A Little More About Illness

I have been hearing a lot of parents say that their child is catching everything that is going around right now.  The Toddler 411 book (my go-to reference for all things toddler) starts the chapter on Common Infections with this:  Infections: coming to a toddler near you.

Toddlers seem to be magnets for germs which cause infections and illnesses.  This is because they have not yet built up an immunity to germs.  However, every fever does not necessitate a visit to the doctor's office.  Here are some red flags offered by Dr. Ari Brown and Denise Fields (authors or Toddler 411) for when a doctor's visit is necessary.

• You cannot figure out why your child is running a fever
• Fever lasts more than three days in a row
• New fever after being fever fee for over 24 hours
• Irritable or lethargic
• Not urinating at least every eight hours
• Blood/mucus in the poop
• Sore throat without cough and runny nose
• Pain with urination
• Severe pain anywhere
• Fever and a rash
• Fever of 104 degrees or greater

Generally a fever is caused by a virus, so if none of the above scenarios apply, you probably don't need to rush to the doctor's office.  But if it means your peace of mind then a co-pay is worth it.

Prevent the spread of germs by following these guidelines:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Cover your coughs
• Wash hands after using the bathroom
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Do not share drinks or food
• Kiss at your own risk
• Cook foods properly
• Clean kitchen counters/cutting boards 

One of the most common childhood ailments is Otitis Media or middle ear infection.  There are some risk factors you can control to prevent middle ear infections.  

• When your child has a cold or flu, fluid can accumulate in the Eustachian tube (a tube between the middle ear and throat).  Good hand washing techniques can keep bugs from taking up residence there.
• Exposure to other children in a setting such as a day care may expose them to drug-resistant bacteria.  Make sure your child is vaccinated and using good germ prevention techniques.
• Second-hand smoke irritates the entire respiratory tract.  Smoke also irritates the Eustachian tubes, making them swollen and inefficient.
• Research shows that constant sucking of a pacifier creates a backup of fluid in the throat and Eustachian tubes.  If your child must have their binky, then limit it to bedtime and naptime.
• Drinking from a bottle while lying down allows fluid from the back of the throat to end up in the Eustachian tubes.  The fluid is a set up for infections.  Resist the urge to prop the bottle for your little ones, they should be slightly inclined while drinking from a bottle.  Even better, switch to a sippy cup by the first birthday.