Chicken Pox

Chicken Pox is another one of those conditions which is every mothers nightmare, however what with modern science and latest medicines specially created for treating Chicken pox the condition is not as much threatening to a person’s health as it was years ago.

The disease is a great worry among women with young new born babies, or even toddler age in having said that. It is a highly contagious kiddies sickness like that of measles which we link to the most vulnerable, and that being young kids. 

This condition brings itchy rash and blisters which calamine lotion work wonders for helping to ease the discomfort from scratching or take burst blister pain away.

The condition is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and usually runs its course without further issues. It is a viral infection and is easily transmitted from one person to another through direct contact with the open chickenpox blisters and through airborne droplets.

The infectious period lasts about three days, before the rash shows up and until all the blisters have formed into scabs.

The incubation period between being infected with chickenpox until the condition breaks out and symptoms appear, is 10 to 20 days. Chicken pox symptoms to look out for if your baby or toddler has the disease usually include.

• A rash normally on the body on the face and later often spreading to the scalp and limbs. It can also spread to the mucous membranes especially in the mouth, and in and around  the privates (genitals.)     
• The rash is often itchy Small red spots develop turning into blisters within a couple of hours, Usually its a couple of days when the blisters turn into scabs. New blisters can happen after three days leading up to six days. The amount of blisters change in people. Chickenpox lasts 7 to 10 days in children and longer in adults.

With age chicken pox might have older folk take a longer recovery period. Grown ups are more commonly known to suffer complications than that of young babies and toddlers.  Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox may suffer more so than that of others. A weak immune system in people can give reason for concern if they catch chicken pox.

Treatments for treating chicken pox are usual types of medication purely for easing the symptoms. Keep your child and others safe by keeping them away from people till the chicken pox has been cleared.

If possible stop the child doing certain things that can worsen the condition

1 Avoid scratching the blisters because of the risk of infection.
2 Cut the nails short or make the patient wear gloves.

Not in all cases but scars may remain where the blisters were sited on the body, and not just from scratching. In very rare cases, chickenpox can be a  result of complications such as meningitis encephalitis, inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) or Reye’s syndrome.

Ear Infection

Ear infection – Like most kids sicknesses an ear infection can be a painful issue for babies to toddler size, as well as for adults too  so you can understand how children must feel and the pain they suffer when they contract the infection.

Middle ear infection

One clear sign to tell a parent their child or baby has an ear infection is when they are unable to hear you no matter how loud you shout their name. An ear infection can likely have your child hear sounds muffled and suffer a temperature. Crying is something you will get a lot of if your infant has problems with his or her ears.

Whether it’s baby, young child or grown up mos can relate to a normal earache, but when the ear becomes infected then this is a different issue altogether. As a parent then you will know your young baby obviously can’t tell you what the problem is, or where the pain is coming from, so this is why you have to be extra vigilant where baby’s health is concerned

When you have kids a lot of their sicknesses is usually detected by mom or dad purely through guessing from the symptoms, they believe to be a disorder they may have heard about, or know of.

Always be sure to contact your GP if your baby is crying a lot or more than usual, and also if the sound of there cry is odd caused by what you think might be caused by pain.

Antibiotics are typical prescriptive drugs given by doctors for pain in the ear, of course type of medication or ear treatments will depend on severity of the condition and the age of the child.

In most cases of ear infection the problem clears up within a few days but once again this will depend on how bad the pain is.

Sometimes the ear can become severely inflamed and eventually start oozing with yellow or brown pus, not nice I knowbut that is the infection coming out. This usually happens once the ear infection has been diagnosed or treated and beginning to get better. It also helps educe pressure in the ear.

Most commonly ear infection starts with cold symptoms such as a runny nose. Also, children who live with smokers are more likely to become ill with amiddle-ear infection than those who live in no smoking house. Also there could be some vomiting or nausea along with pain (mild or severe) and throbbing in the ear. 

Recovering from a sore throat or having a spate of hay fever can cause ear infections because of the sinuses being connected.

If you suspect you or your child has a problem with their ears then consult your GP because the infection can turn seriously nasty. And left without medical attention it could result in further long term medical problems such as hearing loss.

If you suspect ear pain especially with a baby or young child, or notice pus oozing from their ear and redness of the ear, or ears then don’t hesitate to get medical attention for the patient. Even if you feel your child doesn’t hear you as well as he/she should, or has cold symptoms such as a runny nose and fever then make a call to a medical center, or call into your local hospital for a check up.

Thrush

Thrush can be a very annoying and irritating problem to live with for both women and children. It is also a condition men can get too. 

Thrush is a yeast infection known as candida. A breast feeding mother can become infected on the breast. You can also get it in your mouth which is called oral thrush which a lot of baby’s get at some stage of there baby days and can be very nasty if left and not treated.

Having to watch your child itching away at there bits (bits is a term I use with my kids for there private parts) because they have vaginal thrush is not something you like to see your child suffer from.

You can see in the child’s face the discomfort they are experiencing from the thrush that’s affecting their private parts, come on us women know what vaginal thrush can be like if you have had this, it is a very annoying infection to have.

Because the itch is annoying the infant becomes frustrated causing them to itch even more, and the more they itch the warmer the area gets bringing fungus and germs. Fungus and germs that cause thrush in the first place feeds off moist and warm areas that’s why young children are very susceptible to thrush due to wearing a nappy because of the warmth and then when they wet their nappy there’s the moisture for them to thrive on and they love it.

Women get thrush in the vagina which include

symptoms

itchiness and a cloudy white smelly discharge. A lot of women and girls can get this when they become sexually active but you don’t have to be sexually active to get vaginal thrush it is just more common in sexually active women.

Symptoms can include itching, redness, a white vaginal discharge, sometimes some swelling.

If your child is still in nappies and to avoid thrush try and let them roam free for as long as you possibly can without a nappy on. Obviously just doing that will not stop them from getting thrush but it will help, also always try to make sure that you buy them cotton underwear when possible, and also yourself and not to use fragrances down below such as feminine douches.

Its believed that using a natural plain yoghurt helps with thrush in women.

Oral thrush – is common in new born babies sometimes they may not take there feed as well as they normally would and they may cry because the mouth may be painful also. With oral thrush in babies there will be small white spots on the tongue and inside of the cheeks and the roof of the mouth, and this is how a breast feeding mother contracts thrush on the nipples because a baby having oral thrush causes the feeding mother serious pain.

When breastfeeding if you have a cracked nipple you could get thrush on the nipples more easily and also the thrush might make the nipple take longer to heal than the normal time taken.

Oral thrush is usually really easy to treat with drops or a gel which you rub inside your child’s mouth for 3 or 4 days and it should be clear after the treatment. But if ever in doubt or symptoms persist then always consult your GP.

Postnatal depression

Sometimes depression can take up to six months for a mother to realize that she has a problem, still not knowing what the problem could be Some times. It could take longer in some postnatal depression cases depending on the experiences they have gone through over their life time, and how severe there postnatal depression is.

A mother may have the feelings that something is just not right about the way she feels, since becoming pregnant or having her baby and may begin to feel depressed. Some mothers know they are feeling very different or unusual to them, and sad with postnatal depression because they dont know they have Postnatal Problem and have not seen a GP and been diagnosed with depression, or ‘baby blues’ as it is sometimes referred too.

Postnatal depresion feelings

• Do you feel you are a failure as a mother
• Do you have horrible thoughts about your life, yourself, or your baby?
• Do you think about devastating things happening to your baby?
• Are you frightened or anxious about your baby’s health or safety?
• Do you have obsessive thoughts about bacteria/germs or illness harming your baby?
• Are you constantly thinking ‘what would happen if..?
• Do you feel you are a ‘bad parent’
• Did you feel no emotions for your child after you gave birth?
• Are you able to enjoy life, have a laugh or see the funny side of certain occurrences.
• Do you feel ‘not right’ since the birth?
• Do you avoid talking about the birth of your precious child, or cry a lot more than you usually would?
• Are you not showing how you truly feel?

Some symptoms that can occurin postnatal depression:

• Feeling physically ill and having physical symptoms that are
  unusual for you such as chest pains, breathing problems,

• headaches, dizziness, many minor illnesses and stomach upsets.
  Worrying constantly about the health of yourself your baby, other
  children or family and friends

• Many women with PNI describe a feeling of having ’blurred’ vision

• Obsessive thoughts or repetitive, chanting thoughts or voices
  Unkind thoughts that you may harm somebody close

• Panic attacks and anxiety

• Having worries that everyday objects could become weapons to harm your child, yourself ,or your family

• Having ‘what if’ thoughts about what could happen if they did

• Feelings that you are a ‘bad’ mother

• A constant feeling of having nothing left to live for

• Having a constant need to revisit the birth because you feel that things were out of your control

• Not being able to talk about the birth

• Awful feelings or thoughts about your own health or child/partners

• A feeling of sadness since the baby
• that you are creating unhappiness by just being around family or friends
• A lack of emotion or feeling of anything
• Putting on a ‘brave face’.
• The feeling of being constantly tired all the time even when if you have slept greatAll of the above are just some feelings and symptoms you may experience with postnatal depression. Always ensure you get all the help that is available including GP’s, health visitors, or social services. Once the help is accepted, you will progress with time.

Gifts For Men & Women

Men – Most women find buying gifts for men quite easy, but if you find yourself stumped as to what you can get a man for a birthday gift or a Christmas present then you could try some of the following which I am sure he would be pleased to receive.A paint balling experience could be an ideal gift, when you get a guy this gift it is usually for a group experience so he could invite a   few friends with him, and have a lad’s day out you know how men love male bonding, and then afterwards maybe go for a pint and a bite to eat with them.

Then there is a computer as a gift because all men love to play on computers and battle it out, even with children playing against them they hate losing any game no matter who they come up against they are sore losers.

If your man likes to stay in shape and workout a lot then you could buy him some weights or an exercise machine, also if he is a member at a gym where you have to pay a yearly fee for the membership, if he has this equipment at home you would save money in the long run and he would be home more often rather than in the gym.

Does he have a favourite band he listens to? Then a cd disc that he can put on in the car or in the home, and sing away till his hearts content as long as you’re not in the car, especially if he is tone deaf.

There are just a few ideas to buy your husband/boyfriend for a birthday or Xmas gift.

Women – A few suggestions for birthday or Xmas gifts for the lady in your life, because we all know how fussy us women and no man would want to disappoint his women on a special occasion. So here are some ideas to get you going.

Does your wife/girlfriend have a favourite perfume that she always loves to wear, and don’t be put off because you know her mum and aunt always get her this as a present because a women’s favourite perfume is a great gift whether she needs it or not, she can never have to much.

A great gift if your wife/girlfriend loves shoes and handbags then these would be super, women love there shoes and handbags. If your getting both then try to get both so they match and then if you are taking her out for a nice meal for the celebration then she can match them both to a nice outfit she will wear.

A piece of jewellery is always a must, women adore rings/bracelets and necklaces so with this you cannot go wrong I am sure.

Make-up is another nice present because make-up colours move on with the times and women always add at least some make-up when going out and about, and different choices of brands and colours to choose from would be a nice idea.

Does your lady like music some love songs on a cd disc I am sure she would like that it would also remind her of you both getting together maybe when those particular songs were released.

Just some suggestions that you men will find helpful, to buy a nice gift for your wife/girlfriend in your life that she will love for.