Posted by admin on January 27th, 2010
Any parent who has spent the midnight hours comforting a distressed child with earache knows how miserable it can be. The stabbing pain is so intense that it leaves the child screaming in pain- and mum and dad howling with frustration. But there’s plenty that you can do to recognise earache and soothe the symptoms.
What is earache?
The most common cause of earache is an infection in the middle ear – the space between the eardrum and the inner ear – leading to inflammation. This is known as otitis media. A cold or sore throat can make the tubes between the ear and the throat swell and make catarrh. A blockage can form causing fluid to build up in the middle ear. This ‘stagnant’ fluid is vulnerable to infection by bacteria and viruses, causing fever, swelling and pain.
Children are more vulnerable to ear infections because their ‘eustachian tubes’ (the tubes connecting the ear and the throat, which ‘pop’ when you go up in an aeroplane) are smaller and lay flatter than in adults. This means that infection can spread up to the middle ear from the throat more easily and it’s also more difficult for fluid to drain away. The tube grows and develops so that by five or six years, ear infections become less common. Read more »
Posted by admin on January 27th, 2010
our child’s body temperature is normally between 36 and 37°C, and variations of between 0.5 and 1 degree are not uncommon within a day (evening temperatures are often higher). A fever is an abnormally high temperature, i.e. above 37.2°C. This is not an illness in itself nor is it usually dangerous. It is a natural defence mechanism, which helps the body to fight infections. Raising the body temperature helps destroy some types of bacteria and seems to speed up the body’s production of germ fighting cells. A fever may therefore be beneficial in some cases and can reduce the duration of an infection.
A fever can occur at any age. However, it is quite common during the early years of your child’s life. Often, an infection such as a cold is the cause (see Colds). A fever may also occur following your child’s immunisations because vaccines contain small amounts of the agent they are designed to protect from. This is perfectly normal and should not last longer than a couple of days; however a feverish infant may be uncomfortable and irritable.
How will I know if my child has a fever?
Although feeling their forehead can give an idea of your child’s temperature, a digital thermometer or heat sensitive strip thermometer is required to measure their temperature accurately. Recording a body temperature of at least 37.2°C on 2 occasions at least 2 hours apart, is a reliable indication of a fever. As well as a high temperature, an infant with a fever may also have:
- a flushed appearance
- irritability and crying
- clammy skin or sweating
- tiredness
- a headache or other aches and pains.
Read more »
Posted by admin on January 26th, 2010
A young child is rarely seen without matching scrapes on both knees! In fact small cuts and grazes happen so often in the early years that it’s easy to become complacent about yet another plaster. However the sight of a lot of blood can provoke tears in both your child and you! But don’t panic – with a little water and a few essentials in your first aid kit your child will be back to playing in no time.
How to Treat Minor Wounds
Always wash your hands before and after administering first aid. For minor wounds-such as insect bites, cuts and abrasions-you can reduce the risk of infection by cleaning the wound, treating it with an antiseptic such as Dettol antiseptic cream, and covering with a clean dressing. The antiseptic will help reduce the number of germs present, while the dressing prevents more germs from entering the wound. Read more »
Posted by admin on January 26th, 2010
Head Lice overview
It is estimated that about one in five children have head lice at any given time so rest assured, if you think your offspring are infested, you are certainly not alone.
What are head lice?
Head lice are about 2-3 mm in length and have three pairs of pincer-like legs which they use to grip the hair shaft tightly. This of course means that they camouflage well. As the most common of all human parasites, head lice can affect anyone regardless of social group, age, sex or level of cleanliness – in fact there is little head lice like more than a lovely head of clean hair! Read more »
