Chickenpox
Incubation period: One to three weeks
Infectious period: The most infectious time is one to two days before the rash appears, but it continues to be infectious until all the blisters have crusted over.
Symptoms
Chickenpox is a mild infectious disease that most children catch at some time. It starts with feeling unwell, a rash and, usually, a fever.
Spots develop, which are red and become fluid-filled blisters within a day or two. They eventually dry into scabs, which drop off. The spots first appear on the chest, back, head or neck, then spread. They don’t leave scars unless they’re badly infected or picked.
What to do
You don’t need to go to your GP or accident and emergency (A&E) department unless you’re unsure whether it’s chickenpox, or your child is very unwell or distressed.
- Give your child plenty to drink.
- Use the recommended dose of paracetamol to relieve any fever or discomfort. Ibuprofen isn’t recommended for children who have chickenpox as, in rare cases, it can cause skin complications.
- Taking baths, wearing loose, comfortable clothes and using calamine lotion can all ease the itchiness.
- Try to discourage or distract your child from scratching, as this will increase the risk of scarring. Keeping their nails short will help.
- Let your child’s school or nursery know they are ill, in case other children are at risk.
- Keep your child away from anyone who is pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If your child had contact with a pregnant woman just before they became unwell, let the woman know about the chickenpox and suggest that she sees her GP or midwife. For women who have never had chickenpox, catching the illness in pregnancy can cause miscarriage, or the baby may be born with chickenpox.
For more information, see our page on chickenpox.
Measles
Incubation period: 7 to 12 days
Infectious period: From around 4 days before the rash appears until 4 days after it’s gone.
Symptoms
- Measles begins like a bad cold and cough with sore, watery eyes.
- Your child will become gradually more unwell, with a fever.
- A rash appears after the third or fourth day. The spots are red and slightly raised. They may be blotchy, but not itchy. The rash begins behind the ears and spreads to the face and neck, then the rest of the body.
- The illness usually lasts about a week.
Measles is much more serious than chickenpox, german measles, or mumps. It’s best prevented by the MMR vaccination. Serious complications include pneumonia and death.
What to do
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and plenty to drink. Warm drinks will ease the cough.
- Give them paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the fever and discomfort.
- Put Vaseline around their lips to protect their skin.
- If their eyelids are crusty, gently wash them with warm water.
- If your child is having trouble breathing, has a seizure, is coughing a lot or seems drowsy, seek urgent medical advice.
For more information, read see our page on measles.
Mumps
Incubation period: 14 to 25 days
Infectious period: From a few days before starting to feel unwell until a few days afterwards.
Symptoms
- A general feeling of being unwell.
- A high temperature.
- Pain and swelling on the side of the face (in front of the ear) and under the chin. Swelling usually begins on one side, followed by the other side, though not always.
- Discomfort when chewing.
Your child’s face will be back to normal size in about a week. It’s rare for mumps to affect boys’ testes (balls) – this happens more often in adult men with mumps. If you think your child’s testes are swollen or painful, see your GP.
What to do
- Give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain in the swollen glands. Check the pack for the correct dosage.
- Give your child plenty to drink, but not fruit juices, as they make the saliva flow, which can worsen your child’s pain.
- There’s no need to see your GP, unless your child has other symptoms, such as a severe headache, vomiting, rash or, in boys, swollen testes.
- Mumps can be prevented by the MMR vaccine.
See our page on mumps for more information.
Slapped cheek disease (also known as fifth disease or parvovirus B19)
Incubation period: 1 to 20 days
Infectious period: A few days before the rash appears. Children are no longer contagious when the rash appears.
Symptoms
- It begins with a fever and nasal discharge.
- A bright red rash, like the mark left by a slap, appears on the cheeks.
- Over the next two to four days, a lacy rash spreads to the trunk and limbs.
- Children with blood disorders such as spherocytosis or sickle cell disease may become more anaemic. They should seek medical care.
What to do
- Make sure your child rests and drinks plenty of fluids.
- Give them paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve any discomfort and fever.
- Pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant should see their GP or midwife as soon as possible if they come into contact with the infection or develop a rash.
Go to our page on slapped cheek syndrome for more information.
German measles (rubella)
Incubation period: 15 to 20 days
Infectious period: From one week before symptoms develop until up to four days after the rash appeared.
Symptoms
- It starts like a mild cold.
- A rash appears in a day or two, first on the face, then on the body. The spots are flat and are pale pink on light skin.
- Glands in the back of the neck may be swollen.
- Your child won’t usually feel unwell.
It can be difficult to diagnose rubella with certainty.
What to do
- Give your child plenty to drink.
- Give them paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve any discomfort or fever.
- Keep them away from anybody who’s in the early stages of pregnancy (up to four months) or trying to get pregnant. If your child has had contact with any pregnant women before you knew about the illness, you must let the women know, as they’ll need to see their GP.
- Rubella can be prevented by the MMR vaccine.
For more information, go visit our page on rubella.
Whooping cough
Incubation period: 6 to 21 days
Infectious period: From the first signs of the illness until about three weeks after coughing starts. If an antibiotic is given, the infectious period will continue for up to five days after starting treatment.
Antibiotics need to be given early in the course of the illness to improve symptoms.
Symptoms
- The symptoms are similar to a cold and cough, with the cough gradually getting worse.
- After about two weeks, coughing fits start. These are exhausting and make it difficult to breathe.
- Younger children (babies under six months) are much more seriously affected and can have breath-holding or blue attacks, even before they develop a cough.
- Your child may choke and vomit.
- Sometimes, but not always, there will be a whooping noise as the child draws in breath after coughing.
- The coughing fits may continue for several weeks, and can go on for up to three months.
What to do
- Whooping cough is best prevented through immunisation.
- If your child has a cough that gets worse rather than better, and starts to have longer fits of coughing more often, see your GP.
- It’s important for the sake of other children to know whether or not your child has whooping cough. Talk to your GP about how to look after your child. Avoid contact with babies, who are most at risk from serious complications.
- Whooping cough can be prevented by childhood vaccinations.
For more information, go to our page on whooping cough.