Mumps is caused by a virus that infects the parotid glands which are located under the ears. It is contracted through breathing in droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person. In countries where a vaccine is not widely given outbreaks...
The various illnesses that children spread from one to another are no small concern to parents who feel as though they spend the entire winter wiping noses and taking temperatures. But fortunately, some of the more serious communicable diseases of...
If your child develops a rash following immunization, don't panic. It is not a sign that your child has contracted the disease against which he has been recently immunized. Vaccines can cause side effects. These are usually minor and last a few...
Measles, also known as rubeola, refers to a common and contagious viral illness that commonly affects children. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, dry cough, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eyes),...
Viral infections are the most common cause of illness in children. They are highly contagious. Most viruses cause symptoms over a short period of time and produce mild illness. Some viruses can cause significant disease, especially in those who...
Chickenpox is a fairly harmless and mild disease for most people, but in some it can be deadly. According to BabyCenter, before the vaccine for chickenpox was developed, between 100 to 150 people died as a result of chickenpox and over 10,000 were...
Newborns have temporary protection against many diseases due to the antibodies that have passed to them from their mothers. Breastfed infants get even more of those benefits from their mother's milk, according to The March of Dimes. However, your...
Bumps after a high fever often result from chickenpox, measles and scarlet fever. These illnesses make your child feel miserable and are highly contagious. Always consult with your doctor if your child has a high fever for proper diagnosis and...
The virus varicella-zoster causes chickenpox. Spreading through direct contact or by airborne transmission of infected droplets, this highly contagious disease used to infect about 4 million American children per year, according to the Mayo...
Egg-based allergies are one of the most common types of food allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Most children with egg-based allergies outgrow the hypersensitivity before the age of 5. The allergy is a reaction...
Dizziness occurs in children for many different reasons. Sometimes it occurs due to health issues and other times an external influence is responsible, such as exposure to chemical products. Ongoing or severe dizziness may indicate a serious...
Eggs can be a problem from a food safety perspective because they provide a nearly ideal growth medium for microorganisms. Eggs have a high level of liquid in them, and are rich in nutrients, especially proteins, that allow for rapid bacterial...
Gelatin's presence extends beyond the ubiquitous fruit-flavored snack. It can be found in medications, vitamins, vaccinations, candies and other food products, where it acts as a sealing agent or preservative. According to the Vegetarian Resource...
According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, an egg allergy affects approximately 1.5 percent of young children. Fortunately, most of these children go on to outgrow an egg allergy, so it is less common in adults. The egg white, which...
Red round sores on an infant are typically caused by irritation of the skin and are generically referred to as dermatitis. However, many diseases are known to cause similar lesions. These disorders may range from innocuous to life-threatening...
Most babies survive their vaccinations with just a few tears and a day of irritability. In rare cases, infection at the vaccination site can occur. Anytime you have a break in the skin, bacteria could enter. What looks like an infection could...
In the United States, childhood vaccinations are a regular part of raising a healthy child. Immunization programs in place today have been successful in reducing the occurrence of certain childhood diseases including measles, polio and tetanus....
Fevers are a common symptom in children of all ages. "Webster's New World Dictionary" defines fever as "an abnormally increased body temperature." Normal temperatures range from 97 degrees Fahrenheit to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Mayo...
Viruses spread primarily through bodily fluids and skin-to-skin contact. If you're around someone with a known case of viral meningitis, you can prevent infection by avoiding contact with the person and his bodily fluids. That means you shouldn't...
According to the National Institute for Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), chronic kidney or renal failure in children leads to other health problems like body swelling, growth failure and bony deformities. The long term nature of...
AIDS weakens the immune system, making it essential that people infected with HIV get vaccinated against preventable diseases that could be potentially devastating. AIDS patients should consult with a doctor to determine the specific immunizations...
A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. What's acceptable can shift slightly, depending on a child's age, explains the American Academy of Pediatrics. In general, body temperature of around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is considered...
Before the introduction of the polio vaccine, an average of 16,316 people in the U.S. contracted polio every year, but in 2008 not a single person living in the U.S. contracted the disease, according to the National Institute of Allergy and...
FluMist is the trade name for a nasal spray influenza vaccine. The vaccine contains live but weakened virus particles that provoke antibody production against influenza but do not cause disease. FluMist is a live, attenuated influenza vaccine or...
Vaccines and flu shots generally are considered safe by health officials. However, like any medication, a vaccine or flu shot can cause side effects, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is possible for your toddler to have...
A systemic disease is a condition that affects the entire body. A variety of systemic diseases in children are associate with rashes. While the rash may be the most obvious symptom of these diseases, these conditions often need medical attention...
The Center For Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, divides travel vaccinations into three categories: routine, recommended and required. Depending on which area of Europe you are traveling to, you may not need any additional vaccinations. Always...
As your daughter goes through her teens, your relationship with her doctor will change. She will become more responsible for her health, and her checkups become focused on the issues and health concerns affecting teenagers. Encourage your...
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is spread easily by sneezing, coughing or skin contact, and an infected person might be contagious one to two days prior to symptoms and four to five days after,...
Rubella, or German measles, is an often benign outbreak of little red bumps that usually pass in one to five days. Learn more in this health video.
The mumps, or epidemic parotitis, typically presents as severe swelling of the salivary glands. Learn more about the mumps including treatment options in this medical video.
Measles, also called rubeola, is primarily a respiratory infection caused by a highly contagious virus found all over the world. Measles can be serious, especially in small children. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and...
