What Is Heat Rash?

Heat rash -- also called prickly heat or miliaria -- is a common condition in which areas of the skin feel prickly or sting due to overheating. Heat rash looks like tiny bumps surrounded by a zone of red skin. It usually occurs on clothed parts of the body, such as the back, abdomen, neck, upper chest, groin, or armpits and usually gets better once the skin is cooled.

Heat rash occurs most often in hot, humid conditions. It's most common in infants. Active people, newborns in incubators, and bedridden patients with fever also are more likely to get heat rash.

What Causes Heat Rash?

Heat rash begins with excessive perspiration, usually in a hot, humid environment. The ducts from the sweat glands in the skin become blocked. This causes the sweat to leak into the surrounding tissue, causing irritation and redness. You may feel the prickly, or stinging, sensation that gives this condition its name.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox

Chickenpox (varicella) is a viral infection that causes an itchy, blister-like rash

Symptoms

Chickenpox infection usually lasts about five to 10 days. The rash is the tell-tale indication of chickenpox. Other signs and symptoms, which may appear one to two days before the rash, include:

·         Fever

·         Loss of appetite

·         Headache

·         Tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell (malaise)

Once the chickenpox rash appears, it goes through three phases:

·         Raised pink or red bumps (papules), which break out over several days

·         Fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), forming from the raised bumps over about one day before breaking and leaking

·         Crusts and scabs, which cover the broken blisters and take several more days to heal

New bumps continue to appear for several days. As a result, you may have all three stages of the rash — bumps, blisters and scabbed lesions — at the same time on the second day of the rash. Once infected, you can spread the virus for up to 48 hours before the rash appears, and you remain contagious until all spots crust over.

The disease is generally mild in healthy children.

When to see a doctor

If you suspect that you or your child has chickenpox, consult your doctor. He or she usually can diagnose chickenpox by examining the rash and by noting the presence of accompanying symptoms. Your doctor can also prescribe medications to lessen the severity of chickenpox and treat complications, if necessary. Be sure to call ahead for an appointment and mention you think you or your child has chickenpox, to avoid waiting and possibly infecting others in a waiting room.

Also, be sure to let your doctor know if any of these complications occur:

·         The rash spreads to one or both eyes.

·         The rash gets very red, warm or tender, indicating a possible secondary bacterial skin infection.

·         The rash is accompanied by dizziness, disorientation, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, tremors, loss of muscle coordination, worsening cough, vomiting, stiff neck or a fever higher than 103 F (39.4 C).

·         Anyone in the household is immune deficient or younger than 6 months old.

Home Care for Chicken Pox

1. Don’t scratch- If your child can't stop scratching:

·         Put gloves on his or her hands, especially at night

·         Trim his or her fingernails

2. Diet -A soft, bland diet -Eat foods that are soft, and if you have sores inside your mouth, avoid eating foods that are salty, spicy, acidic or too hot

3. Hydration -Consume water regularly to prevent dehydration.

4. Dress appropriately and avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing. Loose, cotton-based clothes that keep you at a comfortable temperature are best to prevent discomfort.

5. Take a cool bath –Also when you dry your skin or hairs after a bath use a soft cotton towel and don’t rub on the scab.

Prevention

Chickenpox vaccine can prevent chickenpox. Most people who get chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. But if someone who has been vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very mild. They will have fewer blisters, are less likely to have a fever, and will recover faster.

 

Children who have never had chickenpox should get 2 doses of chickenpox vaccine at these ages:

1st Dose:   12–15 months of age

2nd Dose:  4–6 years of age (may be given earlier, if at least 3 months after the 1st dose)

People 13 years of age and older (who have never had chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine) should get two doses at least 28 days apart.

Catch-up

Anyone who is not fully vaccinated, and never had chickenpox, should receive one or two doses of chickenpox vaccine. The timing of these doses depends on the person’s age. Ask your doctor.

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Fainting

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness. Most people recover quickly and completely.
It is quick and brief, often due to low blood sugar or standing in one place for too long.
Unconsciousness is an abnormal state in which a person is not alert and not fully responsive to his/her surroundings.

Unlike when a person is asleep, someone who has fainted and is unconscious cannot cough, clear his/her throat, or turn his/her head if in distress. When unconscious, a person is in danger of choking, making it very important to keep the airway clear while awaiting medical care.

First Aid Guide
In the event of fainting, attempt the following self-care measures:

1. If possible, try to prevent someone who is fainting from hitting the ground.
2. Lay the person down on the ground, face up, and elevate his/her feet 8–12 inches.Have him or her sit down with his or her knees between the knees
3. Loosen any constrictive clothing.
4. Apply a cool, wet compress to the person's forehead.
5. Attempt to keep the person from standing up until fully recovered.

• If the person vomits while he/she is unconscious, quickly turn him/her to allow the fluid to drain while protecting the person's airway.
• Do not attempt to give an unconscious person anything by mouth.
• Do not shake or slap a person who has fainted to attempt to make him/her regain consciousness.
If the person was injured while fainting, give first aid for any injuries (eg, bumps, bruises, or cuts) accordingly. Bleeding should be stopped with direct pressure.

Who's At Risk
People with the following medical conditions are at an increased risk of fainting:
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
• Anaemia
• Any condition in which there is a rapid loss of blood, such as from internal bleeding
• Heart and circulatory problems
• Heat stroke or heat exhaustion
• Eating disorders (eg, anorexia and bulimia)
• Toxic shock syndrome

Additionally, those who stand in one place for a long time, particularly in high heat, are prone to fainting. Further, fainting can be caused by anxiety (eg, sudden stress or fright), severe pain, suddenly changing body position (eg, standing up too quickly), and certain medications.

Signs and Symptoms
A person who faints often experiences dizziness, nausea, weakness, and/or blurred vision prior to losing consciousness, and they may have cold, clammy, pale skin.

The person may be disoriented, incoherent, motionless, and silent.

When to Seek Medical Care
If the person does not regain consciousness quickly (eg, within 5 minutes), is elderly, or has a medical problem, call emergency medical services. While not typical, fainting can be a sign of serious illness, so seek treatment by a medical professional to determine the cause and provide proper treatment.

Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe

If the person was injured during the fall, the physician will treat those injuries (eg, stopping bleeding, giving stitches).

As fainting can be caused by many underlying conditions, the physician will conduct tests to determine the scope and treat the illness or injury accordingly.

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 (Motion Sickness)Car Sickness

Motion sickness is a mismatch between what your body and your brain is experiencing.

It's experienced when the central nervous system receives conflicting information from the inner ear, eyes, and both the pressure and sensory receptors, found in our joints, muscles, and spine. Our sense of balance is controlled by the interaction of these systems.

"In motion sickness the fluids of the inner ear are moving along with you in the moving vehicle. The brain is interpreting that movement, instead of saying 'yes you are in a moving car,' it's interpreting it as an incorrect stimulus,"

Having car sickness that's bothering you from a nice, sickness-free, cool family vacation? These tips can tell you how to not get car sickness to enjoy a nice, sickness-free cool family vacation! Motion sickness is caused when the brain receives conflicting messages. These are called "motion messages", which comes from the eyes and your inner ear. The inner ear says that you're spinning, you're twirling, and moving. Your eyes say that your body is stationary. The brain is confused. That's what makes us sick.

1.Try cupping your hands over the eyes before feeling ill, so you see only the inside of the car but no motion outside the car. Make sure to keep the motion fully out of sight, as even a little motion can cause car sickness. This can also be accomplished with motion sickness eyewear, which blocks motion flashing by outside the car from the field of vision.

2. Fresh Air. If a child is queasy, open the window and get fresh air. Don't smoke, or put in strong-smelling foods or snacks!

3. Settle the stomach. Eat bland foods during the trip. Crackers, bread/toast, bananas, rice,  are all good options. A child should feel better if she eats a dry saltine cracker. An empty stomach is not best for avoiding motion sickness. Just eat a light meal before traveling. Avoid greasy and hard-to-digest foods.

4. Smooth driving. The less braking, the better. Make sure you stop every five minutes so your child can get out and walk around for a few seconds.

5. Make frequent stops. Plan enough time to stop and let your child walk around

6. Watch for early signs of motion sickness. Make sure your child says she's feeling sick or you don't know the time to pull over. Pay attention to her. Don't leave her alone

7. Use motion sickness remedies-use ginger tablets, ginger cookies, ginger candy, ginger root, ginger tea ,use lime etc

8. Sleep. By lying on your side in the back seat and looking out a window, the conflicting messages are soon more "you're moving" and rids you of the sick feeling. 

9. Avoid Rear Seats. Now families have minivans, more kids seem to feel the van's motion on the rear seat. Make sure your child is sitting forward facing so they can look at the front window.

10. Divert your child mind-bring music player, for your child to listen. Don't read, play games or anything.

Consult your doctor for prescribing medication to reduce the sensation.

"Medication will blunt the effects but there's no way to get rid of it!

10 Effective Home Remedies For Toddler Cold

Usually a common cold lasts for up to a week or so.

1. Steam Inhalation

An easy-to-make remedy for cold, preparing steam for inhalation is recommended. All you need are a kitchen pot, water and towel. Just put boiled  water in the pot and, cover your child’s head with a towel, over the pot. Gently ease your child into the position for steam inhalation. Doing this inhalation can relieve blocked nasal passages and soothe an irritated throat. If the pot is too risky, you can use a humidifier or sit with the child in the bathroom, with a hot shower running.

2. Soups

 You also need to make sure your toddler is hydrated during a condition of cold. An ideal way of doing this is to feed them soup. Chicken soup is an old remedy for colds and coughs. It is full of essential nutrients that can help speed up the process of recovery and it is also known to help relieve congestion. You can also give him or her tomato soup with a pinch of ground pepper. This will help clear a blocked nose, while also boosting the immune system. Rich homemade soups can be helpful in speeding up recovery.

3. Vitamin C

One of the key essentials in your child’s battle against the common cold is Vitamin C. This necessary nutrient can improve your child’s immune system, which can help quicken his or recovery from the cold. You can make sure your toddler gets Vitamin C in its whole form in various foods, like oranges, strawberries, carrots or grapefruit. While this is not a cure, it can be a great way of making sure your child’s body is properly equipped to deal with the infection.

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4. Herbal Tea

This is something your little one may not be willing to have. However, herbal teas are known to energize your child’s tired, aching, cold and flu-ridden body. You can make a simple green, mint or chamomile tea at home and give it once or twice a day. The hot tea can also calm and soothe a stressed respiratory system. Another helpful medicinal tea is made using lime, ginger and honey. This tea can soothe the nasal passages and help fight an infection

5. Salt Water or ready to use Normal Saline nasal sprays or nasal drops

 This remedy is proven to be highly effective in unblocking nasal passages. Your child’s stuffy nose can be quickly cleared up with this simple and easy-to-make solution. Just mix together ½ teaspoon of non-iodized, salt and 8 ounces of water. Then with your child’s head turned slightly back, gently squirt the solution into each nostril, using a squeeze bottle Repeat this process two or three times a day to provide your little one relief from a blocked or runny nose. Another remedy using salt is a gargle. Mix ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Doing the gargle can help get rid of bacteria from the throat or mouth.

6. Ginger

Another tried and tested remedy for colds is ginger. For centuries, this humble root has been used to help with the symptoms of the common cold. The main reason is that ginger root is naturally warming and so it improves blood circulation in the body. Because of its anti-inflammatory qualities, it can help greatly with any swelling. It may be a difficult task to make your little one consume ginger, but it can be immensely helpful in speeding up recovery. Chewing on bits of the root is recommended. If this is impossibility with your child, then make a simple tea of grated ginger root, honey and water.

7. Garlic

The other friendly root in dealing with the common cold, garlic is another old remedy. As it has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, garlic can aid in boosting the immune system and preventing the condition from worsening. You can make a tea of cloves of garlic and give it to your toddler. Most children would shrink away from the smell and taste of garlic. So, instead, you can use garlic oil in preparing meals. –

8. Honey

An effective remedy against colds and coughs, honey is one more traditional way of giving relief to your little one. Getting your child to eat should be easy, because of its sweet and appealing taste. Honey has beneficial properties that can soothe the throat and provide relief from coughing. It is also known to relax and aid sleeping. So, before putting your child to bed, give him or her a teaspoon of honey or a tea with honey.

9. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is one more traditional remedy that can ease your child’s suffering. When you do steam inhalation, you can add a few drops of this essential oil to the hot water. Inhaling the vapors of the oil can help relieve blocked nasal passages. What’s more, it’s known to have antiseptic properties, so it can quicken the rate of your child’s recovery from the cold.

10. Vapor Rub

While there are commercially available vapor rubs, they usually have a petroleum base. If you want to avoid using petroleum, but still want to use vapor rub for your child, then you can make one right at home. Instead of petroleum jelly, you can dilute a few drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil in vegetable oil. Rub this mixture on your child’s feet and chest. Dab a little under the nose, as well. The vapor rub can help ease breathing when your child is asleep. 

Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others

Most people get colds in the winter and spring, but it is possible to get a cold at any time of the year. Symptoms usually include sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, headaches and body aches. Most people recover within about 7-10 days

Many different viruses can cause the common cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common.

How to Protect Yourself and Others

You can help reduce your risk of getting a cold:

·         Wash your hands often with soap and water
Scrub them for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Viruses live on your hands, and regular handwashing can help protect you from getting sick.

·         Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
Viruses can enter your body this way and make you sick.

·         Stay away from people who are sick
Sick people can spread viruses that cause the common cold through close contact with others.

If you have a cold, you should follow these tips to prevent viruses from spreading to other people:

·         Stay at home while you are sick

·         Avoid close contact with others, such as hugging, kissing, or shaking hands

·         Move away from people before coughing or sneezing

·         Cough and sneeze into a tissue then throw it away, or cough and sneeze into your upper shirt sleeve, completely covering your mouth and nose

·         Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

·         Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and objects such as toys and doorknobs

There is no vaccine to protect you against the common cold.

How to Feel Better

There is no cure for a cold. To feel better, you should get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Talk to your doctor before giving your child nonprescription cold medicines, since some medicines contain ingredients that are not recommended for children.

Antibiotics will not help you recover from a cold. They do not work against viruses, and they may make it harder for your body to fight future bacterial infections if you take them unnecessarily.

When to See a Doctor

You should call your doctor if you or your child has one or more of these conditions:

·         a temperature higher than 100.4° F

·         symptoms that last more than 10 days

·         symptoms that are severe or unusual

If your child is younger than 3 months old and has a fever, you should always call your doctor right away. Your doctor can determine if you or your child has a cold and can recommend therapy to help with symptoms.

What should you do if you don’t have soap and clean, running water?

·         Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of microbes on them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Why? Many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers 

 Non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers may

1) not work equally well for all classes of germs (for example, Gram-positive vs. Gram-negative bacteria, Cryptosporidium, norovirus);

2) cause germs to develop resistance to the sanitizing agent;

3) merely reduce the growth of germs rather than kill them outright, or

4) be more likely to irritate skin than alcohol-based hand sanitizers

·         Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

Why? Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers can inactivate many types of microbes very effectively when used correctly , people may not use a large enough volume of the sanitizers or may wipe it off before it has dried .

·         Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

Why? Many studies show that hand sanitizers work well in clinical settings like hospitals, where hands come into contact with germs but generally are not heavily soiled or greasy .

 

However, hands may become very greasy or soiled in community settings, such as after people handle food, play sports, work in the garden, or go camping or fishing.

When hands are heavily soiled or greasy, hand sanitizers may not work well.

 Handwashing with soap and water is recommended in such circumstances.

How do you use hand sanitizers?

·         Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).

·         Rub your hands together.

·         Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.