Many communicable diseases occur most frequently in children. Although children's susceptibility to communicable diseases has many factors, their spirited desire to touch and physically interact with their environment contributes to the easy passage of infectious agents among children and their family members. Although immunizations provide protection against many previously common communicable diseases of childhood, many infectious childhood illnesses remain.
Colds
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that, on average, children have more colds than any other type of illness. The highly contagious nature of the common cold, combined with youngsters' relative lack of personal hygiene skills, leads to the rapid spread of cold viruses anywhere children congregate--in the home, at school, in day care and children's play centers. The primary means of spread of the common cold is through nasal secretions, which teem with infectious viral particles. Children wipe their noses on their hands or curiously put their fingers in their noses, making the hands a vehicle for viral transmission. Everything a child touches with his virus-contaminated hands becomes a potential source of infection for others. Cold germs are easily picked up from inanimate surfaces, and when the hands are touched to the face, mouth or nose, the viruses have successfully made their way to another host.
Fifth Disease
Fifth disease, also known as erythema infectiosum, is a common childhood illness caused by human parvovirus B19. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says a bright red rash on the cheeks is commonly the first sign of fifth disease. The rash spreads from the face to the torso, arms and legs, typically lasting two to four days. Prolonged exposure to the sun or high environmental temperatures can lead to reappearance of the rash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that human parvovirus B19 is present in nasal secretions and saliva--before the rash appears. Contact with infected secretions is the most probable route of disease spread. The fact that children are contagious before the eruption of the skin rash typically means other children are unwittingly exposed to the virus. The CDC notes that 10 percent to 60 percent of children may contract fifth disease when an outbreak occurs in a school setting.
Roseola
Roseola, also known as sixth disease, is a communicable disease of infants and young children caused by human herpesvirus 6 or, less commonly, human herpesvirus 7. Information provided by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics notes that the sudden development of a high fever, up to 105 degrees F, typically heralds the onset of roseola. The fever usually lasts two to four days. Within 24 hours after the fever breaks, a pink rash erupts on the chest and spreads to the neck, face, arms and legs. The rash may resolve in a matter of hours to a few days. Children with roseola are contagious until the rash clears.
