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10 Health Tricks Every Parent Must Know
by
Pamela Kramer
Parents, August 2004
From bee stings and sunburn to splinters and poison
ivy, kiddie injuries and illnesses can ruin your
summer. Read on for the easiest -- and most
effective -- ways to treat 'em fast.
Clear a Stuffy Nose
How to do it: Dissolve a quarter teaspoon of salt in
a half cup of warm water, and fill a nasal-spray
bottle with the solution. Spritz twice into each
nostril, then have your child blow his nose into a
tissue. (If your child is too young to blow, use a
bulb syringe to suction out the fluid.)
Why it works: Salt water loosens thick mucus, making
it easier to discharge from the nose, and restores
the natural moisture of the inner membranes.
When to call the doctor: If you think your child may
have an ear or sinus infection. (Symptoms include a
fever, persistent cough, earache, or yellow or green
nasal secretions.)
Give Medicine to a Baby or Toddler
How to do it: Place your child in an infant seat or
have another person cradle her in a similar
position, then let her have several licks of an ice
pop or ice cube. Now quickly squirt the medicine
into the side of her mouth, between her cheek and
her gums.
Why it works: Cold numbs your baby's tongue and
cheeks, making her less sensitive to taste and less
likely to spit the medication back up. (Serving
medicine cold -- with your doctor's okay -- can also
lessen an unappealing taste.)
When to call the doctor: If your child is too sick
to keep the medicine down, or if she spits up two or
more doses.
Relieve Teething Pain
How to do it: Fold a washcloth into a small
triangle, dip one corner in water, and place in the
freezer for a few hours. Once it's frozen, let your
baby grasp the dry end of the cloth -- or hold it
for him -- while he gnaws on the frozen corner.
Why it works: The rough fabric makes a baby's
irritated gums feel better, and the cold soothes the
area, helping to reduce swelling and inflammation.
When to call the doctor: If your baby seems to be in
pain -- or if the frozen washcloth doesn't ease his
irritability.
Soothe Itchy Mosquito Bites
How to do it: Gently roll a liquid or solid
antiperspirant over the swollen, irritated welts.
Wait five minutes, then reapply if the bites are
still itchy.
Why it works: "The aluminum salts in the
antiperspirant cause fluid in the bites to be
reabsorbed into the body," explains Kenneth Haller,
M.D., an assistant professor of pediatrics at Saint
Louis University School of Medicine. "When the
swelling subsides, the itching goes away."
When to call the doctor: If the bite shows signs of
infection, such as red streaks or increased
tenderness, or if your child develops flulike
symptoms -- such as fever, headache, muscle pain, or
swollen glands -- that could signal West Nile virus.
Clean a Cut
How to do it: First wash the area with soap and
water, then use a clean squirt toy or turkey baster
to direct a stream of clean, warm water into the
wound. Pat dry, apply an antibiotic ointment, then
bandage loosely.
Why it works: "By irrigating the area, you're more
likely to flush out any last bits of dirt and grit,
which speeds healing and decreases the chance of
infection," explains Lewis First, M.D., chief of
pediatrics at Vermont Children's Hospital, in
Burlington.
When to call the doctor: If you can't remove all of
the foreign material from the wound, if the cut
won't stop bleeding or looks particularly deep, or
if you see signs of infection, such as redness or
pus.
Ease Diaper Rash
How to do it: Instead of cleaning your baby's bottom
with premoistened wipes, hold her over the sink and
let warm water wash over her inflamed skin. Then dry
her off using a blow-dryer set on cool.
Why it works: Washing with plain water and drying
with air feels good on sore skin. In addition, it
speeds healing by decreasing friction on the area.
Exposure to the chemicals in baby wipes will only
make the irritation worse.
When to call the doctor: If your baby's rash doesn't
clear up after two or three days or if it's dark red
or raised.
Remove Splinters
How to do it: "If your child has several fine
splinters or cactus spines on the surface of the
skin, touch the area with a strip of packing tape,
then pull it away," says Ellen Kempf, M.D., medical
director of the primary-care network at Akron
Children's Hospital, in Ohio. If your child has a
large, imbedded splinter, tweezers are still the
best way to go.
Why it works: The splinters will adhere to the tape,
making for a fast and easy removal.
When to call the doctor: If you can't get a splinter
out, if the area shows signs of infection, or if
it's extremely painful.
Take Care of Poison Ivy
How to do it: Wearing gloves and using liquid
dishwashing soap and water, immediately wash any
area that came in contact with the plant. Rinse
thoroughly with clean water, then pat dry. If a rash
develops, apply a cool, damp washcloth to the area.
Why it works: Liquid dish soap, which is
detergent-based, will wash away the plant oil and
help prevent absorption into the skin. Soaking in
cool water or using cold compresses alleviates
itching.
When to call the doctor: If the rash is on your
child's face or near her eyes, if it spreads to more
than 25 percent of her body, or if the itching is
severe.
Calm a Sunburn
How to do it: Have your child soak in a tub of cool
water for ten to 15 minutes. Gently pat skin dry,
then smooth fragrance-free moisturizing lotion on
the burned areas.
Why it works: "Keeping the skin cool will ease
swelling and reduce pain, while the lotion helps
replenish moisture," says Elizabeth Powell, M.D., a
pediatric emergency specialist at Children's
Memorial Hospital, in Chicago. "Avoid anesthetic
sprays or ointments -- they can irritate some
children's skin." Give ibuprofen or acetaminophen if
he's uncomfortable.
When to call the doctor: If your child has a fever
or chills, if the skin blisters, or if the burn
covers a large area of his body.
Treat a Sting
How to do it: Immediately scrape off the stinger
with the edge of a credit card or a very dull knife.
Wash the area with soapy water, then hold an ice
cube on it for a few minutes.
Why it works: Scraping off the stinger -- instead of
pulling it out with your fingers -- prevents any
more venom from entering your child's body, while
applying ice helps reduce swelling and pain.
When to call the doctor: If your child has an
allergic reaction. Watch for difficulty breathing,
swelling of the mouth or neck area, or a rash around
the site of the sting.
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