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Head Lice & Nits epidermic in children

Posted in Babies & Toddlers Hygiene & Personal Care Parent Tips
December 14th, 2009 by Editor

Head lice are tiny greyish insects that invade the surface of the head clinging to the hair shaft. This epidemic is a common problem amongst children. Head lice are wingless parasitic insects that feed on the blood of their host. The eggs laid by the female head lice after mating are firmly attached to the scalp hair. Approximately a week after the eggs have been laid, they begin to hatch into offspring which are commonly referred to as nits.

What are Head Lice and Nits

Nits are lice eggs that appear as tiny yellow dots on the surface of the hair. The eggs begin to hatch at the hair shaft close to the scalp 1 to 2 weeks after it has being laid. Once hatched the lice appear as white or clear particles. These particles have a close resemblance to dandruff. The lice mature into an adult approximately 2 weeks after hatching. The adult lice which is referred to as a nymph, is the size of a sesame seed. These lice can lay up to 3 to 8 eggs daily.

Symptoms of Head Lice and Nits in children

*Itching of the scalp is commonly experienced. This irritation often occurs due to the biting of the scalp by the lice.
*In most cases a red rash may occur at the nape of the neck
*Inflammation may develop on the scalp
*Tiny red pimples or sores may also occur on the scalp
*A sensation of something moving in the hair may indicate an invasion of head lice and nits
*Excessive scratching can lead to the development of bacterial infection

What are the causes of Head Lice and Nits

*Head lice and nits are commonly transferred to from an infected individual to another.
*The contact of this contagious epidemic can occur with direct or close head to head contact such as a hug
*Poor hygiene can spread and worsen the epidemic but cannot be entirely responsible for the direct cause of the epidemic

Treatment and management of Head Lice & Nits

*The effective use of insecticides is commonly available in the form of a lotion, mousse or shampoo. Malathion, Permethrin and Phenothrin are the three common ingredients used in these topical treatments. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to achieve effective results. Treatment should be repeated after 7 days as lice eggs are difficult to kill.
*The use of silicone based products such as Hedrin lotion, Itax lotion or NYDA pump spray are also effective forms of topical preparations. Silicone products kill the nits and lice by physically coating the surface and smothering them. It is important not to use a hair drier as the heat may alter the efficacy of the topical preparation.
*Combing wet hair with a fine tooth comb is a non-chemical method that is effective. Hair should be combed for a period of 30 minutes every 3rd to 4th day for a period of 2 weeks.
*Medicated shampoos may also be prescribed as an alternative treatment method. However it is advised that a child under 2 years of age should avoid the use of medicated shampoo and rather opt for the removal of nits and lice by hand
*Bed linen and stuffed toys should be washed regularly. Since nits and lice can survive without a host for 2 days it is advised to keep washed stuffed toys away until the epidemic has been treated.

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Iron defeficiency anaemia in children

Posted in Babies & Toddlers Feeding & Eating Parent Tips
October 20th, 2009 by Editor

Iron deficiency anaemia in children
Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition affecting many children due to the inadequate intake of iron in the diet. This condition indicates an insufficient supply of oxygen to the body tissues and organs resulting in the decrease production of red blood cells. Iron deficient anaemia results when a disruption occurs between the production of the red blood cells in the bone marrow and spleen due to the inadequate intake of iron or through loss of blood due to injury or the early onset of the menstrual cycle.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia?
In healthy children anaemia can present itself with symptoms such as:
*Tiredness
*Dizziness
*Shortness of breath
*Poor memory
*Frequent bouts of colds and flu
*A pale shade skin colour
*Frequent infections
In severe anaemia the following symptoms are commonly experienced:
*Heart palpitations
*Angina
*Headaches
*Leg pains
Children suffering with long term anaemia can suffer with:
*Burning sensation of the tongue
*Dryness of the mouth
*Throat sores
*Dry brittle nails and hair
*Pica (A condition where the individual suffers with insatiable cravings such as sand, ice cubes and many other unusual things)

The causes of iron deficiency anaemia in children
*A decrease in dietary iron is common in vegans and vegetarians as the main source of iron is mostly found in red meat.
*Premature babies can develop iron deficient anaemia as the storing capability of iron is not completed until the end stage of pregnancy
*Loss of blood as a result of injury or the early onset of the menstrual cycle in young female children can often deplete the body of its iron stores
*Diseases such as crohns disease or gluten intolerance can cause a disruption in the body’s ability to store iron.

Treatment for iron deficient anaemia in children:
*The prescription of the daily intake of iron tablets will help to increase iron stores in the body whilst reversing the condition of anaemia. Iron tablets are to be taken after consumption of food to prevent an irritation in the stomach lining. The stools passed are often black in colour due to the ingestion of iron tablets. Diarrhoea or constipation can often result with the intake of iron supplements.
*Anaemia can also be resolved through dietary intake of iron. The sources of iron in food include liver (not to be consumed during pregnancy), egg yolks, lean meat, lentils, dried or tinned beans, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, dark green and leafy vegetables, seaweed, oatmeal, prunes, fortified breakfast, broccoli, asparagus, wholemeal bread, dried fruits, soya products and brown rice.

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Asthma in children-prevention and treatment

Posted in Babies & Toddlers Hygiene & Personal Care Parent Tips
September 23rd, 2009 by Editor

Asthma is a condition that results in the constriction of the airways leading to the lungs. This results in the accumulation of mucous in lungs. Asthma is characterized by the obstruction and inflammation of the airways triggered with exposure to allergens such as pollen, viral infections (cold and flu), exercise, crying, screaming, laughing, dust, smoke and animals. Symptoms of an asthmatic attack includes coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, pain or tightness in the chest and insomnia due to difficulty in breathing. An asthmatic attack can be quick, mild or frequent and last from a few minutes to hours.

Prevention of childhood asthma:
*Children should avoid exposure to tobacco smoke inhalation
*Replace carpet with tiles to minimize dust accumulation on the floor
*Reduce dust exposure on linen with frequent washing of beddings and the regular use of plastic covers on the mattress
*Children should avoid the consumption of cool drinks containing sulphur dioxide and sodium benzoate as these ingredients can worsen the condition
*Avoid drugs that can aggravate an asthmatic attack. Some of these drugs include medications such as beta blockers and aspirin
*Food allergies are a rare trigger factor but milk allergies can affect children with asthma
*Children should avoid contact with furry animals. Cat allergies may persist for several weeks after the cat has been removed.
*Avoid outdoor areas that have an accumulation of mould, plants or compost heaps
*Minimize the amount of physical activity to prevent the onset of an attack

Treatment of childhood asthma:
Treatment involves preventing and treating an asthmatic attack. Recognize the triggers that stimulate asthma to minimize the severity of an attack. It is important to have asthma diagnosed by a qualified medical doctor to ensure an effective treatment in the management of asthma. Drug therapy enables your child to live a relatively normal life with a few adverse drug effects. A controller and reliever is the basic medication prescribed to be used at least twice daily to minimize the inflammation of the airways. These medications include seretide and symbicord. Babies and toddlers require a nebulizer which is a machine that turns the prescribed liquid medication into fine droplets. A mask is placed on the mouth area and the medication is inhaled. The main aim of the treatment is to alleviate acute respiratory distess without maintenance follow-up treatment the symptoms return within 24 hours.

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