The term ”childhood diseases” covers a wide range of diseases that may be contracted by children. Some of the more common childhood diseases are described in the following.
Chicken pox (skoldkopper)
A child infected with chicken pox may infect other children, even before any symptoms manifest themselves. This is due to the fact that there is a two-week incubation period from the time of infection to the appearance of symptoms in the form of vesicular skin rash (liquid-filled blisters). The child may run a fever, and the blisters may be extremely itchy. The child should be kept home from school or kindergarten until the vesicular crusts have fallen off the body, and the sores are no longer fluid-filled.
Fifth disease / slapped cheek syndrome (lussingesyge - erythema infectiosum)
Slapped cheek syndrome is commonly contracted by children between the age of five and twelve. There is an incubation period of roughly two weeks between the time of infection and the appearance of symptoms. The symptoms are a red rash on the cheeks (giving the appearance of a slap), arms and legs. If you are pregnant, you should take care not to be infected with the disease, as it may cause miscarriage. For this reason, day care facilities where slapped cheek syndrome has been recorded should clearly proclaim the detection of the disease.
Whooping cough (kighoste)
The disease has a one to two week incubation period from the time the child is infected with whooping cough to the time symptoms may first be observed. The disease causes prolonged coughing fits, often at night, followed by characteristic wheezy or squeaky respiration, and in some cases by vomiting. The disease is at its most contagious during its first week, and all contact with other children should be avoided (particular care should be taken to avoid contact with children below the age of one, as the disease may be life threatening to very young children).
Scarlet fever (skarlagensfeber)
There is an incubation period of three days to a week from the time of infection to the time symptoms first manifest themselves. The disease causes inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis, sore throat) and arm pit and groin rashes. In addition, the tongue may be affected, and turn rough-textured, spotty, and red in appearance. Scarlet fever is treated with antibiotics, which effect a rapid improvement in the child's condition. After three days of antibiotic treatment, the disease is no longer infectious.
Three day fever (tredagesfeber - roseola infantum)
Three day fever is almost exclusively contracted by children between the age of six months and three years. From the time of infection, there is an incubation time of approximately two weeks before symptoms appear. The disease initially causes a high fever (up to 40°C – 104°F). After three days, the fever breaks, and a red rash appears, starting on the body, and spreading to the arms and legs. The rash typically goes away after 12 hours.
Hand,foot and mouth disease (Hånd-fod-mund-sygdom - HFMD)
The incubation period is very short. From the time the child is first infected with hand, foot and mouth disease, it is only two or three days before symptoms begin to appear. These include blisters in the mouth and on hands and feet. In addition, HFMD often causes fever. The child may infect other children with the disease while the blistering persists.
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