The Six Killer Diseases Of

Children
Introduction

There are six disease in the tropics that are so

common and spread easily. Their mortality rate is
so high among children that they have been named
killer diseases.
*These diseases are:-

1. Tuberculosis

2. Diphtheria

3. Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

4. Tetanus

5. Poliomyelitis

6. Measles.
1. TUBERCULOSIS

The greatest incidence of tuberculosis in children are

not specific as would be found in adults. The features
are outline below:
General malaise and apathy.

 Loss of appetite.

 Loss of weight.

 Slight dry cough.

 Evening pyrexia and night sweat are not common
but may appear.
The child looks emaciated and there is chronic
reddening of the conjunctiva called phlyctenular
conjunctiva. There is also generalised
lymphadenopathy but hilar lymph nodes are more
prominent and occur on the right side.
Complications of Tuberculosis:

The infection affects virtually all the organs of the

body.

a. Brain = Tuberculous Meningitis.

b. Kidney = Haematuria and Sterile pyuria.

c. Abdomen = Tuberculosis of the abdomen.

d. Bone = Kyphosis
Treatment of Tuberculosis

Adequate nutrition with balanced diet and

vitamin supplements.

Drugs should be taken or injection. Drugs

Used are ...

• Streptomycin,
• Rifampicin,
• Isoniziad,
• thiacetazone,
• Pyrimidone and others.
Prevention Of Tuberculosis:

BCG Vaccine should be given to the baby at birth. It

produces chronic granuloma at the sight of injection
within six weeks. The body thereby produces
antibody against the vaccine.
Seek for medical Advice.…
2. DIPHTHERIA

This is an infection by bacteria called Coryne bacterium

diphtheria. It produces its effects by the release of
toxins. It is transmitted by droplet infection.
•
• These are its features:
• Sore throat
• Nasal discharge
• Fetor oris
• Upper respiratory tract obstruction with barking
cough and laboured breathing.
Complications of Diphtheria:

a. Myocarditis
b. Neuritis
c. Palatal palsy

Treatment of Diphtheria

Antitoxin should be given to the baby.

Penicillin or Erythronmycin should also be given if there
is allergy to penicillin.
Prevention Of Diphtheria:

DPT Vaccine should be given to the baby at six

weeks, ten weeks and fourteen weeks with a
booster dose at eighteen months.
3. PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH)

This is an infectious disease occurring worldwide but more

common in developing countries due to poor sanitary
conditions. In an UN-immunised population about 70%
would been affected by the age of five years.

The infective organism is a bacteria called Bordettela

Pertussis. There is a high morbidity and mortality rate and
the younger the age of onset the worst the mortality.

It acts by causing inflammatory reaction in the trachea and

bronchioles leading to production of copious amount of
mucus.
The organism has a slow onset of action. In the first ten
days, there is:
•
• Dry cough
• Clear nasal discharge

By the second week:

Cough appear in paroxysms , there is

whooping
• Facial swelling
• Watering of the eyes
• Protrusion of the tongue
• Difficult to lie down
Complications of Pertussis

a. Bleeding

b. Malnutrition

c. Pulmonary collapse

d. Bronc hop pneumonia

Treatment of Pertussis

a. Frequent small meal

b. Erythromycin or ceporex syrups

Prevention Of Pertussis

DPT Vaccine at six weeks, ten weeks, fourteen weeks

and a booster dose at eighteen months of age. Do not
give DPT after the age of seven year as it may cause
encephalitis.
4. POLIOMYELITIS

This is one of the most crippling diseases in the tropics. It

is a disease of poor hygiene and it is spread by droplet
infection.

Stages Of Poliomyelitis
There are four stages of the disease but these are grouped
into two:

Minor illness

1. Inapparent
2. Abortive
Major illness

3. Pre-paralytic
4. Paralytic
Features of the minor illness:

a. Fever
b. Nausea and vomiting
c. Loss of appetite
d. Diarrhoea
e. Nasal discharge
f. Abdominal pain
The fever usually abort on its own but after one week the
fever comes again and this heralds the major illness.

Features of the major illness:

a. Muscle pain.
b. Pain and stiffness on neck, leg and back.
c. Inability of the child to kiss his knee.
d. Tripod sign
e. Absent reflex
f. Paralysis
Treatment of Poliomyelitis

a. Rest the paralysed limb by splinting.

b. Analgesic antipyretic.
c. Nasogastric tube in bulbar polio.
d. Calipers when necessary.
e. Give intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) if
breathing is compromised.
Treatment of Poliomyelitis

a. Rest the paralysed limb by splinting.

b. Analgesic antipyretic.
c. Nasogastric tube in bulbar polio.
d. Calipers when necessary.
e. Give intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) if
breathing is compromised.
The prodromal phase has the
following features:

a. Fever
b. Nasal discharge
c. Barking cough
d. Bilateral conjuctivitis.
Other Associated Features of Measle:
a. Irritable and unable to sleep.
b. Refusal of food.
c. Diarrhea.

Symptoms are more common amongst mainurished

children in whose fatality rate is very high.
Other Forms Of Measle:
A. Atypical Measle:
This is a form of measle found in children previosly
immunised with inactivated measle vaccine. It occurs
about two to three years after.

Features are:

i. Fever
ii. Uticaria rash mostly in the extremites
iii. Muscle pain
 B. Modified Measle:

A form of measle found in children

previously immunised with gamma
globulin.
It has a longer incubation period and the
disease period is short.

Complications of Measles

a. Upper respiratory tract infection

b. Diarrhoea
c. Protein energy malnutrition
d. Dehydration
e. Pneumonia particularly bronchopneumonia
f. Skin infections especially fungal infection.
Treatment Of Measle

a. Broad Spectrum Antibiotics

b. Calamine lotion
c. Restrain the hand from the eyes and ears.
6. TETANUS

Do not immunize any child who is running temperature.

The fever must be treated first. Tetanus are Fatal disease
cause by the infection of an open wound with the
anaerobic bacterium.

Treatment Of Tetanus

Drugs and injections should be taken.

THE END