Asthma
What is Asthma?
Asthma is an allergic reaction that occurs when your child inhales allergens like pollen, dust, feathers or fungal spores. The allergy affects the lining of the air passage. The child begins to wheeze and her immunity to infection is reduced. When she has an asthma attack, the lining of the air passages goes into spasm and large amounts of mucus are secreted. Your child will find it difficult to breathe. She may become pale and her lips might turn blue.

What do I do if my child has asthma ?
You should consult a doctor or a specialist. The first thing the doctor will attempt to do is to isolate the cause of the attacks. He will probably do this by exposing your child to a range of possible allergens. Once you have identified the particular allergen responsible for your child’s attacks, you task becomes much simpler. You merely have to take all possible steps to avoid your child’s exposure to the allergen. For instance, if your child is allergic to dust, keep furnishings, carpeting and curtains free from dust. In addition, keep your house dry as dust mites flourish in damp houses.

Can asthma be linked to emotional factors ?
Yes. Some asthmatic children are extremely sensitive. Conflict or stress in their lives can trigger off asthma attacks. If there are indications that emotional factors may have an influence on your child’s asthma, try to keep the home environment stable and conflict-free. Do all you can to minimize stress in your child’s life. Such children need a lot of love and attention.

However, there is no need to go overboard. Do not treat your child like an invalid. Do not be too over-protective. If you give your child the impression that everything must come to a standstill every time she has an attack, she will learn to use the attacks to manipulate you and get her own way.

Chicken Pox(Varicella)
How is chicken pox caused and transmitted
Chicken pox is a disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. Unless they have had chicken pox before, anyone can contract the disease, i.e. children, adolescents and adults.

The disease is highly contagious, spreading through the air or by direct contact. The virus attacks the mucous tissues. Consequently, the disease is easily transmitted through droplets of mucous secretions from the respiratory tract while coughing or sneezing. It can also be transmitted to a person who has been in direct contact with a dirty handkerchief or the varicella lesions.

In most people, the incubation period ranges from 13 to 17 days. A person is most contagious for two days after the appearance of the rash and continues to be for about five days. Usually, it is safe for children to go back to school by the sixth day.

What are the symptoms of chicken pox
The typical sign of chicken pox is an irritating, itchy rash that starts on the trunk and slowly spreads over the face, including the scalp, mouth and ears, and also the upper arms and legs. Scabs form over the lesions after four or five days and may stay for one or two weeks after which they drop off. In addition, children may also develop fever, chills, nausea and vomiting.

How can this illness be treated
There is no specific treatment for this disease. However, it is imperative that you stop your child from scratching the spots. If she scratches the spots, the scabs may come off leaving the wounds open to infection and scarring. Apply calamine lotion at regular intervals to alleviate the itching and keep your child’s nails short to minimize the risk of infection.

Convulsions
What causes convulsions
It is difficult to say what is the exact cause of convulsions. In most children aged between one and three years, convulsions are often linked to the development of a high fever. The child’s nervous system is immature and often cannot handle a high temperature the same way that an adult does. Thus, sometimes, the fever stimulates the nerves controlling the muscles and these, in turn, contract violently. Remember that febrile convulsions are not as frightening as they look.

What happens when a child has convulsions
Convulsions due to fever usually only last a minute or two. When your child has a fit, she will probably lose consciousness and begin to twitch uncontrollably. She will clamp her jaws shut tightly and breathe heavily. Her eyes will roll back into her head and she will froth at the mouth. She may even become incontinent. Children usually fall asleep after the convulsions have passed.

What do I do when my child has a fit ?
Do not panic and rush off to call for help. It is more important not to leave your child alone as she may inhale her vomit if she is sick. To prevent this from happening, place her on her stomach with her head to one side. Do not try to restrain her in any way. Try to keep her away from objects and furniture against which she may injure herself. It is a myth that people bite or swallow their tongues during a convulsion. You will do more harm attempting to prise open your child’s jaws during a convulsion. Do not try to feed her or place anything in her mouth.

Eczema
What is eczema
Eczema is a rash that appears on the face, behind the knees and on the inner sides of the arms and wrists. It is an itchy, dry and scaly rash. In a very bad case, it may ooze profusely. It can be caused by a cold, a sleepless night or an upset stomach. Infantile eczema is often linked to asthma. They are both allergic conditions and are very likely to be hereditary.

What is the treatment for eczema ?
The first thing to do is to consult a dermatologist. He will probably prescribe some mild creams and ointments that you should apply to the affected areas. You can follow certain steps in the daily care of your baby. Do not use too much soap and water as this dries the skin. Instead, you could use cotton wool soaked in baby lotion. Be very particular about hygiene, especially in the diaper area and the face. Remember that wool irritates the skin and can aggravate eczema.

German Measles or Rubella
What are the symptoms of German measles ?
This viral disease is not as contagious or serious as measles. The incubation period is around 17 to 18 days. It starts like a mild cold with a runny nose, sore throat and a mild temperature. Two days later your child will break out in a rash. Initially, the spots will appear behind the ears and on the forehead before moving down the body. These spots are pale, flat, and more spread out than the ones symptomatic of measles. The rash lasts only for a few days. The glands on the back of the neck will swell up.

Do I need to take this disease seriously ?
The symptoms of this disease are so mild that there is no specific treatment. The best you can do is to make sure that your child is comfortable and keep her amused. While you need not be particularly worried about the health of your child, the greatest danger of this disease is that it could result in foetal damage in a pregnant woman.

This disease can be prevented by inoculating your child with the MMR vaccine when she is between 12 to 18 months old. This should confer lifelong immunity from the disease.