Everything Mothers Need

Keep your children healthy with proper vaccinations and treatments.
 

Detecting Stress and Anxiety in Children
Your child can be under stress during exams, the start of the school year, difficulties at school, parents’ divorce or separation, the arrival of younger siblings, change of school, living away from home, or stress being experienced by parents.

You should take steps to reduce their stress and make them feel relaxed when you notice the following symptoms:

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• Excessive insecurity

• Reticence

• Sulking or withdrawal

• Decreased academic performance

• Negative, demeaning or self-deprecating remarks

• Difficulty sleeping

• A sudden change of attitude or behaviour, disorganization, agitation or hyperactivity

• The appearance of tics (e.g. eye twitching, hair twirling, nail-biting, etc.), or anxiety or panic

 

When you notice such stress anxiety in your child, encourage your child to express whatever is bothering him/her. Your attention, caring, and indulgence will make him/her feel wanted and be understood. Teach your child to recognize and name his/her emotions. Don’t put pressure on your child to perform. Do stress management exercises and resort to relaxation techniques to ease the situation.

 

Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease 

Hand-foot-mouth disease is generally a viral infection. It’s most frequent in summer and affects young children. The disease is contagious and can spread to others through saliva or nasal secretions of the infected person. Symptoms generally appear three to six days after the virus was contracted. You should look for the following symptoms such as:

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• Headache

• Sore throat

• Runny nose

• Painful mouth ulcers

• Fever

• Cough

• Rash on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet

 

Although there is no particular cure for the disease, you can take certain measures to ease the symptoms. Give plenty of fluids to your child. The child should also get proper rest. In the case of mouth ulcers, give them soothing fluids. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and body pain. Always ask your pharmacist for the dose of the medication.

However, this viral infection can be avoided when those infected by the virus and those in contact with the infected person wash their hands regularly. The objects used by the infected person should also be washed properly before use. Prevent having direct contact with the infected person.

 

How to Make a Fussy Eater Eat 

Teething, sickness, and certain medication can be the reasons for your child’s poor appetite. Children generally don’t eat properly when they are in their growing stage or adolescence. However, you can tackle the situation by:

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• Serving meals at regular hours

• Having healthy snacks between meals

• Avoiding sweet beverages

• Encouraging your child to have family meals

• Not blackmailing or negotiating

• Not forcing your child to eat and not punishing him/her for not finishing the food

• Avoiding distractions during eating time

• Creating an atmosphere conducive to joy and interaction during meals

• Eating healthy in front of your child, so that he/she will do the same

 

Varicella

Formerly known as chickenpox, varicella is a viral disease. It’s an air-borne disease. Some of the symptoms are:

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• Fever

• Abdominal pain

• General feeling of malaise

• Sore throat

• Muscle soreness

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Loss of appetite

 

You can get relief from the symptoms by doing the following:

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• Make your child rest properly

• Use acetaminophen to relieve the fever

• Make your child drink plenty of liquids

• Have your child wear lightweight, soft clothing

• Use cold compresses or add colloidal oatmeal to bathwater to ease itching

• Keep your child's nails short and clean and have him/her wear gloves at night to prevent scratching

• Certain creams and lotions available can also be helpful

 

Varicella can be prevented by immunization. It will be difficult to prevent the disease without immunization.

 

Scarlet Fever 

Scarlet fever occurs in children of ages between 5 and 15. The signs of this disease are:

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• High fever

• Redness and swelling of the throat

• Swollen glands in the neck

• Intense sore throat

• White spots in the throat

 

Other less common symptoms can be headaches, nausea, vomiting, and stomach aches.

You can ease the symptoms by:

• Drinking plenty of liquids

• Sucking on ice chips

• Keeping ambient air moist

• Eating soft foods to diminish sore throat

• Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain and fever

• Rest and engage in relaxing activities

• Avoid aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or any product that contains it for children and adolescents

 

Mumps, Measles, and Rubella 

These diseases are viral infections that are contagious in nature. Symptoms for measles can be high fever, runny nose, and coughing. Symptoms for rubella include fever, pain and muscle soreness, nausea, red blotches on the face and body, and swelling and soreness of the glands in the neck. Mumps can be primarily characterized by painful swelling of the cheeks and neck. Fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle soreness, and loss of appetite, are also some of the other symptoms of mumps.

There is no treatment against measles. Occasionally, antibiotics can be prescribed for measles to treat the complications if any. Vitamin A supplements can be helpful.

Rubella and mumps also don’t have any treatment methods. For information about measles, mumps, and rubella, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.