Whatchamacallit
Our helpful glossary of childhood ailments.
Cradle Cap: A skin condition in babies characterized by a yellowish or brownish scaly buildup on the head; may also be accompanied by redness in the creases of the skin.
Diptheria: A very contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial disease that usually attacks the throat and nose. In more serious cases, it can attack the heart and nerves and lead to heart failure and death.
Eczema: An inflammation of the skin, usually causing itching and sometimes accompanied by crusting, scaling or blisters.
Febrile Seizure: A convulsion or seizure that occurs in infants and young children caused by a sudden spike in body temperature.
Fifth Disease: Also known as “slapped cheek syndrome” is a viral illness commonly acquired by small children resembling the flu with a red rash across their cheeks plus on their trunk, arms and legs.
Jaundice: A somewhat common condition in newborn babies, which usually appears around the second or third day of life, marked by a yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by the immature liver’s inability to process excess red blood cells.
Measles: An acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash.
Pink Eye or Conjuctivitis: An infection of the inner eyelids and surrounding tissues of the eye. It can cause redness, itching, inflammation or swelling, and a clear or white, yellow, or greenish gooey liquid to collect in the eyes.
Rotavirus: An infection of the digestive tract. It is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children.
Roseola: A mild viral disease of those between the ages of six months and two years characterized by fever lasting three days followed by an eruption of rose-colored spots.
Scarlet Fever: An infectious childhood disease, caused by a streptococcus bacteria, that leads to a sore throat, fever, and rash.
Thrush: A yeast infection occurring in the mouth or mucous membranes of a newborn infant, can also be passed to the mothers nipples during breastfeeding.
Varicella: A herpes virus that causes chicken pox and shingles.
Whooping Cough: A highly contagious infection of the respiratory system characterized by a severe cough that makes it difficult to breathe. It is one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths. Virtually all deaths occur in children under one year of age.
To see more glossary terms, check out Toxoplasa-wha?!.
