Mumps also known as epidemic parotitis is a condition that affects humans when the mumps virus invades the body. A person affected with mumps display symptoms like pain even when chewing liquids, weakness, and headache, have sore face and ears, and fever. Although mumps is not that rampant anymore because of available vaccinations, still there are still persons that can be affected with the conditions. Your child can have mumps too, so it is must to know how to prevent the disease from affecting your precious child.

Here are some of the things that you ought to know about mumps:

• Although mumps seem to be extinct in most countries still your child can still be affected especially when he is not vaccinated. Mumps vaccination is very important for your child to have so that he has protection from the virus especially if you are going to countries who still have reported mumps cases.
• There is no treatment that can cure mumps. Management of mumps includes treating of the symptoms. Like giving fever medications for fever and pain medications for pain. Mumps will just heal by itself without medical intervention and it usually takes 14 days after the body is free from the mumps virus. But aspirin should never be given when your child is either suspected or diagnosed to have mumps because it can lead to a condition called Reyes Syndrome.
• Mumps is not a serious condition unlike other conditions but when not managed well, it can cause lifelong complications. In males it can cause them to have orchitis or inflammation of the testicles especially when they are affected with the condition during their puberty years. In some cases, orchitis can lead to sterility making the child unable to impregnate his partner in the future.
• Aside from vaccination, the best way to be protected from mumps virus is a healthy immune system. Eating fruits and vegetables, exercise, enough rest and sleep, and taking of daily multivitamins are the ways to have your child protected from the virus.

Children are very prone to have conditions that can affect their young bodies. This is primarily because children have weaker immune systems as compared to adults, plus their bodies are still not well developed leading them easily get sick. One of the most common conditions that are present during childhood is ear infection. Perhaps most of us if not all have experienced having ear infections no matter how mild or complicated it may be during childhood.

Ear infections in children are categorized in two depending on what part of the ear is affected. As parents it is very important to distinguish what type of ear infection is present and what the symptoms are so that you know how to remedy the conditions when the manifestations appear.

Outer Ear Infection

The condition is also called external otitis media and swimmer’s ear infection. Usually a child catches an outer infection when water gets inside the ear canal thru swimming or just by bathing. The water that is left in the ear attracts bacteria causing them to thrive on the area and infection then begins. But the child can have the infection when he puts foreign objects to the ear canal like cotton buds and pieces of paper which can damage the protective layer of the ear canal. A child affected with outer ear infections often complains on the following symptoms like pain in the affected ear, loss of concentration, decreased sense of hearing on the affected side, and fever. When your child displays those symptoms, see your ear doctor the soonest time possible. Failure to treat the condition can lead to damage of the ear canal and ear drum leading to deafness.

Treatment of outer ear infection targets on killing the bacteria involved. Putting of antibacterial ear drops on the affected ear will get rid of the bacteria. Some physicians combine ear drops ad oral antibiotic treatment to make sure those bacteria are totally busted. Acetic acid drops and steroid ear drops are also used to fight bacteria and lessen inflammation on the affected ear.

Middle Ear Infection

The condition is also coined as otitis media. Middle ear infection is an infection that usually happens when a child acquire infections of the upper respiratory tract. There would be presence of fluid in the child’s eardrums which can be thrived by bacteria causing infection. The distinguish factor that the doctor will find during ear examination is the reddish and inflamed appearance of the eardrum which then makes the diagnosis of middle ear infection. Children who have the condition are often irritable and cry because of the pain and discomfort they are feeling. When left unmanaged, the condition can lead to permanent healing loss.

Treatment of middle ear infection involves the use of both oral and ear drop antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing infection. Analgesics are also prescribed to help ease the pain that the child is feeling.

When a child is having ear infections, parents should not self medicate. It is important that the child is seen by the doctor for evaluation and treatment so as to prevent the dreaded effect of the condition which is lifetime hearing loss.

Fifth disease is a condition that commonly affects younger children of ages 5 to 15. It is characterized by a distinctive rash of the cheeks that causes a “slapped cheek” appearance. The rash can also be seen in the child’s extremities, trunk and back.

Fifth disease is a viral disease which can resolve on its own in a short time and without further complications. Some parents are initially alarmed because of the rash that appears but it is generally a non-serious condition. Fifth disease is also known as erythema infectiosum and is caused by the parvovirus B19. This parvovirus is different from the virus found in animals and cannot be passed on from humans to animals and the other way around.

What are the signs and symptoms of Fifth disease?

Children with Fifth disease experiences mild fever, headache and flu-like symptoms because of the viral nature of the disease. After above symptoms pass the appearance of a red rash occurs days later. The red rash usually appears on the face and eventually spreads to other parts of the body. The soles of the feet and palms are not affected. Some kids experience itching while most kids affected does not report any signs of being sick at all. The rashes may take 2 to 3 weeks to clear and usually does not leave any permanent marks or scars. Rarely in some kids can symptoms of Fifth disease include swollen glands, sore throat and bruises. For older kids symptoms may include joint pains on the knees, hands and wrists.

Children affected with fifth disease are highly contagious before the rashes appear. It can spread through droplet transmission by coughing, sneezing and close contact with the person affected. When a child has already experienced fifth disease chances of re-infection is minimal.

The parvovirus B19 can cause anemia in fetuses in the womb when a pregnant woman is infected. If infected in the first trimester of pregnancy the risk of developing severe anemia in the baby is high and can cause fetal death.

How can we prevent fifth disease?

There is no available vaccine for the parvovirus causing fifth disease. Isolation of affected individuals may prove to be inefficient as the disease is only diagnosed upon the appearance of the rash wherein the patient is no longer contagious at that time. The patient is only highly contagious at the time period before the rash usually appears. Frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent spread of the disease from one person to another. And since it is a viral infection treatment with antibiotics is not advised and the only way to manage the disease if rest. Treatment is geared towards having a good rest, avoiding scratching the rashes and relieving discomfort from fever and joint pains.

Children often recover from fifth disease easily and they usually feel well even with the appearance of rashes. But for children with pre-existing conditions that makes their immune system weak the effects can be worse and they can appear really sick when infected with the parvovirus B19. For children with anemia the symptoms may be exacerbated as the parvovirus disrupts the production of red blood cells and can further worsen the effects of anemia.

Swimming is one of the activities that children enjoy a lot. Most children want to visit the beach or go to the public pool to go swimming. This activity is not as harmless as one might think. There are a lot of water related hazards that can harm and endanger the child’s life. Aside from the risk of drowning, water is home to numerous disease causing bacteria and microorganisms. Coming in contact with contaminated and infected water can make the child very sick. In some parts of the world, water source is very dirty and polluted making it very dangerous. Water source is also a problem, most especially in poor nations. People living in these places face the risk of getting bit by a crocodile for the sake of collecting drinking water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an organization supported by the National Institutes of Health, water borne illnesses can either come from drinking water or recreational water. There are several sources of drinking water; most people consume water that comes from bottled water manufacturers and public water systems. Some people get their drinking water from natural springs, wells, rivers and lakes. Private and public water systems as well as bottled water manufacturers test and treat their water to ensure safety. Dirty and untreated water can contain pathogenic microorganisms such as Entamoeba Histolytica, a parasite that causes amoebiasis and Giardia Lamblia, a protozoon that causes diarrhea, bloating and abdominal discomfort. Children who drink contaminated water are also at risk for infectious diseases like cholera, typhoid fever and E. coli infection. Recreational water is the one used for swimming and other water-related activities. Bodies of water like the ocean, river, spring, waterfalls and lake are all part of this category. Swimming pools and spas are also included. Water-borne disease causing microorganisms that thrive in this type of environment include mycobacterium marinum, an organism that causes painful lesion on the knees and elbows, genus leptospira, a parasite that causes leptospirosis, clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that causes blurred vision and respiratory infection and legionella pneumophilia, a parasite that causes flu-like symptoms.

After knowing some of the water-borne microorganisms found in drinking and recreational water, it is important to know how to keep children safe from these harmful elements. There are several ways.

1)      Know your drinking water source – Make sure that your drinking water is clean and safe. When in school, instead of letting the child drink from their school fountain, let him bring an unopened bottle of water. When cooking the water used must also be safe and clean.

2)     Hand washing – The most important disease prevention activity is hand washing with soap. This activity should be done before and after eating as well as before and after going to the toilet.

3)     Teach the child not to swallow water from the pool or beach – Recreational water must be considered unsanitary and non-potable.

4)     Avoid swimming when there’s a cut or break in the skin – Microorganisms can enter the body through wounds and skin lesions. Prohibit the child from swimming if he’s suffering from these skin conditions.

Parasitic infections are quite common in children. This is because children love to discover things. They play with soil and often get dirty playing in the garden or with their sandboxes. They love to eat with bare hands even if they just came from playing in the ground. One of the most common parasite infestations in children are pinworms. Pinworms also known for the name thread worms are tiny, little worms that thrive in the body’s intestines to get nutrients for survival.

Pinworms can affect any age but it is more commonly found on children, especially when they reach school age. The pinworms egg’s can get into the body passing through the mouth and then it settles on the intestinal wall of its host. Pinworms feed on what its host is eating.

Symptoms of Pinworms in Children

• Itching of the anus is the most common symptoms often felt when affected with pinworms. Children may complain that he or she feels something that is moving on the anal region. It becomes itchier at night time because it is at these hours when the female pinworms lay eggs.
• When the anal area becomes very itchy, the child may scratch it to relieve the itch causing the area to break. The itchy feeling can then turn into pain because of the wound brought about by too much scratching.
• Little girls can also scratch their vaginal regions. This is because the pinworms can travel reaching the vagina causing itchiness.
• Children who have pinworms have difficulty sleeping often accompanied by scratching. The discomforts brought about by itchiness can affect initiation of sleep. In between sleep the child can be awake too because of the itchy feeling that causes poor quality of sleep.
• Loss of appetite is also a significant symptom in the diagnosis of pinworm infestation.

Preventing Pinworms from Affecting Children

• Teach your child proper hand washing techniques. Hand washing is the best weapon to prevent viruses, bacteria, and parasites from invading the body. Tell your child that he or she should always wash his or her hands especially during meal time and after using the comfort room.
• Cut your child’s fingernails short so that the eggs can’t live underneath it.
• If you have a child who has pinworms, make sure that his or her belongings including toys are soaked in a soapy hot water. This will help kill the eggs that may lead other members of the household to catch the parasite.

Treatment of Pinworms in Children

• One of the most common medications doctors give to children with pinworms is Mebendazole. It comes in many preparations like capsules and syrup. It works by killing the worms and destroying the eggs that female pinworms lay. Other members of the family should also be treated with Mebendazole just in case they have been infested with pinworms too.

When newborns have stuffy noses, it means that their nasal passages are congested. According to Medline Plus, a website supported by the National Institutes of Health, majority of the people consider nasal congestion to be caused by thick mucus secretions that block the nose and its passageway. They do not include swollen nasal linings to be the cause, which is the case most of time. Children below 3 years old as well as newborn babies are obligatory nasal breathers. In the event of nasal congestion, newborns will have difficulties feeding and even breathing. It can also interfere with their ears, hearing, speech development and sleep patterns. To prevent these disturbances form happening, here are some easy ways to manage nasal congestion newborn babies.

Since newborns do not know how to blow their noses yet, saline nose drops can be used as an alternative to clear the nose from secretions. Saline nose drops can either be commercially prepared or home made. To make your own salt water nose drops stir in ¼ teaspoon of table salt to ½ cup of fresh lukewarm everyday water, mix until the salt granules have completely dissolved. Once the saline nose drops solution is ready, lay the baby on his back with a rolled towel underneath and slowly introduce 2 to 3 salt water drops on each of his nostril. Let the solution stay inside his nose for 30 to 60 seconds. The next step is to let the baby lie on his stomach. This position allows the solution to remove the nasal secretions from hard to reach areas as well as facilitate its drainage. There are two ways to remove the drained secretions, first one is with the use of soft tissue or swab and the second is through an infant nasal aspirator or bulb syringe. When using a piece of tissue or swab, roll it around the nostril and allow the material to absorb all the drain and secretions. Avoid inserting stemmed-cotton swabs inside the baby’s nose. The bulb syringe can be easily used; the soft tip is inserted inside the nose and then the device slowly collects secretions by air vacuum. Another easy way to manage newborn nasal congestion is through positioning. The best position that can clear secretions, facilitate drainage and promote lung expansion is semi-fowlers or high-fowlers position. This can be done by raining the head higher than the lower extremities using pillows or rolled linens on the head part of the mattress. Using a cool-mist vaporizer is also an effective treatment regimen for nasal congestion. Vapor and moisture softens the secretions and allow them to drain naturally. When using a vaporizer, moisture should not be excessive, too much can cause adverse effects. Breast feeding and increasing oral fluid intake is also found to effectively manage newborn nasal congestion. Breast milk contains antibodies which strengthen the baby’s immune system; it also provides enough fluids that can liquefy secretions. Cough suppressants and cold medicines are not recommended for newborns. Aside from being ineffective, these drugs can potentially harm the developing infant.

Yeast infection is a type of infection caused by the candida species, a fungal microorganism. The most common candida specie that causes infection in humans is called candida albicans. Yeast infection is also known as candidiasis, moniliasis or oidiomycosis. The characteristics of yeast infection range from a simple oral thrush, superficial vaginitis to systemic and life-threatening diseases. Severe yeast infection or those that are left untreated can develop into candidemia. This condition is usually found in patients who have a compromised immune system. Patients with HIV, AID and those who underwent chemotherapy may develop candidemia. Yeast infections are generally harmless and are highly treatable. Initial signs and symptoms of such infection include redness, itching as well as slight pain and discomfort on the affected area. Yeast infection is usually localized and it can only become systemic in rare cases. Body parts and areas prone to candidiasis include the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, gastrointestinal tract, urinary bladder, penis and vagina. Yeast infection on the genital area, most especially for women produces an odorous and whitish-grey, cottage-cheese like discharge. The vagina will also appear red and swollen. The entire area will also feel itchy and sore. Men with genital yeast infection will also have whitish discharges but in most cases symptoms would only appear when the infection becomes severe. It is not uncommon for children to experience yeast infection. When babies are born, their internal organs, specifically the gastrointestinal tract is sterile. Aside from this, their immune systems are not yet fully developed making them prone to certain infections including candidiasis. For children who are suffering from yeast infection, here are some tips, treatment options and home remedies.

1. Do not offer food items with molds – Since children have weak immune systems, offering rotten and food with molds is not a very good idea. Food items that naturally contain molds include peanuts and peanut butter. Corn breads and pastries with high contents of yeast can are also among the items the child needs to avoid.
2. Encourage intake of yogurt – Yogurt is an effective home remedy for yeast infection. It is readily available, inexpensive and delicious. Children would love yogurt more if they know what it does against candidiasis. Yogurt contains live microorganisms called lactobacillus acidophilus or the “good bacteria” which stops the growth and spread of candida albicans.
3. Breast milk and other immune boosters – Babies and young children who still breast feed should continue breast feeding. Breast milk has abundant amounts of antibodies that can help the body fight off infection. These antibodies also boost the child’s immune system. Other immune boosters include citrus fruits, vitamins and mineral supplements.
4. Garlic – Garlic is not only used in cooking food or adding flavor to certain dishes it can also be used to treat yeast infection. Garlic is known to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Fresh garlic can be directly applied on the oral thrush. If used on the vagina, KY jelly or any lubricant is used to facilitate application. Garlic is also commercially prepared in the form of capsules, tablets and cream.

Vaccines are very important for infants in order for them to be able to fight and be resistant of common infections. A lot of parents, especially the ones with less knowledge of vaccination get worried when their babies get fever after their shots. Parents feel restless because they think that the said vaccine brought more harm than benefit. Over the years, it has been proven that vaccines boost the immune system of a child, which makes them stronger to different types of infections. This article will give light to the cause of fever after vaccination, whether it is dangerous or not.

What Causes Infant Fevers after Vaccination?

Vaccines are in essence organisms which are introduced in the body to help fight different infections that it might come across. When a child is injected with a vaccine, and the said organisms enter the blood stream, the initial reaction of the body is to treat the organisms as enemies. Because of this, the body tries to fight these organisms by raising its temperature, hence the fever. It is a known fact that the rise of temperature helps kill foreign organisms inside the body, and it also aids in the production of antibodies and white blood cells to boost the immune system.

Aside from fever, there are some bodily reactions that you would notice in your baby, like fussiness and irritability of the baby, the area from where the vaccine was given is a little tender and sore, and the skin wherein the needle was injected will show swelling or redness. It has to be remembered that these are but common bodily reactions to the vaccine and should not be a cause for alarm in parents.

When to Call the Doctor for Help

The bodily reactions that will manifest after the vaccination has been administered are deemed normal and will usually go away in a few days. But in some cases, the infant who is administered with a shot develop different reactions which call for medical attention. Some of the severe reactions a parent must watch out for include abnormal heart beat, dizziness, fainting spells, weakness, wheezing, hives, and breathing complications.

Managing Infant Fevers after Vaccination

Aside from fever, the feeling of discomfort and the painful sensation caused by the vaccine will be very bothersome for the infant. In this case, a parent should provide comfort to the child by holding them close to the parent’s arms to make the baby feel secure. In addition, applying cold compress on the part where the needle is injected would help minimize the pain that the baby feels. Finally, giving babies a sugar solution could also help calm them down.

When it comes to fever, which is very common after vaccination, the best thing a parent can do is to monitor the temperature of the baby from time to time. They can also give the baby plenty of water to help put the temperature down. In addition, the parent should also make the baby wear cool, comfortable clothing. It has to be noted that moderate fever is not a cause for alarm, but when the fever is abnormally high, seek medical assistance immediately.