24
COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES
24 March 2009
by
admin
Filed under
General health
Croup
Croup is a viral respiratory infectious disease that causes swelling of the tissues of the larynx and of the air passages above and below. It is characterized by a barking cough or a crowing sound when inhaling. Croup occurs most commonly in children between the ages of 2 and 4, and in general is fairly common among children 3 months to 5 years old.
The best way to treat the symptoms of croup is to use steam to loosen the phlegm which has built up in bronchial passages. The croupy child should be kept near a vaporizer or a humidifier, or in a bathroom with a constant stream of hot water running into the tub. Sit in the steamy room with the child on your lap. The steam and the upright posture should help relieve the cough.
The child should be breathing more easily within 30 minutes or so after receiving the treatment. If he or she isn’t, and has a fever higher than 100 degrees, call your doctor immediately.
Otitis Media
An inflammation of the middle ear, otitis media often follows a cold or the flu. Its symptoms are characterized by a sudden, severe earache, a fullness in the ear, slight hearing loss, ringing or buzzing in the ear, and a fever of 100 degrees or higher.
Acute cases of otitis media are treated with antibiotics and analgesics. At the first sign of an ear infection, you should get in touch with your doctor. Apply a heating pad to the ear to ease the pain and give the child pediatric acetaminophen. If the earache persists, fluid in the eardrum may have to be drained.
Lice
Lice are small, flat-bodied, wingless, bloodsucking insects that cause itching on the head or body. They leave small red bite marks on the neck and behind the ears. Both lice and their eggs (nits) are visible to the human eye and are transmitted by human contact or shared clothing, bedding, brushes, and combs.
Several over-the-counter shampoos, such as Nix, Endlice, Rid, and A-200, will usually eradicate lice. There are also stronger prescription products available. Machine wash on hot cycle or dry-clean all clothing, bed linens, and towels which might have been infected. Articles that are not easily washed or dry-cleaned, such as caps or leather clothing, can be sealed tightly in a plastic bag in order to kill the lice.
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