Common Health Problems In Children

Every parent wants their kids to be happy and healthy at all times, but children always seem to catch something, and this is often down to poor hygiene. Mild illnesses are common and, although there is not usually much that you can do to avoid them, the cures are often fast and straightforward. You should always see your GP if you are concerned about your child's health, but more often than not, it is something that can be treated easily at home. Here are a few of the more common health issues that young children have and how you can treat them.

Cold

Colds are particularly common amongst youngsters, and they can spread quickly through a school where germs can easily be shared. Although they can make them feel lousy, you should not need to go to the doctor, and you should be able to help them with rest, plenty of fluids, and comfort. You should not make them go into school as you do not want the cold to spread, and the time off can help them to recover faster.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a nasty one for youngsters as it can irritate the eyes and make them puffy and sticky. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis is extremely contagious, so you need to be careful and make sure that they are washing their hands often. You should take your child to the GP to find out what type of conjunctivitis they have so that the right treatment can be used.

Lice

Lice is one health problem which will make any parent shudder, and you certainly don’t want to send your kid off to school when they have lice as they can spread quickly. Lice can also cause a lot of irritation and scratching but can be removed with a fine-tooth comb and special shampoo.

Chickenpox (varicella)

Chickenpox is common amongst children and is usually mild, but it is important than cases are treated properly and swiftly as there can be severe complications. Chickenpox causes a nasty rash of itchy spots which turn into fluid-filled blisters which form scabs and then drop off. It usually starts with a fever, and you are highly infectious from up to two days before the spots appear and five days after the scabs are dry. There is no specific treatment, but you can use pain killers to relieve the fever and cooling gels to relieve the itching.

Constipation

Constipation is a common problem for children and usually relates to their diet but could also be because of withholding, issues during toilet training, changes in their routine or medications. You can prevent constipation through high-fibre foods, plenty of water, physical activity, and a toilet routine. You could also use constipation treatment like Movicol, which is a gentle treatment as opposed to laxatives, which cause bowel contractions through nerve stimulation. Many people have wrong thoughts about a laxative. Check out the Dr Pepper ingredients to know about the laxative. 

Mumps

Mumps is rare in today’s day and age due to the immunisation, but there are occasional breakouts which can be problematic as it is easily spread. It is a viral infection which causes swellings under the ears and gives a puffy appearance to the face as well as can be accompanied by headaches, high temperatures, and joint pain. You can use over-the-counter painkillers to bring down the fever and encourage lots of rest and fluids.

Diarrhoea & Vomiting

Unfortunately, diarrhoea and vomiting are common in children and can be caused by a number of things, but more often than not, it is a virus, stomach bug or something that they have eaten. You can manage by making sure that they stay hydrated, feeding them bland foods which are high in carbohydrates, rest, and making sure that personal hygiene is a priority. Take them to the doctor if they can’t keep down liquids, they have diarrhoea that lasts for more than 10 days or if there is blood or mucus in their bowel movements. Additionally, they should not go to school for 24 hours after their last episode of either.

These are just a few of the more common health issues that children tend to experience. It is tough as a parent watching your child suffer from any kind of illness but more often than not it is something which is easily treatable and all a part of growing up. You can keep on top of their health by knowing what to look out for, by having a family doctor that you trust, teaching them the importance of personal hygiene and by encouraging a healthy diet and lifestyle.