List two common illnesses in children and how they can be best handled by the parents.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Diarrhea is fairly common in young children. In developed countries such as the United States, it is not usually a critical symptom. If the child is kept well hydrated to replace lost fluids, the illness will usually run its course in a couple of days. Worldwide, however, diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 5, killing over a half million children each year. Fever is an indication that the body is trying to fight off an infection. It can be a symptom of something as simple as a cold, but also can be associated with a wide range of more serious health threats such as appendicitis, strep throat, and pneumonia. A parent can give the child with a mild fever a lukewarm bath and dress him in light clothing, but any temperature of 104? or higher taken with an oral thermometer requires immediate medical attention, as does a fever accompanied by a severe headache or sore throat, ear pain, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, or a seizure. Mild sore throats also are common in children, but if a sore throat lasts longer than a week or is accompanied by a fever or red and swollen tonsils, the child may have strep throat and should be seen by a physician who may prescribe antibiotics (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015). If antibiotics are prescribed, the child should use all the medication as prescribed. If he doesn’t, the infection can spread to other parts of the body and cause kidney problems or even rheumatic fever, a disease that affects the heart.