Common Illnesses that Affect Children
Handout 3 - Module 3 Topic 3 Malaria
Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread by disease-carrying mosquitoes.
The first signs of malaria are body weakness, fever, aching body and
headaches. Malaria kills large numbers of children under five years old.
Young children should sleep under treated mosquito nets to help stop malaria. Diarrhoeal diseases
A child with diarrhoea will pass of three or more stools a day, with more water in the
stools than is normal for the child, making the child dehydrated (loss of fluid from the
body). Diarrhoeal diseases are common and cause many deaths in young children,
especially those under two years old. These diseases are often caused by poor water
and sanitation; and by the consumption of infected food, especially meat. A child with
diarrhoea loses essential nutrients, loses weight, becomes malnourished and may not
grow properly. These children need to drink more fluids than usual to replace the fluids
they have lost, as well as frequent small meals to help them to gain strength and weight. Respiratory tract infections
A child with a persistent cough and breathing difficulties may have pneumonia, asthma,
Tuberculosis or another serious respiratory infection and should be taken for treatment.
Other signs of lung infections are breathing that is very fast, wheezy or rasping. Children
with breathing difficulties should be taken to a clinic for better assessment and treatment. Intestinal worms
Intestinal worms are mainly passed on to humans through poor sanitation, rather than
from food. Hygiene practices such as washing the hands after defecating; and before
eating or preparing food, are vital to stop worm eggs from entering the mouth. Worms
are parasites (they live off a person’s body); and children with worms are robbed of their
food and nutrients, causing weakness and poor growth. There are many different types
of worms that are dangerous, so children should be treated regularly with medicine to
get rid of the worms. Most worms are spread from human and animal faeces. To prevent
worm eggs (which are usually too small to see) from spreading, all faeces must be properly
disposed of. Animals should be kept away from areas where children play. Skin infections
Skin infections, such as scabies, are also caused by poor sanitation or where people
do not have access to enough water to wash themselves and their clothes regularly.
Scabies is a skin disease that is caused by a small parasite which lives in the skin and
spreads easily from person to person. Scabies causes very itchy bumps on the skin and,
because it is caused by parasites, it makes a child weak and not able to grow properly.
Children with scabies should be treated.Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Appendix 1, Handouts^331