10 Common Childhood Diseases Every Indian Parent Should Know

Children get sick — that is how their immune systems are built. But knowing what you're dealing with lets you act faster, avoid unnecessary panic, and catch the rare serious case early. Here are the 10 most common illnesses in Indian children, with what to watch for and what to do.

1. Chickenpox (Varicella)

What it looks like: Starts with mild fever and tiredness, followed within 1–2 days by an itchy rash that begins on the chest or face and spreads outward. Rash progresses from red spots → fluid-filled blisters → crusts over 7–10 days. All three stages appear simultaneously on the body.

Home care: Calamine lotion for itch relief. Trim fingernails short to prevent scratching. Cool, loose cotton clothing. Paracetamol for fever. Keep the child home until all blisters have crusted over (usually 7–10 days).

Do not: Give aspirin. Use ibuprofen (increases risk of complications with chickenpox). Pop blisters — this causes scarring and secondary infection.

See a doctor if: Rash becomes red, swollen, and warm (bacterial superinfection) | Fever above 39°C persisting beyond 4 days | Child becomes confused or has difficulty walking | Rash near eyes.

Prevention: Varicella vaccine at 15 months and 4–6 years. Highly effective.

2. Dengue Fever

What it looks like: High fever (39–40°C) of sudden onset. Severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain so severe it is called "breakbone fever." Rash appears on day 3–4 — red blotchy patches. Nausea and vomiting common.

Warning signs of severe dengue (go to hospital immediately): Severe abdominal pain | Persistent vomiting | Bleeding from gums, nose, or in vomit | Blood in stools | Child becomes pale, cold, or confused | Platelet count below 50,000.

Home care (mild dengue only): Rest, fluids (ORS, coconut water), paracetamol for fever. Monitor platelet count every 24 hours if your doctor advises.

Prevention: Eliminate mosquito breeding (no stagnant water in pots, tyres, coolers) | Full-sleeve clothing during peak mosquito hours (dawn and dusk) | Mosquito nets for sleeping children.

3. Typhoid Fever

What it looks like: Gradual fever that builds over several days, reaching 39–40°C by week 2. Unlike flu, the child may have a slow pulse relative to the high fever. Headache, weakness, reduced appetite. Loose stools or constipation. In some children, small rose-coloured spots on the abdomen.

Diagnosis: Widal test (after day 7) or blood culture. The Typhidot rapid test is more accurate in the first week.

Treatment: Antibiotics (azithromycin or cefixime) prescribed by a doctor — must complete the full course even if the child feels better. Do not use leftover antibiotics without a diagnosis.

See a doctor if: Fever lasting more than 5 days with no clear cause in a child | Fever with abdominal distension (could indicate intestinal complication).

Prevention: Safe drinking water (boiled or filtered) | Handwashing before meals | Avoid street food and outside water | Typhoid vaccine from 2 years of age.

4. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

What it looks like: Common in children under 5. Begins with fever and sore throat. Within 1–2 days, painful sores appear inside the mouth (making eating very painful) and a rash of flat or raised spots on the palms, soles, and sometimes buttocks. Highly contagious in daycare and preschools.

Home care: Cool, soft foods and cold drinks — ice cream and cold yoghurt actually soothe mouth sores (a rare occasion where ice cream is medicine). Paracetamol for pain and fever. Keep the child home until fever is gone and sores are healing (usually 7–10 days).

See a doctor if: Child cannot swallow any fluids for several hours | High fever persisting beyond 3 days | Child becomes very drowsy or has neck stiffness.

Prevention: Frequent handwashing | Disinfect toys and surfaces | No sharing of utensils. There is no vaccine available in India for HFMD.

5. Acute Diarrhoea and Gastroenteritis

What it looks like: Loose or watery stools more than 3 times per day, often with vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever. Most cases in India are caused by rotavirus, norovirus, or bacteria (Salmonella, E. coli) from contaminated food or water.

The treatment: ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) — the single most important treatment. Give small sips frequently. Make at home: 1 litre clean water + 6 teaspoons sugar + half teaspoon salt. Zinc supplements (20 mg/day for 14 days for children above 6 months) reduce duration and severity. Continue feeding — the child needs nutrition to recover.

Signs of dehydration — see a doctor: Sunken eyes | Dry mouth with no tears when crying | No urination for 6–8 hours | Child is unusually lethargic or cannot be woken | Blood in stools.

Prevention: Rotavirus vaccine (at 6, 10, 14 weeks) | Boiled or filtered water | Handwashing | Safe food handling.

6. Conjunctivitis (Eye Flu / Madras Eye)

What it looks like: Red, watery, sticky eyes with discharge. Lids may be stuck shut in the morning. Usually starts in one eye and spreads to the other within 2 days. Highly contagious — spreads through eye discharge and touching contaminated surfaces.

Home care: Wipe discharge with clean cotton wool soaked in clean water, from inner to outer corner. Do not share towels, pillows, or handkerchiefs. Viral conjunctivitis resolves on its own in 1–2 weeks.

See a doctor if: Vision is blurred or hazy | Severe eye pain (not just irritation) | Photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light) | Thick green or yellow pus | No improvement after 5 days.

Note: Most conjunctivitis is viral and does not need antibiotic eye drops — avoid using leftover antibiotic drops without a doctor's instruction.

7. Ear Infection (Otitis Media)

What it looks like: Common after a cold. Child pulls or tugs at ear, is irritable, has difficulty sleeping, and may have fever. Older children complain of ear pain. In some cases, the eardrum bursts and pus drains out — this actually relieves the pain and is not an emergency, but needs antibiotic treatment.

What to do: See a doctor — most ear infections in children under 2, or with moderate symptoms, are treated with antibiotics. Paracetamol for pain relief while waiting for the appointment.

Prevention: Breastfeeding reduces ear infection risk significantly. Keep children away from cigarette smoke. Treat colds promptly to prevent spread to the middle ear.

8. Pneumonia

What it looks like: Begins like a cold or flu, but the child develops a persistent cough, high fever, and most importantly, rapid or difficult breathing. In younger children, you may see the chest or ribs pulling in with each breath (chest indrawing).

This is a medical emergency in children under 5. Go to hospital if: Breathing is rapid (more than 50 breaths per minute in infants, more than 40 in toddlers) | Chest indrawing | Child cannot drink or feed | Blue or pale lips.

Prevention: PCV vaccine (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) | Hib vaccine | Exclusive breastfeeding | Avoiding exposure to indoor air pollution (cooking smoke) — a major cause of childhood pneumonia in India.

9. Intestinal Worm Infection

What it looks like: Often silent. When symptomatic: poor appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain and bloating, itching around the anus (especially at night, from pinworms), visible worms in stool. In heavy infections: anaemia, poor concentration at school, stunted growth.

Treatment: Single dose of albendazole 400 mg (available over the counter) for children above 2 years. The government's National Deworming Day gives albendazole to all children twice yearly in schools — if your child attends school, they likely receive this.

Prevention: Wash hands before meals and after toilet | Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly | Avoid children walking barefoot on soil | Clean, safe drinking water.

10. Iron Deficiency Anaemia

What it looks like: Often overlooked. Signs: child tires easily during play, is paler than usual (check lower eyelid — should be pink), has poor concentration at school, eats unusual non-food items like soil, chalk, or ice (called pica). In India, 40–60% of children under 5 are anaemic.

What to do: Blood test (full blood count, haemoglobin) confirms diagnosis. Treatment: iron syrup or drops as prescribed by a doctor for 3–6 months, combined with dietary changes.

Foods rich in iron for children: Green leafy vegetables (palak, methi), dal, rajma, chana, ragi, eggs, jaggery, pomegranate, and lean meat. Eating these with Vitamin C (lemon, amla, tomato) doubles iron absorption. Avoid tea/coffee within 1 hour of meals — tannic acid blocks iron absorption.