Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare: When Children Fall Really Ill And We Can’t Do Much

It is every parent’s worst nightmare when their beloved children are down with contagious and potentially life-threatening diseases like chickenpox, hand-foot-mouth disease or others. No matter what the disease is, it is definitely something parents want to avoid at all costs. 

Parents will do their very best to help protect their precious children. Whether it is for their education or health, we don’t tolerate mediocrity. 

So if you’re a new parent and you’re wondering where to even begin with giving the best to your kids, one of the first things to do is to fill up our knowledge cups on what to do when your child falls sick. When kids fall sick, it can be overwhelming to parents and while we are not expected to know everything, there are a few key things we can take note of to remember. 

There are diseases that are preventable by vaccines. This is why we have a National Immunisation Programme with a vaccination schedule for parents¹.

But on top of that, there are also additional vaccines for other common diseases which parents can get for their children. These vaccines are available in private hospitals and clinics². 

One of these common diseases is chickenpox.

What is Chickenpox?

We usually hear about chickenpox as a disease that often affects children. This is caused by a virus known as varicella zoster virus, which makes it a contagious disease that can spread from person to person easily through contact (with the fluid from the chickenpox blisters) or air if the infected person coughs or sneezes³.

What Are the Symptoms of Chickenpox?

Your child might start showing symptoms of chickenpox 10-21 days after being exposed. In fact, chickenpox can spread from 1–2 days before the rash appears in an infected person until all rashes are dry³.

So if you have heard of a recent outbreak of chickenpox in your child’s school, here are some of the symptoms to look out for³:

• Fever, feeling unwell and/or tired for about five days before the rash appears.
• The rash starts with small red spots and can be itchy for the child, sometimes also appearing on the mouth area. Usually it starts on the chest and back, then spreads to the face, scalp, and both arms and legs.
• Within 24 hours, the rashes will look like water blisters, then burst, dry out and become crusty over 4 to 5 days.
• New spots will continue to appear for five days and take about two weeks to disappear.

Though in most cases, a person is said to have lifelong immunity after chickenpox infection, the virus can remain hidden and recur as shingles in adults later in life³.

If your child is experiencing symptoms of chickenpox, it is highly recommended to take them to see a doctor to seek the right treatment plan.

Chickenpox Complications

There are instances in which serious complications can arise from chickenpox. The complications include bacterial skin infection, blood stream infection, pneumonia or even brain infection in severe cases³.

How to Prevent Chickenpox

If you are sending your child to day care or know that they will be at some point, exposed to a large group of children in an environment that you cannot guarantee their health, it is of course better to seek preventive care for your child. 

In the case of chickenpox, one of the most effective ways in helping to protect your child against the disease is by getting them vaccinated³.

Immunisation for ANY preventable disease is IMPORTANT

Parents, we’re here to remind you how important vaccination or immunisation is for your children to help protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines can help in building your child’s immunity towards these diseases⁴. 

By getting vaccinated according to the given schedule, you may receive protection from a number of life-threatening diseases, such as⁵:

• Tuberculosis (TB) – This disease can cause serious infections such as meningitis and spread to other organs⁶. 
• Diphtheria – Toxins released by bacteria may lead to blocked airways⁷.
• Pertussis – Can cause whooping cough and lack of oxygen to the brain⁸.
• Tetanus – Bacterial poisoning that can cause cramps in the muscles of the body and affects the ability to open the jaw⁹.
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) – This bacterium can cause infections of the lungs (pneumonia), respiratory tract and neuritis (meningitis)⁵.
• Hepatitis B – This virus can cause severe damage to the liver and increases the risk of the individual getting liver cancer in the future⁵.
• Polio – This virus can cause paralysis and even death⁵.
• Measles – This virus can cause fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, infections of the brain (encephalitis) and lungs (pneumonia)¹⁰.
• Mumps – This virus can cause viral meningitis and infection of testicles (orchitis)¹¹.
• Rubella – This virus can cause fever, rash, nausea and mild conjunctivitis¹².
• Pneumococcus – This bacteria can cause severe diseases like meningitis or milder infections like sinusitis or ear infections⁵.
• Rotavirus – This virus can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration⁵.
• Human Papillomavirus – This virus can cause cervical cancer and genital warts⁵.
• Varicella (Chickenpox) – This virus can cause a blister like rash and fever, which can also cause shingles later as adults if the virus reactivates³.
• Influenza  – Influenza A can cause epidemics of flu diseases or flu season¹³.
• Meningococcal – This bacteria can cause deadly infections of the lining of the brain, spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream¹⁴. 
• Hepatitis A – This virus can cause short term infection of the liver¹⁵.

Besides which, parents would also want to take these other cautionary measures in ensuring their child’s health is not compromised such as practising good hygiene habits and keeping the home environment clean.

Speak to your paediatrician or your doctor about protective and preventive measures to keep the family healthy and protected. 

MY-VVX-00130 Sep/2022

REFERENCES:

1. Immunise4Life. The Malaysian National Immunisation Programme (NIP). Available From: https://immunise4life.my/the-malaysian-national-immunisation-programme-nip/. Last Accessed 19 August 2022. 
2. Immunise4Life. 5 Additional Recommended Vaccines for Children. Available From: https://immunise4life.my/5-additional-vaccines-for-children/. Last Accessed 19 August 2022. 
3. PORTAL MyHEALTH. Chickenpox. Available From: https://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/chickenpox/. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.   
4. World Health Organization. Vaccines and immunization:What is vaccination?. Available From: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/vaccines-and-immunization-what-is-vaccination. Last Accessed 19 August 2022.
5. UNICEF. Vaccines and the diseases they prevent. Available From: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/vaccines-and-diseases-they-prevent. Last Accessed 24 August 2022.
6. Mayo Clinic. Tuberculosis. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250. Last Accessed 20 August 2022. 
7. Mayo Clinic. Diphtheria. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diphtheria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351897. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.
8. National Health Service Inform. Whooping cough. Available From: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/whooping-cough. Last Accessed 24 August 2022. 
9. Mayo Clinic. Tetanus. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tetanus/symptoms-causes/syc-20351625. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.  
10. Mayo Clinic. Measles. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/symptoms-causes/syc-20374857. Last Accessed 20 August 2022.
11. National Health Services. Mumps – Complications. Available From: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mumps/complications/. Last Accessed 24 August 2022.
12. World Health Organization. Rubella. Available From: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rubella. Last Accessed 20 August 2022. 
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Types of Influenza Viruses. Available From https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/types.htm. Last Accessed 21 August 2022. 
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal Disease. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html. Last Accessed 24 August 2022.
15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is hepatitis A – FAQ. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm#overview. Last Accessed 22 August 2022.