Swollen Adenoids in Children
Adenoid is a term that is used to refer to a mass of lymphoid tissues, which are situated above the nasopharynx and behind the nose. This is the part where the mouth meets the nose. Both the adenoids and the tonsils form a part of the body’s lymphatic system and they are responsible for preventing the respiratory tract from infections of the larynx, pharynx and sinuses. Although both the tonsils and the adenoids constitute a part of the body’s lymphatic system to ward off infections, the adenoids however, lose importance as one’s immune system develops and thus disappear eventually over time. They generally start growing from birth till the child is about 6-7, after which they begin shrinking gradually and once the immune system has developed, they disappear sometime in the teenage years. As adenoids tend to be immature and soft in young children, they are very often susceptible to various kinds of infections.
Adenoids when enlarged or inflamed can create a large number of physical problems. Difficulty in hearing and breathing, loss of smell, sinus and ear infections, are few of the conditions that are caused by inflamed or swollen adenoids. Here are a few home remedies for enlarged adenoids condition. Warm a teaspoon of olive oil on a low fire. Once the oil has cooled to a favorable temperature (but is still warm) pour a few drops of the warm oil into the child’s ears. This should be done on a daily basis to help reduce inflammation. Garlic juice is also considered to be effective for this condition. Crush a 2-3 garlic pods in-order to extract the juice. Now pour 2-3 drops of the juice into the child’s ears, after which dry the ears with the help of a hair dryer.
Make a mixture by combining a teaspoon each of lemon juice, honey and a dash of black pepper. The mixture should be fed to the child twice a day for two days. This is also an effective remedy to cure inflamed adenoids. Make sure that your child has a sufficient intake of calcium, zinc and Vitamin C, as they help in boosting the immune system. Including foods that are rich in these vitamins will help in combating infection. Include plenty of fresh fruits and green leafed vegetables in his/ her diet, as they will supply the body with all the essential nutrients required for fighting infections. If none of these remedies are successful in providing respite, then consult the child’s pediatrician immediately.
Ear Infection in Infants:
Ear infections commonly occur in infants and can prove to be quite discomforting. Ear infections usually develop after a cold and if the nasal discharge turns from clear to greenish yellow, then it could be indicative of an ear infection. The infant is likely to be very irritable and fussy throughout the day. Sleep may be poor and the infant may keep waking up at night. The child may also be unwilling to lie flat on his back. The infant may also keep pulling or tugging at the ears and fever may sometimes accompany an ear infection. Drainage of blood or pus from the ear is a sure sign of an infection due to a rupture in the ear drum.
The ear is composed of the outer ear, middle ear and the inner ear. The outer and middle ear canal are separated by a thin membrane. The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back portion of the nose. The eustachian tube in infants is shorter and placed at an angle. As such bacteria are able to easily travel upwards from the throat and nose to the middle ear and cause infection. Infants are also very prone to colds, which cause swelling of the nasal pathway due to the accumulation of mucus. This serves as an ideal place for the bacteria to thrive. Mucus is also present in the middle ear canal and once bacteria reach there, they begin to grow and cause infection. This results in pus formation which may cause the eardrum to swell and cause pain. It also restricts the normal vibration of the ear drum, causing problems in hearing.
Ear infections in infants and children must not be neglected, as they can become aggravated and cause a great deal of pain and irritation for the child. Once the doctor has administered the treatment, you can also try out some natural remedies for alleviating the child’s discomfort. Placing a warm compress against the child’s ear will help to relieve the pain. Drops of tea tree oil put in the ears are effective in restricting bacterial growth. But you need to check with your doctor before doing this, as it may cause irritation of the skin. Olive oil may be warmed slightly and a couple of drops can be put into the affected ear. Lobelia extract is also known to be beneficial in treating ear infections when applied to the ears. The juice of mango leaf is a traditional remedy for ear infections cure. The juice may be warmed slightly and put into the affected ear. The juice of crushed holy basil leaves also serves to overcome infection of the ear.
Artificial Sweeteners Health Risks in Children:
Artificial sweeteners are substitutes for common table sugar. They are supposedly sweeter than table sugar, but do not raise the sugar or glucose levels in the blood. As a result, artificial sweeteners are a boon for patients suffering from diabetes. Also, artificial sweeteners like aspartame and splenda are low in calories. These artificial sweetening agents contain just four calories per tablespoon, while the common sugar contains sixteen calories per tablespoon. In fact, these artificial sweeteners can replace common table sugars in most household preparations. Consequently, artificial sweeteners have become extremely popular among people who are hoping to lose weight and the health conscious. However, it is not advisable, even for those people looking to remain healthy or slim down. As far as possible, unless it is necessary, you should steer clear of such sweeteners owing to their negative effects.
Although these artificial sugars are extremely beneficial for diabetic patients, they may have a grave impact on the health of children. Some of the ill effects of artificial sweeteners on the health of children are as follows:
There is no scientific evidence that artificial sugars are safe for children. Despite the fact that these artificial sweetening agents are comparatively low in calorie content, there is no scientific research to back their safety with respect to children. As such, you are not recommended to give artificial sweeteners to your children.
It has been shown that children, who are fed artificial sweetening agents, develop a craving for chemical substances including foods and sweetening agents. Their tastes develop in a direction wherein they may not want to consume naturally sweet foods like fruits and vegetables.
Certain artificial sweeteners like aspartame are supposed to be instrumental in causing cancer. Aspartame has also been linked to a multitude of illnesses including ailments like depression, fatigue, nausea, insomnia, dizziness, muscle spasms, diabetes, heart palpitations, migraine, anxiety attacks, Alzheimer’s disease, and even brain tumors.
Artificial sweetening agents may also cause diarrhea, vomiting, gas and stomachache in children, and make them more susceptible to hyperglycemia and diabetes. In fact, it has been shown that artificial sweetening agents may hinder the normal development of a child’s brain. As a result, children may develop neurological problems like a weak memory and poor concentration. Consumption of artificial sweetening agents by children may also aggravate the ailments related to the respiratory tract such as bronchitis and asthma.
Given the above and the lack of evidence to suggest that artificial sweetening agents are safe for consumption by children, it is recommended that children not be fed artificial sweeteners. Children should be encouraged to eat naturally occurring sweet foods like fruits and milk.
Preventing Infections in Children:
Children are especially more prone to infections. The most common type of infections that children fall prey to is the common cold, influenza and chicken pox among others. The common cold is perhaps the most common and frequently occurring infection in children. It is essentially an infection of the upper respiratory tract. There are many different strains of the cold virus and hence we are not able to become immune to it and neither can there be a vaccine developed against it. The symptoms usually last for about 2 weeks and begin to subside on their own. Medications are not helpful in treating it as it is caused by viruses. Even though there isn’t a treatment for the common cold, the child can get relief by consuming lots of fluids, taking adequate rest and using decongestants or cough remedies. Also, colds spread through the mucus and so teaching the child proper hygiene will help to curb the spread of the virus.
Influenza is another common condition also caused by a virus. It usually affects children during winter, but may occur during other seasons too. The symptoms of influenza are congestion in the nose, runny nose, chills, headache, muscle pains, loss of appetite, vomiting and fever. The symptoms get worse in the first five days and then begin to slowly improve. Taking warm baths, steam inhalation, intake of plenty of fluids and salt water gargles to ease soreness in the throat help to alleviate the discomfort experienced due to influenza. Chicken pox is a very contagious condition which can now be prevented by administering a vaccine. If chicken pox occurs in the children, the symptoms may develop 10-20 days later from the day of exposure to the virus. Symptoms include fever, appetite loss, followed by severe itching rash on the skin. The bumps on the skin then become fluid-filled which turn into sores and then develop a crusty scab over them. Treatment can include pain relieving medication and lotions to ease the itching.
Children are susceptible to infections as their immune systems many not be fully developed. This will change as the child grows older and the frequency of illnesses will also become less. Children are more prone to developing infections as they tend to keep touching their mouths after touching other objects. Good personal hygiene must be taught to the child such as regular hand washing especially before meals. Infections generally spread from one child to another, and as such schools and day care centers must have a policy of instructing infected children to rest at home until they are better.
