Recommended medication for symptoms of most of these conditions, if there are no complications, is paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, ibuprofen should not be used for chickenpox as the drug has the potential to mask or increase the risk of serious secondary bacterial infections, such as necrotising fasciitis, albeit rarely.14,18,21,25,28,30,35,49,50,51,52,53

Itching in chickenpox can be soothed with calamine lotion, cooling gels or an antihistamine cream or tablets Antivirals may be of some help in adults with chickenpox if it is diagnosed early enough.12,13,52

Antibiotics are indicated for some conditions. GPs should prescribe a 10-day course of phenoxymethylpenicillin, or clarithromycin for children with a penicillin allergy, for scarlet fever; pyrexia should start to subside within 24 hours.43,49

If scarlet fever is not treated with antibiotics, it can be infectious for 2-3 weeks. However, taking antibiotics as directed means the person is unlikely to be able to infect others after the first day of treatment. Children should not return to nursery or school until at least 24 hours after starting antibiotics.49

Antibiotics for whooping cough should start ideally within the first two weeks, although treatment may not reduce symptoms. Those 6 months or younger are likely to require hospitalisation.35

Vaccination programmes now include vaccinating pregnant women against flu, RSV, and pertussis to protect newborns until the scheduled immunisation programme for children kicks in.2,54,55,56