CHILDHOOD ILLNESS
 
Common childhood illnesses and their prevention...
Childhood Illness
By Vanessa Rasmussen, © 2006-2010, All rights reserved.
Childhood
illnesses can be a tremendous source of stress for parents. Often, a lot of
this stress is related to the parents' lack of understanding about their child's
illness, and the worry that their child's health is no longer within their
control. Children are susceptible to infectious diseases because of their
developing immune systems, ready exposure to other kids who may be ill, and
habits such as putting their fingers in their mouths. The average preschooler
catches as many as 10 infectious diseases a year.
On the plus side, repeated exposure to common
viruses and other infections helps build immunity. Most children become less
illness prone after they start school.
Some common illnesses in kids are coughs, colds,
ear infections, respiratory tract infections, food allergies, food intolerance,
constipation, mumps, rubella and measles. Measles, mumps, rubella and chicken
pox are contagious and children can sometimes get infected just by being in
the same room. Most common childhood diseases are preventable, and prophylactic
measures in the form of immunization are readily available. Ensure the kid
eats a balanced diet. Supplement with children's vitamin and mineral pills.
Babies from the age of 6 months up need iron fortified vitamin drops. Promoting
and practicing good personal hygiene will go a long way toward preventing
these common infections.
Consult your pediatrician if your child exhibits
serious signs and symptoms like:
- High-grade fever or ANY fever in an infant
younger than 4 weeks
- Complaints of persistent headache or body
ache
- Vomiting or diarrhea that lasts for more
than a day
- A fit or convulsion occurs
- Fainting or severe sleepiness
- Difficulty in breathing
- Lips turning blue
- A limb is motionless and non-responsive
- Unusual excitement or hysterical crying
- Earache and/or fluid discharge from the
ear
- Chills that make the child shake all over
If your child is sick, keep him home if he
is too ill to participate in normal activities, throwing up, or has a bacterial
infection and has not been on antibiotics for 24 hours. If children are well
enough to be out of bed and playing/enjoying activities, they're well enough
to go to day care or pre-school from a medical perspective.
Keep in mind that most infections may take
a week or two to clear up. If you give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen
for pain or fever relief, stick to the recommended dosage guidelines. Also,
never give your child aspirin for a viral infection, as it may cause a rare
but potentially life-threatening disease called Reye's syndrome. If at any
time you're concerned that your child's illness is severe or not improving,
contact your child's doctor.
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