Free Medical Articles

All children are ill at some stage in their lives, some more often than others. Fortunately, most illnesses are not serious and can be treated at home without the help of a doctor.

 

You will probably know when your child is ill - he is likely to be off-color, off his food and may be listless, irritable and more demanding than usual. He may have a fever, complain of pain, vomit or have diarrhea. While he is feeling unwell, his behavior may become more babyish than usual and he will probably want help with things that he can usually do for himself.

 

Plenty  of  rest     

Unless your doctor advises otherwise, or your child wants to go to bed, let him rest on the sofa. This way he won't feel too lonely and will be reassured by being near you or your partner. You should dress him in light, loose, comfortable clothes. Make sure that you keep the room warm, but not too hot, and well ventilated. III children tend to become dehydrated quite quickly, and should be encouraged to drink plenty. You can offer your child something to eat, but if he has lost his appetite just concentrate on maintaining his fluid intake for now.

 

Once your child is feeling better, you will need to find some gentle activities to occupy his time. Read him stories, or let him listen to tapes of nursery rhymes and stories, or watch a favourite video. Provide materials for quiet play - for example, colouring-in books and crayons, play-dough and jigsaws. Playing doctors and nurses with teddies and dolls may also help your child to understand he is ill and make him less fearful of being nursed. 

 

RAISED  TEMPERATURE

 

High temperature: a high temperature is a sign that your child's immune system is fighting infection. Check for other signs of illness. If his temperature is above 37.5°C (100°F), he has a fever.

 

Fever: symptoms include feeling hot or cold, headache, dizziness and a rapid pulse. Monitor his temperature and ensure he is drinking. See your GP if his fever exceeds 39.5°C (103°F) or lasts more than 24 hours, or if he is vomiting floppy and unresponsive.

 

Febrile convulsions: these can occur when your child's temperature rises rapidly. Symptoms include rigidity and twitching.

 

Pain and temperature control: sponge your child with tepid water. Liquid paracetamol and ibuprofen are safe for children over six months of age. Avoid ibuprofen if your child is vomiting. Never give aspirin.

 

A high temperature can give your child a flushed, 'feverish'look, and he can feel hot to the touch.

 

SORE  THROAT  AND  A  COLD    

 

Sore throat:  most sore throats are caused by viral' infections and will disappear within five days. You can nurse your cl1ild at home by giving regular liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen and offering frequent sips of cold fluid. Lozenges and .ice-cream may be soothing. Seek medical advice if the sore throat lasts for longer than five days, there are spots, discharge or swelling on the tonsils or at the back of the throat; or swallowing or breathing difficulties.

 

Colds: a cold is a common childhood ailment, spread by tiny droplets of virus in the air passed on by sneezing. Symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. Your child may also have a cough warm-honey and lemon drinks tend to be just as soothing as an over-the-counter remedy. Seek medical advice if the cough persists for over a week or there are breathing difficulties.

 

EARACHE

 

It is common for young children to have earache, but it is not always caused by an ear infection. The nerve supply to the ear is shared with the throat and upper jaw and teeth, so problems there can often be felt in the ear. During a cold, or sometimes with nasal allergies, such as hayfever, the tube that connects the middle ear to the throat becomes congested, causing tension in the eardrum as it is sucked in or pushed out. This in turn can cause an earache. Most of these cases are caused by viruses and do not respond to antibiotics. If you suspect your baby has an ear infection, take him to the doctor on a same­ day appointment.

 

With children, the majority of earaches settle in 24 hours. If the earache carries on for longer or a discharge flows out of the ear, seek medical advice. Liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen can relieve pain and treat a fever.

 

CHICKENPOX

 

Chickenpox is a common, mild viral infection that most children have had by the age of 10. The virus is spread by airborne droplets. lt is not usually serious but in very rare cases it can lead to encephalitis (brain inflammation).

 

If your child has chickenpox, spots will appear, mainly in crops, over three to four days. These change to blisters and crust over. She will have a slight fever, appear unwell and may have a headache. Chickenpox is highly contagious. The incubation period is 12--21 days.

 

Too nurse your child at home, give liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen for a fever and plenty to drink. Never give aspirin as this can cause complications. To soothe the itching, apply calamine lotion, or give a tepid bath with a cup bicarbonate of soda or oatmeal. added. Discourage scratching as it can cause scarring. 

 

When to call the Doctor

 

Contact your Doctor if your child has any of these symptoms:

 

• Temperature: If it is above 37.5°C (100°F) or below 35°C (95°F) for more than 24 hours
• Vomiting: If it occurs more than twice in six hours or it is yellow/green or bloodstained.
• Diarrhea:  If this occurs for over 48 hours or contains blood.
• Pain: If there is a persistent headache, particularly if it is accompanied by blurred vision, nausea or sever abdominal pain.
• Difficulty in breathing: If  these occurs with sharp drawing in to the ribs and noisy, rapid breathing.
• Loss of appetite:  Particularly if your child refused food for 24 hours and seems lethargic.
• Rash:  If a rash appears over a few hours or there are purple sports that don’t fade when pressed by a glass

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.