As parents, we’re adept at handling the common cold, tummy bugs, sickness and bumps and scrapes that our children get. But there are also some other childhood illnesses and conditions out there that you might not be on your radar. Take a look below for more information on symptoms and signs so that you can keep them in your memory bank just in case. And if you want, you can follow this click for more healthy home tips for all the family.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is one of the more common illnesses in children and easy to spot. You’ll see a rash of red spots on your child that become extremely itchy to them and then turn into blisters filled with fluid. Chickenpox can cause a high fever in the first few days, and because of really itchy spots, your child will feel irritable and stressed. Chickenpox incubation period lasts between one to three weeks and is infectious until all the blisters have scabbed over. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for chickenpox but products such as calamine lotion can help soothe their spots.
Head Lice
These tiny little wingless lice, unfortunately, live in children’s hair and love to suck blood from the scalp. Head lice is a very contagious condition and easily gets transferred from head to head, particularly in school. Their eggs are known as nits, and both lice and nits can sometime be difficult to get rid of. Places such as Hero Lice Clinics offer straightforward treatment that takes about an hour. Their enzyme treatment is all natural and over 99% effective. It’s better to treat lice quickly due to how rapidly they like to spread.
Measles
Measles is another fairly common illness for children. It’s an infectious disease that again spreads fast through droplets in the air. Both adults and children can get measles if they haven’t been vaccinated. The first symptoms are a cough, cold, and fever. Around about the fourth day a red spotty rash will then be present. Your child will need to remain in quarantine while they have measles. To alleviate fever paracetamol or ibuprofen can be given. You should visit the doctor if your child seems overly drowsy, is coughing a lot or has difficulty breathing
Croup
Croup is most often seen in children under the age of five. A croup cough sounds almost like a barking dog, but it is usually not serious. It is an inflammatory infection that affects the windpipe and the vocal chords and can cause your child breathing problems. You should always go to your doctor for a correct diagnosis of croup. Steam therapy at home can help alleviate symptoms as it helps to disperse the sticky mucus. If the croup is serious, your child may be given inhaled medications. It is advisable to sleep in the same room at night when your child has croup as symptoms often worsen in the evening.
Hand Foot And Mouth Disease
This is another highly contagious disease that is passed on from child to child through physical contact, coughs and sneezing. It’s a viral infection that although not usually serious, can be extremely uncomfortable for kids. It can start with a fever and then spreads to cause mouth ulcers on the tongue and inside of the cheeks. A couple of days later blisters and lesions also appear on tiny hands and feet. Other symptoms include high temperature and coughs and a cold. Make sure you child drinks plenty of fluids as dehydration can be a concern. And they may not want to drink because of the pain. Ibuprofen and mouth gel can help soothe pain, but it usually clears up on its own after seven days.
