Childrens Health - Treating childrens sickness and other ailments, can be tricky sometimes, especially, if the child is too young to explain, anything much more than, "I've got an ow".
Nappy rash
Most babies will suffer with nappy rash at some point, and it is not, in
general, something for particular concern. The main thing is that it's sore for
your baby and so quick treatment is the order of the day. There are several
different types of nappy rash and therefore different causes too. Nappy rash can
most often be caused by something as simple as infrequent nappy changes; this is
because the mixture of urine and faeces produces ammonia, which has a high pH
value, and that makes the skin more vulnerable to damage. Also, certain foods
have a higher pH (e.g. tomato, orange, apples and apricots) and therefore can
make the problem worse, this can be a particular noticeable with, for example,
food intolerance (when the baby may have diarrhoea). On many occasions nappy rash
can be a symptom of teething or even just a common cold. It possible that sever
nappy rash may be caused by thrush, which should get medical attention.
Ideas to help reduce the occasions of nappy rash with suggestions of a cure:
It is possible that with more frequent nappy changing the problem of nappy rash
will be no longer. Even when disposable nappies do not feel wet, they may still
be holding a small amount of urine that is causing the irritation and also
stopping the skin's natural protection to take place.
It's recommended that a baby's skin regularly and thoroughly cleaned by gently
wiping its bottom with a clean, warm, wet cloth at every nappy change. Even if
they are only wet there will still be urine on the skin which could make baby
sore, particularly in the leg creases and under the genitals in boys. It reduce
the chances of vaginal infection, girls should be wiped from front to back,
(there is no need to clean inside the vagina as this is self-cleaning). Allow
the skin to dry before putting on a fresh nappy.
A simple, but very effective, treatment is to allow your baby as much time as
possible without his/her nappy on. The natural air flow on the skin will allow
the baby's skin to do its amazing healing job on its own.
It's worth taking a look at the baby's diet to see if anything that baby is
eating or drinking may be causing the problem. This can especially be the case
when weaning your baby, and therefore introducing new foods. It's suggested to
keep an eye on the balance of alkali and acid making foods and charting foods
that give an adverse reaction. The chart below may help in choosing that right
balance of foods:
Alkalizing foods (high PH)
Vegetables
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber
Garlic
Green Beans
Kale
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions
Parsnips
Peas
Peppers
Pumpkin
Radishes
Spinach
Sprouts
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Watercress
Fruit
Apple
Apricot
Avocado
Banana
Berries
Blackberries
Cherries
Coconut
Currants
Dates
Figs
Grapes
Grapefruit*
Lemon*
Lime*
Melon
Nectarine*
Orange*
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Plumbs
Raisins
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Tangerine*
Tomato
Tropical Fruits
*Although you may automatically think that citrus fruits would have an
acidifying effect on the body, the citric acid that they contain actually has an
alkalinizing effect in the body's system.
Protein
Almonds
Chestnuts
Tofu (fermented)
Whey Protein Powder
Seasoning and spices
Cinnamon
Curry
Ginger
Mustard
Chili Pepper
Sea Salt
Tamari
All Herbs
Other
Soured Dairy Products
Green Juices
Veggie Juices
Fresh Fruit Juice
Mineral Water
Alkaline Antioxidant Water
Minerals
Cesium (pH 14)
Potassium (pH 14)
Sodium (pH 14)
Calcium (pH 12)
Magnesium (pH 9)
Acidifying foods (low pH)
Vegetables
Corn
Lentils
Olives
Winter Squash
Fruits
Blueberries
Canned or Glazed Fruits
Cranberries
Currants
Plums**
Prunes**
Grains and grain products
Barley
Bran, wheat
Bran, oat
Corn
Hemp Seed Flour
Oats (rolled)
Oatmeal
Quinoa
Rice (all)
Rice Cakes
Rye
Spelt
Wheat
Wheat Germ
Noodles
Macaroni
Spaghetti
Bread
Crackers, soda
Flour, white
Flour, wheat
Beans and legumes
Black Beans
Chick Peas
Green Peas
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Pinto Beans
Red Beans
Soy Beans
Soy Milk
White Beans
Rice Milk
Almond Milk
Dairy
Butter
Cheese
Cheese, Processed
Ice Cream
Ice Milk
Nuts and butters
Cashews
Legumes
Peanuts
Peanut Butter
Pecans
Tahini
Walnuts
Animal protein
Bacon
Beef
Carp
Clams
Cod
Corned Beef
Fish
Haddock
Lamb
Lobster
Mussels
Organ Meats
Oyster
Pike
Pork
Rabbit
Salmon
Sardines
Sausage
Scallops
Shrimp
Scallops
Shellfish
Tuna
Turkey
Veal
Venison
Fats and oils
Avocado oil
Butter
Canola oil
Corn oil
Hemp Seed oil
Flax oil
Lard
Olive oil
Safflower oil
Sesame oil
Sunflower oil
Sweeteners
Carob
Sugar
Corn Syrup
Drugs and chemicals
Medicinal drugs
Aspirin
** These foods leave an alkaline ash but have an acidifying effect on the body.
Chicken Pox (Varicella zoster)
The chicken pox virus generally develops into a rash of spots which further
develops into thin-walled blisters filled with clear fluid (this liquid later
becomes cloudy). The blister wall breaks, leaving open sores, which then crust
over to become dry, brown scabs. Most commonly a few blisters are first spotted
on the trunk, the back, behind the ears and on the scalp, however, if the virus
appears over night, your may not have any clues when the child goes to bed, but
they may wake with blisters all over them.
Chickenpox blisters tend to come in batches, so after some of them begin to scab
over, a new bout of spots may appear. New chickenpox may stop appearing as early
as the third day, but usually by the seventh day. It normally takes 10 to14 days
for all the blisters to dry up and crust over and then you are no longer
contagious.
The illness often comes with common cold symptoms (runny nose, cough and general
unwell feeling), as well as the itching of the blisters as they dry and
scab-over. Most kids get chicken pox recover by just resting like you do with a
cold or flu. It is possible to have a chicken pox vaccine; however this may not
totally prevent getting chicken pox, but will probably make the illness less
severe and therefore recovery will quicker.
Remember that chickenpox is very contagious, and most kids with chicken pox will
pass it to a sibling. The sibling's symptoms will probably start to show about 2
weeks after the first child. To help in keeping the virus from spreading, try
and make sure that your children wash their hands frequently, particularly
before eating and after using the bathroom. People who haven't had chickenpox
also can catch it from someone with shingles, but they cannot catch shingles
itself.
Ways that you can help to relieve the discomfort, itching and fever of
chickenpox:
* Use cool wet compresses on the affected areas, and/or give the child a bath in
lukewarm water every 3 to 4 hours for the first few days. Oatmeal baths,
available at the supermarket or pharmacy, can help to relieve itching. (Baths do
not spread chickenpox.)
* Pat the body dry (don't rub).
* Put calamine lotion on the itchy areas (but not on the face, especially near
the eyes).
* Chickenpox in the mouth may make drinking or eating difficult, so prepare food
for your child that is cold, soft, and bland. Avoid food that is salty or acidic
(like some fruit juices or crisps). Ask your pharmacist about pain relief for
mouth blisters.
* Ask your pharmacist about pain-relieving creams to apply to blisters in the
genital area.
* Trim your child's nails to minimise damage if scratching the blisters, and
keep the nails as clean as possible to prevent the spread of infection.
* You may consider putting socks or mittens on your child's hand, especially at
night to reduce scratching.
It's very important to ask the doctor or pharmacist for information on pain
relief, as certain drugs should not be given in the case of chickenpox.
Most chickenpox infections don't require any special medical treatment. But
sometimes, there are problems, so call the doctor if your child:
* has fever that lasts for more than 4 days or rises above 38.8° Celsius (102°
Fahrenheit)
* has a severe cough or trouble breathing
* has an area of rash that leaks pus (thick, discolored fluid) or becomes red,
warm, swollen, or particularly sore
* has a severe headache
* is lethargic (sluggish/drowsy) or has trouble waking up
* has trouble looking at bright lights
* has difficulty walking
* seems confused
* seems very ill or is vomiting
* has a stiff neck
Measles (Rubeola)
The measles (rubeols) virus is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It
causes flu-like symptoms, including a cough, runny nose and fever, as well as a
body skin rash. Since measles is caused by a virus, there is no specific medical
treatment and the virus has to run its course. But a child who is sick should be
sure to receive plenty of fluids and rest, and be kept from spreading the
infection to others.
The first signs of the infection are usually similar to those of a flu type cold
(hacking cough, runny nose, high fever, and red eyes. However, this is soon
followed by a rash of small red spots with blue-white centers that appear inside
the mouth, and then a full-body rash.
The typical measles rash has a red or reddish brown blotchy appearance, and
normally first appears on the forehead, then spreading downward over the face,
neck, and body, then down to the arms, hands, legs and feet.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads when someone comes in direct contact
with infected droplets, i.e. when someone with measles sneezes or coughs they
spread the virus in droplets through the air. A person with measles is
contagious from 1 to 2 days before the first symptoms starts until approximately
4 days after the rash appears.
The most important thing you can do to protect kids from measles is to have them
vaccinated, and so it's recommended to have a chat to your doctor to find out
more.
As measles is a virus there is no special medical treatment. The symptoms
normally last for about 2 weeks, so during this time make sure that you child is
fully hydrated and has plenty of extra rest. It's very important to ask the
doctor or pharmacist for information on pain relief or fever, as certain drugs
should not be given in the case of measles.
Monitor you child closely in this time and for the next few weeks as sometimes
complications can occur like otitis media, croup, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and
encephalitis (a serious brain infection).
Call the doctor immediately if you suspect that your child has measles. Also,
it's important to get medical care following measles exposure, especially if
your child:
* is an infant
* is taking medicines that suppress the immune system
* has tuberculosis, cancer, or a disease that affects the immune system
Mumps
Mumps is an illness that's caused by a viral infection that generally spreads
through saliva and can infect many parts of the body, in particular the parotid
salivary glands. These glands, which generate saliva for the mouth, are situated
toward the back of each cheek, in the part between the ear and the jaw. When you
have mumps, these glands usually swell up and become tender and sore. Generally
the most common age for mumps to occur is between 5 and 14 years old, and rarely
happens in children younger than 1 year old.
Mumps generally starts with a fever of up to 39.4° Celsius (103° Fahrenheit),
and often accompanied by a headache and loss of appetite. The most obvious
symptom of mumps is the pain and swelling of the parotid glands, giving the
infected person a 'hamster like' look. Over a period of 1 to 3 days the swelling
of the glands usually become increasingly worse and painful, and becomes worse
when the child swallows, talks, chews, or drinks acidic juices (like orange
juice). Mumps would normally affect one side of the face first, spreading to the
other side with a few days.
In extraordinary cases, mumps could attack other groups of salivary glands
instead of the parotids. If this occurs, swelling may possibly be noticed under
the tongue, under the jaw, and/or all the way down to the front of the chest.
Mumps can lead to inflammation and swelling of the brain and other organs,
although this is not common. Rare complications of mumps include encephalitis,
which is the inflammation of the brain, and meningitis, which is the
inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of any
complications would normal appear during the first week after the parotid glands
begin to swell and could include: high fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea and
vomiting, drowsiness, convulsions, and other signs of brain involvement.
The development of orchitis (an inflammation of the testicles) is another rare
complication in the infection of mumps in adolescent and adult males. In these
cases generally one testicle becomes swollen and painful about 7 to 10 days
after the parotids glands swell. This can be accompanied by a high fever,
shaking chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, and sharp abdominal pain. After 3 to
7 days, the testicular pain and swelling will normally subside, this is
generally the same time as the fever stops. In some cases, both testicles are
involved. Even with involvement of both testicles, sterility is still a rare
complication of orchitis.
In other rare cases mumps could also affect the pancreas or, in females, the
ovaries, causing pain and tenderness in parts of the abdomen.
The mumps virus is contagious and can be passed to others through sneezing,
coughing, or even laughing, as it spreads in tiny drops of fluid from the mouth
and nose of the infected person. The virus can also spread to other people
through direct contact, such as using drinking glasses that have been used by
the infected person.
The virus is contagious from 2 days before symptoms begin to 6 days after they
end. The virus can also spread from people who are infected but have no
symptoms.
The most successful way of preventing the mumps virus is by vaccination, which
is normally given in the form of the MMR vaccine. Please speak to your doctor
about more information on this vaccine.
Whooping cough (pertussis)
The bacterium called Bordetella pertussis is the cause of the infection of the
respiratory system called whooping cough or pertussis. The symptoms of whooping
cough include a sever cough, and at the end of a coughing spell, the child may
make a characteristic whooping sound when breathing in or may even vomit,
although not all children have this reaction to the cough. Between spells, the
child usually feels well. Having said this, sometimes infants don't cough or
whoop as older kids do. Young infants may look as if they're gasping for air
with a reddened face and may actually stop breathing for a few seconds during
particularly bad spells.
Whooping cough mainly affects infants younger than 6 months old, before they're
sufficiently protected by immunizations and kids between 11 and 18 years old
whose immunity has weakened.
The initial symptoms of whooping cough are comparable to those of a common cold:
runny nose
sneezing
mild cough
low-grade fever
Whooping cough is highly contagious, as the bacteria spreads from person to
person through tiny drops of fluid from an infected person's nose or mouth. This
bacterium becomes airborne when the person sneezes, coughs, or even laughs.
Alternatively the infection can be caught by inhaling the drops or getting the
drops on the hand and then touching the mouth or nose.
Infected people are at their most contagious during the earliest stages of the
illness and up to approximately 2 weeks after the cough begins, although
antibiotics can shorten this period of contagiousness to 5 days following the
start of antibiotic treatment, it is best to air on the side of caution, and
keep the child away from other people for the full 2 weeks.
The most successful way of preventing whooping cough (pertussis) is by
vaccination. Please speak to your doctor about more information on this vaccine.
The incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) for
whooping cough (pertussis) is generally 7 to 10 days, but can be as long as 21
days.