There is nothing more worrying to a parent or carer as when your child becomes unwell. There are many common childhood health problems that are easy to spot and treat with the right information. Here you will find two of the most common.
Diaper rash is among the most common although it can be extremely uncomfortable for the child it is not dangerous and can be remedied easily at home. Diaper rash is caused when the skin stays wet from rubbing against the diaper and also from the chemicals that the baby naturally excretes. It is most common in very young children but can occur at any age that the child or even adult wears incontinence pants or pads continuously. As a diaper or incontinence pad wearer will sleep for many hours, this is usually the cause for the rash. Also some people are allergic to the materials that the diaper/pad is made from. Most rashes clear up within 24 hours if cleaned well and have ointments applied to the affected area, if the area becomes infected or begins to ooze then your practitioner can provide creams or maybe antibiotics to help clear this up. To prevent this happening in future you should change the diaper or pad more frequently and ensure good hygiene is practiced.
Croup is quite common in young children although the symptoms can seem alarming. It usually occurs in colder weather. The symptoms of croup are a cough, which has been likened to a bark. Patients experiencing croup have a narrowing in the voice box windpipe and the tubes that lead to the lungs, which is what causes the barking like cough and can make it difficult for the patient to breath. It usually occurs a few days after the patient has suffered a cold or virus and is contagious therefore the patient should be isolated as much is possible. It is not usually dangerous but if breathing becomes a serious problem then medical help and advice should be sought immediately.
The best thing to do during a coughing attack caused by croup is to stay calm, if you panic then you will upset the patient further, creating steam room by running the hot taps of the bath or letting the shower run and sitting with your child in the room will help alleviate the symptoms and clear the narrowed passages. A humidifier can also help to ease the symptoms. Breathing in cool night air can also help but you should ensure before taking your child outside that they are wrapped up warm, and that you do not stay outside much longer than 10 minutes. Do not smoke around the patient as this will make symptoms worse and if the patient is an adult discourage them from smoking also. Ensure that your child is well hydrated, and if they are refusing drink a frozen treat such as an ice pop is a good way to get fluids into them. Most sufferers of croup are young, and as they get older and their lungs become stronger it is much less common.