The ten most common poisons in children

For parents to keep our children safe is a priority in progress. But even with the best intentions, you neglected some potentially harmful toxins in the budget. According to the National Academy of Poison Control Center, 92 percent of all poison exposures occur at home, and 52 percent of poison exposures occur in children under 6.

The following is a list of the most common poisons among children. Follow them and make sure that these terms are sure of yourChild's hand.

1. Cosmetics and body care

Cosmetics containing chemicals, some of which are toxic to adults, but because children are smaller, and their metabolism is faster, a small amount of chemical or toxin can cause a serious reaction.

Most poisonings occur when children are not too close, as when parents are busy, dinner or reception seen by friends. Keep all cosmetics and care products in cabinets that children do notreach or are locked with child-resistant closures.

This includes everything from shampoo, shaving cream and toothpaste (fluoride in a tube of toothpaste can be harmful if ingested by young children) of mascara, lipsticks and perfumes. Although I do not think it's dangerous to play safe and keep it stored safely.

2. Detergent

This is a bit 'more obvious: cleaning products are ripe with caustic detergents, chemicals and toxic waste.If a child clean smoke or inhale quite a task in the mouth, cleaning agent residues, the effects can be deadly.

Many cleaners contain corrosives that can burn skin on contact, and other products, like antifreeze, taste sweet, so a child does not know that could be dangerous to drink. And the bright colors exactly attractive to a child-friendly as Windex blue Kool-Aid provides, for example.

As for the cosmetics and personal care, cleaning products accessible from theReach of children. You can also stop them, if you wiped your home with Terry and PerfectClean wipes, whose ultra-microfiber construction allows clothing, mops and feather dusters to reach in microscopic cracks thoroughly clean opt (No other cleaning tool is approaching !) and remove all in their path: all forms of dirt, dust, hair, skin flakes and biological contaminants too small to see with the naked eye without the need for cleaning chemicals!

PerfectCleanThe products are 100% secure, and should be used dry or moistened with water, which is ideal for homes with small children, where the poisoning is a major concern.

3. Pain Medicine / fever reducers

One study showed that up to 40 percent of cases of poisoning occurred pediatric budget, while a parent with the product. Painkiller (or other drugs) are like candy to a child care, but their development process, but not the body, the adult-size doses of medication and the processvery different from an adult.

For this reason, there is never a good idea to encourage your child to tell a drug that will take it "knows of candy."

If you take a medication, always be sure you only take your calls and then the rest in a safe place. The medicine cabinet is one of the worst places, because children can rise slightly to open it over the sink and the door.

And do not rely on child-resistant containers. Studies have shown that childrenalways open if you get enough time.

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can also be dangerous. Do not give your child any medication, even OTC unless expressly approved and safe for children.

4. Coins and thermometer

These objects present a choking hazard for young children that is often made of small objects in his mouth, immediately after the discovery have left on the floor or counter.

Swallowing a coin is bigger than a penny, an X-rayIt is usually necessary to ensure that it has gone through the esophagus.

The thermometers are another risk for mercury when broken. Mercury can emit a poisonous gas and harmful if swallowed, so be sure to remove any broken glass thermometer accurately and safely.

5. Plants

The children find irresistible to the bright colors and different textures of plants, but some plants can be toxic to touch or eat. If you are unsure whether aPlant is poisonous, do not keep at home. The risk was not worth it.

You can list the following range of plants that should not be kept away point at families with children. The list is not complete, so be sure to look for information security to make sure that the plants in your home.

The following plants can be dangerous to the child and should be kept out of reach and not at home at all:

* Bird of Paradise

* Bull nettle

* Castor bean

* China BerryTree

* Crocus

* Narcissus

* Belladonna

* Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)

* Fingerhut

* Glory Lily

* Hemlock

* Holly Berry

* Indian Tobacco

* Iris

Jimsonweed *

Lantana *

* Larkspur

* Lily of the Valley

* Marijuana

Mescal Bean *

* Mexicantes

* Mistletoe

* Morning Glory

* Mountain Laurel

* Night-blooming jasmine

* Muscat

Oleander *

* Philodendron

*Poison Ivy

* Poison Sumac

* Pokeweed

* Poppy

* Potatoes

Privet *

* Rhododendron

* Rhubarb

* Water hemlock

* Wisteria

Sixth Diaper Care, acne preparations, antiseptics

The children can aspire to a tube of diaper cream or acne medication. These accidents typically occur because the conditions were from the vicinity of the reach of a child on the left.

Some recent products, such as those containing methyl salicylate (oilWintergreen) ingesting1 spoons some of the strengths of methyl salicylate can be equal to more than 20 aspirin tablets for adults, camphor oil, mint oil, eucalyptus essential oils and other concentrates can be highly toxic to young children.

As with other domestic questionable creams and ointments to keep all preparations, even those who use the cream for your child such as diapers, in an out-of-reach, locked or mobile home, baby.

7. Cough andCold preparations

Antihistamines cough suppressants,, expectorants and decongestants are often like a sweet taste and can be accidentally ingested by children. Keep them, along with other medications in a locked cupboard.

In giving the child cough or cold medicines, be sure that you are given the right dosage and some other adults, not the child. If used correctly it can cough and cold medicines cause drowsiness or agitation, and in high doses may effectBlood pressure and heart rate.

8. Pesticides

domestic pesticides such as rat and cockroach bait traps must be kept in rooms where children and the children (and pets) are not allowed.

According to Dr. Mark McDonald, a pediatric intensive care at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, pesticides can quickly kill a child. Do not pour pesticides into another container, he added, citing one case, made in one of the parents to plant food from a neighbor soda bottle plastic.The parents of a child took a drink from the bottle in the garage, and although it fell to the emergency room, was brain dead in 17 hours.

9. Vitamins

Believe it or not, vitamins are a common source of poisoning for children. The pills can, in turn, look like candy, and the doses and concentrations of nutrients and vitamins, a child can overwhelm the system.

Treat all vitamins and minerals as drugs and keep them from reaching your baby. And never give your child vitaminsdesigned for adults.

10. Gastrointestinal preparations

boxes or small sips of these preparations, if poisoned, perhaps reassuring for adults, one child. These are another category of family that is always in a safe place that the child can not enter, and should be used immediately (not in a bank in which the child can entice him from the left) should be maintained.

Diaper Rash: Common Causes and At-Home Treatment

What is Diaper Rash or Nappy Rash?

Diaper rash is a generic term applied to skin irritation that develops in the diaper-covered area that is caused by various disorders and irritants. It causes the baby's skin to become sore, red, scaly, and tender. In bad cases, the rash can cause pimples, blisters and sores on the baby's buttocks, thighs or genital area. If the rash gets infected, it may become bright red and the skin may get swollen. Small red patches or spots may also spread beyond the main part of the rash, even out of the diaper-covered area.

Common synonyms are including diaper dermatitis (skin inflammation), napkin dermatitis and ammonia dermatitis. Amongst all published causes of diaper rash, contact irritation seems to be the most significant factor. Diaper rash could develop as early as in the first week of a new born baby. As surveyed, the highest risk is recorded between the range of 9 and 12 months old. There are almost 40% of children in this age range will be attacked by diaper rash.

In general, there are few causes that contributed to diaper rash:

1) Irritant or Contact Dermatitis could show various severities vary from mild redness (similar to sunburn) to skin erosion. To differentiate contact dermatitis from other causes, it seldom involves the skin fold areas which are not in immediate contact with urine. It can be caused by rubbing of diapers against the skin and tight fitting of diapers onto the baby's body.

2) Bacterial infection is resulted from a disruption of skin integrity and overwhelmed skin defence mechanisms within the diaper-covered region. Visually, bacterial infections could be a small blisters (1-2mm) and pustules that covering the baby's buttock, lower abdomen, anus, umbilical cord, thighs as well as other parts of the body. When the baby's urine mixes with bacteria from feces, it breaks down and forms ammonia which can be very harsh.

3) Yeast or Fungal infection is characterized by bright red zone with slightly raised small dots extending beyond the main rashes. It is usually tender, painful and appears in the folds of the baby's genitals, legs and creases. Conversely to contact dermatitis, they are commonly found in the skin folds creases, around the baby's anal and can spread to the front and back of body.

4) Allergic reactions due to allergens like fragrances and materials of the diaper (dyes, super absorbent gels) and laundry chemicals e.g. detergent, bleach and softener. These regions often have well-defined zones of redness with superficial vesicles and erosions on the legs and in the groin area.

5) Metabolic and Nutritional Deficiency could happen during the introduction of new food or solid food to the baby. New foods can change the composition of the baby's feces and increase the bowel movement at the same time. This could lead to a diaper rash, and the rashes get worsen with happening of diarrhea. If baby is breast-fed, their delicate skin could even be reacting to those foods mothers are eating.

6) Immunodeficiency and Malignancies is likely to be one of the causes of diaper rash nowadays. Sometimes, diaper rash can develop on a baby who is taking antibiotics, or the baby is breast-fed by the mother who is on antibiotics. Antibiotics reduce the number of healthy bacteria that combating with yeast, as well as the harmful bacteria that meant to be destroyed.

Despite other intrinsic factors, there are few handy tips which can be used to prevent diaper rash:

1) Change your baby's diaper diligently as soon as it is wet and soiled. Newborn babies urinate and pass loose stools very often and there is always trace amount of moisture left on the baby's skin. You should always keep the baby's skin as dry, clean and cool as possible, in order to get rid of feces and urine in irritating the baby's skin.

2) Put your baby on an open cloth diaper during nap time. As baby often urinates right after falling asleep, the diaper should be checked shortly after the baby falls asleep and replace instantly if it is wet. You may even let your baby to sleep with a bare butt (with plastic sheet placed on top of bed sheet) for a speedy recovery.

3) Soak the baby's bottom with running water occasionally in between of diaper changes; or by squirting with a water bottle. If possible, only use warm water with (or without) mild soap.

4) Allow the baby's skin to dry completely before covering up with a clean diaper. Avoid using plastic pant or diaper with plastic edge. Diapers with anti-leak plastic prevents air circulation, thus conduces a warm and moist environment where fungi can thrive.

5) Pat the wet bottom gently with a soft cloth or towel, rather than scrubbing that can lead to irritation on sensitive skin.

6) Put on the diaper loosely to prevent chafing, or use a bigger-sized diaper will be leaving more rooms for better air circulation. Make sure the diaper or nappy fits firmly, instead of tightly.

7) Avoid using scented wipes and soaps, which may contain alcohol, perfume or fragrance that make skin irritation worse. If you are using disposable diapers, you must buy ones that are fragrance-free.

8) Use cream which contains zinc oxide ointment or petroleum jelly to protect your baby's skin from moisture. Never use creams that contain boric acid, camphor, phenol, methyl salicylate or benzoin tincture.

9) Do not use talcum powder or cornstarch in healing diaper rash. Talcum powder can be inhaled into the baby's lung, whereas cornstarch could worsen a yeast-infected diaper rash.

10) Boil washable diapers for approximately 10-15 minutes after thorough cleaning to kill germs and remove chemicals like soap that could potentially irritate the baby's skin.

11) Food allergies may cause diaper rash. When you introduce new solid foods, try to do so one at a time so that a particular allergy can be identified easily.

With some diligence and perseverance in following those best practises, diaper rash should be healed within 3 to 4 days without seeking an out-patient consultation.

Please consult your family pediatrician if the rash turns to be complicated with yellow patches or open sores. The pediatrician may either prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic for your baby, or antifungal drug for yeast infection. You should also consult the medical experts if your baby develops a fever, diarrhea or any kind of discomfort after several days of home treatment.

By Ding

http://www.FamilyDiaperBag.com

The Ten Most Common Poisons Among Kids

For parents, keeping our kids safe is a constant top priority. But even with the best intentions it's possible to overlook some potentially harmful household poisons. According to the National Academy of Poison Control Centers, 92 percent of all poison exposures occur in the home, and 52 percent of poison exposures occur in children under the age of 6.

Following is a list of the most common poisons among children. Take note of them and make sure these items are securely out of your child's reach.

1. Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

Cosmetics contain many chemicals, some of which are even toxic to adults, but because children are smaller, and their metabolic rates are faster, a small amount of chemical or toxin can cause a serious reaction.

Most poisonings occur when children are not being watched closely, such as when parents are busy making dinner or entertaining friends. Keep all cosmetics and personal care products in cabinets that children cannot reach or are locked with child-proof closures.

This includes everything from shampoo, shaving cream and toothpaste (the fluoride in a tube of toothpaste can be detrimental if swallowed by small children) to mascara, lipsticks and perfumes. Even if you don't think it's dangerous, play it safe and keep it securely stashed away.

2. Cleaning Substances

This one is a bit more obvious: cleaning products are ripe with caustic detergents, harsh chemicals and toxic residues. Should a child inhale cleaner fumes or put an object in their mouth that contains cleanser residue, the effects can be lethal.

Many cleaners also contain corrosive agents that can burn the skin on contact, and other products, like antifreeze, taste sweet so a child may not know it's dangerous to drink. And, the bright colors are attractive to a child-Windex looks exactly like blue Kool-Aid, for example.

As with cosmetics and personal care items, always keep cleansers out of the reach of children. You can also quit using them altogether if you opt to clean your house with PerfectClean terry wipes and mops, whose ultramicrofiber construction enables the clothes, mops and dusters to reach deep into microscopic crevices (NO other cleaning tool available even comes close!) and remove everything in their path: all forms of dirt, dust, hair, dander, and the biological contaminants too small to see with the naked eye-without the need for chemical cleansers!

PerfectClean products are 100% safe, and are meant to be used dry or dampened with some water, which is ideal for homes with small children where poisoning is a major concern.

3. Pain Medicine/Fever Reducers

One study found that up to 40 percent of pediatric household poisonings occurred while a parent was using the product. Pain medications (or other medications) may look like candy to a small child, but their developing bodies cannot handle the adult-sized dosages and will process the drug much differently than an adult.

For this reason, it's never a good idea to encourage your child to take a medication by saying that it "tastes like candy."

If you take a medication, always be sure to take out only your necessary does and then put the rest in a secure location. The medicine cabinet is one of the worst places because children can easily climb up to them via the sink and open the door.

And don't rely on child-proof containers. Studies have found that children can invariably get them open if given enough time.

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can also be dangerous. Never give your child any medication, even if it's OTC, that is not specifically approved to be safe for children.

4. Coins and Thermometers

These objects present choking hazards to small children, who will often put small objects in their mouths immediately upon finding them left out on the floor or counter top.

If a coin larger than a penny is swallowed, an X-ray is generally needed to be sure it has passed through the esophagus.

Thermometers represent another hazard of mercury ingestion if they are broken. Mercury can emit a poisonous gas and is dangerous when swallowed, so be sure to clean up any broken glass thermometers thoroughly and safely.

5. Plants

Children may find the bright colors and different textures of plants irresistible, but some plants can be poisonous if touched or eaten. If you're in doubt about whether or not a plant is poisonous, don't keep it in your home. The risk is not worth it.

You can refer to the list in the box below for plants that should not be kept in homes with children. The list is not comprehensive, so be sure to seek out safety information on the plants in your home to be safe.

The following plants may be hazardous to your child, and should be kept out of reach or not in the home at all:

* Bird of paradise

* Bull nettle

* Castor bean

* Chinaberry tree

* Crocus

* Daffodil

* Deadly nightshade

* Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)

* Foxglove

* Glory lily

* Hemlock

* Holly berry

* Indian tobacco

* Iris

* Jimsonweed

* Lantana

* Larkspur

* Lily of the valley

* Marijuana

* Mescal bean

* Mexicantes

* Mistletoe

* Morning glory

* Mountain laurel

* Night-blooming jasmine

* Nutmeg

* Oleander

* Philodendron

* Poison ivy

* Poison sumac

* Pokeweed

* Poppy

* Potato

* Privet

* Rhododendron

* Rhubarb

* Water hemlock

* Wisteria

6. Diaper Care, Acne Preparations, Antiseptics

Children may suck on a tube of diaper cream or acne medication. These accidents typically occur because the items have been left out near a child's reach.

Some topical products, such as those containing methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen)-ingesting1 teaspoon of some strengths of methyl salicylate can equal more than 20 adult aspirin tablets-camphorated oil, pennyroyal oil, oil of eucalyptus, and other concentrated essential oils can be extremely toxic to small children.

As with other questionable household items, keep all creams, ointments and preparations, even those that you use on your child like diaper cream, in an out-of-reach, locked or child-proofed cabinet.

7. Cough and Cold Preparations

Antihistamines, cough suppressants, expectorants and decongestants are often flavored like candy and may be mistakenly taken by children. Keep them, along with other medications, in a locked cabinet.

When giving your child cough or cold medicine, be sure that you are using the proper dose, and that another adult has not already given some to the child. If used incorrectly, cough and cold medications may cause agitation or drowsiness, and in large doses may effect Blood pressure and heart rate.

8. Pesticides

domestic pesticides such as rat and cockroach bait traps must be kept in rooms where children and the children (and pets) are not allowed.

According to Dr. Mark McDonald, a pediatric intensive care at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, pesticides can quickly kill a child. Do not pour pesticides into another container, he added, citing one case, taken in in one of the parents paid plant food from a neighbor soda bottle plastic.The parent's child took a drink from the bottle in the garage and, despite being rushed to the emergency room, was brain-dead in 17 hours.

9. Vitamins

Believe it or not, vitamins are a common source of poisoning for children. The pills can, again, look like candy, and the doses and concentrations of nutrients and vitamins can overwhelm a child's system.

Treat all vitamins and supplements like drugs and keep them out of your child's reach. And never give your child vitamins meant for adults.

10. Gastrointestinal preparations

Small doses or sips of these preparations, though perhaps soothing for adults, can poison a child. These are another category of household items that should always be kept in a secure location that your child cannot get into, and should be used immediately (not left out on a counter where your child may be tempted by it).

Three Common Baby Rashes - Helping Your Infant Heal

When you notice bumps on your baby, you often can't tell if they are serious or innocent. For instance, could it just be a few mosquito bites in one area of the arm or is it the beginning of a rash? Can it be an additional reaction to having a fever or virus in the system? Here are a few rashes to be aware of that are common in babies.

Cradle cap can result in redness and scaly patches on your child's scalp. Some say this is due to hormonal changes after birth. It is due to oil secretions that are overproducing and leaving dead skin on surface of head. Cradle cap is not serious and medication from your pediatrician will be helpful. This needs to be watched as the skin disorder can often be resistant.

Heat rash is a cluster of tiny bumps on the baby's skin caused by overheating. The appearance of the bumps is usually a light red color. The heat rash will appear on the fold of the baby's skin, areas where the clothes fit tight including the stomach, chest, crotch, neck and buttocks. Also, the baby can experience heat rash on the scalp if little caps or hats are worn. The causes of the heat rash can come from the baby sweating so finding ways to control this is important. The rash can be treated by first starting with removing clothes from the infant and moving the child to a cool room. The individual affected areas can be treated with cool, damp washcloths. Another treatment is giving the baby a bath with baking soda. Try after bathing to allow the baby's body to air dry instead of using a towel. Corn starch can be helpful and be careful about using thick ointments that can clog the pores.

Nappy rash is another name for diaper rash and is one of the common baby rashes. The rash can make the infant's bottom sore and red. If the condition worsens then the rash can lead to broken skin, red spots and blisters. The cause it is from the skin kept wet and subsequent irritation from the diaper being kept on the baby too long. Some children can develop a diaper rash from soap and detergent. Getting fresh air to the area without a diaper is helpful. There are also many diaper rash creams on the market. Some people find that using a zinc oxide cream or one with vitamins A and D have reduced skin irritation. Be sure to find out if your child may be having an allergic reaction to foods that can be contributing to this issue.

Most common baby rashes are not harmful but severe cases should lead one to seek the attention of a doctor. If there is any breathing issues, always seek immediate medical attention as an allergic reaction can be causing both the rash and respiratory problems.

A Summary Of Some Common Skin Rashes In Babies

Cradle cap is a condition whereby patches of greasy yellow flakes and small pimple-like bumps appear on the scalps of healthy babies. Sometimes it may appear on the eyebrows, ears and other areas where sebaceous glands are located. It can occur in any baby, and appear during the early weeks of life and will clear by the sixth month. Some dermatologists think that high levels of maternal hormones are transmitted to the baby during the final weeks of pregnancy. This makes the sebaceous (oil) glands in the baby's skin hyperactive which trigger overproduction of sebum which not only overstimulates the growth of new skin cells but also binds the old skin cells into flakes and crusts. It often has a mild unpleasant smell and does not cause any discomfort to the baby.

Some doctors recommend leaving it alone but I prefer to treat it early because I have seen many cases whereby the crust becomes so thick that whenever it is rubbed, large chunks of hair comes off leaving a very red and raw looking area. Treatment is to apply a liberal amount of baby oil to the affected area about 20 minutes before the baby's bath. This will allow the crust to become soft and easy to remove. During the bath, apply a little baby shampoo to the head and using a soft hair brush or face cloth, gently brush or rub the crust off. Do this once a day until the crust has been completely removed. Sometimes it may recur after a few days so continue to wash baby's hair in the same way. Once the baby's sebaceous (oil) glands settle down the condition will disappear.
N.B. The oil application must be shampooed out to prevent an oily buildup which may make the condition worse. Do not try and remove the crusts and scales with the tip of a fingernail.

Heat rash consists of tiny blisters filled with sweat. It forms when the pores become blocked and prevent the sweat glands from releasing the sweat or when heat and humidity exceed the ability of the sweat glands to cool the body. Babies are especially vulnerable because their ability to sweat is not fully developed and they often wear or lie on waterproof materials. It normally develops around the neck, face, armpits and sometimes on the chest and back.

Western medication includes applying calamine lotion and antihistamines for severe itching. Sometimes applying a light dusting of corn starch powder may help to relieve the itchiness. Chinese traditional remedy is to bath the baby with boiled dried bitter gourd vine daily for 3 days.

It is best to prevent the condition from developing by dressing the baby in light cotton clothes especially in warm or hot weather. Avoid laying the baby on a plastic covered mattress or pad. Do not apply moisturizing cream or lotions or use bath oils for babies under 3 months as these products may clog the pores. Do not over wrap the baby in layers of clothes and swaddling blanket.

Nappy rash is often due to infrequent nappy change causing irritation from ammonia which is released when bacteria starts breaking down the contents of a dirty nappy. It could be due to an allergy to your washing powder or fabric conditioner if your baby wears cloth diapers or a food/drug allergy especially antibiotics. The genital area, buttocks, groins and sometimes the upper thighs will look red and inflamed. It can be dry or moist and sometimes look pimply. Babies with nappy rash may be very fussy and cries frequently or does not seem bothered at all.

"Prevention is better than treatment" so the best defence against nappy rash is a dry bottom.

Infantile eczema is an itchy dry scaly rash usually seen on the cheeks or chin, but may show up on the head, trunk, back of arms, or front of legs and is not contagious. It is first noticed at 2 to 5 months of age and is most common in families with history of allergies or asthma. In most cases it will settle down by the time the child reaches school age but for some it may continue to be a life long problem. The frequency and severity of flare ups can be dramatically reduced with careful daily washing using a hypoallergenic soap and applying moisturisers, topical steroids when needed. Avoid trigger factors such as excessive sweating, woollen clothing, soaps and bubble bath. Sometimes it may be necessary to give baby antihistamine if the itch is very intense and is making the baby very irritable.

Sometimes the eczema can become infected by bacteria and this causes extensive redness, swelling and weeping of the affected area. In this case it may be necessary for the doctor to prescribe an antibiotic cream together with a steroid cream. Children with severe eczema usually also have hay fever and asthma.

Urticaria or hives are red or pink raised areas on the skin that are very itchy and warm to the touch. It may appear on any part of the body and usually last from a few hours to a few days, but can stay for weeks or even months in some cases. Hives are usually caused by food allergies with the most frequent culprits being eggs, shellfish, chocolate, food additives, colouring or preservatives. It can also be due to allergy to certain drugs or in response to contact with animals especially cats or from insect bites.

It may come on after exposure to extreme temperature especially heat or chemicals. Most often hives will disappear on its own after the allergic reaction is over. If it causes itching and discomfort, the doctor may prescribe an oral antihistamine and calamine lotion to apply on the rashes. Avoid giving your child allergy causing food until the hives have subsided. Later try to find the offending culprit by reintroducing the food item one at a time and once you know the offending food it is important to let your child's caretakers or school teachers know so that the food is avoided. This is because very rarely, hives can develop in the mouth and throat which can obstruct the child's airways. You can put this information on sticker labels on your child's feeding utensils especially in preschools when your child is too young to tell the caretakers.

Traditional Chinese therapy recommends not bathing the child as it will cause more rashes to appear and make the rash itch more. Treatment is to heat up some rice wine and apply it on the rashes 3 times a day. Most often the rashes will disappear after 2 days.

Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a skin rash with flat or raised red spots on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet and sometimes on the buttocks. Often the rash will form tiny blisters which look like the chickenpox rash but it does not itch. A day or two later the child may develop sores or blisters on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks. They begin as small red spots on the tongue, gums or mucous membranes which then develop into blisters or sores.

It is caused by Coxsackie virus A16 which belongs to a group of viruses called enterovirus and is normally not serious. Infection is spread by direct contact with saliva, nose and throat discharges, fluid from the blisters or the stool of an infected person who is most contagious during the first week of the illness. All infected cases recover without medical treatment by 7 to 10 days. It is most common between ages 6 months and 4 years. Very rarely, it may be caused by another strain of Coxsackie virus EV71 whereby the child develops aseptic meningitis or encephalitis (Inflammation of the brain). This strain may be fatal as in the case in Sarawak in 1997.

Treatment is to provide relief from fever or pain from the mouth ulcers and give plenty of fluids. There is no immunization for HFMD.

Thrush or candidiasis is a fungal infection from Candida albicans. It appears as a red bumpy rash in the diaper area and the bumps are sometimes pus-filled. It may be worse in the skin folds and does not respond to diaper cream. Often the primary source of infection is in the mouth which then spreads to the nappy area from the contaminated stools. It normally starts as a couple of white patches on the sides of the mouth and if not treated quickly can spread until the tongue is coated as well. This makes it painful for baby to suckle. The creamy patches look like milk curds and therefore is easily missed. Use a cotton bud to wipe the white patches. If the patches cannot be removed it confirms that the baby has thrush therefore should be taken to the doctor who may prescribe Daktarin gel for the oral thrush and cream for the nappy area. If the infection is severe it may be necessary for the doctor to prescribe Daktacort which has a small amount of steroid in it to speed up the healing process. All feeding equipment must be boiled thoroughly for 10 minutes to prevent recurrence.

Roseola infantum or false measles is a viral illness in young children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. The rash is pink and may have small flat spots or raised bumps. These spots may have a lighter "halo" around them and may turn white if you press on them.

Roseola usually starts out with a sudden high fever often over 103° Fahrenheit or 39.5° Celsius. During this time, the child may appear fussy or irritable and may have decreased appetite, mild diarrhoea and swollen lymph glands in the neck. The fever typically lasts three to five days and end abruptly followed by the telltale rash which is usually seen on the trunk and neck, but it can extend to the limbs and face. The rash may last for several hours or days.

A diagnosis of roseola cannot be made until the fever drops and the rash appears, so the doctor may order tests to make sure that the fever is not caused by another infection.

Roseola is contagious and spreads through tiny drops of fluid from the nose and throat of infected people. There is no known way to prevent the spread of roseola. Repeat cases of roseola may occur, but they are not common.

Treatment is to keep your baby well hydrated with lots of fluids and to control the fever to prevent a febrile seizure as about 10 to 15 percent of children with roseola have a febrile seizure.