Infections: the Blue Book
The Blue Book has been published by the Victorian Government to assist Medical Practitioners in the control of infectious diseases. It contains useful information about exclusion periods from child care and school for common conditions.
Measles
Measles is a common infectious disease that is rarely seen these days as it can be effectively prevented with vaccination. It presents with runny nose, cough, fever, a typical red spotty or morbilliform rash and conjunctivitis. One third develop complications and are very sick and in 1: 1000 cases it can be associated with encephalitis.
Roseola
Otherwise known as baby measles, this common infection causes a typical illness between the ages of 6 to 15 months of age. It ranges from mild symptoms to a full blown illness with marked fever and a characteristic rash. Once the rash appears, everyone can relax as the fever usually resolves. It is due to human herpes virus 6 and occasionally HHV7.