First Aid for Insect Bites and Stings

 Insect bites and stings are common occurrences that many people simply brush off. After all, most of them are not serious and only cause an annoying stinging or itching sensation, as well as a mild swelling that disappears within a day or two. Delayed reactions may include hives, fever, swollen glands or painful joints. Both the delayed and immediate reactions may come about from the same insect sting or bite.

However, venom from some insects can trigger an allergic reaction, along with other symptoms that come from having the venom injected into the skin. The level of severity of these reactions depends on the person’s sensitivity to the venom or the substance, or if he has been bitten or stung previously. Actually, a small percentage of people develop severe reactions, known as anaphylaxis to the venom from insects. These severe reactions include symptoms like nausea, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, abdominal pain, and shock.

Typically, the most troublesome insect stings come from bees, hornets, fire ants, wasps, and yellow jackets. Reactions may also come from mosquito bites, spider bites, as well as bites from ticks and biting flies, although these are typically milder in severity. On a very rare count, some insects may also carry diseases like Lyme disease or the West Nile virus.

Insect bites may not seem too serious, particularly if the victim is an adult who can remain calm and collected. However, what do you do if your child gets stung or bitten? The following steps are the basic first aid for treating insect stings and bites:

1. Remove the child from the area to a place far away from where he got bitten in order to prevent more stings. Get rid of any insects stuck to his clothing or body. Removing the child may not do much help if insects like ants are stuck all over his clothing; in such case, remove all clothing as soon as possible and sweep away any insects on his body.

2. For stinging insects, check the child’s skin and remove the stinger. This helps prevent the possible release of more venom. Wash the affected area with soap and water.

3. Use an ice pack applied on the area to reduce the swelling and pain.

4. Apply some hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion onto the affected areas. Alternatively, you can make a baking soda paste from 3 teaspoons of baking soda mixed with 1 teaspoon water. Apply this to the affected area a few times a day as you wait for the symptoms to fade.

5. Take an antihistamine that contains chlorpheniramine maleate or diphenhydramine.

Allergic reactions to insect bites include intestinal cramps, mild nausea, diarrhea, or skin swelling that is larger than 2 inches in diameter. If any of these signs and symptoms occur, be sure to visit your doctor as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, severe reactions require immediate medical assistance. If the victim develops difficulty breathing, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, swelling of the throat and lips, hives, or shows confusion or even faints, it will be best to call 911. While waiting for the ambulance, take the following steps:

1. Check for possible medications that the child takes for an allergy attack, and administer the drug based on directions. You may have him take an antihistamine drug. Avoid giving him anything to drink.

2. Keep the person lying still on his back, elevating his feet.

3. If the child has tight clothing on, loosen it and cover him with a blanket.

4. If there is vomiting or any bleeding from his mouth, turn him onto his side to prevent choking.

5. In the absence of signs of circulation, begin CPR.

Insect bites may typically be a little thing, but you should be aware of these signs so you will know if emergency medical action is necessary. Knowing the basics of first aid will definitely go a long way in making sure you protect your child from the effects of a serious insect sting, especially if your child happens to be allergic to certain insects. Overall, be quick to check the symptoms and act accordingly, to ensure the safety and good health of your child.

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Checklist for a Child’s Proper Nourishment

Children in the U.S. have been increasingly facing challenges when it comes to their health. While some are diagnosed with obesity, others are simply malnourished due to the high prevalence of fast food and processed food choices that keep them from getting sufficient nutrients from their daily diet. Whereas the last generation had enjoyed at least a daily home-cooked balanced meal high in fruits and vegetables, the increasingly busy lifestyles, particularly with many moms also holding down several home-based jobs, have contributed to the poor nutrition of children.

With this challenge, how can moms be sure that their children are getting proper nutrition? Of course, making sure they get balanced diets high in vegetables, grains, and fruits, is key. From there, though, how can they tell if they are succeeding? After all, while there is a rough range of developmental milestones, there is still the issue of individual difference that tells mothers not to compare their child directly with other children his age.

The following checklist is considered a tell-tale list for a child’s state of nourishment:

1. Check if his eyes are clear – Clear eyes are not only those that you see in the eyes of cartoon princesses. These “windows to the soul” are scientifically proven to be an accurate check of the overall health of a person. For a child, clear eyes are a good sign that he is in good health. If his eyes look dull or lifeless, it may signal an emotional problem or a physical condition, so it would be best to pay a visit to your paediatrician.

2. His hair is shiny and his skin is clear – While the hair and skin may be tell-tale signs of how pretty or handsome a child is, they are also great ways to check overall health. Why? A person’s hair contains essential oils and proteins, and these nutrients go into the hair after the rest of the body gets their share. This means that a shiny hair indicates enough nutrients for the rest of the body. The skin is also a good indicator of sickness, as it tends to get dry and saggy during illness. If there is a low level of essential oils, chances are, something is amiss.

3. His muscle development is good – This is a good indicator of the sufficiency of protein and enough natural movement. A child typically does not require extra exercise, as his daily routine involves much running and jumping around. Typically, a child who spends his time loafing in front of the television will suffer in this area, and this gives you a cue to cut back on the tube.

4. His posture is good, and he is cheerful and alert – Posture is related to many things, such as good bone structure, but also to a child’s emotional state. For example, a slumping posture may be an indication of physical weakness or illness, yet it may also be an indication of a poor self-esteem. General cheerfulness and alertness are also good indicators of a child’s emotional well-being, and a good sign if he is getting enough sleep.

5. His sleep is sound – Indeed, sleep is crucial for a child’s development. If your child is constantly getting disturbed sleep not caused by external factors, it may signal some level of anxiety.

6. He has regular bowel movements – This is a good indicator of the proper functioning of his digestive system. It also shows that he is eating enough. It might interest you to note that the way doctors check on the thriving of newborns is to check the number of soiled diapers they have in a day.

7. He typically has a hearty appetite – A poor appetite may indicate a poor digestive system, or even a lack of proper rest and sleep.

8. He has the right weight for his height – While it is not advisable to compare a child’s development with another child his age, there is a rough range that shows normal development, and this takes into account the proportion of a child’s weight to his height.

Once these things are place, you can breathe easy that your child is getting enough nutrition. If one of these factors does not seem in place and it bothers you, feel free to get in touch with your paediatrician, as it is his desire to help your child grow to his utmost potential.

   

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The Need for an Adopted Child’s Medical History

When parents adopt an infant or perhaps a toddler, medical issues are typically far from their minds. After all, if the baby or young child looks perfectly fine and passes his medical exams with flying colors, what else is there to worry about? Also, they reason that the child has only been alive for a few years, so there likely won’t be much relevant information to dig up.

However, if you are considering adoption, it might be time to mull the idea over of needing to obtain the child’s medical history. Why is that? These recent years, new information found on early brain development indicates that a child’s first two to three years are actually a critical time for nerve pattern connections to be established, which also forms the basis of all later learning that the child undergoes. When adoptive parents and their respective physicians are made aware of adverse risk factors, they can immediately direct efforts towards improving the situation for the child. This is because early intervention is found to be much more effective at treating children with developmental delays than any other process.

The closer the child is to the day he was born, the easier it will be to access information. For example, records for newborns are sometimes easily found within the mother’s medical records. Also, if the child’s records are filed under the mom’s name, it may easily become inaccessible over time. Also, getting connections to the child’s birthparents and other relatives becomes more difficult or even impossible once much time has elapsed. If the child you are adopting is from overseas, it may even be that there are no such records. In cases like these, the most you can do would be to obtain whatever information the most recent caregiver can give.

What information do you really need for an adopted child’s medical history? Naturally, it would not be possible to obtain every piece of information. For one thing, the birthparents might not have been old enough to manifest any possible hereditary medical problem that might come on them when they grow older. Genetic evaluation may be used to check for the risk of inherited syndromes, but this is typically not appropriate for the purpose of evaluating an adoption.

Instead, you need to understand the purpose of acquiring medical records for your adopted child as a pro-active way to combat possible effects of his early life. For example, adopted children usually experience less than optimal situations for development and growth, either after birth or while in the womb. Once you understand this, you can be better equipped to help the child get optimal care.

The following are the things you need to find out, if at all possible:

1. The basic description of the birthparents and birth siblings would be helpful, wherein you find out their ages, genetic origins, and overall health. If you can find out any known genetic conditions such as heart disease at an early onset or a line of diabetes, it would be even better.

2. If you can obtain a description of the period of pregnancy, the labor and delivery, as well as the lifestyle of the birthmother, her prenatal care, infectious diseases, or possibility of substance abuse, it would help greatly.

3. You also need to get results of lab tests, including screening for maternal infectious diseases and metabolic screening.

4. Do also obtain a record of any, if at all, immunizations, surgeries, hospitalizations, transfusions, and medications taken in the past or taken concurrently.

5. If you can obtain a list of developmental and growth milestones over the child’s life, it would also assist you greatly in detecting developmental lags.

6. A list of any allergies and the child’s daily diet will also help you make diet decisions. Some experts even recommend simulating the feeding style that the baby has been used to in whatever situation she was in prior to the adoption, such as in the orphanage, the hospital, or in foster care, in order to facilitate the transition better.

7. A chronological list of the child’s care will also give you an idea of how much emotional baggage has been placed on his shoulders. For example, how many families has he lived with, and how much neglect or abuse has he faced up as of the moment?

These are but the most common things you need to find out in order to be able to care for your new adopted child in the best way possible. Once you are armed with whatever information you can find, you will likely soar in your gift as the new parents of this child you now call your own.

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Basic Hygiene Skills to Teach a Preschooler

Some parents may be looking forward to the time when their toddler becomes a preschooler, as they believe the period of the terrible-twos are officially over. But do you know that the preschooler stage is also filled with challenges and power struggles? The most common cause of these struggles is that preschoolers tend to want to do everything themselves, making it difficult to take care of their proper hygiene, especially.
For some reason, preschoolers would insist on feeding the dog themselves and picking out their own outfits, but it is hard to leave their personal hygiene to themselves, as they may not be fully capable of taking proper care.

Indeed, a growing child’s budding independence may be at play when he insists on brushing his teeth himself. But as a parent, you still need to remain highly involved to make sure enough cleanliness is achieved. The following are ways to help your preschooler develop the hygiene skills he needs:

1. Brushing his teeth – Truly, preschoolers would insist on brushing their teeth themselves, and they may actually look cute as they push the brush around in their mouths. Some of them may even succeed at getting enough suds to form. But how do you get him to brush long enough and strong enough? Experts recommend setting a timer for 30 seconds, and letting the child have a turn at cleaning. Some children who resist brushing altogether may enjoy using an electric toothbrush, especially those that come in his favourite cartoon character or play a fun song. After he has his turn, you can take over and brush all of his teeth. Make sure you get the back of his mouth, as he will likely not have reached it properly. Some parents also find that their preschoolers are more cooperative when they brush together, allowing him to brush the parent’s teeth while the parents brush his teeth. Then, have him rinse and spit the water out a few times.

2. Brushing her hair – Combing and brushing are not really an issue for boys, given their short hair. But little girls who love keeping their hair long will need to know how to get tangles out, or at least prevent them by regularly combing their hair. Typically, a little girl develops enough strength in her hands to brush her own hair by the age of 4. While she may not yet be able to pull her hair back into a ponytail, you can let her brush her hair before you do the ponytail for her. You can also let her spray on a bit of detangler and teach her to start brushing from the bottom up. She will soon understand that regularly brushing her hair translates into less ouch moments when her hair gets tangled, encouraging her to brush regularly.

3. Hand washing – This is a non-negotiable habit that kids need to be well-equipped to do. While washing in water is probably a skill that nobody needs to teach kids, washing well is a whole different story. Teach your kids to suds up for a considerable time by asking them to sing the alphabet song right after they squirt soap into their hands. He does not stop scrubbing until the song is finished. After that. He will need to rinse the soap away, and then dry his hands.

4. Cleanup after the potty – This skill takes a bit longer for preschoolers to master. It can start by teaching little girls to take a swipe with toilet paper after urinating. For bowel movements, though, show your little boy or girl how to take some tissue paper and use it to wipe on his or her behind; teach him to repeat it until the paper comes out clean. You can consider when to let him do it himself when an additional tissue test-swipe from you comes out consistently clean.

5. Taking baths – While preschoolers should not be left alone bathing, you can help your child get involved by teaching him to apply soap on his body. A fun game using “Simon Says” is a great way to instruct him which body part to hit next, also showing him that he needs to wash from head to toe.

These basic hygiene skills will definitely take some time for a preschooler to master. But once you start off with your child’s knowing you respect his independence and are working with him, you will find less power battles when you need some proper hygiene issues taken care of.

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