Pg.no. 50
This is caused by inflammation in the joints between the cartilage that joins the ribs to the
breastbone (sternum). The symptoms often improve after a few weeks and may be
relieved by painkillers.
7. Chickenpox:
Chickenpox is a mild and common childhood illness that most children catch at some point.
It causes a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then crust over to
form scabs, which eventually drop off.
Some children have only a few spots, but other children can have spots that cover their entire
body. These are most likely to appear on the face, ears and scalp, under the arms, on the
chest and belly, and on the arms and legs.
Chickenpox is most common in children under the age of 10. In fact, chickenpox is so
common in childhood that over 90% of adults are immune to the condition because they've
had it before.
Children usually catch chickenpox in winter and spring, particularly between March and
May.
What to do?
To prevent spreading the infection, keep children off nursery or school until all their spots
have crusted over.
Chickenpox is infectious from 1 to 2 days before the rash starts, until all the blisters have
crusted over (usually 5 to 6 days after the start of the rash).
If your child has chickenpox, try to keep them away from public areas to avoid contact with
people who may not have had it, especially people who are at risk of serious problems, such
as newborn babies, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system (for
example, people having cancer treatment or taking steroid tablets).
Chickenpox treatment
Chickenpox in children is considered a mild illness, but your child will probably feel pretty
miserable and irritable while they have it.
Your child may have a fever for the first few days of the illness. The spots can be incredibly
itchy.
There is no specific treatment for chickenpox, but there are pharmacy remedies that
can alleviate symptoms. These include paracetamol to relieve fever, and calamine lotion and
cooling gels to ease itching.
In most children, the blisters crust up and fall off naturally within one to two weeks.
8. Coma:
A coma is a state of unconsciousness where a person is unresponsive and cannot be woken.
It can result from injury to the brain, such as a severe head injury or stroke. A coma can also
be caused by severe alcohol poisoning or a brain infection (encephalitis).