Summer is often associated with warm weather months, time at the pool, and trips outside of the city. However, there are numerous illnesses that occur during the warm months, and frequently in children. Most of these cases are fairly mild but can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Being aware of the causes and signs can help parents protect their children. Below is a handy guide compiled by our experienced summer live in nannies on how to identify and treat the seven most common summer ailments.
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease in Your Child
The coxsackie virus is commonly referred to as hand, foot and mouth disease, and typically occurs in summer and early autumn. It is a viral infection commonly found in children under the age of ten years old. Children can spread the infection among their peers. The first identifying symptoms include a mild fever, poor appetite, sore throat, and transition to sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. It is considered to be moderately contagious, and the inflicted should be kept away from other children, especially during the first week of illness. There is no specific treatment but doctors will aim to manage the fever and insist that the child maintains good oral hydration. There is also no vaccine to prevent the infection, but doctors recommend frequent handwashing, and children afflicted with it should be kept out of school or daycare to avoid spreading the germs.
Treating Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and Vaccination Info
Whooping Cough, also referred to as Pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease and is commonly spread at summer camp. Symptoms include a cold-like cough, runny nose, fever, and violent coughing. Babies may develop apnea, which is a pause in breathing. It can be treated with prescribed antibiotics, but not cough medicine. Your child should drink fluids and eat during treatment. There is a vaccine for Whooping Cough called DTap, and children should receive five doses over the course of 2 months through six years. Children older than six years old, preteens, teens, and adults may get a similar vaccine, Tdap.
Identifying Lyme Disease Symptoms
Lyme disease is transmitted to humans via a bite from an infected blacklegged tick. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a skin rash. It is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings, and whether the individual has had any recent exposure to ticks. Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. To prevent it, apply insect repellent rigorously, remove ticks promptly, and apply pesticides in the tick habitat.
Summer Sun Exposure and Sunburn Risks
Sunburn is a type of skin burn resulting from too much exposure to sunlight or sunlamps. How soon a sunburn begins depends on a child’s skin type, the intensity of the sun, and the length of exposure. When you get a sunburn, your skin turns red and hurts. If the burn is severe, you can develop swelling and blisters. A few days later, your skin will start peeling and itching as the sun-damaged cells come off. To relieve sunburn, apply cold compresses to the skin or take a cool bath. Parents can also apply a cream or gel containing ingredients such as menthol or aloe; refrigerating the cream will help. It’s recommended that individuals stay out of the sun until the sunburn heals.
Common Triggers of Child Asthma Attacks
Asthma symptoms can vary with the weather. Humidity alone can lead to coughing and shortness of breath. Summertime allergies are serious, and in some cases, can be deadly. Triggers include changes in the weather, summer fruits and vegetables, campfire smoke, and insects. While swimming is recommended exercise for those afflicted with asthma, some people discover that they can be triggered by the chlorine.
Swimmer’s Ear and How to Fix It
Swimmer’s ear is a bacterial infection of the outer ear canal, and is treatable with eardrops. It is caused by excessive water exposure, and symptoms include itchy ears, a feeling of fullness, swelling, and pain. Putting fingers, cotton swabs or other objects in your ears can also lead to swimmer’s ear.
Getting Rid of Food Poisoning
Individuals can catch a bout of food poisoning during any time of the year, but it’s relatively frequent in the summer. This is because of the increased number of cookouts and picnics. Certain foods kept out in the heat can also spoil. Common symptoms of food poisoning include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Parents should suspect food poisoning is at work if other people get sick at or around the same time after eating the same foods.
Enlisting the Support of Our Seasoned Caregivers:
Here at the Nanny Authority, our child care professionals are familiar with and equipped to handle common summer ailments. For more information on our summer live in nannies, contact us at 973-466-2669 or via e-mail for more information today!