General Care during FEVERS :

• A fever is usually a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body. DO NOT PANIC.It is a protective mechanism. Fever is the most common sign of illness in children. Parents become very anxious when their child suffers from fever. We must remember that fever is a defence mechanism that helps the child fight infection.
• How to take the temperature: For infants, children ear thermometers are most convenient to measure the temperature. They are not as accurate as the mercury thermometers but are quick to read the temperature. The temperature can be measured placing the mercury thermometer under the arms (axilla) or in the mouth.
• If the fever is mild and accompanied with no other problems/complaints one may not need treatment. Only precautions with increased fluid intake and rest may be sufficient. If the fever continues to rise then one must treat it.
• It is important to find out what is causing the fever. Some of the common causes of fever are – viral fevers, upper or lower respiratory tract infections, ear infections, stomach infection, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, measles, chicken pox, malaria, dengue etc. Even teething can cause a rise in temperature in infants.
• DO NOT bundle up the child suffering from fever.
• Remove excess clothing or blankets. The room should be comfortable, not too hot or cool. Try one layer of lightweight clothing, and one lightweight blanket for sleep. If the room is hot or stuffy, a fan may help. Even in case of children, do not over clothe them unless necessary.
• A tap water bath or sponge bath may help cool someone with a fever. In case of infants and toddlers use of lukewarm water is advisable.
• Do NOT use cold baths or ice. These cool the skin, but often make the situation worse by causing shivering. In case of children it may lead to a shock in the child due to the sudden cold water exposure.
FEBRILE CONVULSIONS –

• A febrile convulsion is a fit associated with a significant rise in body temperature. In Hindi, it is called 'aakadi'. They most commonly occur in children between the ages of 6 months to 6 years. Convulsions which come along with fever are not dangerous and don't cause brain damage. But they can be frightening to watch. Usually the febrile convulsion passes away on its own. The most important thing is to stay calm when your child is having a convulsion. While the child is having one make sure there is nothing hard around them such as chairs etc. Put soft cushions around them to protect them. Do not put your fingers in their mouth to stop clenching of teeth. By the time you rush to the doctor with the child the convulsion usually fades off within less than 5 minutes. If the convulsion is lasting longer than 5 minutes, or if your child does not wake up or looks very sick then contact the doctor. Convulsions which come on without fever are of concern and must be brought to the notice of the doctor.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water, soup etc. are all good choices.
• If children refuse to eat during fever, stay calm, and give them small frequent meals. Don't force-feed them. Once the infection causing the fever settles, their appetite will be restored.
• Food restrictions will depend on the cause of the fever. For example – If the fever is due to upper or lower respiratory tract infection avoid cold food, cold drinks, refrigerated items, etc. Fruits like apple, chickoo, papaya are only permitted. If the fever is due to loose motions avoid eating a heavy diet. Keep the meals light and small. Drink more fluids.

DIARRHOEA / LOOSE MOTIONS :

• Oral Rehydration is most important part of the treatment. Intake of fluids must be increased to prevent dehydration. Consume ORS (oral rehydration solution) after every loose motion. Ready ORS sachets are available outside. (How to make Homemade ORS for an adult : 1 litre of water + 6 tsp sugar + ½ tsp salt). The aim is to replace the fluid loss and the lost electrolytes.
• Other fluids that can be used to rehydrate – coconut water, plain water, buttermilk, apple juice, pomegranate juice, vegetable soups), diluted lemonade.
• If you are breast feeding, kindly continue to breast feed the infant.
• Offer light, easily digested food like stewed apple, apple juice, pomegranate, arrowroot kanji (starch made from boiled rice), khichdi, rice, curds etc.
• Avoid food like fried, oily, spicy or heavy foods like eggs, raw foods, non-vegetarian food, foods which are heavy to digest etc. In case of children, kindly avoid milk as long as the diarrhoea persists. "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE"
• A tap water bath or sponge bath may help cool someone with a fever. In case of infants and toddlers use of lukewarm water is advisable.
• • Do NOT use cold baths or ice. These cool the skin, but often make the situation worse by causing shivering. In case of children it may lead to a shock in the child due to the sudden cold water exposure.

To prevent Diarrhoea :

• In infants, continue exclusive breast feeding for 6 months.
• Drink boiled water all through the year, especially during the monsoons.
• Avoid bottle feeds. Prefer cup feeds rather than the bottle feeds.
• General hygiene during preparation of foods is crucial.
• Eat well-cooked food always.
• Always cover your food.
• Avoid roadside unhygienic food.
• Avoid soft drinks.
• Do not consume stale food or leftover food from the previous day.
• Wash your hands before cooking meals, before and after meals and after visiting the washroom.

WHAT IS DIAPER RASH ?

Diaper rash is a generalized term indicating any skin irritation that develops in the diaper-covered region. Diaper rash is very common in babies. While diaper rash is generally thought to affect infants and toddlers, any individual wearing a diaper is a candidate to develop this rash.

CAUSES :

The primary cause of diaper rash is prolonged and increased exposure to wetness/moisture against the skin. Other contributing factors to diaper rash are:

• The closed environment created by the diaper.
• Chafing from friction or rubbing.
• Prolonged contact of the skin with urine, faces or both.

SYMPTOMS :

You may notice the following in your child's diaper area:

• Bright red patches (rash) that gets bigger and may blend with other patches.
• Fiery red and scaly areas over the genital areas (private parts).
• Pimples, blisters, ulcers, large bumps, or pus-filled sores.

Older infants may scratch when the diaper is removed.
Diaper rashes usually do NOT spread beyond the edge of the diaper.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION :

• The best treatment for a diaper rash is to keep the diaper area clean and dry. This will also help prevent new diaper rashes. Lay your baby on a towel without a diaper whenever possible. The more time the baby can be kept out of a diaper, the better.
• Avoidance of constant skin irritation by frequent diaper changing acts as a preventative measure. If possible, it is advisable to change diapers as soon as possible after the baby urinates or passes stool. Frequent diaper changes limit stool and urine exposure to the genital area and this helps in preventing diaper rash.
• Use water and a soft cloth to gently clean the diaper area with every diaper change. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing the area. After that pat the area dry or allow air-drying.
• Diapers which are little loose fitting should be preferred. Tight fitting diapers do not allow enough air flow and may rub and irritate the baby's skin.
• Always wash your hands after changing a diaper.
• Do not use wet wipes especially the ones that have alcohol or perfume fragrance. They may dry out or irritate the skin more
• Open-air exposure of the irritated skin is also extremely effective in helping clear up diaper rash (Weather and/or carpet permitting).
• Skin protection: Coconut oil, Olive oil; Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or Cow's ghee provides a good protective coating, even on sore, reddened skin, and is easily cleaned. It can act as a barrier between the skin and the diaper and hence avoid friction.

If you use cloth diapers:

• Avoid plastic or rubber pants over the diaper. They do not allow enough air to pass through.
• Large, flat square sheets of absorbent cotton material, which has to be folded and fasten together with safety pins. The fabric is usually white in color.
• Do not use fabric softeners or dryer sheets. They may make the rash worse.
• When washing cloth diapers, rinse 2 or 3 times to remove all soap.