Illness Symptoms Advice Tx
Red or pink spotty rash spreading Stay off nursery, school, work for 5 days after rash appears
Rubella
to head, neck and body Avoid close contact with pregnant women MMR vaccine - two doses (age 1
(German
Swollen glands in neck/behind ears Contagious from 1 week before symptoms start and for year and 3 years, 4 months)
Measles) Fever 4 days after rash first appears
6-in-1 vaccine - babies at 8, 12
Coughing bouts with a ‘whoop’ Risk of dehydration, breathing difficulties, pneumonia and
and 16 weeks
Whooping sound (gasp for breath between seizures in babies under 6 months
4-in-1 pre-school booster - for
Cough coughs) Risk of nose bleeds, sore ribs and hernia
pre-school children
(Pertussis) Thick mucus Contagious from about 6 days after start of cold
Vaccine - given to pregnant
Red in the face symptoms to 3 weeks after coughing
women (16-32 weeks)
Slapped Cheek Red rash on cheeks Rash fades within 2 weeks but can recur for up to a month
Syndrome Fever if exercising, hot, etc.
(Fifth Disease, Runny nose Adults may have joint pain/stiffness. Paracetamol/ibuprofen - fever
Erythema Sore throat Contact Dr if pregnant or near someone with a weakened Moisturiser - itchy skin
Infectiosum, Lighter colour rash on chest, arms immune system
Parovirus B19) and legs with raised, itchy skin No need to stay off school or work after appears
Painful swelling in parotid glands Contact Dr if mumps are suspected
(sides of face under the ears) Stay off school or work for at least 5 days after symptoms
MMR vaccine - two doses (age 1
Mumps Headaches first develop
year and 3 years, 4 months)
Joint pain Mumps can lead to viral meningitis if the virus moves
Fever into the outer layer of the brain
Avoid alcohol as liver weakens with virus
Glandular Fever
Risk of swollen spleen hence avoid sports or activities that
Severe sore throat Viral cause (Epstein-Barr virus)
Fever increase risk of falling as this can damage the spleen
Swollen glands hence use paracetamol and ibu-
(Infectious Very contagious for up to 7 weeks before symptoms
Extreme fatigue or exhaustion profen for symptomatic relief
Mononucleosis) Risk of anaemia, pneumonia and neurological illness like
Tonsilitis
Guillain-Barre syndrome or Bell’s palsy
Cold like symptoms
Sore, red eyes sensitive to light Contact Dr as soon as measles is suspected
Fever Risk of pneumonia and encephalitis
MMR vaccine - two doses (age 1
Measles Small grey-white spots on the in- Contagious from when the symptoms develop until about
year and 3 years, 4 months)
side of the cheeks (Koplik spots) 4 days after the rash first appears hence stay off school and
Red-brown blotchy rash on head or work for this period
upper neck before spreading
Red or pink spotty rash spreading Stay off nursery, school, work for 5 days after rash appears
Rubella
to head, neck and body Avoid close contact with pregnant women MMR vaccine - two doses (age 1
(German
Swollen glands in neck/behind ears Contagious from 1 week before symptoms start and for year and 3 years, 4 months)
Measles) Fever 4 days after rash first appears
6-in-1 vaccine - babies at 8, 12
Coughing bouts with a ‘whoop’ Risk of dehydration, breathing difficulties, pneumonia and
and 16 weeks
Whooping sound (gasp for breath between seizures in babies under 6 months
4-in-1 pre-school booster - for
Cough coughs) Risk of nose bleeds, sore ribs and hernia
pre-school children
(Pertussis) Thick mucus Contagious from about 6 days after start of cold
Vaccine - given to pregnant
Red in the face symptoms to 3 weeks after coughing
women (16-32 weeks)
Slapped Cheek Red rash on cheeks Rash fades within 2 weeks but can recur for up to a month
Syndrome Fever if exercising, hot, etc.
(Fifth Disease, Runny nose Adults may have joint pain/stiffness. Paracetamol/ibuprofen - fever
Erythema Sore throat Contact Dr if pregnant or near someone with a weakened Moisturiser - itchy skin
Infectiosum, Lighter colour rash on chest, arms immune system
Parovirus B19) and legs with raised, itchy skin No need to stay off school or work after appears
Painful swelling in parotid glands Contact Dr if mumps are suspected
(sides of face under the ears) Stay off school or work for at least 5 days after symptoms
MMR vaccine - two doses (age 1
Mumps Headaches first develop
year and 3 years, 4 months)
Joint pain Mumps can lead to viral meningitis if the virus moves
Fever into the outer layer of the brain
Avoid alcohol as liver weakens with virus
Glandular Fever
Risk of swollen spleen hence avoid sports or activities that
Severe sore throat Viral cause (Epstein-Barr virus)
Fever increase risk of falling as this can damage the spleen
Swollen glands hence use paracetamol and ibu-
(Infectious Very contagious for up to 7 weeks before symptoms
Extreme fatigue or exhaustion profen for symptomatic relief
Mononucleosis) Risk of anaemia, pneumonia and neurological illness like
Tonsilitis
Guillain-Barre syndrome or Bell’s palsy
Cold like symptoms
Sore, red eyes sensitive to light Contact Dr as soon as measles is suspected
Fever Risk of pneumonia and encephalitis
MMR vaccine - two doses (age 1
Measles Small grey-white spots on the in- Contagious from when the symptoms develop until about
year and 3 years, 4 months)
side of the cheeks (Koplik spots) 4 days after the rash first appears hence stay off school and
Red-brown blotchy rash on head or work for this period
upper neck before spreading
