CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES
scarring, so suggest to parents that they dab calamine lotion onto the spots. The child may be more comfortable at home and should not come into contact with pregnant women as exposure to chickenpox can lead to birth defects. If the child’s spots become infected a GP may prescribe an antibiotic cream.
Common colds are - as you know - caused by viral infections and can’t really be prevented, so treatment of the symptoms is really all that can be done. Sore throats and a temperature can be treated with paracetamol and there’s a variety of OTC medicines available. If the child’s nose is sore from blowing into tissues, suggest that Vaseline is smeared on it to bring the child some relief. A humidifi er may also help.
Mumps are an infectious disease that’s caused by a virus. There’s no specifi c medical treatment for mumps but, fortunately, they’re less common now thanks to the MMR vaccination,
which is given to most children between twelve and fi fteen months, but some parents choose not to let their children have the vaccination, which can put them at risk of mumps, measles and rubella. If a child does get mumps, their neck will be swollen and tender and they may have a fever. They may also experience pain when swallowing and so should be given soft, puréed food and plenty to drink. If the child is feverish, suggest to the parents that they sponge them down with cool water.
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin that can affect different parts of the body. A child with ringworm will have roughly circular, scaly rashes on various parts of their body. Some may have blisters, while others will have pus-fi lled spots. On the scalp, small bumps may spread out to create bald spots. Advise parents to throw out brushes and combs and to ensure that the affected child uses a different towel from other family members. OTC
AKL offer a wide range of baby products from the NHS approved Nosefrida aspirator to the windi (a new device to help relieve wind and colic in babies). AKL are always looking for clever product solutions to help parents through those early years.
Order enquiries, TEL: 0844 381 4451 or email
info@allergykids.co.uk
anti-fungal preparations are available, but, if the ringworm is severe, or if it persists for a period of time, suggest that a visit to the GP may be necessary for further assessment.
Scarlet fever is a red rash which starts on a child’s chest and neck and spreads to the whole body, except for their mouth. They will also have a very sore throat and a furry red tongue. The child should be given cool drinks and their food should be puréed. An antibiotic may be prescribed by a GP and this must be taken for 24 hours before a child returns to nursery or school.
Strep throat/tonsilitis is caused by the Streptococcus A bacteria and causes a child to have a very sore throat, high fever and swollen neck glands. As with scarlet fever, cool drinks and puréed foods should be advised. A simple throat swab will reveal whether or not treatment is required and a GP may prescribe an antibiotic, which must be taken for 24 hours prior to the child returning to crèche or school.
MINOR AILMENT SERVICE
Children under 16 years of age are, of course, eligible for the NHS Minor Ailment Service (MAS).
Many of the illnesses and conditions that are mentioned above, which are often specifi c to children are covered by MAS. These include: headache, head lice, cold sores, nasal congestion, cough, pain, earache, eczema, sore throat and threadworms.
Approved Clears stuffy noses
As a pharmacist you will, of course, understand that the scheme is designed to offer medication to meet an acute need. as NHS UK points out on its website, ‘It is not an opportunity for parents to stock up on free children’s medications – if a pharmacist thinks someone is trying to abuse the system, they can refuse any request for treatment at their discretion.
The Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator & replacement
filters are now Drug Tariff Approved
‘The pharmacist has no obligation to provide branded medication such as Calpol. If there is a cheaper generic version available that is known to be equally effective, it is likely that will be provided instead.’
NEW
STAND PJ43
Email:
info@allergykids.co.uk Tel: 0844 381 4451
52 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST
Nevertheless, MAS provides many parents throughout Scotland with necessary medication free of charge.
Although unpleasant to look at, worms or threadworms are usually indicated by a child scratching their bottom at night. Suggest that the parents look for tiny white ‘threads’ in their child’s stools or on their bottom at night. If worms are present, the nursery or school should be informed and the whole family needs to be treated at once, even if they don’t have any symptoms. That’s because the risk of the infection spreading is very high. Threadworm treatment is targeted at getting rid of the threadworms and preventing reinfection, and usually involves a combination of medication to kill the worms and strict hygiene measures to stop the spread of the eggs. The principal medication used to treat threadworms - mebendazole - is available OTC from the pharmacy but, if the child is under two years of age, you should advise the parents to visit the GP as the recommended treatment usually isn’t the same for this age group as that recommended for other people. •
PAIN RELIEF FOR CHILDREN
Parents often worry about giving their children painkillers, but with sensible advice and reassurance from the pharmacist, the correct use of analgesic medicines will relieve pain in most children.
For mild pain in children aged under three months, paracetamol should be offered. Children aged over three months can, however, be offered both paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Parents should be advised that medication should be given regularly for persistent pain, rather than on an ‘as required basis’. Analgesics should, therefore, be given at regular intervals, with the addition of extra doses for intermittent and breakthrough pain.
Where pain is associated with fever (especially in children over the age of fi ve), dental pain and for control of pain in long-term infl ammatory conditions, non-steroidal anti- infl ammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are recommended.
Aspirin should always be avoided in children under the age of 16 due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a very rare condition that can cause serious liver and brain damage.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64