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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