COMMON

CHILDHOOD
ILLNESSES

CRISELDA T. PABUA RM
LEARNING OUTCOMES

Understand common childhood illnesses.

• Describe signs and symptoms of common childhood illnesses.
• Identify treatments for common childhood illnesses.
• Identify exclusion periods for common childhood illnesses.
UNDERSTAND COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES

Time: 15 mins
List any illnesses you remember having as a child.
• How did you feel?

List any illnesses you have observed in children at placements.

• How did practitioners support, care for and meet the needs of the children?
LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses

Common childhood illnesses

The following are the most common childhood illnesses:

• Chickenpox
• German measles (Rubella)
• Measles
• Meningitis
• Mumps
• Tonsillitis
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease)
• Gastroenteritis.
 LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses

Independent research activity

Time: 15 mins
Research the signs and symptoms of common childhood diseases in depth.

• Explain how to recognise them and describe them in detail.

• Draw diagrams or collect pictures of the signs and symptoms.
• Note the resources you have used.
LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses
Signs and symptoms of common childhood illnesses
• It is important for the practitioner to be aware of the signs and symptoms of
common childhood illnesses in order to recognise infectious diseases as soon
as possible and take steps to prevent contagion. They also need to be able to
support the child and meet their needs.
• Measles – fever, runny nose and eyes, cough, white spots in mouth, followed
by full body rash.
• Mumps – often no symptoms are shown, when they are there will be swollen
glands between the ear and jaw and there may be pain when swallowing.
• Rubella (German measles) – no serious symptoms other than: slight cold,
sore throat, swollen glands behind ears, slight pink rash.
LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses
Signs and symptoms of common childhood illnesses

• Chickenpox – fever, very itchy rash with blister-like appearance.

• Meningitis – flu like symptoms: fever, headache, drowsiness, very stiff
neck, maybe small red spots beneath the skin that do not disappear when a
glass is pressed against them.
• Tonsillitis – very sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, fever, headache,
aches and pains.
• Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease) – bright red rash on child’s face.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) – snuffly cold, spasmodic cough with whoop
sound, vomiting.
LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses

Pairs activity

• Time: 15 mins
• With a partner, share your research from the Independent research activity.
• Prepare a presentation to give to the rest of the class to explain how to
recognise the signs and symptoms of common childhood illnesses.
• You can use posters, leaflets or PowerPoint presentations to support your
presentation.
• You can present your research as a chart if you wish.
LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses
Treatments for common childhood illnesses

• It is the role of the practitioner to try and prevent the spread of

infection, so it is vital that not only can they recognise the signs and
symptoms but also know the treatment needed.
• Measles – place child in a darkened room.
• Mumps – provide child with plenty of drink, but not fruit juices.
• German measles (Rubella) – can cause deafness, blindness and
learning disability. Give child plenty to drink and keep away from
pregnant women.
 LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses

Treatments for common childhood illnesses

• Chickenpox – keep child cool, provide with soft food.

• Meningitis – press a glass over the rash, if it does not fade contact a doctor
immediately.
• Tonsillitis – provide child with plenty of fluid and give soft food.
• Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease) – no treatment necessary.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) – refer child to a doctor immediately, reassure
and provide plenty of fluids.
 LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses
Identify exclusion periods for common childhood illnesses

• Chickenpox – four days from start of skin eruption.

• Measles – four days from the onset of the rash.
• Mumps – five days from onset of glandular swelling.
• Rubella – six days from the start of the rash.
• Meningitis – until the child has fully recovered.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) – 21 days from the start of the
illness.
LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses

Group activity

Time: 15 mins
Choose two common childhood illnesses.
• Research the treatment for them in full.
• Design two posters to explain the treatment: one aimed at practitioners and one for
parents.
• It is important to remind practitioners that they should always inform the parents of
any illness and liaise with them over any treatment.
• Practitioners should follow the policies and procedures of the setting for dealing
LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses

Extension activity
Time: 15 mins
Design a leaflet to inform practitioners new to your setting on how they can recognise and treat childhood
illnesses.
You will need to:
• explain the importance of the practitioner’s role
• refer to the policies and procedures of the setting
• emphasise the importance of liaising with parents
• describe signs and symptoms of the most common childhood illnesses
• explain how to treat a child with one of these illnesses.
LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses

Classroom discussion activity

• Time: 15 mins
• A parent contacts the setting to say that her child has been feeling
unwell. She took him to the doctor last night and he was diagnosed
with German measles (rubella). Her son was in the setting
yesterday and had been complaining about a sore throat.

• What should you do in this situation?

LO1 Understand common childhood illnesses

Reflection activity

Time: 15 mins
Ask your setting for copies of their:
• Illness and injury policy
• Medication policy.
• (They may give them slightly different titles.)
• Read through the policies.
• Reflect on whether you need to alter any of the advice given in the leaflet that you
produced for new practitioners.
In this lesson we:

 Have listed our own childhood illnesses and found out about all the other common
ones.
 Researched the signs and symptoms of each illness.
 Gave a presentation to the class on the signs and symptoms.
 Learnt about the treatments for each illness.
 Produced information posters on the treatments of some of the illnesses.
 Designed leaflets to inform practitioners how to recognise and treat childhood illnesses.
 Discussed a case study and what action we would take on discovering that a child in
our setting had contracted rubella.
1. Note down any common symptoms of childhood
illnesses, for example, a high temperature.
2. Which illnesses show few symptoms?
3. Note down the more serious illnesses.