At Home with Dr Christian Jessen - 282

| YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH|

are usually given in severe cases. This is due to concern
that a streptococcal infection, with complications such
as rheumatic fever, might develop - although this is rare.
Give your child pain-relieving syrups and make sure
they have lots of fluids and rest.
Surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) isn't
carried out as often today as it used to be. This is because
tonsils play an important role in
the defence against infection,
and removing them doesn't offer
immunity to sore throats.
Tonsillectomies may still be
carried out in those people whose
tonsils are chronically scarred or
infected, or where they become so
large that they affect the ability to
swallow or speak.

MEN ING ITIS

This is one of the conditions that
most parents fear the most. It's not
common, but if a meningitis
infection isn't caught as early as
possible, the consequences can be
very serious, so it's important to
know what to look out for.
Meningitis is an inflammation of
the membranes that cover the brain
and spinal cord. It can be caused
by a bacterial or viral infection.
Bacterial meningitis usually affects
children (80% of cases happen
in under-16s, with the majority
under the age of five), while viral
meningitis tends to affect older
children and adults.
SYMPTOMS With bacterial
meningitis, symptoms usually
appear within hours, whereas viral
meningitis may take a couple of
days to develop. Symptoms in
babies and small children include
moving with stiff, jerky or floppy
A TEMPERATURE OF
T O N SI LL IT I S
movements; a shrill, moaning cry;
OVER 37.5ºC IS
refusal to feed; rapid breathing; and
This condition is quite common
CLASSED AS A FEVER
a sunken or tense fontanelle (the
and involves the inflammation of
soft spot on the top of a baby's
the tonsils (small glands at the
head). Your child may look pale
back of the throat) as a result of
'BACTERIAL MENINGITIS IS AN
and blotchy and have a fever.
infection. Tonsillitis mostly affects
A rash with purple spots that
children under the age of 10, but
EMERGENCY SITUATION, SO GET
doesn't disappear when pressed
can occur at any age. The tonsils
with a clear glass is another
get inflamed when exposed to viral
YOUR CHILD TO HOSPITAL AS
symptom. Meningitis can be hard
or bacterial infections, and
to recognise - symptoms can
become enlarged, red and painful.
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE'
appear in any order, but the first are
SYMPTOMS These include a
fever, vomiting and headaches.
severe sore throat, making it
difficult to swallow food (and liquid), fever, and swollen
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Bacterial meningitis is an
and painful lymph nodes in the neck.
emergency situation, so get your child to hospital fast. In
most cases, intravenous antibiotics will begin immediately.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Tonsillitis often clears up
In severe cases or viral meningitis, anti-viral medication
on its own without treatment, but if it's persistent, it's
and intravenous fluids may be needed. Long-term effects
important to take your child to the doctor. Although
of can include hearing loss, and nerve and brain damage.
only a third of cases are caused by bacteria, antibiotics
282 | MARCH 2015

PHOTOGRAPHS: GETTY IMAGES

HE A D L IC E

Around three million people in the UK catch head lice
every year, and around one in five children is affected.
Anyone with hair can catch them, but children who
have head-to-head contact, at school or during play,
are most commonly affected.
Lice aren't easy for the untrained eye to see. The nits
are the eggs which stick to the hair shaft and look like
dandruff. If your child has head
lice, the whole family needs to be
treated to prevent a recurrence.
SYMPTOMS While head lice are
known for cause itching, this isn't
always the case - particularly if
they've only recently arrived on the
head. Head lice cannot fly, jump
or swim, but spread by clambering
from head to head.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? To
check for head lice, first use a
wide-toothed comb to straighten
and untangle the hair. Then switch
to a specific lice comb that's fine
enough to catch the lice, checking
the comb for lice and nits after each
stroke. Check all family members at
the same time. If you discover lice
or nits, you can treat your family at
home, either by using a nit comb
with conditioner, or with medicated
lotions, which are widely available
from pharmacies.
However, head lice can become
resistant to insecticides, making
them less effective, and lotions
can also cause skin irritations.
However, there are natural
alternatives - Not Nice To Lice
is a safe, non-toxic alternative to
traditional medicated lotions, and is
so gentle it can be used regularly to
prevent lice from recurring. Visit
www.notnicetolice.co.uk
http://www.notnicetolice.co.uk
At Home with Dr Christian Jessen

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