Day care centers, classrooms and school buses are often overloaded with germs due to the high number of children and teachers that constantly move in and out. The high number of germs--combined with the fact that children don't yet have fully developed immune systems and hygiene habits--makes the possibility of contracting a disease very high. Contagious diseases are most often transmitted when an infected child sneezes or coughs and an uninfected child breathes in the contaminated air.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a condition caused by a virus called varicella zoster. The condition is characterized by itchy, red spots that cover the entire body. The spots can vary in size from very small to approximately the size of a dime, according to Kids Chickenpox may also be accompanied by runny nose, cough and fever. It's highly contagious and can be spread from a few days before symptoms appear to a maximum of six days after spots are visible. Once a child has contracted chickenpox, the body usually builds immunity to the virus and the child will never become infected again.
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria. Symptoms of whooping cough usually appear three to 12 days after becoming infected with the bacteria and include runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, mild fever and a dry, persistent hacking cough. Incidences of whooping cough in children have been steadily increasing since the mid 20th century, according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease is the most contagious during the first week of illness. Keep the infected child away from other children until five days after the end of antibiotic treatment, according to Net Doctor.
Roseola Infantum
Roseola infantum, or three-day-fever, is a viral infection in children that's characterized by a high fever and rash. Other symptoms include runny nose, sore throat and upset stomach. Symptoms usually appear five to 15 days after becoming infected with the virus, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Most children who become infected with roseola infantum are between six months and 3 years old. The disease is contagious for the entire duration of symptoms and up to three days after symptoms are gone.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection in children that's caused by a class of virus called the enterovirus. The disease causes fever, blisters in the mouth and skin rash. Fever is the first symptom to develop, followed by mouth sores and skin rash on the hands and feet approximately two days later. Hand, foot and mouth disease is most contagious during the first week of illness but can be spread weeks after symptoms have gone away because the virus remains in the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
