All about rashes

Symptoms

• If your child has measles, he or she will first appear very unwell. They will have some of the following:
  - High fever for three to four days
  - Chills
  - Headache
  - Red, sore eyes with thick discharge
  - Persistent, hacking cough
• Spots occur in the mouth and gums, and then a red rash appears on the scalp and face and behind the ears.
• The rash then spreads downwards until it reaches the feet.
• It then fades in the same order as it appeared.

Treatment

• The most important thing you can do for a child with measles is give supportive treatment such as Paracetamol. Any secondary bacterial infections would need specific - prescribed antibiotic therapy. Encephalitis would need hospitalisation for supportive treatments.
• The severe complications of measles can be devastating. These include:
  - Encephalitis (a meningitis-type infection)
  - Hearing loss
  - Mental retardation
  - Seizure disorders

Symptoms

• The disease is often characterised by an abrupt onset of fever, headache, sore throat and vomiting.
• With scarlet fever, the tongue has a characteristic appearance: bright red and studded with prominent bumps (also called strawberry tongue).
• The face is usually flushed but often pale around the mouth area.
• A rough, sandpaper-like rash often develops, especially on the inner elbows, chest and inner thighs. The rash lasts about four days.
• The diagnosis is usually made with a positive throat culture, after a swab, and the characteristic appearing rash.

Treatment

• This disease is usually treated with an antibiotic - just like strep throat.