Childhood infections

Key messages for primary care practitioners

For unwell non-UK born children who have recently arrived in the UK or who have returned from visiting friends and relatives abroad, please see assessing migrant patients with symptoms.
Ensure that non-UK born children are brought up to date with the UK immunisation schedule.
Follow national guidelines to prevent the spread of infection in schools and other childcare settings, and report statutorily notifiable diseases.

'Childhood infections' refers to those infections that are particularly associated with childhood, many of which are vaccine preventable. The range of childhood infections that occur in UK born children may also occur in non-UK born children.
Some diseases may be more common in children born abroad, especially vaccine preventable diseases if they have not been fully immunised. Immunisation coverage and incidence of childhood diseases is highly variable throughout the world; see WHO [external link] for country specific information.
Children born abroad should be brought up to date with the UK immunisation schedule.
Many of the descriptions and images used to describe and demonstrate typical rashes associated with childhood infections are based on their appearance in white skin. Be aware that they may look different in pigmented skin.
You can help prevent the spread of infection by giving advice in accordance with infection control guidelines for schools and childcare facilities.
Many childhood infections are statutorily notifiable.

Information about individual childhood diseases from the HPA:

Covered by UK immunisation schedule
Diphtheria
Measles
Meningococcal disease
Mumps
Haemophilus influenza type B
Pneumococcal disease
Polio (HPA website) Polio (migrant health guide)
Rubella
Whooping cough
Other
Chickenpox
Scarlet fever
Slapped cheek syndrome
Fungal infections
Head lice
Impetigo
Respiratory syncytial virus
Rotavirus
Streptococcal infections