Chicken Pox

Chicken pox is caused by a virus which means it cannot be treated with antibiotics, but some doctors will prescribe anti-viral medication. Notify your doctor if you start to suspect chicken pox with your child.

Chicken pox looks like a spotted red rash and is extremely itchy. Chicken pox occurs less often due to the chicken pox vaccine, but still occurs in children, mostly under 10 years old. This virus can be spread very easily through coughing, sneezing, or touching, so it is important to take precautions and wash your hands frequently. The chicken pox is contagious until the spots are scabbed over.  Symptoms to watch for are described by PubMed Health as:

*Fever

*Headache

*Stomach ache

*250 to 500 small, itchy, fluid-filled blisters over red spots on the skin. Blisters usually start on the face, chest, or on the scalp.

As a mother with a child who has chicken pox, there are things that you can do to help your child feel more comfortable as they get through the process:

*Your child can take warm baths to help soothe the pox and decrease irritation. Use some gentle soap and rinse soap off well to prevent left over residue on skin

*Apply moisturizers to soften the skin

*Dress your child in cool, loose clothing

Most people, including children, recover without any complications or scarring and the most difficult thing is trying to keep your child comfortable through the process.

Contact your pediatrician if you notice any signs and symptoms of infection to the blisters or you notice your child having a change in behavior or any difficulty with breathing.

Keep your child home from school and keep your child away from others as much as possible to prevent spread of the pox.

Reference:

PubMed Health. (2011, Aug 2). Chickenpox. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002559/

What are germs and how are they spread?

There are germs all around us…on food, our hands, on our doorknobs. So, what are germs and are they good or bad? How do they spread and how can we stay well even though they are all around us? The two most common germs that we hear about are bacteria and viruses. On kidshealth.org, it says that,

“Bacteria (say: back-teer-ee-uh) are tiny, one-celled creatures that get nutrients from their environments in order to live. In some cases that environment is a human body. Bacteria can reproduce outside of the body or within the body as they cause infections. Some infections bacteria cause include sore throats (tonsillitis or strep throat), ear infections, cavities, and pneumonia (say: new-mo-nyuh).

But not all bacteria are bad. Some bacteria are good for our bodies — they help keep things in balance. Good bacteria live in our intestines and help us use the nutrients in the food we eat and make waste from what's left over. We couldn't make the most of a healthy meal without these important helper germs! Some bacteria are also used by scientists in labs to produce medicines and vaccines (say: vak-seens).”

“Viruses (say: vy-rus-iz) need to be inside living cells to grow and reproduce. Most viruses can't survive very long if they're not inside a living thing like a plant, animal, or person. Whatever a virus lives in is called its host. When viruses get inside people's bodies, they can spread and make people sick. Viruses cause chickenpox, measles, flu, and many other diseases. Because some viruses can live for a while on something like a doorknob or countertop, be sure to wash your hands regularly!”

We learn that bacteria are not all bad and that we need bacteria to keep our bodies regulated properly. When we come in contact with bacteria and viruses that are bad, it is most commonly spread from our hands. Think of all the things that you touch every day…the faucet, the doorknob, the counter, food, the toilet, people, car keys, phone, remote controls, keyboards. I could go on and on. Every time we touch things, we are spreading bacteria. This is why we hear all the time that washing our hands is the key! Washing our hands is really what will help us stay more healthy and keep us from spreading bad germs.

*After you sneeze or cough, wash your hands.

*Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

When kids are young, as parents we don't always think about washing their hands. They crawl on the floor and are constantly touching things and exploring and then they use their hands to put things in their mouths. This could be part of the cause of so much infection and illnesses in our kids. It is important for us to remember that their hands need to be washed just as much if not more than ours! It is better to use soap and warm water on our little kids instead of hand sanitizer because you don't want them to get the sanitizer in their mouths. However, there is hand sanitizer made just for small children at the grocery stores in the baby isle if you want to have some of that for on-the-go!

Reference:
Kidshealth.org. (2013). What are germs?. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/germs.html


 

Cuts and Stitches

When our kids first start to walk, it is such an exciting time, but it can also be a little scary because they are so wobbly. When my little boy started walking, he got a little too confident and fell right into the corner of my coffee table. I was terrified at first because the cut was directly above his eye and right below his eyebrow. As a mom seeing blood on your child never makes you feel good, but I was very concerned that I needed to take him to get stitches.

When your child is injured, make sure that you comfort them and let them know that you will be there to take care of them.

The first thing that you want to do when your child has a cut is apply pressure to the area. If the blood soaks through the cloth, do not remove it; just apply another cloth over top of it. Removing the original cloth from the cut can actually “pull off” the clotted blood and will cause the bleeding to start again.

If the cut is on one of the arms or legs, elevation of the extremity will help to reduce the flow of blood and decrease bleeding.

Once you’ve applied pressure to the site for 5-10 minutes and the bleeding has stopped, remove the cloth. It may start to bleed slightly again and if it does, just apply pressure again.

Try to clean up the cut with use of some luke-warm water to get out any dirt or debris. You may have to use some tweezers to get small pieces.

If you cannot get bleeding to stop with these methods, contact your pediatrician.

If the child has a puncture wound, do not remove object. Secure object with cloths and take your child to the ER.

Stitches for cuts are used mainly to hold skin and underlying tissue together so that they will heal properly. If the skin and/or underlying tissue do not stay together on their own or if there is a jagged, or deep wound it will most likely need stitches and this should be taken care of immediately. If there is any numbness this would also indicate the need for an immediate visit. If you ever have any questions about a cut that you think may need stitches, a visit to a physician is strongly advised. Cuts can become infected if not cleaned and taken care of properly. Your doctor also may strongly suggest a tetanus shot if your child hasn't had one in over 5 years.

For more information, please visit http://firstaid.webmd.com/treating-cuts-and-bleeding-in-children

For more information about stitches you can visit http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/getting-stitches-and-caring-for-stitches

Ear Infections:

So, we all know that ear infections are one of the things that most of our kids get and suffer with. It can be so frustrating! I know a couple times with my little boy, I had just finished taking him to his doctor checkup and a few days later, he would be pulling and rubbing his ear. I would think “He couldn’t possibly have an ear infection…the doctor just checked his ears!” Sure enough, after a day of crying and fevers, we went to the instacare and there was an ear infection. The doctor at the instacare told me that sometimes ear infections can come on quickly. Fortunately for us, it was a bacterial infection so we received antibiotics, but if it is viral, there isn't much you can do besides wait it out. So how can we tell at home if our little one has an ear infection or not? Here are a few things we can check for:

*Check to see if your child has a temperature. Sometimes fevers will get up to 101 or 102. My little boy had one reading at 104.2 with his ear infection. This can happen.

*Watch to see if your child is rubbing or pulling at one of their ears. This is a sign that there may be some irritation, pain, or drainage.

*Trouble sleeping

*Agitation

If your child is getting frequent ear infections, it may be related to them drinking bottles while lying down. When fluids go through the mouth and down the throat, there is a chance that the fluid can get stuck in the ear canal causing inflammation and infection. The best thing to do is hold the baby at least at 45 degree angle or almost upright so that the fluid goes directly down the throat.

If you baby is presenting with the above symptoms, then what should you do? Well, here are some suggestions for you to do at home before heading to the doctor:

*Try starting out with treating your child’s fever. You can use over the counter Tylenol or Acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you otherwise for your child specifically. Tylenol will reduce the fever. You can call your pediatrician and ask about specific dosages to give your child. Your pediatrician may also suggest use of over the counter Ibuprofen. This will help to reduce the fever and pain of your child.

*Try applying a warm wash cloth to the child’s ear as this will probably help decrease some pain and give your child some comfort.

The Mayo Clinic states that symptoms of an ear infection usually improve within one to two days and most infections clear up on their own within one to two weeks without treatment. That being said, you can wait and see if your child’s symptoms clear up on their own with Tylenol an home remedies, but if symptoms worsen such as a fever above 104 or inconsolable behavior/agitation, then you should not wait the 24-48 hours and you should contact your pediatrician.

RSV

Respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) is a very contagious virus that can effect both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Symptoms include runny nose, fever, decreased appetite, cough, and wheezing and possible trouble breathing. If you notice that your child is wheezing or is breathing at a faster rate than they normally do take them to get medical attention. Another thing to look for is use of accessory muscles. To do this, look for any areas on the chest which are indenting when they breath other than the normal rise and fall of the chest. This also will let you know that they are having a harder time breathing and need to be seen right away, most likely at an emergency room.

Treatment often includes suction devices for the nose, an inhaler or nebulizer, supplemental oxygen may be needed, and what ever else your doctor sees fit for your situation.

Prevention is difficult if  your child is ever around other children. Make sure to wash their hands often, teach children to use their elbow to cover a cough or sneeze, and don't share toys with people who have cold or flu like symptoms. Also avoid sharing cups or eating utensils.

Most children will have RSV at some point before they are two years old, but it doesn't make it any easier when it is your child. A hospital stay may be required depending on the severity of the illness. We recommend finding other families who have also dealt with this for support and advise.

Constipation

How to check for signs of constipation:

When toddlers and young kids are able to talk and tell you that it is “hurting to go poop”, it is easy to realize that they are probably constipated. But when our children are between ages 0-2, they are not always able to express the pain and discomfort they may be feeling. For the most part, when babies are on baby food, the food is broken down to a point that they will not become constipated. Drinking milk and starting on whole foods is when we need to watch for these symptoms. So how are some of the ways that moms and dads can tell if their child is constipated when they are unable to express it?

*Check to see if their abdomen feels tight:

This may indicate that the stool is hard and having a hard time passing. Gas buildup will cause bloating of the stomach.

*Check to see if the child is having pebble-like stool:

This may indicate that the moisture from the stool passing through the intestines has absorbed and the child may not be getting enough fluid. This may also indicate that the child has not been receiving enough fiber in his or her diet.

*Check to see if there is any blood in the stool:

If you notice some small amounts of blight tinged blood (a couple drops), this may indicate the strain or difficultly the child has had passing the stool. This may indicate constipation.

 If there is more than the size of a dime of blood or it happens more than 1 or 2 times, notify your pediatrician immediately.

What to do if your child has constipation:

There are a few things that we can do as parents at home to help our kids resolve their constipation before we have to pay to see the doctor.

1. Increase fluids – This will help the stools become soft and pass more easily through the intestinal tract.

2. Increase fiber in diet – Increasing the fiber in your child’s diet can be a little difficult as they are just starting to eat and learn new foods, but some examples of fiber rich foods are: beans (green, black, kidney, lima), dark berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries),  and also cooking or giving foods with whole wheat or bran. Try to decrease the intake of fatty foods which can be a cause of constipation.

3. Encourage activity – Playing and running around helps stools to pass a little easier

4. If your child is potty trained, encourage regular potty time. Have your kids use the bathroom every 1-2 hours to help them get used to not “holding it in”. This can also be a cause for constipation.

 

If these suggestions are not working, you then may want to seek counseling from your pediatrician and possibly obtain a prescription for a stool softener. Also notify your pediatrician if your child has not had a bowel movement for 2 days.   

For more information, please visit http://children.webmd.com/constipation-treatment

Introduction

Hi everyone!

My name is Allison and I am a Registered Nurse and currently working on further schooling. I have worked in the hospital for 1 1/2 years and have worked for a home health company for the past 4 years. Prior to becoming a nurse, I was a CNA (certified nurse assistant) for 5 years, so I have had quite a bit of experience taking care of sick people!

I am a mom of a two year old, work part to full time, go to school full time, and have a husband who is working two jobs right now. We are a busy family to say the least, but because we are running around so much, it has been easy for us to get down and sick...especially my two year old. I have struggled with the issue of trying to keep my two year old healthy because he is going to day care, church, and to family/friend's houses. The big question for most moms is, "When should I take my kid to the doctor?". Along with my good friend Brittney who is also a Registered Nurse, we will begin posting hopefully some helpful information for you (mom's and dad's), so that you will know the basic signs to watch for in illnesses and hopefully start to kick the sick before it worsens and you have to head to the doctor!

Thanks for following...talk to you soon.

Please feel free to ask any questions and we will get back to you.