Childhood diseases with spots

1. Does your child have spots on the skin? Almost every child has this sometimes. Most real childhood diseases are accompanied by spots. But how do you know what illness your child has?

1. A typical childhood illness is often very contagious, causing infections at a young age. Because many childhood illnesses give you lifelong immunity, once you went through them as a child, you never get them again. Almost all children are vaccinated against rubella and measles, which means that these diseases are virtually non-existent. Due to the fact that more and more parents choose not to have their child vaccinated anymore, measles, for example, is seen more and more frequently. In general, the spots of the diseases described below can be recognized. This is an easily identifiable type of rash, such as with the fifth disease. Or the course of the disease is so typical that you immediately know which childhood disease it is, such as with chicken pox or sixth disease. The diseases listed below are more or less in order of occurrence. The lower they are, the rarer they are.

2. A typical childhood illness is often very contagious, causing infections at a young age. Because many childhood illnesses provide lifelong immunity, once you went through them as a child, you never get them again. Almost all children are vaccinated against rubella and measles, which means that these diseases are virtually non-existent. Due to the fact that more and more parents choose not to have their child vaccinated anymore, measles, for example, is seen more and more frequently. In general, the spots of the diseases described below can be recognized. This is an easily identifiable type of rash, such as with the fifth disease. Or the course of the disease is so typical that you immediately know which childhood disease is involved, such as with chicken pox or sixth disease. The diseases listed below are more or less in order of occurrence. The lower they are, the rarer they are.

Chickenpox

1. Chickenpox is a typical childhood disease that is still very common. Your child is already contagious 48 hours before the rash appears. The incubation period is 10-21 days. First there will be spots. After a day they turn into blisters. These blisters break quickly. Then a crust will appear. The crusts dry and fall off within two weeks. Where such a spot has been, a small scar can remain. There are many spots especially on the trunk, in the face and on the hairy scalp. There are children with only a few spots while others are completely covered. Characteristic of the spots and crusts in chicken pox is that the different stages occur next to each other. Chickenpox is usually accompanied by a mild fever.

2. Chickenpox is a typical childhood disease that is still very common. Your child is already contagious 48 hours before the outbreak of the rash. The incubation period is 10-21 days. First there will be spots. After a day they turn into blisters. These blisters break quickly. Then a crust will appear. The crusts dry and fall off within two weeks. Where such a spot has been, a small scar can remain. There are many spots especially on the trunk, in the face and on the hairy scalp. There are children with only a few spots while others are completely covered. Characteristic of the spots and crusts in chicken pox is that the different stages occur next to each other. Chickenpox is usually accompanied by a mild fever.

Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum)

1. Fifth disease, like chicken pox, is caused by a virus (parvo B19 virus). The incubation period is 5-14 days. Typical for the fifth disease is the appearance of a uniform bright red rash on the cheeks. Later there will also be spots on the arms. It mainly occurs in somewhat older children of primary school age. The fifth disease is dangerous when you are pregnant. Women who develop fifth disease in the first half of pregnancy have an increased risk of miscarriage or a stillbirth.

2. Fifth disease, like chicken pox, is caused by a virus (parvo B19 virus). The incubation period is 5-14 days. Typical for the fifth disease is the appearance of a uniform bright red rash on the cheeks. Later on there will also be spots on the arms. It mainly occurs in somewhat older children of primary school age. The fifth disease is dangerous when you are pregnant. Women who develop fifth disease in the first half of pregnancy have an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

Sixth disease (exanthema subitum)

1. The sixth disease is a viral infection with the human herpes 6 virus and occurs mainly in young children, from about 6 months to 3 years old. Your child first has a high fever for three or four days without any other characteristics. As soon as the fever has suddenly dropped, you will see very fine spots, especially on the trunk and face. The spots fade quickly and are almost invisible after a day or two.

Scarlet fever

1. Scarlet fever is caused by a streptococcal bacteria. The incubation period is 5-7 days. It is accompanied by a high fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and headache. After a day a typical rash appears, especially on the trunk, face and in the skin folds. Slightly raised pimples can be felt on an even pink, red skin. The face is red and it is noticeable that the area around the mouth looks pale. There are red spots on the palate and tongue (raspberry / strawberry tongue). Later, the skin on the hands and feet often sheds.

2. Scarlet fever is caused by a streptococcal bacteria. The incubation period is 5-7 days. It is accompanied by a high fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and headache. After a day a typical rash appears, especially on the trunk, face and in the skin folds. Slightly raised pimples can be felt on even pink, red skin. The face is red and it is noticeable that the area around the mouth looks pale. There are red spots on the palate and tongue (raspberry / strawberry tongue). Later, the skin on the hands and feet often sheds.

Measles

1. Measles is becoming more common again because vaccination coverage in the Netherlands is declining. The incubation period is 10-14 days. With measles, fairly coarse spots appear on the face and behind the ears. Later the spots spread to the trunk and the arms and legs. They are spots that are much coarser than the above teething problems. The spots also merge, so that children can look very colorful. There is a high fever, cold, broken mouth and red eyes. In the mouth, on the inside of the cheeks, white dots with a red court are often visible (Koplik spots). Major complications of measles virus infection are pneumonia and meningitis.

2. Measles is becoming more common again because vaccination coverage in the Netherlands is declining. The incubation period is 10-14 days. With measles, fairly coarse spots appear on the face and behind the ears. Later the spots spread to the trunk and the arms and legs. They are spots that are much coarser than in the above teething problems. The spots also merge into each other, which can make children look very colorful. There is a high fever, cold, broken mouth and red eyes. In the mouth, on the inside of the cheeks, white dots with a red court are often visible (Koplik spots). Major complications of measles virus infection are pneumonia and meningitis.

Rubella

1. Most children are vaccinated against rubella (rubella), but this vaccination coverage is also declining. The incubation period is 14-21 days. In rubella there are usually few symptoms. The fever is not that high and the spots are less noticeable and smaller than with measles. It is not always easy to distinguish between measles and rubella. Rubella is dangerous when you are pregnant. The rubella virus can harm a baby in the first half of pregnancy. Contact your doctor if you are in the first half of your pregnancy, think that you are infected with rubella and have not been vaccinated against it and have not had the disease as a child.

Meningococcal disease

1. Meningococcal disease is septicemia with the meningococcus bacteria that also causes meningitis. Children with meningococcal disease are very sick, have a high fever, vomit, and shiver. The skin can also turn pale and cold. Small blue-red to dark red spots may appear in a short time and appear all over the skin. It is characteristic that the spots do not fade if you press on them with a glass. If your child has spots that do not fade when you press on them, call the doctor immediately.

Causes

1. Childhood diseases are very contagious. That's why you usually get them from someone at a young age. Transmission is usually through coughing, sneezing or through the hands. Childhood diseases such as chicken pox, measles, rubella, fifth disease and sixth disease are caused by viruses. Scarlet fever and meningococcal disease are caused by bacteria. That difference is important because there is no treatment if a virus is the cause. It is then a matter of getting out.

Treatment of childhood diseases

1. Most childhood illnesses are harmless and will go away on their own. Scarlet fever, meningococcal disease and measles can make children very sick, with a high fever and severe sore throat. Especially meningococcal disease must be treated quickly. Make sure your child drinks enough, especially if he / she has a fever. If necessary, give a paracetamol. Menthol powder can help with itching. If your child doesn't feel like eating, that's okay. Your child does not necessarily have to stay in bed. If it feels good enough, it can just go to school or daycare. Children often infect each other before the childhood disease is noticeable.

Other diseases that cause spots

1. Not all spots are an expression of childhood illness. It could also be an allergy, Enoch Schönlein's disease or something else. And there are many more rash viruses than those listed here.

When to see the doctor? Contact your doctor right away if your child is very sick, becomes drowsy, does not want to drink or develops red spots or dots on the skin that do not fade when pressed. Also see the doctor if your child is younger than 3 months and if you yourself are pregnant and have been in contact with a child with spot disease. This article has been approved by Dr. J.M. de Bont, pediatrician-pediatric neurologist at UMC Utrecht. Last revised September 14, 2018 Don't miss anything anymore?

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