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Croup is a viral infection that causes a harsh, barking cough and noisy breathing because the voicebox (larynx) and airways are inflamed and swollen. It often starts out like a common cold, with symptoms such as fever and runny nose, but then progresses to a cough that sounds like a seal or a barking dog. It usually affects children aged between 6 months and 3 years old, but can occur in other age groups. It is rare in adults because their airways are larger.
Cryptosporidiosis is a type of gastroenteritis (or 'gastro') caused by a parasite called Cryptosporidium. Symptoms include stomach pain; feeling sick; vomiting; and foul-smelling and watery diarrhoea. Symptoms can last up to 2 weeks. It is more common in the warmer months and is sometimes associated with swimming pools that have been contaminated by a person with the infection.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common viral infection, particularly in young children. In Australia, about 50% of young adults have been infected. Once a person is infected, they can carry the virus for the rest of their lives, even if they do not have any symptoms. Sometimes the virus can be reactivated, usually when the person has another sickness or is stressed, and may then cause symptoms.Healthy children and adults do not usually develop symptoms when they are infected, but some may show symptoms that are similar to glandular fever (for example, tiredness, sore throat, swollen glands and fever).
Middle ear infections (also called otitis media) are common in young children. An ear infection can cause pain, fever and temporary hearing loss. It can be caused by bacteria or viruses, and often appears after a cold. Occasionally the eardrum may perforate, and you may see fluid coming from the child's ear.Outer ear infections (otitis externa) occur on the outside of the eardrum, involving the ear canal. They are often associated with swimming.Rarely, a middle ear infection may spread to the mastoid bone behind the ear, causing mastoiditis. The area behind the ear will be red, and the ear lobe will stick out. A child with these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible - this is a serious infection.Most children will have occasional ear infections that are not serious and resolve quickly. Children who have recurrent ear infections may develop 'glue ear' - when the middle ear is filled with a sticky fluid that looks similar to honey. This may last for many weeks or months and makes it harder for the child to hear.
Eye discharge refers to a sticky or runny fluid coming from the eyes that is not tears. It is normal to wake up with some discharge in the corner of the eye, and this is not a concern.Sometimes eye discharge is a sign of other conditions, such as conjunctivitis (see conjunctivitis fact sheet) or blocked tear ducts. Blocked tear ducts in babies often improve without treatment by the age of 1 year.Conjunctivitis can be caused by a virus or bacteria (called infectious conjunctivitis), a reaction to something in the eye, or an allergy. Infectious conjunctivitis can cause:watery or white discharge (viral conjunctivitis)yellow or green sticky discharge that can make it hard to open the eye (bacterial conjunctivitis).
Fifth disease is a common viral infection that usually causes a mild illness in children.About 20% of infected children will have no symptoms. In others, symptoms include mild fever and muscle aches, followed 2 to 5 days later by a red rash on the face (hence the name 'slapped cheek syndrome') and a lacy red rash on the trunk and limbs. The rash can sometimes be itchy. It will usually disappear after 7 to 10 days, but can come and go for several weeks, often reappearing in response to heat.Fifth disease is a type of parvovirus. Animals such as cats and dogs can have other types of parvovirus infections, but they cannot catch human parvovirus from people, and they cannot pass their parvovirus infections to people.
Tinea is a common fungal infection of the skin that is usually found in moist, warm parts of the body, such as between the toes, but can also infect skin on other parts of the body. The condition looks different depending on where it is. On the head or body, it causes a rash called ringworm. Ringworm is not caused by a worm.
The germ commonly known as staph (Staphylococcus aureus) is often found on the skin and in the nose and throat of healthy people. It generally causes no problems or disease, but sometimes it can cause infections. If the staph germs enter the body through damaged skin, they can cause skin infections such as impetigo (school sores), boils and abscesses. Sometimes they get into the blood and cause blood poisoning (septicaemia).Staph can also cause food poisoning and lung infection (pneumonia).Staph is sometimes mentioned in the media when it causes outbreaks of infections in hospitals or in the community. Outbreaks can sometimes be caused by a type of staph known as MRSA, which stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is not more infectious, but it can be more difficult to treat because it is resistant to some common antibiotics.
Rashes are common in children. Many rashes do not need urgent attention, especially if the child is happy and the rash does not appear to bother them.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver. About 50% of adults and 90% of children with the infection have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they may include fever, tiredness, stomach pain, nausea, dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).In some cases, hepatitis B can lead to liver damage or liver cancer.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be serious in young children. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. People can develop pneumonia after they have common infections such a cold, the flu or respiratory syncytial virus.People with pneumonia may have symptoms of a cold that get worse over time, rather than better. Symptoms of pneumonia include a moist cough, fever, tiredness and difficulty breathing.
Pneumococcal disease is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. The germ can cause a range of diseases, from mild ear or throat infections to severe lung infections (pneumonia) and meningitis (infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord). In Australia, pneumococcal disease is more common in winter and spring. It is a leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age, especially in First Nations children. Seniors are also at risk of pneumococcal pneumonia.
Norovirus is a common viral cause of gastroenteritis (or ‘gastro’). Vomiting is usually the main initial symptom, and there can be a lot of vomit. Other symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, fever, headache and muscle aches. Norovirus gastroenteritis can cause dehydration because of the large amount of fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhoea.Outbreaks are common because norovirus spreads very easily and it only takes a small number of virus particles to make someone sick. The disease is more common from late winter to early summer.People who have had norovirus before can be reinfected as new strains of the virus spread around the world every few years.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. The disease is slow acting and often has no symptoms, so around half of infected people do not know they are infected. If people do experience symptoms, they can include fever, tiredness, stomach pain, nausea, dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).In the long term, hepatitis C can lead to liver damage and liver cancer. There is no vaccine, but treatment is available.
Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus. It is rare in Australia. Some infected people, especially children, will have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can include fever, tiredness, stomach pain, loss of appetite and nausea. This is sometimes followed by dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
Despite its name, the germ that causes this infection is not related to influenza ('the flu'). Until a vaccine was introduced in 1993, Hib was one of the most common cause of life-threatening bacterial infections in Australian children under 5 years old.Hib can cause swelling in the throat, which interferes with breathing, causing noises when breathing. It may block breathing altogether. It can also cause pneumonia (infection in the lungs) and infect the membranes covering the brain (meningitis), the joints, or the tissue under the skin (usually on the face).Symptoms of Hib meningitis are very similar to other types of meningitis. These include severe headache, stiff neck, fits, severe sleepiness, difficulty waking up and loss of consciousness.
HIV is a virus that is carried in blood and body fluids and damage the immune system. Untreated infections with HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). When a person has AIDS, their immune system can no longer protect their body from other diseases such as infections and cancers. HIV is a lifelong infection.Effective treatment is now available and people who take it have a near-normal life expectancy.
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus that causes a mild infection similar to a common cold or respiratory syncytial virus infection. Symptoms include cough, fever, runny or blocked nose, headache and tiredness. Complications such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia can occur in young children.
Impetigo is a skin infection that is common in school-aged children. Impetigo appears as flat, yellow, crusty or moist patches or blisters on the skin, usually on the face, arms and legs. The sores can measure 5mm or more. Impetigo spreads easily.Impetigo is caused by 2 bacteria, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. These germs often live harmlessly on and in the body, such as on the skin and in the nose. Cuts, abrasions, or dry and cracked skin can allow them to get into deeper layers of the skin and cause infections. However, healthy, intact skin can sometimes develop sores.
Measles is a highly infectious and potentially serious disease caused by a virus. The first symptoms include a fever, cough, and sore, red eyes (conjunctivitis). This is followed by a rash of large, lumpy, reddish to purplish blotches that often join up and completely cover the skin. The rash spreads over the entire body but usually disappears within 6 days.Measles often causes very serious complications, including lung infections (pneumonia) and swelling of the brain. Children with measles can be very sick, and adults with measles are usually hospitalised.The number of cases of measles in Australia has fallen dramatically over the past 15 years because of vaccination programs and other public health measures. However, overseas travellers still bring measles into Australia, so people in Australia can still catch the virus.