Asthma

What is the cause of asthma
Asthma is an allergic reaction that occurs when your child inhales allergens like pollen, dust, feathers or fungal spores. The allergy affects the lining of the air passage. The child begins to wheeze and her immunity to infection is reduced. When she has an asthma attack, the lining of the air passages goes into spasm and large amounts of mucus are secreted. Your child will find it difficult to breathe. She may become pale and her lips might turn blue.

What do I do if my child has asthma

You should consult a doctor or a specialist. The first thing the doctor will attempt to do is to isolate the cause of the attacks. He will probably do this by exposing your child to a range of possible allergens. Once you have identified the particular allergen responsible for your child's attacks, you task becomes much simpler. You merely have to take all possible steps to avoid your child's exposure to the allergen. For instance, if your child is allergic to dust, keep furnishings, carpeting and curtains free from dust. In addition, keep your house dry as dust mites flourish in damp houses.

Can asthma be linked to emotional factors

Yes. Some asthmatic children are extremely sensitive. Conflict or stress in their lives can trigger off asthma attacks. If there are indications that emotional factors may have an influence on your child's asthma, try to keep the home environment stable and conflict-free. Do all you can to minimize stress in your child's life. Such children need a lot of love and attention.

However, there is no need to go overboard. Do not treat your child like an invalid. Do not be too over-protective. If you give your child the impression that everything must come to a standstill every time she has an attack, she will learn to use the attacks to manipulate you and get her own way.

Eczema

What is eczema
Eczema is a rash that appears on the face, behind the knees and on the inner sides of the arms and wrists. It is an itchy, dry and scaly rash. In a very bad case, it may ooze profusely. It can be caused by a cold, a sleepless night or an upset stomach. Infantile eczema is often linked to asthma. They are both allergic conditions and are very likely to be hereditary.

What is the treatment for eczema

The first thing to do is to consult a dermatologist. He will probably prescribe some mild creams and ointments that you should apply to the affected areas. You can follow certain steps in the daily care of your baby. Do not use too much soap and water as this dries the skin. Instead, you could use cotton wool soaked in baby lotion. Be very particular about hygiene, especially in the diaper area and the face. Remember that wool irritates the skin and can aggravate eczema.

Measles

What are the symptoms of measles
The symptoms of measles can take anywhere from one to twelve days to appear after your child has been infected. It begins like a normal cold - hoarse cough, runny nose and fever. The temperature will fluctuate between 100 and 104 degrees fahrenheit. The child will develop a rash that will start on the throat and behind the ears, then spread to the face and the rest of the body. The rash will initially appear as small, scarlet, slightly raised spots that will transform into irregular areas of a ruddy brown colour. Your baby's eyes may become red and sore.

What is the treatment

There is no specific treatment for measles. You can follow some simple steps to alleviate your child's discomfort. Bathe your child's sore eyes with cotton wool soaked in warm water and dim the lights. You can give your child, baby aspirin to bring down the fever. She will probably not have much of an appetite, but ensure that her fluid intake is high. Call the doctor if she is still running a high temperature four days after breaking out in a rash. Inform the doctor if she becomes semi-conscious, develops an earache or laboured breathing, or a phlegmy cough.

What are the possible complications and how can I prevent measles

Your child may develop pneumonia, encephalitis or earache. You can prevent it by ensuring that your child is inoculated against the disease when she is between 12 to 24 months. Her immunity will be lifelong.

Mumps

What are the symptoms of mumps
The incubation period is 17 to 21 days. Initially, your child will seem to be generally under the weather. She will then develop a fever and the glands in front of and under your child's ear will swell up on one side. Your child may even become delirious with the fever. A few days later, her temperature will fall and then rise sharply. In addition, the other side of your child's face will become swollen. She will have a stiff neck and a sore throat. She will also complain of a dry throat. The complications associated with this illness are meningitis and inflammation of the testicles.

What is the treatment for mumps

Call your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. There is no specific treatment for this illness. The only thing you can do is to ensure that your child is comfortable. Sponge her with tepid water and give her a baby paracetamol after consulting your doctor. This should reduce her fever. Your child might find it difficult to chew and swallow, so give her soft foods. In addition, ensure that her fluid intake is high.

Tonsillitis

The tonsils
Tonsillitis is a very common childhood ailment and is caused by the inflammation of the tonsils. So what are the tonsils? The tonsils are masses of lymph tissue located on the right and left at the back of the throat. Scientists are still trying to pin down the exact function of the tonsils, but they surmise that the tonsils act as a filter and prevent the spread of infections in the throat, mouth and sinuses from spreading to other parts of the body. Studies also show that the tonsils produce antibodies or cells that fight disease.

The causes
As mentioned earlier, tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils get inflamed. Either bacteria or viruses can cause this inflammation. Younger children tend to be afflicted by viral tonsillitis, while older children and adults are more prone to bacterial infection. Tonsillitis can also sometimes be an offshoot of more serious illnesses like diphtheria, scarlet fever and infectious mononucleosis.

Some children seem to be more prone to developing tonsillitis than others. They may have tonsillitis attacks as often as five or six times a year. Recurring tonsillitis may result in the enlargement of the tonsils, a condition labelled as chronic tonsillitis. In such a case, the tonsils remain infected despite antibiotic treatment. The tonsils can also trap food particles in small infoldings called crypts, which only results in prolonging the infection.

The symptoms
Mild to severe throat pain
Swollen lymph glands on either side of the neck or jaw
Ear ache
Difficulty in swallowing
Chills and fever
Headache
The treatment

The treatment comprises a combination of steps to relieve the symptoms and medication to attack the cause.

When it comes to medication, it has been found that antibiotics are only effective in treating tonsillitis if the cause is bacterial. In the case of viral infections, antibiotics may actually aggravate the condition. Hence, the treatment of viral tonsillitis is usually restricted to relieving the symptoms. A throat culture helps to pinpoint whether the cause is bacterial or viral.

Home care: In addition to the medication prescribed by your doctor, there are a few simple things you can do at home to help relieve your child's discomfort.

Make your child gargle with a solution of 1/4 teaspoon salt dissolved in four ounces of warm water. Give him plenty of warm drinks like soup or tea with honey. (Honey should be avoided for children below the age of one year). His diet should consist of foods that are soft, easy to swallow and which are cold like juices, ice cream, etc. Avoid spicy food. If your child is over five years old, you can give him a lozenge to suck. Ensure that you or any other person does not smoke in his room.

If the infection is very severe, your child may need to be hospitalized as his inability to swallow may lead to dehydration.

A tonsillectomy
In the past, it was very common for doctors to remove a child's tonsils if he was prone to attacks of tonsillitis. Tonsillectomy is the name given to the surgical procedure for the removal of the tonsils. A tonsillectomy should be the last resort in cases of chronic tonsillitis and parents will have to leave it to the discretion of the doctor. However, in some cases, a tonsillectomy becomes a necessity. Sometimes, the tonsils become so enlarged that they can cause difficulty in breathing and obstructive sleep apnea. In such cases, tonsillectomy is the only option.

A tonsillectomy is performed under general anaesthesia in a hospital and is often an out-patient procedure. The tonsil is surrounded by a capsule of tissue. During the operation, the surgeon removes the tonsil by dissecting between this capsule and the adjacent throat tissue. The site where the tonsils were taken out heals on its own. Research has shown that removal of the tonsils does not affect the body's immune system. After the operation, the patient usually has a very sore throat, but the doctor will put him on pain-killers and antibiotics that will help relieve the symptoms.

Whooping cough (pertussis)

How does whooping cough differ from a normal cough

This disease attacks in an innocuous manner. The incubation period is about 5 to 14 days. Your child will display symptoms like a runny nose, a cough and a slight temperature. This can go on for as long as two weeks. Your child will have severe paroxysms of coughing and may find it difficult to breathe. This is how the disease gets its name as this is when the typical "whoop" occurs.

What is the prevention and treatment of this illness

This disease can be particularly dangerous for children under a year old. Therefore, it is important that your child be inoculated between 3 to 6 months. In rare cases, there is a possibility that bronchitis and pneumonia may develop.

If your child displays the above symptoms, call the doctor immediately. He will probably prescribe antibiotics, which if administered early enough can prevent the development of chest infections. He will also teach you how to tap your child's chest to loosen the phlegm that is accumulating there. Do your best to calm your child when she is coughing. If she is tense, she will find it difficult to breathe. Raise your child's head to make breathing easier. It may help to give your child small amounts of mashed food between coughing fits.