Debunking myths of common childhood illnesses

For many of us September means the start of the new school year for our kids. Which for cynics like me, means the start of germs and illnesses. I don't know about you but my kids have been perfectly healthy over the six weeks holidays. It can't be coincidence, surely? With that in mind and in collaboration with Medical Tracker I wanted to debunk a few myths and give you a little bit more information about five common childhood illnesses.

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5 Common childhood illnesses

For this particular campaign, we are focussing on five common childhood illnesses:

• Chicken pox
• Impetigo
• Strep
• Tonsilitis
• Meningitis

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an incredibly common childhood illness and for me it feels like the one that gets thrown around the most in playground chat. Fortunately whilst it's rather uncomfortable, it's actually usually fairly mild. The main symptom is an itchy rash that can cause scarring if scratched repeatedly. It usually goes away after a week or two and you probably won't need any extra assistance from your GP. However, with that being said, there can be further issues with chicken pox. Shingles and chickenpox are caused by the same virus, which can linger in your system and reappear if your immune system becomes compromised. This could be through stress or immuno-compromising treatments for example.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a bacterial infection that causes the skin to become sore and blotchy. Whilst the sores can be itchy and painful, most cases of impetigo aren't serious and should resolve themselves within 10 days. Unfortunately impetigo is highly contagious so you should be very careful if you come into contact with it.

Strep

Group A strep is another common childhood illness. It's another bacterial infection that presents itself with a sore throat and flu-like symptoms. It's likely not serious and can be treated with antibiotics, however can become more serious if it develops into iGAS (invasive group A strep).

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is one of the most common childhood illnesses. It's can be very uncomfortable with symptoms including (but not limited to) a sore throat, high temperature and trouble swallowing. It's rarely serious however will need antibiotics to speed up recovery. You may need extra intervention if you child regularly gets tonsillitis

Meningitis

Unlike the other illnesses we're discussing, meningitis can become incredibly dangerous. It's an infection that attacks the protective membranes around the brain and spine which can cause lasting nerve damage or sepsis (blood poisoning). Symptoms include stiffness, a high temperature and a rash that is still visible beneath a glass when you apply pressure. It can also have long lasting consequences such as hearing or sight loss, recurring seizures or amputations. Meningitis can even be fatal.

Debunking myths of these common childhood illnesses

With so much chatter around different childhood illnesses it can be difficult knowing fact from fiction. It's now time to explore the common misconceptions attached to these five common childhood illnesses. You might be surprised by some of the answers.

Chickenpox myths

• Once you've had chickenpox you're immune for life: FALSE. Once you've had chickenpox the body develops antibodies called immunoglobulins. These antibodies fight off the chickenpox virus however not everyone will develop enough to become 100% immune.
• You can't get shingles if you've had chickenpox: FALSE. If you've not had chickenpox you can't contract shingles. This is because shingles only occurs when the chickenpox virus hasn't fully left the body. One in ten people who've had chickenpox will develop shingles at some point in their life.
• There is no medical treatment for chickenpox: FALSE. Antiviral medicines such as aciclovir and immunoglobulin can alleviate symptoms of chickenpox and reduce the risk of further complications. In most cases this treatment is only needed by those who are high risk or with low immunity.

Impetigo myths

• Impetigo and Strep A are the same thing: FALSE. Impetigo can only be caused by either group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus.
• Impetigo is only contagious when symptoms are visible: FALSE. It can take up to 10 days for symptoms of impetigo to appear, but it's contagious during that entire time. That means you could be spreading the bacteria to others without even knowing you're sick.
• Impetigo is the same illness as hand foot and mouth: FALSE. As the name suggests HFAM tends to present itself on the palms, sole and inside and outside of the mouth. Impetigo on the other hand wouldn't be inside the mouth.

Strep myths

• There is only one type of strep: FALSE. There are many varieties of the streptococcus virus. They are strep group A, B, C and G.
• Strep is just a sore throat: FALSE. Strep is more than just a sore throat with symptoms including fever, headaches and nausea. It may also present itself with a severe rash, vomiting and pain when swallowing.
• Strep can only be spread by touching bacteria on surfaces: FALSE. Whilst being in contact with bacteria can spread Strep, it can also be transmitted through water droplets. Good hygiene should be practiced at all times.

Tonsillitis myths

• Tonsillitis is contagious: FALSE. Tonsillitis itself isn't contagious, it's the pathogens responsible for the inflammation which are.
• If you get tonsillitis you have to have your tonsils removed: FALSE. Doctors will only recommend the removal of tonsils if tonsillitis is a recurring problem.

Meningitis myths

• You don't need the meningitis vaccine due to herd immunity: FALSE. Despite herd immunity being a benefit, it only works if the majority of people are already vaccinated. Herd immunity isn't foolproof and those unvaccinated are more susceptible to contracting the illness.
• Meningitis is always fatal: FALSE. Whilst it can be, not every case of meningitis is fatal. It is only fatal in 10% of cases.
• All types of meningitis can be prevented with vaccines: FALSE. There are currently five types of meningitis (bacterial, viral, parasitic, fungal and non-infectious). There are no vaccines capable of protecting against all five. It's essential you familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms of meningitis.

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How long to keep children off school for with these five common childhood illnesses

Your child getting sick is always a concern however another worry when it comes to childhood illnesses is how long to keep your child off school for. Worrying about the health of your child is one thing but worrying about the health of others is another.

In accordance with current NHS guidelines here's some information on how long to keep your child off school for with these five common childhood illnesses.

• Chickenpox: You should keep children off school or nursery until all their spots have crusted over. This typically takes place five days after the spots first appear.
• Impetigo: Medical advice recommends to stay home from work, school or nursery until sores have dried up, blistered or crusted over.
• Strep: If you or your child has a strep A infection, you should stay away from nursery, school or work for 24 hours after you start taking antibiotics. This will help stop the infection from spreading to other people.
• Tonsillitis: Symptoms will usually go away after three to four days. If you or your child have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.
• Meningitis: If you suspect meningitis, you should get medical help immediately. The recommended time off work, school or nursery depends on the type of meningitis contracted.

In conclusion

This collaboration with Medical Tracker has allowed us to debunk the myths surrounding chickenpox, impetigo, strep, tonsillitis, and meningitis. Now you have this information to hand you're better equipped to protect your children and others in the community.

Now tell me, have you learnt something today about these five common childhood illnesses?