Kids

The viruses that cause colds usually are spread by hand to hand, hand to nose, or hand to object contact. Outside of the body the virus can survive 24-48 hours, which makes schools and day care centers breeding grounds for our children.

There are about two hundred known viruses which are responsible for the common cold, out of which rhinovirus is the most common. Because of this great number of viruses, there isn't any shot or vaccination available which helps in preventing a cold.

Washing your childs hands after school is the best solution to the cold, that being said keep in mind that antimicrobial soaps kill "BACTERIA", not the virus that causes colds.

It takes about 1 minute of washing your hands in warm soapy water to remove viruses, for small children singing your A,B,C's is a great distraction for them.

Hand sanitizers like Nexcare and Purell as well as alchol towelettes kill cold viruses.

Children are most contagious 24 hours before symptoms start because they still feel healthy and the virus is incubating.

Children who develop green or yellowish mucus are often rushed to the hospital because of the belief of a serious bacterial infection, this is not always the case.
The discoloration means that there is inflammation and more white blood cells.
These immune cells are present in both viral and bacterial infection.

The cold viruses have docking points which helps it to stick to the interior of the nose. It then controls the nose's cell lining and begins to multiply. White cells are responsible to fight these viruses inside the body. They even kill them and finally get victory usually after a few days.

A person sneezes when the nerves inside the nose detect irritation and take the help of the lungs to push them out by letting out a blast of air through the mouth and the nose.

There are many symptoms of cold. The child becomes cranky. He will complain of headache, blocked nose, cough, sneeze, sore throat, muscle ache, nasal cavity congestion and will become exhausted.

Low fever can also accompany, along with body chills. Medicines do not speed up the process of healing as the viruses complete their cycle irrespective of the intake. But they do suppress further growth and make the child feel better.

Children shouldn't take any medicines on their own, thinking that it's just a cold. Parents should supervise the dosage and medicine being taken. And in turn, the parents should follow a doctor's prescription.

Decongestants help to decrease the size of the swollen nose lining, which makes breathing easier. Antihistamines help to dry the mucus and stops sneezes and runny noses. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be given if the child is experiencing headache and muscle ache.

At home, parents should give hot food and drink to the child as they help to soothe soar throats and coughs. The heat also clears up the mucus. Chicken soup is an age old remedy for common cold.

Steamy showers are another good option as they help with stuffy nose. Itchy eyes, scratchy throat and stuffy throats can also be treated with humidifiers which spray cool and fine mist.

They also loosen the mucus. The nose should be blown regularly to let the mucus out of the body. It is a good idea to use disposable tissues instead of regular handkerchiefs. Complete bed rest for a day or two is greatly suggested.

The best precaution that can be taken is eating healthy food and balanced diet so as to strengthen the immune system. The child must exercise regularly in order to stay fit and sleep adequately. Children who are stressed out more frequently are more prone to have cold.

A typical childhood disease in children chicken pox is very notorious for being contagious.

A kid infected with chickenpox virus will develop numerous itchy blisters which are filled with fluid. These blisters burst later, which lead to crusts formation.

Children get approximately five hundred such blisters which grow over a red skin spot. They show up on the face first and then spread to the trunk, scalp and the rest of the body. After a day of appearance, the fluid filled blisters become cloudy and later on, scabby.

The itchiness caused due to chicken pox is really intense and irritating. And the crust, if not treated, can leave marks for life.

Within forty eight hours of getting infected, the symptoms begin to surface. It is only after ten to twenty days after contamination, that the pox appears. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, headache, loss of appetite and finally the pox rash.

The condition can be confirmed by testing the pox blisters and by even taking blood test. The medical history of the child can be helpful in determining the severity of the condition.

The virus blameworthy for infecting a person with chicken pox is varicella-zoster or simply, varicella. The virus spreads through airborne transmission, droplet transmission and direct contact. Not only the infected carry these viruses and should be avoided, also people or kids who have taken the vaccination recently should also be avoided.

Since the invention of chicken pox vaccine, there has been a decline in the chicken pox cases. Children who are under the age of ten should be highly prepared as they are more prone to getting infected by this virus.

But on the contrary, when older children or adults catch chicken pox, they become sicker when compared to young kids.

A child or a person who has been infected by chicken pox virus becomes host to the virus for lifetime. But the number is kept under control by the body's immune system. Infants, sometimes, get partial immunity from the blood of their mother, if the mother was already infected by chicken pox.

Kids of mothers, who haven't been infected by chicken pox, tend to get severe chickenpox. Children who have been administered with chicken pox vaccination get mild chicken pox.

Skin condition of children with skin problems like eczema or sunburn can worsen. Such kids can be getting above one thousand and five hundred poxes. Children who have taken steroids can also face bad situation.

Along with the application of the prescribed lotion and intake of oral medication containing antihistamine, the itchiness can be eased by bathing the child in lukewarm water and oatmeal.

The antiviral medications should be started within the first day itself. Other people living in the same household as of the patient should also take antiviral medicines recommended by a doctor. It is a must for everyone to take chicken pox vaccination as a part of immunization routine schedule.

There is a hundred percent chance of not developing moderate to severe chickenpox and nearly ninety percent chance of not developing mild chicken pox. Chicken pox vaccine is the only vaccine which doesn't demand a booster.

But a higher dose can be given to adolescents so as to avoid shingles or herpes zoster.

But a doctor should be consulted before opting for the higher dose.

Conjunctivitis or pinkeye is a common problem in school going kids.

The eyes become red, itchy, and swollen. There can also be a discharge of gooey liquid from the eye which can be of the color white, clear, green or yellow.

Conjunctivitis is also known as pinkeye because the eye's white part turns pink or red. When the child experiences itchiness and redness in the eyes, he/she should inform the elders as soon as possible, as pinkeye is very contagious and spreads very easily.

It is possible that only one eye can get affected by conjunctivitis, while the other eye dose not. In usual cases, both the eyes get infected. Conjunctivitis doesn't hurt usually, but the eyes sure do itch badly.

There can be a sensation similar to an eyelash or tiny particle getting in the eye, which can be very annoying. The infection lasts for about a week and usually goes away by itself.

But if the itching is very troublesome, it should be treated with medicine. Some children can have conjunctivitis accompanied with ear infections, as the bacteria responsible for causing pinkeye is also responsible for causing ear infection.

Conjunctivitis is caused by virus or bacteria. Viruses which cause conjunctivitis are also responsible for cold. Bacteria which cause conjunctivitis also cause ear infection.

Conjunctivitis spreads by touching. If a person touches the hand of the infected person, who has recently touched his eyes, also gets the infection.

And since infected children deal with their parents and children, they also pose the risk of getting the infection. The prevention in this case is to wash hands often with warm water and disinfecting soap.

Conjunctivitis when caused by bacteria & virus, and is contagious is known as infectious conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis can also be caused due to allergies or because of entry of irritating foreign body into the eyes. Conjunctivitis caused by this medium is not contagious.

A doctor should be approached upon if the itchiness is very irritating. The doctor will check the eyes for redness and liquid discharge. The doctor would ask about the encounter with any friend or known person who seemed to have pinkeye or whether the conjunctivitis was caused because of some allergy or entry of foreign object into the eye.

The doctor can also check the ears for the possibility of ear infection. If the pinkeye is caused because of bacterial infection, the doctor will recommend antibiotic eye ointment or drops. Usually infants are given eye ointment, whereas children and adults are given eye drops.

The parents should put the drops or ointment into the child's eyes four to five times a day for nearly seven days or so. The dosage and timings should be maintained to get rid of the infection completely.

If the conjunctivitis is caused due to virus, there is nothing much the antibiotics can do. And if the pinkeye is caused by allergies or any foreign object, the doctor can recommend special eye drops to deal with the allergy symptoms. Warm water can also be splashed on the eyes to ease the itching.

A cool or warm washcloth can be used to clean the discharge. Parents can clean the eyes carefully with cotton balls and warm water and remove the crusty stuff which is formed at the ends of the eyes.

The towels and washcloths used for cleaning should head straight to the laundry so that the infection doesn't spread to other family members.

Stomach flu or gastroenteritis is a kind of infection in the digestive system, especially the stomach and intestines.

Causes for this condition are parasite, bacteria, or virus infection spread through contaminated food and fluids.

It can also be caused by certain toxins present in some plants & seafood, usage of powerful laxatives in order to cure constipation or because of intake of poisonous heavy metal or food.

The problem starts with stomach upset and cramps. The child shows disinterest in eating and feels week.

Symptoms of stomach flu are diarrhea and vomiting, which take nearly five days to go away.

Sometimes, even fever can accompany along with dehydration.

The child must be given fluids regularly as this will suppress other symptoms from emerging because of loss of water from the body. Loss of water and salt from the body is the biggest risk in stomach flu.

Dehydration can not only worsen the condition, but can threaten the life of the child, if it isn't taken care of in the early stages. Since there is loss of salts along with the loss of water from the body, plain water won't do much. Oral rehydration solutions which are available at the local grocery or drug store, is a good idea because it has the correct combination of salts, sugar and water which can hydrate the body. These fluids come in different flavor, so that kids can have their favorite flavor and is easy to consume. The solution shouldn't be added with anything else such as sugar or water.

If a child is vomiting, solution can be administered to him using a teaspoon every two minutes. The quantity can be increased gradually. If the vomiting is more frequent, the child can be made to suck ice chips in order to supply constant fluid to the body. The solution should be given till diarrhea comes to a halt, but it is not advisable to continue it for more than twenty four hours.

Some of the fluids such as soft drinks, sports drink, apple juice, tea, or chicken broth contain wrong amounts of salt, sugar & water and can make matter worse. Besides fluids, the parent shouldn't give any type of medicine without consulting a pediatrician. Fried, spicy and sugary foods aren't good in this condition. If the child isn't receiving sufficient amount of fluids he/she will show signs such as sunken eyes, dry mouth, intense thirst, unusual sleep patterns, and decrease in urine.
The more the bed rest taken by the child the better it is.

The child should take complete bed rest for at least twenty four hours or till the diarrhea and vomiting stops. If the child has fever, the temperature should be checked and noted in a log, every four hours.

If the temperature is very high and doesn't stop climbing, the doctor should be contacted immediately. The person who is preparing and serving food to the child should wash his or her hands very carefully before doing so.

Also, if the diarrhea and vomiting doesn't stop after twenty four hours, it is a must to get a doctor's appointment.

The child should be rushed into emergency if the vomiting contains blood or green color substance.

The doctor, after doing stool and blood test, prescribes antibiotics if infection is suspected. Along with it, anti nausea medicines are also given to stop the throwing up and control fluid loss.

If there is considerable loss of fluids from the child's body, the child might be admitted into the hospital and will be administered with fluids such as glucose or IV, through a tube connected to the child's veins.

If the child has fever, temperature is checked and the doctor would ask about information about the temperature pattern, for which the parent should be ready.

If the illness is stretched for days, a log about the information about the daily weight should also be given to the doctor. Sometimes, the blood oxygen levels would also have to be checked with the help of a pulse oximeter.

Nearly fifty percent of children acquire warts at some time or the other.

Warts, in the real sense are benign tumors which develop when keratinocytes, a kind of skin cell, is infected by the wart virus.

There are many types of warts, the most common being rough bumps which appear on fingers and hands.

Others are flat warts, genital warts, plantar warts, and molluscum contagiosum. The difference is based on the types, location, and painfulness of the wart. Common warts appear on fingers and hands and usually are painless.

Plantar warts appear on the soles and are sometimes painful. Periungal warts show up around the finger and toe nail. Warts which appear on the face are flat warts.

The symptoms of the common warts are that the skin develops an irregular surface and becomes rough. A dome starts to appear after a day after infection. A popular myth is that warts have roots, but they don't.

They grow on the epidermis, which is the top most layer of the skin. The black portion is because of broken veins and clotted blood.

Warts come and go at various stages of life like childhood and teenage years. They usually go away by themselves. But some can be very painful, can spread quickly and some of them wont go away for many years. Such kind of warts should definitely be treated.

The most common treatment among the pediatricians is cryotherapy. They will freeze the warts using liquid nitrogen. Cantharidin can also be applied, which is a painless treatment but can result in painful blisters at the end of the day.

The minus point is that these treatments sometimes cause blistering and some warts won't come off in one sitting. If the warts won't still budge they are further treated with strong salicylic acid, intralesional immune-therapy, bleomycin, or a pulsed dye laser.

Aldara can also be used in worst cases. Because of some treatments the warts grow to the end of the blister, which results in a bigger wart and some might even result in a scar.

Besides other common wart treatments, the most well-known home remedy is duct tape. The affected area is covered with duct tape for about six days. If within that time period, the tape peels off, it should be reapplied.

After the sixth day, the duct tape should be removed and the wart should be soaked in water and a pumice stone or emery board should be used to scrap the top skin of the wart.

After this, the duct tape should be reapplied again within twenty four hours and the same procedure should be repeated until the whole wart disappears.

This procedure takes at least two months to get rid of the wart completely. Some kids hesitate to put duct tape on parts which are visible, like fingers and legs. They can be encouraged by making them wear colored duct tape, other than grey.

Many home wart freezing and removal kits are also available in the market whose help can be taken.

Warts spread by direct contact with the wart or any material which the infected person has used like a used towel which has been contaminated. It is contagious and hence it is recommended to stay away from it at the very sight of it.

All the cuts, rashes and bites should be cleaned regularly and should be kept covered.

Another measure for prevention is wearing closed shoes in public places.

Most parents tend to be extra vigilant when taking their children outside of the home so it might be somewhat shocking to learn that most accidents actually happen at home. If you take a moment to think about it, there are potential hazards in each room of a typical home. This article will outline the main ones. It's important to note however, that no matter how safe you make your home good supervision remains essential.

The kitchen is an area where there are a lot of dangers for young children. They naturally want to be where the action is and the kitchen is often a hub of activity in many households. It's a good idea to keep young children busy and safe by making a low cupboard or drawer their own. Fill it with plastic kitchen ware, empty plastic food containers, plastic measuring cups, plastic strainers, wooden spoons or mixing bowls. Little people love to 'help out' in the kitchen and can be given a little cold water to stir, serviettes to fold, or placemats to arrange while dinner is being prepared. When cooking, use the back burners, keep the handles of pots and pans turned towards the back of the stove and the kettle well out of reach. Store all cleaning agents, vitamins and medicines high where they can't be reached and install child safety cupboard latches. Many household cleaners are in attractive, bright containers and may therefore be very appealing to young children. If children see their parents taking medication they might want to as well. When it's time to eat, take a few minutes to remove bones from meat and fish and cut food into small pieces. Using placemats is preferable to a table cloth which can be tugged and pulled at. Always use the safety belt on high chairs and never let children stand up in them. It's best to train toddlers and children of all ages to remain seated when eating to reduce the chance of choking.

The bathroom is another potentially dangerous area around the home. Keep medicines in a locked cabinet or one that is out of reach. Child safety latches are a good idea in the bathroom too - to keep little ones away from toiletries and makeup. Keep the lid of the toilet closed and avoid using solid toilet bowl cleaners in the tank. Some brands of these cleaners are the colors of candy and juice and might be enticing to little eyes. Community health nurses recommend when running a bath run the cold water first then the hot. Finish off with more cold to cool the faucet. Be sure to test the water before letting the child into the tub. Place a non-slip mat in the bathtub and never leave a child alone in the bathtub for any reason. Although it's tempting to run and answer the phone or put the laundry in the dryer since it will only take a second, remember that a child can drown in very little water in that same time so constant supervision is necessary.

Another common living space with conceivable hazards for young children is the den or family room. Televisions and bookshelves are exceedingly heavy and could seriously harm a child if they were to topple upon them. It is therefore recommended to secure the television set and book cases and keep the VCR and other electronic equipment out of reach. Any large pieces of furniture should be anchored and sharp corners padded. When children are crawling and grasping for things to hold onto, anything free standing that could topple is a problem. For this reason it's a good idea to replace free standing lamps with wall or ceiling lighting.

Make the child's room a safe haven. Ensure blind cords are out of reach or install the pull-down variety. Make sure the crib mattress fits snugly and that there are no spaces in the headboard. Never put a pillow, duvet or quilt in the crib. If you are planning to get a second-hand crib, check the date printed on the crib. If it was made before 1986, it is not safe. Place your baby on his/her back to sleep to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Always remove baby's bib before putting him/her in a crib or play pen.

Overall home safety should include working smoke alarms in the bedrooms and hallways on each level. In addition, stairs should be protected with safety gates on each end. Unused outlets should have plastic outlet covers on them. When safe-guarding the yard, it is best if ornamental ponds and swimming pools are completely surrounded by fences and a locking safety gate between them and the house.

Parents will feel more secure knowing that they have done what they can to prevent accidents. Inevitably though, accidents will happen and while a kiss and a hug better will 'treat' most, it's a good idea to learn some first aid. Community centers often have first aid courses to teach parents how to treat common injuries in children. As they grow up and are able, teach your child how to use the phone to call for help in an emergency. Teach them their full name, address and telephone number as well as your name. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone where they can see them easily.

Some planning and effort put into home safety will help to ensure a more safe and happy environment for children. Look at your home with a critical eye and even sit on the floor so you can simulate the gaze of a child. Ask yourself what could fall, what their little hands might get caught into or what might bait their curiosity. Remember, as children grow, the problem areas will be different! Just when you think you've got it all worked out, they get smarter, interested in new things and more 'brave'. Parenting is certainly both a joy and a challenge. Creating safer home is a fundamental part of responsible parenting