ACUTE CHILDHOOD DISEASES:

• Fever – this is a temporary increase in your child’s body temperature above 37.5°C. Signs and symptoms of fever may include sweating, loss of appetite, dehydration, weakness, chills and shivering. Children between the ages of 6 months – 5 years may experience febrile seizures if their temperature rises too quickly. Treatment may include antipyretics and/or antibiotics for underlying illness. Infants may need admission for further testing and treatment.
• Tonsillitis – this is an infection of the tonsils. Tonsils are lumps of lymphoid tissue at the back of your throat, which are part of the immune system. Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis may include a sore throat, fever, bad breath, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, trouble swallowing, stomach ache and headache. Tonsillitis treatment includes antibiotics.
• UTIs – urinary tract infections are caused when bacteria enter the opening of the urethra and move up to the bladder and sometimes the kidneys. Infants are mostly asymptomatic, but may have fever and feed poorly. Children over the age of 2 experience symptoms such as abdominal pain and a burning sensation during urination, the urge to urinate frequently and urgently, and pain in the bladder region. Treatment of UTIs may include antibiotics.
• Mouth infections – these are infections caused by fungi, viruses and/or bacteria. These infections may present as oral thrush, mouth ulcers, cold sores, swelling of the lips or tongue and/or tooth abscesses.
• Diarrhoea – this is when your child's stools are loose and watery, which may also result in your child going to the restroom frequently. Symptoms of diarrhoea may include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, fever, dehydration, incontinence and urgent need to use the bathroom. Glucose-electrolyte solutions may be recommended to help treat and relieve diarrhoea.
• Vomiting and reflux – this is when your child’s stomach contents flow back up through the oesophagus. Symptoms of reflux include loss of appetite, stomach pain, vomiting, gagging, choking and/or burping. Treatment may include H2-blockers, proton pump inhibitors, and calorie supplements.

CHRONIC CHILDHOOD DISEASES:

• Asthma – this is when your child’s lungs and airways are inflamed due to exposure to certain triggers such as pollen, the common cold or other respiratory infections. Symptoms of asthma in children may include whistling or wheezing sound when breathing out, shortness of breath, chest congestion and frequent coughing, which gets worse when your child is asleep or exercising. Treatment may include medication such as steroids and bronchodilators.
• Seizures – occur when parts of the brain have bursts of abnormal electrical signals which interrupts the normal brain signals. Anything that may interrupt the normal connections in the brain may cause a seizure. Signs and symptoms of seizures include staring, jerking movements of the legs and arms, difficulty breathing, apnoea, stiffening of the body and loss of bowel or bladder control.
• Diabetes – results due to the body's inability to use insulin. There are different types of diabetes, namely, type 1 diabetes (when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin) and type 2 diabetes (when the body is resistant to insulin). Symptoms may include fatigue, hunger, increased thirst and urination, blurred visions and unexplained weight loss. Treatment for diabetes depends on the type of diabetes and may include insulin, diet change and exercise. Children with diabetes require regular blood glucose monitoring and may be issued with their own glucometer.