TDA 2:2

2.

safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

2.1 Signs and symptoms of common childhood illnesses.

Campylobacteriosis:
Campylobacteriosis bacteria are a common cause of gastrointestinal infection
that affects both adults and children.
Symptoms:
Abdominal pain
Cramping
Diarrhoea
Sickness
Malaise
Fever
Usually lasts for around 2 to 5 days and can be confirmed by a stool specimen.
The incubation period is usually between 2 to 5 days, it could be up to 10 days in
some cases. Usually returning to school is when the child is feeling well enough.

E Coli:
Symptoms:
Diarrhoea
Abdominal cramps
Vomiting
Fever
Usually lasts around 5 to 7 days, the incubation period is between 3 to 4 days.
Once the diarrhoea has stopped the child can return to school.

Hand, foot and mouth:

Symptoms:
Fever
Sore throat
Headache
Small painful blisters inside mouth tongue and gums

Blisters may go on fingers, hands and feet

This is contagious and the incubation period is from 3 to 6 days. The child can
return to school when feeling well.

Impetigo:
Impetigo is a skin infection
Symptoms:
Clusters of red lumps/ blisters
Maybe fluid- filled blisters
Sores around the mouth, nose and skin
This is contagious and the incubation period is from 4 to 10 days. After 24 hours
of antibiotics it will no longer be contagious and the child may return to school.

Chickenpox:
This is an infection caused by varicella-zoster virus.
Symptoms:
Slight fever
Rash first on the body and face then spreads anywhere
Starts with small red flat spots going into itchy fluid-filled blisters
After blisters break they become open sores that eventually crust over
This usually lasts about 10 days
Chickenpox is spread by direct contact and is contagious before the spots appear
and until all the blisters have scabbed over.

Croup:
This is an infection of the throat caused by a virus called croup in 5 years and
under and called laryngitis in 5 years and up.
Symptoms:
Cold then a fever and a cough
Raspy hoarse voice
Loud barking cough
Tiredness
This is contagious and incubation can be from 1 day, up to 10 days

Meningitis:
Symptoms:
High fever
Headache
Stiff neck
Inactive, irritable, slow
Nausea, off food, dislike of bright lights
Confusion
Sleepiness
Seizures may occur
Pinpoint rash
This can be contagious and the incubation is from 3 to 10 days.
After 24 hours of antibiotics the child can go back to school when feeling well
enough.

Mumps:
Symptoms:
Swollen and painful glands usually below the ears and under the jaw
Fever
Pain when swallowing
Children may return to school usually 5 days after the onset of the swollen
glands.

Conjunctivitis:
Symptoms:
Teary, red and itchy, painful eyes
Eyelid(s) may be swollen
Pus or discharge
Fever
Sensitive to sunlight
Conjunctivitis is contagious and the incubation period is from 1 to 3 days
After 24 hours of antibiotics the child can go back to school.

Allergies:
Skin may blister, go red or rashy. Any severe allergic reactions, such as bee
stings, can result in difficulty in breathing and will need urgent medical attention.

Flu:
Symptoms:
Headaches
Weakness
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Aching muscles and joints
Flu is highly contagious
Usually the child can go back to school when recovered.

Tonsillitis:
Symptoms:
Sore throat
Headache
Fever
Difficulty in swallowing
Pain in ears and neck
Children can usually return to school once they feel better.

Ringworm:
Symptoms:
Ring red rash with raised rim
Scaly patches on scalp may be tender and feel inflamed
Once treatment has started the child may return back to school.