I Tonsillitis I Coughs and Colds I Vitamins for Children I Eczema I
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Tonsillitis
What is tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is a disorder involving inflammation of the tonsils. There are two tonsils, situated on either side of the back of the throat and they form part of the body's immune system. They, like the rest of the immune system, contain special cells to trap and kill bacteria and viruses travelling through the body.
When the main site of infection is within the tonsils they swell, become red and inflamed and may show a surface coating of white spots.
Tonsillitis is extremely common in children and young people but it can occur at any age. The characteristics of the disease are pain in the throat and trouble swallowing.
Tonsillitis is usually a self-limiting condition, ie it gets better without treatment, and generally there are no complications.
How do you get tonsillitis?
Whether due to viruses or bacteria, the infection is spread from person to person by airborne droplets, hand contact or kissing.
There are many different individual viruses and bacteria that can potentially cause tonsillitis. For example the Epstein-Barr virus, which is the cause of glandular fever , is a common cause. It is typically seen in young people, particularly in situations such as university halls of residence when person-to-person spread is made easier by numerous close contacts.
Among the bacteria that cause sore throats, the streptococcus group A is the most common - often known as 'strep throat'. The incubation period between picking up the infection and the disease breaking out is two to four days - sometimes it can be less.
What are the signs and symptoms of tonsillitis?
Pain in the throat (sometimes severe) that may last more than 48 hours and be associated with difficulty in swallowing. The pain may spread to the ears.
The throat is reddened, the tonsils are swollen and may be coated or have white spots on them.
Possibly a high temperature.
Swollen lymph glands under the jaw and in the neck.
Headache.
Loss of voice or changes in the voice.
If the sore throat is due to a viral infection the symptoms are usually milder and often related to the common cold . If due to Coxsackie virus infection, small blisters develop on the tonsils and roof of the mouth. The blisters erupt in a few days and are followed by a scab, which may be very painful.
If the sore throat is due to a streptococcal infection, the tonsils often swell and become coated and the throat is sore. The patient has a temperature, foul-smelling breath and may feel quite ill.
These different appearances are however very variable, and it is impossible to tell by looking at someone's throat whether the infection is due to a virus (which cannot be helped by antibiotics) or a bacterial infection (which might be helped by antibiotics).
Advice
If signs of a sore throat persist for more than a few days or are severe with marked difficulty in swallowing, high fever or vomiting, then you should consult your GP.
Warm drinks, soft food and the use of throat lozenges and/or a mouthwash may ease swallowing problems. Your pharmacist can advise on the most appropriate over-the-counter remedies .
Drink plenty of fluids. Understandably a sore throat can discourage swallowing but in tonsillitis it is common to lose a lot of body fluid through fever and mouth breathing. Dehydration adds considerably to feeling unwell.
It is important to ensure you have adequate rest and stay in a warm environment.
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Coughs and Colds
The Snuffles: “He’s always got a runny nose” is one sentence most parents with young children identify with. That’s because colds are the most common viral infection. It’s not unusual for children to have up to 10 a year, simply because in early childhood their immunity to everyday infection is not as developed as an adult’s. Blocked or runny noses, sneezing, coughing, sore throats and earache are all frequent symptoms – and while there is no actual cure for a cold, there are things you can do to make everyone’s life less miserable.
To help ease sore throats give them plenty of fluids, like fruit juices.
Stick to soft or pureed food to help make meal times easier.
* If your child is still complaining of a sore throat after 48 hours, or has a temperature, and new symptoms like earache, a cough or skin rash start to appear, seek medical advice.
The cold virus can also cause inflammation of the lining of the nasal and air passages, causing congestion and stuffiness.
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Vitamins for Children
When children are growing vitamins are essential to help ensure that they stay healthy and develop normally. A balanced diet provides all the vitamins they need, However, sometimes it may be beneficial to give children, particularly those under 5 years old, vitamin supplements. This is especially useful if your child is a fussy-eater, because by giving them a vitamin preparation especially for children you can be reassured that they are getting a recommended vitamin intake.Children’s vitamins come in lots of different formats including syrups, chewable tablets and drops, and are available from the pharmacy.
Key Vitamins for Children
A Needed for growth, eyes and skin. Helps protect against infection, you can find this in butter,cheese, eggs, oily fish, green and yellow vegetables.
B1 Releases energy from food, health of skin and mouth, can be found in brown rice, green and yellow vegetables, yeast extract, beans, lentils, bread and cereals.
B2 Releases energy from food, assists in function of nervous system, can be found in milk, eggs, cheese, yeast extract, beans, peas, lentils and green leafy vegetables.
B3 Releases energy from food, assists in function of nervous system, can be found in meat, oily fish, poultry, bread, potatoes, cheese, milk, cereals, lentils and other vegetables.
B5 Needed for energy. Assists in immune and hormone systems, can be found in vegetables, nuts, cereals, egg yolk, meat, beans, peas and yeast extract.
B6 Promotes healthy skin and nerves. Helps the promotion of antibodies, can be found in wholemeal bread, liver, fish, eggs, meat, cereals, fruit, vegetables, and bananas.
B12 Essential for healthy nervous system, red blood cell production and healthy growth, can be found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese and milk.
Folic Acid Red blood cell production and growth, can be found in green leafy vegetables, broccoli, green cabbage, fruit pulses, nuts and east extract.
C Essential for healthy tissue and wound healing. Helps the body fight infections and absorb iron, can be found in fresh fruit (especially citrus fruits such as oranges), green leafy vegetables and milk.
D Essential for strong, healthy bones and teeth, can be found in full-cream milk, oily fish, butter, eggs.
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Eczema
What is Eczema?
Eczema is one of those skin problems that many children suffer from It's easy to spot even on tiny babies. Their skin looks hot and angry and because the condition is itchy, you'll see them trying to scratch the affected area. Small blisters can appear and scratching these can cause infection. As infected skin can become very sore and weepy, it's good if you can stop their eczema reaching this stage. If you can't, putting cotton gloves on babies' hands can reduce the effects of scratching. Many factors are thought to cause eczema, although it does seem to run in families. There is a strong association between eczema and hayfever and asthma
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