Childhood infections: migrant health guide
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-31)

Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients for healthcare practitioners.

Main messages

Ensure that migrant children are up to date with the UK immunisation schedule (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/routine-childhood-immunisation-schedule). Refer to the immunisations guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immunisation-migrant-health-guide) in the migrant health guide for further advice.

Follow national guidelines to prevent the spread of infection in schools and other childcare settings, and report statutorily notifiable diseases.

Refer to the migrant health guide pages for more guidance on assessing migrant patients (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/assessing-new-patients-from-overseas-migrant-health-guide), children’s health (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/childrens-health-migrant-health-guide) and visiting friends and relatives abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-visit-friends-and-relatives-migrant-health-guide).

Background

Most childhood infections are vaccine preventable. The range of childhood infections that occur in children born in the UK may also occur in non-UK born children.

Some diseases may be more common in children born abroad, especially vaccine preventable diseases if they have not been fully immunised. Immunisation coverage and incidence of childhood diseases is highly variable throughout the world; see WHO for country specific information (http://apps.who.int/immunization_monitoring/globalsummary).

Ensure that migrant children are up to date with the UK immunisation schedule (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/routine-childhood-immunisation-schedule) and refer to the immunisation algorithm (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vaccination-of-individuals-with-uncertain-or-incomplete-immunisation-status) for advice on immunising individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation status.

Many of the descriptions and images used to describe and demonstrate typical rashes associated with childhood infections are based on their appearance in white skin. Be aware that they may look different in pigmented skin.

Help to prevent the spread of infection by giving advice in accordance with infection control guidelines for schools and childcare facilities.

Be aware that many childhood infections are statutorily notifiable.

Resources

Read further information about individual childhood diseases:

Covered by UK immunisation schedule
- Diphtheria (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/diphtheria-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Measles (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/measles-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Meningococcal disease (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/meningococcal-disease-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Mumps (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mumps-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Haemophilus influenza type B (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/haemophilus-influenzae-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Pneumococcal disease (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/pneumococcal-disease-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Polio (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/polio-guidance-data-and-analysis) (gov.uk); Polio (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/poliomyelitis-and-post-polio-syndrome-migrant-health-guide) (migrant health guide)
- Rubella (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/rubella-german-measles-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Pertussis (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/pertussis-guidance-data-and-analysis) (Whooping cough)
Other diseases
- Chickenpox (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/chickenpox-public-health-management-and-guidance)
- Scarlet fever (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scarlet-fever-guidance-and-data)
- Slapped cheek syndrome (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/parvovirus-b19) (Parvovirus)
- Fungal infections (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fungal-infections)
- Head lice (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/head-lice-pediculosis)
- Impetigo (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/impetigo-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Respiratory syncytial virus (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Rotavirus (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/rotavirus-guidance-data-and-analysis)
- Streptococcal infections (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/streptococcal-infections)
See national guidance:
- for primary care on the diagnosis of infectious disease (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/primary-care-guidance-diagnosing-and-managing-infections)
- on infection control in schools and other childcare settings (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities)