A communicable disease is one that is transmitted by direct contact and are often passed around among children, especially via daycares and elementary schools. The Dekalb County Board of Health recommends isolating children who have a communicable disease until they are no longer contagious. Some symptoms that could indicate a communicable disease are sudden fever, rash or other skin condition, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. If parents suspect their child has transmitted a communicable disease, they are urged to contact the child's doctor for treatment.
Pink Eye
Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is a common childhood communicable disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that the pink color is a result of blood vessels in the eye getting bigger. Other symptoms include discharge from the eye and some kids report pain. Pink eye is transmitted by coming in contact with the the discharge from an infected eye or anything the eye discharge has touched, such as a towel, clothing or hands. Pink eye is contagious until it clears up and some cases require antibiotics to treat. Frequent hand washing among children and their caregivers can keep transmission at a minimum.
Chicken Pox
Chicken pox begins with a fever and then a rash develops. The rash begins as fluid-filled bumps that later scab or crust up. Chicken pox is transmitted through coughing, sneezing or a runny nose, says the Dekalb County Board of Health. It can also be passed if contact with the rash occurs. Chicken pox is most contagious at one to two days before the rash appears, which is why it spreads among children so quickly. When the rash crusts, a child is usually no longer contagious. Chicken pox can be prevented by the varicella vaccine, which is generally administered at 15 months and again between 4 and 6 years of age, notes the Dekalb County Board of Health.
Impetigo
The CDC says that impetigo is a Group A strep infection and is most common among children ages 2 to 6 years. It is caused by bacteria entering broken skin, such as a cut, scratch or insect bite. Impetigo is most common on the face, arms and legs, but can appear anywhere on the body, according to the Dekalb County Board of Health. It appears as a pus-filled lesion, which then breaks open and crusts over. Impetigo is a communicable disease that kids pass because it is transmitted through contact with the sores or anything they have touched. Keeping hands off the sores and washing hands often can help prevent the spread of impetigo, which is contagious until the sores quit draining.
