Chicken pox is one of the most common childhood illnesses that have been around for quite some time now. It is not uncommon for toddlers, school-age children, teenagers and even adults to develop this disease. Chicken pox is a viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus or VZV. This infection is very contagious and gets easily transmitted from an infected child to a non-infected one. Children who received the varicella or chicken pox vaccine and those who already have the antibodies are at a lower risk of developing the infection. In most cases, a child only gets to have a single episode of chicken pox infection for his entire life. He may develop shingles or herpes zoster when he becomes an adult, depending on the type of disease that he has. It is very important for parents to have sufficient information about chicken pox. The best way to get all the facts about the disease is to ask your child’s pediatrician. They’re the perfect source for everything and anything about chicken pox, the dos and don’ts, the signs and symptoms, treatment options and medications, prevention and management. Listed below are some of the questions you might want to ask your doctor regarding chicken pox.

1)      What are the signs and symptoms of chicken pox? Ask what type of rash is expected to appear on the child’s skin. Ask for the skin rash characteristics you’ll be observing for, also ask for the how the rash spreads out include the start point and the end point. Learn how to identify if the rash indicates chicken pox or other diseases such as measles and eczema. Usually chicken pox rashes are tiny, fluid-filled blisters that become cloudy as the disease progresses. These rashes can eventually break and cause open sores which dries out and becomes crusts. Aside from skin rashes, ask for the other disease symptoms. Check if the child will develop fever, cough or colds while having chicken pox.

2)     Ask how contagious or communicable chicken pox is. This infection is contagious even as early as two days before the skin rashes start to appear. It stops being contagious once all the blisters have dried out and crusted. For children who already go to school, ask the doctor how long the child should stay home and away from other children. Usually the doctor would recommend 1 to 2 weeks of rest to make sure the child heals and recovers properly. Chicken pox is transmitted in various ways; children can get the disease through air droplets and blister fluids.

3)     H0w is chicken pox prevented? Ask about VZV or varicella vaccines, when it should be taken and the amount of dose needed. Also ask about booster shots for children who already received the vaccine. In most cases, the VZV vaccine provides lifelong protection.

4)     Can chicken pox be treated? Ask if the child needs to take antibiotics or anti-virals. Check if there are any medications that can treat the sores and blisters. Learn about the dug, acyclovir. This anti-viral medication usually makes chicken pox less severe and limits skin rash and blister formation.

One of the most common illnesses your baby could have is fever. Almost every infant born in this world is exposed to this infection and it has become the number one concern for every parent out there. Fever is defined as having a human body temperature of at least 37.5 C or higher. The classification of the temperature from normal compared to the ones who have fever varies for every individual because of their differences in body temperature. Normally, a fever is not fatal or is life-threatening. But when the body temperature of your child rises up to more than 41.6 C, you should immediately take him to the emergency room. Fever is the body’s way of fighting common infections that are acquired by our body, and more than infections, there are other conditions which cause fever.

Viral Infections

These infections are caused by viruses. Viruses are significantly smaller than bacteria, and they are inside a protective coating which makes them very hard to kill. The administration of antibiotics would only lead to the body’s immunity to these medicines rather than treating the infection. Doctors normally advise that when an infant is diagnosed with a viral infection, parents should let them be and let the immune system of the infant’s body fight and eliminate these viruses. Some of the most common types of viral infections that cause fever are coughs and colds.

Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infections are infections which are caused by bacteria. Some of these bacteria are not dangerous, and can be eliminated by the body, but some, when unattended, could be fatal. Unlike viral infections, bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. Some of the common bacterial infections that cause fever include sinusitis, eye infections, bacterial meningitis, upper respiratory tract infection, gastritis, pneumonia and food poisoning.

Medications

Medications could also cause fever in some infants, especially when the administered drug is not approved by the doctor. Mostly, infants who get fever from medications are those who are given over the counter drugs. It is recommended that before giving your child any medicine for common infections, you should get the approval of the doctor. This is because some over the counter medicines contain ingredients that may be harmful to your child, and usually this can be determined once he or she has fever.

Illicit Drugs

Illicit drugs are not only limited to drugs which are abused by some individuals like marijuana and cocaine. Illicit drugs are those drugs which are very powerful and would require prescription. One of the common mistakes of parents when it comes to these prescription drugs is that they use the same prescription over and over again to avoid doctor fees. Parents have to be reminded that regular visits to the pediatrician should be observed because over time, the needs of the body change and the medications should differ. Misuse and overuse of the same drugs could sometimes cause infections to the body which will cause fever to most infants.

• Illicit drugs
• Illnesses related to heat exposure

Bladder infection is the most common type of urinary tract infections. It happens when the urinary is inflamed due to bacterial infection. The infection is mostly caused by the E. coli bacteria.

Bladder infection occasionally happens to children. Every year it has been estimated that approximately 3% of the children population are affected with infections of the urinary system and majority if it are girls. Girls are more prone to have the infection because of their anatomical structure. They have shorter urethras as compared to boys. Children under four years old have the highest incidence of bladder infections in the entire children population.

When the child has bladder infections, he or she may display a variety of symptoms like having high fever, pain in the pelvic area, pain when urinating, frequently urinating, have foul smelling urine that appears frothy and cloudy, and in rare cases the urine has some traces of blood. Younger children especially infants do not understand the symptoms they feel ,so most often they cry nonstop and are often irritable.

In the event that the child is diagnosed to have bladder infection, the child will have to take a series of antibiotic treatments. The child is required to take the medications for seven to ten days without fail to ensure that the bacterium is completely eradicated. In serious cases especially in younger children, treatment might be done in the hospital and the antibiotic medications are given via the intravenous route to ensure faster absorption.

Just like any diseases, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Parents should do their best in making sure that their children are health as possible. Here are some of the tips on how to prevent bladder infection in children:

• Make sure that your child is practicing proper hygiene. Bathing daily can help lessen bacteria that can cause bladder infection. See to it that your child changes their underwear every day. In infants, it is important to change diapers every four hours. Changing diapers much longer than four hours can cause bacterial build up causing bladder infection.
• Inform the child on the proper ways of cleaning after visits to the restroom. For girls, mothers should demonstrate on how to use the tissue after urinating. Teach them the proper hand washing techniques every after bathroom use to prevent the spread of bacteria.
• Persuade your child not to hold urine and to urinate when they feel the urge.
• Encourage your child to drink at least eight glasses of water. It helps flush out the bacteria in the body.
• Increase your child’s intake of fruits and vegetables. These are good sources of vitamin C which boosts immune system.
• Limit your child’s intake of junk foods like chips and sodas. These foods have high amount of salt and sugar that can damage the child’s urinary system.

Having a pet in the house helps parents teach children about important life values such as caring, respect for other living creatures, responsibility, and gentleness.  Children also benefit by learning about affection and companionship as they bond with lovable pets.

Many parents are aware that pets are a source of allergies for some households. However, there is very little knowledge shared about what infections even the cleanest of pets can bring to humans. Before you think about getting your child, (or if you already have one at home), know the common infections your family may be at risk for, and how your family can be protected.

Common pet illnesses such as heartworms and parvovirus are not dangerous to humans – but pets also transmit bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses which may not be dangerous to them to detrimental to humans. They may unknowingly transmit these to their owners through their dander, waste or saliva. The ones with the biggest risk are pregnant women and their unborn children, young infants, children and family members who have lowered resistance to infections or diseases. Young children are a major concern, too, because their immune systems are not fully mature yet, and so the impact of these infectious agents may be more severe to them.

Here are the most common infections even the most lovable of pets can transmit to their owners, especially to children:

1. Rabies: Dogs, cats, raccoons, skunks and bats may carry rabies virus in their saliva, and this virus can have deadly effects on a person’s nervous system. More than 50,000 people die each year because of rabies, particularly in countries which have not put importance against dog vaccination. To lower the risks of rabies infection in the household, make sure your pets are immunized. If you are keeping a pet, it also pays to know where you can go to for emergency treatment should you get bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal.
2. Campylobacter infection: If your pet is carrying Campylobactr jejuni bacteria, your family may be at risk for catching it. The symptoms in people are fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The bacteria is believed to be from the intestinal tract of infected animals. Today, in the US alone, C. jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. It is infectious, so a member may easily transmit the infection to other people in the family. Your child may infect his or her classmates with the bacteria as well. It is treated with antibiotics.
3. Ringworm: This is a skin infection caused by fungi. The fungi may initially infect dogs and cats that play in the soil, and then later get transmitted to kids to then play with the pets. Ringworm presents itself as a dry, scaly area of the skin, usually a raised red middle portion. Depending on the severity and location, ringworm skin infections may be treated with antifungal medications in oral, cream or shampoo form.
4. Toxoplasmosis: Cat lovers have the biggest risk of developing toxoplasmosis, which is a disease caused by a parasite found in the feces of cats. Adults and healthy individuals may not become sick with toxoplasmosis – they may simply react with flu-like symptoms. However, it can be deadly to young children and pregnant woman, where it can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and birth defects including blindness. Therefore, people who have weakened resistance, pregnant women and very young children must avoid touching cat litter boxes, and if at all possible, avoid cats in the house.
5. Salmonellosis: Keepers of reptiles and amphibians may become sick with salmonellosis. These animals excrete salmonella in their poop, so their skin and cage may be infected with salmonella. This infectious agent causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain in both adults and children. When very young children become infected, they may develop blood infection, meningitis and life-threatening dehydration.

When your child experiences itching in his or her anus, worms are certainly not the first thing you may think of. Here’s a fact: millions of people (a large percentage being schoolchildren) get affected by pinworm infections every year, and it doesn’t necessarily mean poor hygiene. Anyone can get a pinworm infection, no matter how many times your child takes a bath or changes his or her clothes. Because it is fairly common among schoolchildren, this article discusses everything you need to learn about pinworm infection and its management.

Pinworms are tiny intestinal parasitic worms. They are a common form of roundworm infection. Compared to other worm infections, pinworms are not that critical, and they are controlled fairly easily.

How does one get pinworm infection?

Pinworm infections are also nicknamed “seatworm infection” or “threadworm infection”, and they can be transmitted from one person to another. They can cause illnesses such as “oxyuriasis” or “enterobiasis”.

These worms have eggs which cannot be seen by the naked eye. The eggs may be found on surfaces of contaminated non-living objects such as public seats, bed sheets, underwear, pants, toilets, bathroom fixtures, school chairs, lunch tables and seats, toys, kitchen counters, drinking glasses, plates, utensils, food and even sandboxes. When a child comes in contact with viable pinworm eggs, there is a good chance he or she may develop an infection when these eggs hatch and develop.

Pets do not cause pinworm infections – pinworms cannot thrive in animals.

How do the pinworms develop?

The following explains the life cycle of pinworms as infectious agents. Eggs may get ingested (from contaminated hands, for instance) and travel down to the digestive system. The pinworm eggs reach the small intestine and hatch there. The larvae travel further down to the large intestines, where they grow and feed on nutrients there (hence the term ‘parasites’), with their eggs attached to the intestine’s internal walls.

It takes about a month or two for the pinworms to grow into adult form. When they do, the adult female pinworms travel from the large intestines down to the rectum and lay eggs there. The female worms laying eggs is what causes the extreme itching around the anal area of the child.

A child may scratch his or her rectal area and eggs are transferred to his or her hands and fingers. Unwashed, these contaminated fingers may then be used to touch other objects (which would now be a source of infection) or to bring food to the mouth (which would mean the eggs would be reingested), and the cycle would start all over again.

 What are the symptoms of pinworm infection?

If your child has a pinworm infection, he or she may not manifest any symptom at all, except for itching around the rectum especially at night. This can cause your child to have a restless sleep, or he or she may not be able to sleep straight. Girls with pinworm infections may produce a vaginal discharge when the worms travel to the vagina from the rectum.

If you are observant, you will see adult worms in your child’s anus about three hours after the child has fallen asleep. The worms are white, and thread-like, and just as long as a staple wire. They may be found on an infected child’s underwear, or in the toilet.

 How can a pinworm diagnosis be confirmed?

Your doctor will simply place a clear sticky tape against your child’s anus, and the tape will be brought to the laboratory for microscope viewing of eggs. Samples from under the child’s fingernails may also be obtained and observed for eggs.

 Can it be treated?

Pinworm infection is treatable with an anti-worm medication which your child will have to take as a single dose and then repeat after two weeks. If more than one child is showing symptoms of itching, the doctor may treat the whole family. You will be advised that the itching may persist while the treatment is ongoing, so the doctor may provide an anti-itch cream or medication.

A child who has pinworm infection must not share his things with other members of the family. His clothes, beddings and towels must be separated to prevent contamination and infection.

How can I protect my family from pinworm infestation?

Hand-washing remains the single most effective way of preventing infection. Remind your children to wash their hands, and scrub under the nails to prevent accumulation of dirt and parasites there. Hand-washing is especially crucial before and after meals, after toilet trips and after playing outside. Your children must take a bath daily and change clothes, and pajamas must not be kept for longer than three days. Fingernails must be kept clean and short. Finally, discourage nail-biting and bottom-scratching.

Because of the many negative news and side effects that is caused by over-the-counter medicines and cough syrups out there, parents are having a hard time thinking which medicine to use to treat their children. Cough is a very common disease, especially in children because of the change in climate and other external factors.

Recent studies have shown that there is a natural remedy which can be safely used by parents to treat the coughs and sore throat of their children – honey. Honey comes from the nectars of flowers which are collected by the bees and process the same by means of regurgitation, and then finally stored in honeycombs.

The Healing Prowess of Honey

There are mainly two types of honey sold in the market today – the dark colored honey, and the light colored or buckwheat honey. Though studies have shown that dark colored honeys have more antioxidants than light colored honeys, but both of them are effective in treating cough all the same. Buckwheat honey is said to be very common in local supermarkets and they are actually cheaper than most cough medicines out there. Furthermore, studies revealed that giving your kids a small dose of buckwheat honey before bedtime increases their chance of having better sleep and better relief from nighttime cough compared to any other OTC drugs for coughs.

Honey has been used during ancient times as an overall cure for sickness, insect bites and wounds. Some of the side effects involved when using honey as a medicine for cough is hyperactivity, which is also possible when taking most cough medicines.

Other Benefits of Honey

Aside from making your child sleep better during the night because of their relief from nighttime coughs, honey also soothes your child’s mucous membranes that are irritated. This is the same irritation which makes children cough, and by taking honey, the throat is properly lubricated and the sore throat and cough is relieved. Another benefit of honey is that compared to other medicines and cough syrups, honey can be easily administered as medicine to children because of its sweet taste.

Honey can be directly given to the child as a medicine or it can be combined with other natural remedies like lemon, tea and ginger. You can use them as sweetener to these remedies, but its healing powers will still be the same.

Health Issues about Honey

Honey is known to have one of the lowest water activities which are at 0.6. This makes honey one of the safest remedies for kids because microorganisms do not breed in it. On the other hand, even if this is true, experts recommend not giving honey to children below one year old because they sometimes contain small amounts of the bacteria called clostridium botulinum which could pose a danger to babies. Studies reveal that these endospores present in honey could turn into toxin-producing bacteria inside the baby’s underdeveloped intestines which might lead to illness or even death. In children aged one year and above however, these spores are destroyed by their digestive system.

 Lyme disease is very common in children, especially in households where there are pets, particularly dogs. They can be also infected when they go out and play outdoors or in the woods. Children become an easy prey for ticks which is the main cause of the disease because they are very playful and they tend to be very close to dogs. In cases like this, prevention is better than cure. In order to prevent your child from getting Lyme disease, the first thing you should do as a parent is to be informed of all the facts about the said infection.

Lyme Disease Defined

Lyme disease is a disease which is caused by the bacteria spirochete. The germ spirochete is transmitted through animals and humans alike by tick bites caused by deer ticks and the western black legged ticks which are usually common in the United States.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

In the early stages of Lyme disease, the following symptoms such as muscle and joint pains, fatigue, headache, fever and chills might be present. But one of the most notable signs of Lyme disease is the presence of rash which normally appears after the 3^rd day to the first month of the tick’s bite. Usually, the rash would originate from the bitten area of the tick. It begins with a small reddening of the area which could grow bigger as it progresses. In some cases, the center of the redness would fade, and would create a ring-like appearance. Other children who are infected with the disease would exhibit a lot of these red spots and they feel warm when touched.

In serious cases, Lyme disease might spread all the way to the nervous system or the heart. When the disease goes to the child’s heart, he may feel his heart beat slowly than normal. On the other hand, when the disease spreads into the nervous system, it might cause Bell’s palsy – a condition where the face droops. It might also cause meningitis and the numb sensation around the legs and arms.

How to Prevent Lyme Disease

The most effective way of preventing Lyme disease is to make sure your child does not get bitten by these ticks. Below are some tips where you can prevent your children from tick bites:

1. Proper clothing. Make sure that your child wears clothing that would cover most of their arms and legs. Also, if they have light-colored shirts and pants, it would be better so that you can easily see when there is tick on them. For your child’s added protection, make sure his pants are tucked in his socks or his shoes so that ticks could not enter underneath his clothes.

2. Use insect repellants. Insect repellants are the perfect defense of children when playing outdoors, especially with ticks. Make sure that the repellant you buy contains DEET (about 20% – 30%). It is recommended that DEET be applied to the child’s skin in accordance to the doctor’s advice and they should not be applied to their hands and face. DEET should not be used on babies who are below 2 months.

3. Inspect your child and pets after going out. Check your child’s skin and scalp for possible ticks or bites. You should also check your pets for ticks because they are the number one prey of these ticks.

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It makes sense, then, that when it becomes inflicted with a disease, the effect is debilitating. The skin is not limited to the soft covering of the body – it also comprises the thin covering of lips, the mucus lining of the mouth, hair, teeth and even nails. The condition and health of the skin can tell doctors a lot about a person’s health condition. When a person is ill, the skin is often one of the very first organs to show symptoms.

Steven-Johnson syndrome is a disease characterized by an excessive allergic reaction, typically to a medication, virus or bacteria. Unlike other common skin diseases, SJS is fatal. Steven-Johnson Syndrome is as common in children as it is in adults. Its symptoms are difficult to deal with, and may even cause death. The affected person may undergo tremendous pain and discomfort, as well as generalized symptoms similar to a common flu. Fever, headaches, joint pains, and cough may be present. These symptoms are typically the first to appear, so parents would normally treat the child with fever and cold medications. The child may not get better, and soon, red rashes could appear on the face and trunk and finally the rest of the body. The rashes progress into blisters, even in areas such as the rectum, vagina, mouth and eyes.

As mentioned, the causes of Steven-Johnson syndrome is children can be viruses, bacteria, or medications. Medications are the most common culprit. It can be as harmless as fever and pain relief such as Ibuprofen, like Motrin or Advil. In fact, children’s Motrin has been part of a legal controversy after a seven-year-old girl took some for fever and presented with some symptoms. She was hospitalized and became blind two days later. The verdict: Steven-Johnson syndrome.

Sufonamide antibiotics and penicillins are anti-infectives that are linked to the development of SJS in children. Phenytoin (Dilantin) and Carbamazepine (Tegratol) a medication for seizures, is also a common drug associated with SJS.

Recent radiation therapy and bacterial and viral infections are always inquired if one’s doctor suspects SJS. Medical intervention must be immediate.

If a child is suspected of having SJS, he or she will be subjected to rigorous assessment – oral examinations as well as eye tests will be done in order to determine extent of the disease.

The treatment is a complicated process, as it will first involve the finding of the causative agent and stopping it to prevent further damage. The child may have to be confined in the burns unit, where his or her skin conditions will be treated aseptically (with strict anti-infection measures) to prevent contamination and infection. In severe cases, the skin may actually come off and the flesh is exposed, which is why the sterile environment of the burns unit is utilized.

Oral examinations and treatment, eye examinations, and fluid replacement can all form part of the treatment for SJS, and in some cases topical and oral corticosteroids may also be administered by the doctor.