases they end well. Only in rare cases are severe forms of the disease and complications possible. In adults, "childhood infections" are more often severe and with complications.

All childhood infections have an incubation period - the time interval between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms. The infectious period is called the period during which the child remains infectious to others.

Chickenpox (chickenpox)

Incubation period: 1-3 weeks.

Infectious period: the patient is most contagious 1-2 days before the onset of the rash, but infectious period continues until the crusts from the last bubbles on the skin disappear.

Symptoms The first signs of chickenpox: a rash on the skin, general malaise and a slight increase in temperature. The rash looks like red patches that will turn into fluid-filled blisters within a day or two. Gradually they dry out, becoming covered with crusts, which then fall off. The spots first appear on the chest, back, head or neck and then spread throughout the body. Scars may remain in their place, but only in case of severe infection. Elements of the rash are added to the baby's body over several days.

What to do?

As a rule, treatment of a child with chickenpox is carried out at home. It is worth adhering to the following recommendations:

• Give your child plenty of fluids.
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve fever and discomfort.
• Itching can be relieved by taking a bath, wearing loose clothing, or using calamine lotion.
• Try to prevent your child from scratching or picking up bubbles, as this increases the risk of scarring. This is very difficult for the child, so praise and support him often. Try to distract your child from the itching, for example, by watching TV. Tell the school or daycare center that your child is sick if there is a risk of infection for other children.
• Do not let your child come into contact with women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If your child has come into contact with a pregnant woman who soon becomes ill, tell her about chickenpox (and advise her to see a doctor). For women who have never had chickenpox, getting the disease during pregnancy can lead to a miscarriage, or the baby can be born with chickenpox.

Measles

Incubation period: 7 - 12 days, on average 10 days.

Infectious period: starts about 4 days before the onset of the rash and ends 4 days after it has disappeared.

Symptoms At first, measles looks like a severe cold, with cough, watery eyes, pain in the eyes.

Gradually, the child will get worse, the temperature will start to rise. The rash appears on the third or fourth day. The spots are slightly convex and red in color. The spots may coalesce but will not itch. The rash starts behind the ears and spreads to the face and neck and then throughout the body. The illness usually lasts for about a week.

Measles is much more serious than chickenpox, rubella, or mumps. In order to prevent illness, there is a vaccine. Serious complications include pneumonia and death.

What to do?

• Your child should get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids (warm drinks will ease coughing).
• Use paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve fever and discomfort.
• Apply petroleum jelly around your lips to protect your skin.
• If your baby's eyelids are crusty, gently rinse them with warm water.
• If your child has trouble breathing, coughs a lot, or looks drowsy, see a doctor right away.

Mumps (mumps)

Incubation period: 14 - 25 days, on average - 17 days.

Infectious period: begins a few days before the first symptoms of the disease and continues until the swelling subsides, usually for 9-10 days.

Symptoms. General malaise and fever. Pain and swelling of the salivary glands, leading to a round face, visible swelling in front of the ear and under the chin. Typically, the swelling begins on one side, passing (but not always) to the other. There is pain when chewing food.

The swelling on the face should go away in about a week. In rare cases, in boys, mumps can infect the testicles. This is more common in adult men with mumps. If you think your son's testicles are swollen or painful, see your doctor.

What to do?

• Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief. Read the correct dosage on the package.
• Give your child plenty of fluids, but not fruit juices, as they cause salivation, which can worsen pain.
• See your doctor if your child is suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting, or if they develop a rash that looks like small purple or red spots or bruises.

Parvovirus B19 infection (infectious erythema)

Incubation period: 1 - 20 days.

Infectious period: a few days before the rash appears (children are not contagious after the rash appears).

Symptoms The disease begins with fever and nasal discharge. A bright red rash appears on the cheeks, like a slap in the face. Over the next two to four days, the rash spreads to the trunk and limbs. Children with blood disorders, such as spherocytosis or sickle cell disease, may become more anemic (anemic). In this case, you should immediately seek medical attention.

What to do?

• Your child should get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids.
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve fever and discomfort.
• Pregnant women or women trying to conceive should see a doctor as soon as possible if they come into contact with an infection or develop a rash.

Rubella (measles rubella)

Incubation period: 15 - 20 days.

Infectious period: starts one week before the rash and lasts for 5 days after the rash appears.

SymptomsAt first, the symptoms are similar to those of a mild cold. After 1-2 days, a rash appears, first on the face, then on the body. The spots are flat (on pale skin, they are pale pink). The lymph nodes in the back of the neck may swell. Generally, your child will not feel unwell. Rubella can sometimes be difficult to diagnose.

What to do? Give your child plenty of fluids. Eliminate the possibility of your child coming into contact with a pregnant woman. If this happens, tell her about it, as she needs to see a doctor.

Whooping cough

Incubation period: 6 - 20 days.

Infectious period: within about 25-30 days from the moment of illness, patients are especially contagious at the onset of the illness. If antibiotics are prescribed early in the disease, it helps to eliminate symptoms and limit the infectious period to 5 days.

Symptoms as with a cold, and also a cough that gradually gets worse. After 2 weeks, severe coughing attacks begin. Because of these seizures, the child is weakened, during the seizure it is difficult for him to breathe.

Young children (up to six months old) carry the disease much more difficult, they may experience apnea - a temporary stop in breathing. During seizures, cyanosis of the lips and face is observed. Your child may be choking and vomiting. Coughing fits can last for several weeks and up to three months.

Due to the severity of the manifestations, the prevention of whooping cough is very important, for which there is a vaccine.

What to do?

• See your doctor if your child has a cough that does not go away, but only gets worse, coughing spells become longer and more frequent.
• It is in the best interest of other children to know if your child has whooping cough. Talk to your doctor about how to care for your child. Avoid contact with young children, as they are most susceptible to serious complications.

Which doctor should I contact if I suspect a childhood infection?

First of all, a pediatrician should be called to the house so that he can make the correct diagnosis, as well as record the case of the disease in the child's medical record and send a message to the epidemic service. In severe cases, you may need the help of an infectious disease specialist. If the doctor suggests hospitalization, you can find an infectious diseases hospital yourself by reading the reviews about it.

Children's infectious diseases - This is a large group of diseases of an infectious nature that arise in childhood, characterized by the possibility of epidemic spread, predominantly by an aerogenic method.

Children's infectious diseases are distinguished into a separate group, since the characteristics of the child's body also predetermine the characteristics of their treatment.

Children's infectious diseases: classification

There are several classifications of infectious diseases in children, but we have chosen one of the most understandable and simple. This group of pathologies is divided into:

1. Infectious bowel diseases in children.

It is characterized by the localization of foreign agents in the intestines of the child. This type of pathology includes: poliomyelitis, escherichiosis, dysentery, salmonellosis, botulism ...

2. Infectious diseases of the respiratory tract in children.

They are characterized by the localization of foreign agents in the respiratory organs (bronchi, trachea, larynx, lungs ...). These are diseases such as scarlet fever, tonsillitis, flu, ARVI ...

3. Infectious diseases of the blood in children.

These diseases are transmitted by insects (transmission) and the pathogens in this case are in the blood. Such diseases include: arboviral encephalitis, rickettsioses, tularemia ...

4... Infectious diseases of the outer integument in children.

These include: rabies, tetanus, trachoma ...

Children's infectious diseases: causes

The most common cause of infectious diseases in children is contact with an infected person. The route of infection is usually airborne. Moreover, everything is contagious: saliva, spreading when coughing and even when talking, bronchial and nasopharyngeal mucus - all this is a threat of infection of the child.

Here are examples of childhood infectious diseases with incubation periods:

Chickenpox has IP 11-24 days

Hepatitis A has PI from 7 to 45 days

Dysentery - 1-7 days

Diphtheria - 1-10 days

Whooping cough - 3-20 days

Measles - from 9 to 21 days

Rubella - 11-24 days

Scarlet fever has PI from several hours to 12 days

Poliomyelitis - 3-35 days

2. Prodromal period.

This period can be called the onset of the disease: it lasts from the moment the first symptom appears and until the "height" of the disease itself.

3. The "peak" period of childhood infectious disease.

In principle, this is the "culmination". During this period, the entire symptomatic complex of pediatric pathology manifests itself. For example, whooping cough is a spastic cough in which selection in progress mucous sputum, while the child's face turns red, and sometimes hemorrhage occurs along the mucous membrane.

4. Reconvalescence.

This is the period of attenuation of the disease - recovery.

The most common infectious diseases in children

Of course, when we talk about childhood diseases, then immediately there are associations with epidemiological periods that fall in the autumn-winter season and are characterized, first of all, by respiratory diseases in children. Children's infectious diseases are diverse: these are gastrointestinal diseases, and allergic diseases, having an autoimmune nature, and skin pathologies, but respiratory diseases in children are the most common - any pediatrician will confirm this to you.

Respiratory diseases in children

Bronchitis of various etiology.

They are characterized by inflammatory processes in the bronchial mucosa.

Tracheitis.

They are characterized by inflammatory processes in the tracheal mucosa.

Laryngitis.

They are characterized by inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the vocal cords and larynx.

Sinusitis.

It is characterized by inflammation in the sinuses.

Rhinitis of various etiology.

These childhood infectious diseases are, simply put, a runny nose of varying intensity: from light form until complete nasal congestion.

This disease is characterized by inflammation of the tonsils and the lymph nodes adjacent to them.

Pneumonia.

It is nothing more than an infectious lung disease.

Influenza of various nature.

These childhood infectious diseases are perhaps one of the most widespread and dangerous, because the foreign agents that cause these pathologies are constantly mutating and it is necessary to constantly invent new drugs to combat them.

This, of course, is not all respiratory diseases in childrenbut the main ones are.

Children's infectious diseases: symptoms

The signs of a child's pathology, of course, depend on many factors: first of all, on the type of pathogen, on the state of the child's immune system, on the conditions of his life, etc. But still there is general symptoms childhood infectious diseases:

1. The main symptom is febrile temperature (38 ° and above). In a child, an increase in temperature occurs, practically, in any pathological process, because this is his only defense mechanism - at such temperatures, most foreign bodies die.

2. Constant sleepiness and lethargy are also characteristic symptoms of childhood infectious diseases - a lack of energy affects (it goes to fight antigens).

4. The appearance of a rash.

Diagnosis of infectious diseases in children

The use of antibiotics has very negative consequences, especially for a child whose immune system is in the process of formation, and no doctor can tell how thoughtless antibiotic therapy may affect in the future.

The issue of vaccination is very controversial (especially recently). The "average" dose of the introduced foreign agents (for the development of immunity) affects children in different ways: in most cases it helps (this is a fact), but often there are cases when vaccination makes a disabled child out of a child.

So what to do, how to treat a sick child?

The first thing to understand: the child's body, in most cases, itself can cope with an infectious disease, it only needs help in this, and the sooner you start doing this, the better. It is necessary to help with drugs only on a natural basis, including immunomodulators, antiviral drugs in this complex therapy, antibacterial agents... Do not rush to "bring down" the temperature of the child, it is better to give him tea with lemon more often.

If a child has a severe infectious disease, then use antibiotics with drugs that neutralize their negative effect. The best such drug is Transfer Factor. Once in the body, it performs several functions at once:

Restores the functionality of the immune system, as a result of which the immunological reactivity (resistance to infections) of the child's body increases;

Strengthens the healing effect of drugs, in combination with which it was taken;

As a carrier of immune memory, this immune drug, "remembers" all foreign microorganisms that caused this or that infectious disease, and when they reappear, gives a signal the immune system to neutralize them.

Colostrum, because it contains a huge amount of maternal antibodies - the first "protection" of the child from foreign elements;

In no case should you refuse to breastfeed, while there is milk - feed;

Proper nutrition is of great importance for a child; there should be as many fresh fruits and vegetables in his diet;

An active lifestyle is a guarantee of the child's health;

To strengthen the immune system, it is necessary to practice hardening from childhood (a contrast shower and a bath - wonderful means for this);

- childhood infectious diseases they will not be afraid if the child receives in full everything necessary for his body, useful material: vitamins, mineral complexes, amino acids ..., therefore, be sure to regularly give your baby the appropriate preparations.