Text: Lynne Gidish. Article from Living and Loving Magazine December 2014.
Summer’s a fun time of sea, sand and sun, but unfortunately, mishaps and hidden dangers do tend to lurk everywhere you go. Here’s how to ensure that your little ones enjoy the holiday season safely.
Insect bites and stings
Symptoms: Inflammation and localised pain.
Treatment: If the sting is still in the skin, remove it by scraping it out; don’t use tweezers as this can burst the venom sac. Wash the area with soap and water and apply something cold to the area (e.g. ice). Avoid scratching to prevent secondary infection. Paracetamol or ibuprofen will assist with the pain, while topical or oral antihistamines will also offer relief.
Natural approach: Colloidal silver gel soothes itchy bites, and Ledum is a remedy for external and internal use on puncture wounds caused by insect bites. Prevention is better than cure, so always keep some lemon balm and citronella oil handy. Both of these repel insects but are non-toxic. Apis is specific for bee stings, while applying ice will also relieve the stinging.
Seek medical /professional help if: the redness and itching get worse or don’t improve, or if the bite gets infected.
Bluebottles and jellyfish
Symptoms: Red welts; swelling; itching; burning; prickling and stinging pain.
Treatment: Most beaches have a board indicating blue bottles and jellyfish, so heed their warnings! If your child does get stung by a blue bottle, calm her down before cleaning the area with salt water. Never rinse it with fresh water, as more toxins will be released. Urinating on the area can also give instant relief. If the tentacles are still attached, remove them with sand or a towel soaked in salt water. While something cold applied to the area works well for jellyfish, hot water is more beneficial for blue bottles (take care to not let her get burnt). Vinegar can only be used for pain relief from jellyfish stings, not for blue bottle stings, as it increases the toxins released by them. Elevate the inflamed area and use paracetemol or ibuprofen for pain relief, and an antihistamine for the itch.
Natural approach: Aloe vera gel works best, topically. For the stinging sensation, Apis will work wonders taken orally.
Seek medical /professional help if: symptoms worsen, or for intense, persistent pain, or if the area becomes red, warm and tender. Remember that a blue bottle sting can be dangerous for children, asthmatics and people with allergies, as it can cause fever, shock and respiratory distress.
Sunburn
Symptoms: Red, sore skin that’s painful to the touch; blisters in more severe cases.
Treatment: In our hot summer climate, it’s essential to be sun-wise. Always use sunscreen and reapply it regularly, and ensure that your child wears protective clothing and hats, and avoids sun exposure between 11am and 3pm. When she does venture outdoors, make sure she gets enough liquids and isn’t overheated or overdressed. If she does get sunburnt, immediately take her out of the sun and put her in a cool bath. Apply moisturiser frequently and ensure that she remains hydrated. Ibuprofen can help with the inflammation and the pain.
Natural approach: Cantharis (30C) is useful for all sorts of burns, including sunburn. Urtica Urens is the remedy of choice if the pain has a prickly, stingy or itchy sensation.
Seek medical /professional help if: the burn is more extensive or if your child develops any other symptoms, such as fever, nausea and vomiting.
Seek medical attention whenever you’re anxious or unsure: always err on the side of caution – Dr Lorraine Becker.
Burns
Symptoms: A first-degree burn is painful to the outer layer of skin, but not all the way through, and it’s red and has some swelling.
Treatment: Cool the burn by holding it under cool water for a few minutes or until the pain subsides. Ice is not recommended as it may cause further damage to the wound! Wrap the burn loosely in sterile gauze – not fluffy cotton wool – and give your child an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen to help with the pain. If a blister forms, don’t break it, as this can cause infection.
Natural approach: Cantharis (30C) is perfect for scalds and chemical burns, but if the burn is deep and severe, use Causticum. This remedy is also useful for burns that take a long time to heal. Topical ointments like aloe vera gel, calendula cream and coconut oil, will help to soothe the skin, in conjunction with a homeopathic remedy – chat to your natural healthcare practitioner about what will work best for your child.
Seek medical /professional help if: symptoms worsen or new symptoms appear. Any second- or third-degree burn, especially if it covers the hands, feet, groin, buttocks, or any major joint on a baby or toddler, should be treated as a medical emergency – go straight to your nearest hospital.
Sunstroke
Symptoms: Fever;confusion; headaches; and sweating.
Treatment The best form of treatment is obviously prevention (see Sunburn). However, if you suspect your child has sunstroke, immediately try to cool her body down using a fan or cool compresses, or put her in a bath with tepid water. Monitor her temperature and rehydrate her with a salt-sugar solution: mix 5ml (1tsp) salt and 25ml (5 tsp) sugar in 1 litre of boiled and then cooled water.
Natural approach: A number of homeopathic remedies are very effective here, including Glonoine and Belladonna.
Seek medical /professional help if: she has a high temperature – over 39°C and especially over 40°C is an acute medical emergency; and any signs of floppiness, delirium or extreme drowsiness.
Pinch the skin on the top of her hand. If it doesn’t spring back quickly when you let go and remains in the crease, then she’s definitely dehydrated.
Dehydration
Symptoms: Any loss of fluid from diarrhoea, vomiting or sweating on a hot day can result in dehydration, as will not drinking enough liquids. Pinch the skin on top of her hand. If it doesn’t spring back quickly and remains in the crease, she’s definitely dehydrated.
Treatment: Oral rehydration is essential – use the same salt/sugar solution as with sunstroke or any rehydrating solution from your pharmacy. If she’s unable to rehydrate orally, seek professional help as she’ll probably need to be put on a drip.
Natural approach: Try to avoid any food or drink that aggravates the diarrhoea or vomiting. Chamomile tea works well in settling distressed tummies and vomiting, and is a good way of rehydrating too.
Seek medical /professional help if: your baby is under three months old; doesn’t respond as usual; is very ‘floppy’, lethargic or irritable; and when there’s a severe tummy ache, high-grade fever, vomiting up blood, or bloody stools.
Choking
Symptoms: Bluish colour; difficulty breathing; and a panicked appearance in toddlers who may grab at their throats.
Treatment: Anyone who looks after children should go through a basic first aid course. If your child is choking, hold her face down on your lap and give her five blows firmly between her shoulder blades. If the foreign object does not come out, turn her over and give five abdominal thrusts, pushing upwards and inwards from her belly button. Repeat two or three times, and if you still haven’t managed to dislodge the object, call an ambulance.
‘Any submersion in water needs to be taken seriously – a child can drown in as little as 5cm of water!‚
Near-drowning
Symptoms: Not breathing; looking blue in colour; and lack of activity.
Treatment: Any submersion in water needs to be taken seriously, whether it’s in a fish pond, a bath or a swimming pool – a child can drown in 5cm of water. If your child goes under water momentarily and comes up screaming and spluttering, no further treatment should be needed. In all other cases, call for help. It’s vital to check whether your child is breathing and to start CPR immediately if she’s not, even if you think there’s no chance of survival. The sooner you start CPR the greater the odds of saving her life and minimising brain damage.
Natural approach: Same as above.
Seek medical /professional help if: the submersion is severe. Violent coughing needs urgent medical attention too, as chlorinated and salt water inhaled into the lungs can cause pneumonia. Drowsiness, unresponsiveness or halted breathing should also be treated as a medical emergency.
Bleeding (e.g. from standing on sharp objects)
Symptoms: An open gash/wound.
Treatment: Check for embedded objects and remove them if possible; otherwise go to your GP or nearest hospital casualty. Use direct pressure to stop the bleeding. For a small wound, give it a good clean with an antiseptic like Dettol, and use a compression bandage or plaster. The RICE method is highly effective here: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
Natural approach: Calendula is a natural antiseptic and can be applied before covering with a plaster/ compression bandage. Clean and reapply every six hours. For minor cuts, chat to your natural health practitioner, as there are a number of homeopathic healing ointments to aid the healing process.
Seek medical /professional help if: you can’t stop the bleeding or if the cut is visibly long or deep – anything bigger than 1 cm may require stitches or taping.
Nosebleeds
Symptoms: Bloody nose
Treatment:The first step is to calm your child – children often get very anxious at the sight of blood, which can aggravate the bleeding. Rescue Remedy works well here. Sit your child upright so that the blood does not drip down the back of her throat. Apply a cold compress to her forehead or the back of her neck. Pinching the nose with your finger and thumb and holding it for five minutes, usually also does the trick. If this doesn’t help, it could, for example, be a burst blood vessel as a result of trauma, so seek professional help.
Natural approach: This depends on the cause, so chat to your natural healthcare practitioner for advice. Was your child out in the sun too long? Did she put something in her nose? Is it from a bad case of sinusitis or allergies? If it’s due to sun exposure, cooling her down should help. Belladonna (pills or ointment) can be used, as can arnica if the nosebleed is the result of a trauma.
Seek medical /professional help if: the bleeding doesn’t stop or if it’s a frequent re-occurrence. If there’s a lot of nasal congestion, your child may have polyps or enlarged adenoids.
Always keep a bottle of Rescue Remedy handy: it’s the perfect antidote for shoclc for both mom and child! – Dr Raoul Goldberg
Sprains and fractures
Symptoms: Painful, swollen, bruised fingers or limbs (for sprains); an inability to stand on or use a limb or hand; and distorted joints or a broken bone that can be clearly seen (for fractures).
Treatment: The RICE method (see Bleeding) is highly effective here, paracetamol or ibuprofen may be given to manage pain.
Natural approach: If your child can move the injured finger or limb with ease, apply Traumeel or arnica to the affected area and immobilise your child with a bandage. Ice is very effective for the first four hours, as it will limit the swelling and stop the bleeding. However, limit the use of ice thereafter, as it can slow down the healing process.
Seek medical /professional help if: there’s any sign of blood under the skin, which may be an indication of a fracture and needs to be X-rayed; if your child is in pain when she moves the injured finger or limb; or if she won’t use or lean on her hand or finger after 24 hours.
Allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
Symptoms: These range from a rash and itchy skin (contact dermatitis), to severe face and tongue swelling (anaphylaxis), from a severe allergy (e.g. from peanuts or a bee sting).
Treatment: For mild redness or itchiness, wash the area with a gentle soap. OTC antihistamine creams or oral antihistamines are also highly effective. For any severe reaction where the face is involved and your child can’t breathe, treat it as a medical emergency. If there are severe allergies in your family, ask your GP for an Epipen – it could save your child’s life.
Natural approach: Anaphylaxis should be treated as a medical emergency, while rashes, hay fever or swollen eyes need to be treated according to the cause – was it something she ate or drank, or a reaction to medication? There are hundreds of homeopathic remedies, so chat to your natural health practitioner about what’s best to use. Allium (onion) works well for hay fever, while eye drops or nasal drops containing euphrasia are useful for watery, burning and itchy eyes or sneezing.
Seek medical /professional help if: there’s any sign of anaphylaxis, where there’s acute swelling, a severe rash, or breathing restrictions. For all other cases, if the symptoms continue, consult your healthcare practitioner, as lifestyle changes (e.g. cutting out wheat, dairy or sugar) may need to be implemented.
Malaria – What’s the risk for preggie mom & little ones?
Summertime is peak season for malaria, and unfortunately, it still occurs in the South African Lowveld, parts of the Limpopo Province, the Kruger National Park and surrounds, and Mozambique. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises avoiding malaria areas if you’re pregnant or have young babies or toddlers. However, if this is not possible, ensure that you take precautions. Studies have shown that there are prophylactic medications that can be taken from the second trimester and by young children, so chat to a travel medicine practitioner about it. Preventing mosquito bites is essential: use insect repellents; avoid exposure at dusk and dawn; cover up the ankles and wrists after dark; ensure all doors and windows have screens; and use mosquito nets.
Babies and young children are at a high risk as they can become ill rapidly. Symptoms are non-specific and include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and listlessness. These may mimic flu-like symptoms, which is why malaria is often overlooked in children.
Contributing experts
- Dr Lorraine Becker, family doctor, Johannesburg
- Dr Sheetal Daya, homeopathic practitioner, Gauteng: daya.sheetal@gmail.com
- Dr Raoul Goldberg, integrative medical practitioner and Medical Director of the Syringa Integrative Health Centre in Cape Town: www.syringahealth.co.za
- Dr Jonathan Klotnick, travel medicine practitioner: www.travelclinicjhb.co.za
- Dr Sandrine Rey, general practitioner
Pregnant women present with slightly different symptoms, including body aches, joint pain, fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea. Malaria during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal death, miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and neonatal death, and even if you have taken medication, you can still contract it. That’s why, if you or your child have any of the symptoms (no matter how mild!) one week after entering a malaria area, consult your health practitioner for testing. A blood test will confirm the diagnosis and you/your child may need to be hospitalised for treatment.
Visit our Social Media for the latest news and ideas.
Related Content
