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Posts Tagged "Immune System"

13Jun2023

Health Matters 10 Diseases to Prepare for as a First-Year Parent

Becoming a parent for the first time is a thrilling and joyful experience, but it also comes with a great deal of responsibility, particularly regarding your child’s health. As a new parent, you must be aware of the prevalent illnesses that can affect infants in their first year of life. By becoming familiar with these diseases, you will be better prepared to recognize their symptoms, seek appropriate medical care, and take preventative measures. In this blog post, we will discuss ten diseases that first-year parents should be prepared to manage and offer advice on how to do so.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is a prevalent respiratory infection in infants and young children. It causes cold-like symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, and congestion. In severe instances, it may result in bronchitis or pneumonia. To prevent RSV, practice proper hygiene, avoid exposing your infant to ill individuals, and maintain a clean environment for your child.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu, is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. It is frequently caused by bacterial or viral infections. Frequent handwashing, appropriate food handling, and maintaining a clean environment can aid in preventing the spread of this disease.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

HFMD is a viral illness that affects young children predominantly. Symptoms include fever, sore pharynx, and a rash on the hands, feet, and mouth. Good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding intimate contact with infected people, can reduce the likelihood of transmission.

Infections of the Ear

Ear infections are common in infants and adolescents. They frequently occur after a respiratory infection and can cause ear irritation, fever, and agitation. Ear infections can be prevented by breastfeeding, avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke, and practicing excellent hygiene.

Common Cold

The common cold is caused by a viral infection and is characterized by runny nose, wheezing, and mild fever. By practicing good hand hygiene, avoiding crowded places, and maintaining a clean environment for your infant, you can reduce the likelihood that he or she will acquire a cold.

Influenza (Flu)

Influenza is an extremely contagious respiratory infection that can cause severe complications in infants. Annual flu vaccinations, excellent hygiene, and avoiding close contact with sick people are essential for preventing influenza.

Croup

Croup is a viral infection of the upper airway that causes a barking cough and respiratory difficulties. Croup can be prevented by keeping your baby’s environment clean, using a humidifier, and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) is an inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the eye, the conjunctiva. It causes eye redness, irritation, and discharge. Good hygiene, avoiding the sharing of personal items, and prompt medical attention can aid in the management and prevention of conjunctivitis.

Thrush

Thrush is a prevalent fungal infection that affects infants. It appears on the tongue and inside the mouth as white regions. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene for your infant, sterilizing pacifiers and bottles, and, if necessary, seeking medical treatment can help prevent and treat thrush.

Respiratory Tract Infections (Bronchiolitis, Pneumonia)

Respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia can cause difficulty breathing, fever, and wheezing in infants. Practicing proper hygiene, avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke, and maintaining a clean and secure living environment can help reduce the likelihood of contracting these infections.

As a first-year parent, it is crucial that you are familiar with the common maladies that can affect your infant. By becoming familiar with these ten diseases and implementing preventive measures, you can protect your child’s health and ensure a joyful and healthy first year of life. Remember, if your infant displays any concerning symptoms, it is always advisable to consult a medical professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

 

 

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
24Oct2022

The Importance Measles Vaccinations to Keeping Children Safe

It’s more important than ever for parents to comprehend the dangers of the measles virus and the potential consequences of not getting vaccinated against it in light of the recent outbreak of measles in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Measles is a highly contagious illness that can be transferred by direct contact or by air.

When a sick person coughs, sneezes, or is simply nearby you or your child, air droplets carrying the measles virus can readily spread to you or your child. Measles is an extremely contagious virus that infected hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. The incidence of new cases of measles has considerably decreased since the introduction of the measles vaccine and the combined vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). However, the outbreak in Oregon and Washington serves as a reminder of what might happen if kids are not vaccinated against measles.

Who Is Most Prone to Measles Infection?

Measles can affect anyone, regardless of age or condition. But individuals who are older than 30, pregnant, or have immunological disorders are more vulnerable to the measles than children under the age of five. However, young children aren’t merely more likely to get the measles. They have a higher risk of developing a serious illness from the virus.

What Are Measles’ Symptoms?

Fever, cough, congestion, and conjunctivitis are the typical symptoms of measles, which is subsequently followed by a widespread rash that begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. After infection, symptoms may begin to appear seven to ten days later. The measles rash that affects your child’s skin might take 7 to 21 days to appear.

Can This Virus Kill You?

There is no doubt that measles has the potential to be fatal. Simple side effects like an ear infection are the unfortunate best case possible repercussions of this illness. More dangerously , it can also result in fevers, acute pneumonia, and brain enlargement, all of which increase the risk of blindness and demise. Again, kids under five are most likely to pass away from these grave issues.

Can Children Who Have the Measles Recover?

There is no specific treatment for measles, though children can recover from it. Medical professionals can only assist and treat patients’ symptoms, such as dehydration brought on by fever, as it is a virus that must naturally run its course. Due to the high contagiousness of the virus, your kid will be isolated in a specific hospital room if they are identified as having the measles. Additionally, a rare type of progressive degenerative encephalitis can manifest years after measles exposure. The ideal situation? Vaccinate your child to avoid them ever getting measles in the first place.

Has the Number of Measles Cases Increased?

A now-debunked study that claimed vaccines cause autism sparked a “anti-vax” campaign in some U.S. states and other nations. Measles could return and spread in areas where parents are declining to vaccinate their children more and more. New York, Washington, and Texas all experienced notable outbreaks in 2019. The epidemic in Washington resulted in the declaration of a public health emergency and involved 54 verified cases. Ensure your child has had their most recent dose of measles immunization is the best preventive action you can take as a parent.

How Can Measles be Avoided?

First and foremost, it’s crucial to stress the safety of the MMR and measles immunizations. In fact , we’ve been administering the same measles vaccine since 1968. Most likely, you and even your parents received this vaccination when they were young. Therefore, the best preventive action you can take as a parent is to make sure your child has received the most recent dose of the measles vaccine. Bring your child back for their second scheduled dose because not all patients respond to a single shot. It is also the responsibility of parents of healthy children to safeguard vulnerable youngsters who cannot receive the immunizations due to weakened immune systems.

The best option for ensuring the safety and health of your child and your community is to vaccinate them against diseases like measles. Always get in touch with your pediatrician and discuss any worries you may have about the measles, the MMR vaccine, or other vaccinations.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
20Sep2022

Protect Your Child During Cold and Flu Season With These Tips

Cold and flu season is just around the corner, and you want to keep your child as safe from these illnesses as possible. While it seems impossible to fully avoid the cold or flu, it is still important to take the steps to minimize your child’s risk of catching either illness. You can protect your child during cold and flu season with these tips.

Maintain Your Child’s Health

First, you want to ensure your child is leading a healthy lifestyle. Your child needs a well-balanced diet to get the nutrients they need to strengthen their immune system. You can also boost their immune system by making sure they get regular exercise and nine to 14 hours of sleep each night.

Stay On Top Of The Flu Vaccine

If your child is six months or older, talk to their pediatrician about the flu vaccine. This vaccine can help them build up immunity to fight off the flu virus. It should be noted that your child may still catch a cold or another strain of the flu, so it is important to take other precautions as well.

Make Hand-Washing A Habit

It is easy to spread germs when children touch everything, so you need to make hand-washing a habit for your child. They should especially wash their hands after touching shared items and playground equipment. You also want to ensure they wash their hands before each meal. If they cannot get to a sink, encourage them to use hand sanitizer or hand wipes until they can wash their hands.

Teach Your Children Good Hygiene

Now is the time to ensure your child knows how to practice good hygiene. Teach them to sneeze or cough into their sleeve to prevent the spread of germs. This way, your child is doing their part to keep the cold and flu at bay. The more people who cover when coughing or sneezing, the less likely they are to spread germs to others.

Keep Them Home When Sick

If your child does become sick, be sure to keep them home from school and other activities. You do not want your child to spread their cold or flu to others. In addition, you do not want to risk them feeling worse after they get home. Once again, the risk of germs spreading lowers when everyone takes precautions when they are sick.

Whether your child is under the weather or you need to schedule a flu vaccine, Kids 1st Pediatrics offers the care your child needs. You can schedule an appointment at kids1stpediatrics.net.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
15Oct2021

Dealing with a Cold in the Age of COVID-19

As the seasons change from summer to autumn, many children begin to get the first sniffles of the year. While you might have easily been able to write this off in the past, the continued prevalence of COVID-19 has made even what might have once been an inconsequential cough seem overly threatening. As such, it’s incredibly important to know how to deal with something like the common cold in times of more heightened scrutiny.

Understanding the Symptoms

The first and perhaps most important thing you’ll need to know how to do is to separate out symptoms of the common cold from COVID symptoms. While some of the symptoms, like a cough or even a mild fever, might be present in both, there are other symptoms that are relatively unique to COVID. For example, any loss of a child’s sense of smell or taste is usually a good sign that a test is needed, as are stomach problems like diarrhea. Respiratory issues are also an issue, as you’ll want to seek care if your child is having trouble breathing even if they aren’t positive for COVID-19.

It’s also generally a better idea to be safe than to be sorry. If you think that your child’s cold is more than just a cold, keep them home even if they don’t seem to have serious symptoms. If the symptoms persist or get worse, call your pediatrician to get guidance. In many cases, your pediatrician will suggest that you get your child tested.

One of the toughest things to deal with is the fact that the common cold is just as likely to occur as it ever was. Unfortunately, this means that you’re going to have to deal with many false alarms during this cold and flu season, but that’s just the nature of the world today. As long as you’re careful and consult with your doctor as necessary, you can help to safeguard your child’s health.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
8Oct2021

How to Talk About Medication with a Pediatrician

If you’ve ever spent time watching television, you’ve almost certainly come across ads that ask you to talk to your doctor about some type of medication. While this might be a tough thing to do for the average person, it can feel even more challenging if you are doing so on behalf of your child. Luckily, it’s usually simple to talk to your pediatrician about your concerns.

The Important Factors to Discuss with Pediatricians

It’s always best to go into a conversation about medication with a pediatrician with the goal of solving a problem rather than talking about a specific medication. If you’ve noticed a drug that is advertised to help your child with a particular type of illness, for example, the best way to start the conversation with your doctor is to talk about how you can better manage that illness. Talking about medication is usually a logical follow-up question to that.

You may also want to spend some time doing some research on your own before you talk to your doctor. While pediatricians do a great deal of research on their own, being able to bring up specific concerns or points of interest can be a great way to help your doctor get a bit more information about your child’s needs. The more you’re able to bring to the table in this conversation, the better.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have concerns about medication. You may be able to not only get more information about the medication in question, but you may also be able to work with your pediatrician to find a way to better manage your child’s condition. In addition, if you’re willing to start the conversation, your pediatrician may be able to find a suitable course of action that can help your child to live a better life regardless of what they end up being prescribed.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
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