Childhood Rashes and Numbered Diseases: Intro/Index
It was a much, much less complicated world back “then.” Back then nearly EVERY grandparent had seen and knew about rashes. None of them were a good sign.
There was no “real” treatment as we know it today and even less understanding about causes OR prevention. What they did know was that babies died of them… routinely!
There was, however, enough experience with them that they knew at least six different syndromes of illness associated with rash types, clinical course, and sequelae. Here are the six… they were given numbers instead of names.
8 Posts in "Numbered Diseases" Series
- Childhood Rashes and Numbered Diseases: Intro/Index – 1 Mar 2014
The BIG worry parents had back when I was a kid was: rashes, and the problems they caused. Almost nothing was known about the cause, or treatment; BUT, none of them were a good sign, and way too often meant either death or lifelong disability! A simpler time, the six known diseases which caused rashes were given numbers—which "mature" doctors still sometimes use in "secret code" against those GEN-Z "kids." - Part 1 - Numbered diseases of childhood – 2 Mar 2014
In this somewhat light-hearted visit to yester-year we examine the medical situation of about a hundred years ago and discover the BIG worry parents had: rashes, and the problems they caused. A simpler time, the six known diseases which caused rashes were given numbers—which "mature" doctors still sometimes use in "secret code" against those GEN-Z "kids." - Part 2 - Measles - First Disease – 10 Mar 2014
First Disease: 14-day measles, "hard" measles, Rubeola. Misery with a rash. The first of the numbered diseases. - Part 3 - Scarlet fever - Second Disease – 18 Mar 2014
Second disease: Scarlet Fever, Strep, Scarlatina. A wide range of diseases, but can also cause Rheumatic Fever heart disease. - Part 4 - Rubella- Third Disease – 26 Mar 2014
Third Disease: Rubella, “german measles,” “three-day measles” or “little measles” – there's nothing "little" about it! It's teratogenic (likes to deform babies). Good thing we (now) have way to prevent it, the safe and effective measles immunization. - Part 5 - Filatov-Dukes disease - Fourth Disease – 3 Apr 2014
Fourth Disease: Filatov-Dukes disease. We know the name, but we lost the disease. This article explains the drama and how the whole practice of medicine can loose a disease. - Part 6 - Erythema Infectiosum - Fifth Disease – 15 Apr 2014
Fifth Disease: Erythema Infectiosum (no it wasn't invented by dr. fifth), "slapped cheek," Parvovirus B19. - Part 7 - Roseola - Sixth Disease – 27 Apr 2014
Sixth Disease: Roseola, "Rose rash," "Reddish Disease," "3-day-fever," "Sudden Rash," "Baby Rash," "Baby Measles," "Wind Measles," "False Measles," "Measles' Brother" - all the same thing.
What do you think? If you’d like to understand more, I’ve written several posts on all the new discoveries about how to prevent these rashes: vaccination series.
Series next: Part 1 – Numbered diseases of childhood