Causes, Symptoms & Treatment of Eye Infection in Children

Eye infections are somewhat a rite of passage for most families with young children. Thankfully, the telltale red eye is no cause for concern. With proper treatment, the infection should clear up within a few days. Always see your child’s doctor and get advised on a course of treatment read more here...

Raising and Treating a Child with Pediatrics

Kids are a curious yet reckless lot, and it can get them into trouble many times. They love to explore and experience new things while they’re young, and will find themselves doing a lot of activities in a lot of places. While such adventures and discoveries are integral to a child’s development and learning, these can get the young ones exposed to a variety of medical complications, from mild fever to serious wounds.

To keep children safe as they explore their surroundings, parents should coordinate with pediatricians. These specialized doctors are trained to handle the many health issues young kids encounter as they grow. Not only will these doctors treat children patients, they can even give pointers to the parents on how to properly raise their young ones healthy and active.

Parents will want a secure contact with a good pediatrician as early as possible; this allows mom and dad to easily reach out to the expert in times of dire emergency. This can be especially handy for parents who have a child that requires constant medical attention. Pediatricians are the foremost authorities in child care, and parents who feel uncertain in certain health care issues affecting their own child should feel free to ask the experts for advice.

Urinary Tract Infection in Kids

Urinary tract infections (UTI) in children can occur in the bladder or kidney. They are especially common in girls and uncircumcised boys. By age 5, about 8 percent of girls and 1 to 2 percent of boys will have had UTI. Possible kidney scarring is an important reason to prevent, detect, and treat UTI, as scarring can lead to serious kidney problems for a child down the road.

Causes of UTI

UTI occurs when the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra become infected. Infection is often caused by stool bacteria. Usually, these bacteria enter the urinary tract from outside the body. However, there are cases in which the bacteria in the bloodstream enter the kidney, causing the infection. Aside from bacteria, viruses such as adenovirus can also cause UTI.

Symptoms of UTI

The most common symptoms of UTI are fever, vomiting, and flank pain. Diarrhea can sometimes accompany the condition. Infants with UTI may be jaundiced, irritable, and feeding poorly.

Is UTI contagious?

UTI is not directly contagious. The bacteria that causes it, however, can be spread by touch.

How long does UTI last?

UTI may persist until treated. Once treatment begins, improvements are often rapid. A UTI infection is usually cleared within 2 weeks or less of treatment.

Tonsillitis: Symptoms & Treatment

Tonsils are oval-shaped lymphatic tissues that fight infection. They consist of various kinds, but the most common are the palatine tonsils, which are located on both sides of the throat. Sometimes, tonsils become infected themselves, causing them to become inflamed. This condition is called tonsillitis. Although tonsillitis can occur at any age, it is most common in children between 5 and 15 years of age.

Tonsillitis has several symptoms, including sore throat, fever, red and swollen tonsils, and painful swallowing. In many children, tonsils can become enlarged without any infection and shrink without treatment. If your child has these symptoms and don’t seem to get better over a number of weeks, take him to a pediatrician.

The pediatrician will evaluate your child to determine the correct course of treatment. The usual treatment for tonsillitis is prescription medication, but if your child has chronic, recurring tonsillitis, the pediatrician may recommend that he undergo a surgical procedure—called tonsillectomy—for the removal of the tonsils.

Should your child require tonsillectomy, both you and he/she need to be informed what will happen before, during, and after the surgery. Talking to the pediatrician and asking him all the questions in your mind will help you and your child understand the procedure better.

Children and Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccines

Varicella, commonly known to Americans as Chickenpox, is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in children. It is a highly contagious disease that could occur when a person is exposed to the varicella-zoster virus, eventually causing the trademark itchy, red blisters to appear on the skin after the 14 to 16 day incubation period.

Most cases of chickenpox only require rest at home, as this self-limiting ailment will resolve itself within ten to fourteen days after the blisters first manifest. In addition, many home remedies, such as oat baths and calamine lotions, can make the itching more manageable for your children. However, while most cases of chickenpox are more of an annoyance than a serious disease, a prolonged chickenpox infection can give rise to several complications: bacterial infections, pneumonia, shingles, and others.

With this in mind, a quick trip to your child's pediatrician for a chickenpox vaccination is the best way to prevent chickenpox, or to reduce its unpleasant symptoms. Aside from the benefit of significantly reducing the chances of children contracting the disease, the vaccination might be important in school, as most Colorado schools now require proof of a chickenpox vaccination before admitting a student.  Chickenpox vaccines are given in two doses; the first when a child is 12-15 months, and the second usually given anytime from 3 months after the first dose, to 6 years old.

http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/chickenpox-varicella-vaccine 

Basic Information on Pediatric Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a very common pediatric condition described as an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Those suffering from it experience vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and other symptoms of an upset digestive system. In children, the most common causes of gastroenteritis are bacteria, viruses, and intestinal parasites.

Between 3 to 5 million children in the world die every year from gastroenteritis. A large percentage comes from developing nations where healthcare and sanitation conditions are poor. Most of these children die from extreme dehydration resulting from a combination of vomiting, severe diarrhea, and not being able to drink enough fluids. Yet even in industrialized countries, millions of gastroenteritis cases are recorded each year, especially in young children.

In the U.S., there are 3 million cases of gastroenteritis cases in children recorded yearly, resulting in at least 50,000 hospitalizations and up to 40 deaths. Overall, 90 percent of children with gastroenteritis have such a mild case that they won't need to be treated by a doctor. However, there will be occasions when the condition will lead to serious dehydration and other life-threatening complications.

Call your physician immediately whenever an infant less than two months old shows symptoms of gastroenteritis. When older children start vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, call your doctor if they also show signs of dehydration, or if there is blood or pus in their stool, or bile or blood in their vomit.

Information Regarding Flu Vaccines

Flu viruses are constantly evolving. Each year, scientists study thousands of flu virus samples from all over the world to determine how they are changing and how are they making people sick. The results of their study will allow them to forecast which viruses are likely to make a huge impact on the next flu season. These results will also allow them to formulate the appropriate vaccines.

When to get vaccinated?

The timing and duration of flu seasons vary, but in general, yearly flu vaccination should begin in September. Other than that, vaccination can start as soon as the vaccine is made available. For your information, antibodies that provide protection against flu viruses develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination.

How many shots will a child need?

If your child is 9 years or older, he will need only one immunization regardless of what flu immunizations he has received in the past. However, if your child is below 9 years of age, he may need two immunizations. Consult with your pediatrician to learn how many shots your child will need this flu season.

Additionally, if your child is under 6 months of age, all surrounding family members and caretakers must also be vaccinated. If everyone around the infant is protected, the risk that the infant will contract the virus decreases.

Workable Breastfeeding Strategies for Mothers

The bond between mother and baby might start in the womb, but it is reinforced during breastfeeding. When mothers lactate, it means that the time has come for babies to receive their fresh supply of nutrients. Some pediatricians and the World Health Organization recommend that breastfeeding be observed for babies up to two years of age. For mothers who prefer to feed their babies from their bosoms, listed below are some strategies to help them.

A key element to helping the baby efficiently breastfeed is for the mother to determine the right latch. This involves learning how to position the lower half of the breast and areola right into the baby's mouth so that they can suck right away. Practice different positions as well to get the optimum latch, such as the football hold. Lactation specialists can help mothers get the correct latch, as nailing the proper latch will make the rest of the breastfeeding experience comfortable for the baby.

Acquire certain devices to help maintain the breast between sessions, such as special cream to seal in the nipples during the interlude. Although breast pumping the milk into bottles does work in some cases, you have to ensure that the baby is more attuned to your nipples to prevent confusion. Help the child burp as well.

Breastfeeding helps fortify the baby with a full array of nutrients, which is vital to their development. This also cements the child's ties to their mother.

The Importance of Infant Immunization

Infant immunizations are just as important to baby care as any other safety measure you may put in place. Immunizations keep your baby safe from illnesses and diseases against which they may not have a natural resistance. Some of these illnesses can have prolonged effects that could affect the child well into adulthood, and when not treated immediately, can even be fatal.

In addition to protecting your baby from common infant and childhood diseases, immunization also helps minimize the chances of an epidemic, or transmitting the disease to other individuals who may not have immunization themselves. Many of these common childhood diseases are also highly contagious.

Some of these diseases are measles, mumps, polio, and diphtheria. Measles is a common childhood disease that can lead to bronchitis and ear infections, and in rare cases, a serious complication affecting the nervous system. Mumps is a disease caused by a virus, and could lead to serious complications such as encephalitis, pancreatitis, and infertility, especially among boys. Polio is another viral disease which attacks nerve tissues and can cause paralysis. It can also lead to difficulty in breathing and even death. Diptheria is another potentially fatal disease that attacks the throat and can lead to heart diseases or complications in the nervous system.

It is highly advisable that you schedule a visit with a pediatrician immediately after giving birth to discuss your baby's immunization needs and schedule.