The table below summarises the main characteristics of childhood infections
| Infection | Features |
|---|---|
| Chickenpox | Fever initially |
| Itchy, rash starting on head/trunk before spreading. Initially macular then papular then vesicular | |
| Systemic upset is usually mild | |
| Measles | Prodrome: irritable, conjunctivitis, fever |
| Koplik spots: white spots ('grain of salt') on buccal mucosa | |
| Rash: starts behind ears then to whole body, discrete maculopapular rash becoming blotchy & confluent | |
| Mumps | Fever, malaise, muscular pain |
| Parotitis ('earache', 'pain on eating'): unilateral initially then becomes bilateral in 70% | |
| Rubella | Rash: pink maculopapular, initially on face before spreading to whole body, usually fades by the 3-5 day |
| Lymphadenopathy: suboccipital and postauricular | |
| Erythema infectiosum | Also known as fifth disease or 'slapped-cheek syndrome' |
| Caused by parvovirus B19 | |
| Lethargy, fever, headache | |
| 'Slapped-cheek' rash spreading to proximal arms and extensor surfaces | |
| Scarlet fever | Reaction to erythrogenic toxins produced by Group A haemolytic streptococci |
| Fever, malaise, tonsillitis | |
| 'Strawberry' tongue | |
| Rash - fine punctate erythema sparing the area around the mouth (circumoral pallor) | |
| Hand, foot and mouth disease | Caused by the coxsackie A16 virus |
| Mild systemic upset: sore throat, fever | |
| Vesicles in the mouth and on the palms and soles of the feet |