Archive for June, 2008

Reye’s Syndrome

Reye’s syndrome is a rare, serious disease that can develop in anyone under age 20. It occurs most often in children 6 to 12 years old. The cause of Reye’s syndrome is unknown. It usually occurs after aspirin is given to a child who has a viral illness such as chickenpox or flu. Reye’s syndrome is not contagious.

Reye’s syndrome causes changes in the body that affect all the organs but are most harmful to the brain and liver.

Symptoms of Reye’s syndrome include:

• Sudden onset of persistent vomiting that is not related to having flu.
• Drowsiness and lack of energy
• Rapid, deep breathing (hyperventilation)
• Behavior changes such as extreme irritability, aggressiveness, or confusion

If Reye’s syndrome is not treated immediately, it can lead to seizures, coma, and, in severe cases, death.

Early treatment of Reye’s syndrome increases the chance for full recovery. Most people have no long-lasting complications and gradually get better after a few weeks. However, some people may have permanent brain damage.

To prevent Reye’s syndrome, never give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 unless your health professional direct you to do so.

Fever Seizures

Fever seizures are uncontrolled muscle spasms that can happen while a child’s temperature is rapidly rising. Sometimes the seizure occurs before you are even aware that the child has a fever. Once a child’s fever has reached a high temperature, the risk of a seizure is probably over.

A child having a fever seizure may lose consciousness. The child’s muscles will stiffen, and his or her teeth will clench. Then the child’s arms and legs will start to jerk. The child’s eyes may roll back, and he or she may stop breathing for a few seconds. The child might also vomit, urinate, or pass tools. Seizures usually last 1 to 5 minutes.

Although frightening, fever seizures in children age 6 months to 5 years are seldom serious and do not cause harm. Two to 4 percent of children in this age group are prone to fever seizures. About 30 percent of children who have a fever seizure will have another on in the future

Home Treatment and When to Call a Health Professional

click here

When to Call a Health Professional

When we have problems with our children’s health, there is a guideline we must follow. And when it’s getting worse like the conditions below, we must call a health professional.

• If fever occurs with vomiting, severe headache, sleepiness, lethargy, stiff neck, or a bulging soft spot on an infant’s head. It might be the possibility of encephalitis and meningitis.
• If fever is accompanied by these symptoms:
  • Rapid, difficult breathing
  • Drooling or inability to swallow
  • Purple rash that does not lighten when you press on it
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain
  • Signs of dehydration
  • Unexplained skin rash
  • Ear pain (babies often pull at painful ears)
  • Pain when urinating (crying when urinating), not caused by painful diaper rash
  • New swelling, pain, redness, or warmth in one or more joints
  • Any unusual or severe pain
• If an infant younger than 3 months of age has a fever of 100.4°F or higher
• If a child age 3 months to 3 years has a fever of:
  • 105°F or higher
  • 104°F or higher that does not come down after 4 to 6 hours of home treatment
  • 102°F to 104°F for more than 12 hours
  • 100.4°F to 102°F for more than 24 to 48 hours
• If the child has a fever and seems sicker than you would expect from a viral illness such as a cold or the flu
• If the child becomes delirious or has hallucinations
• If the child’s fever began after he or she took a new medication

Roseola

Roseola (roseola infantum) is a mild viral illness that often starts with a sudden high fever (103° F
to 105° F) and irritability. The fever lasts 2 to 3 days. As the fever drops, a rosy pink rash appears on the torso, neck, and arms. The rash may last 1 to 2 days.

Since the fever is quite high and may come on quickly, fever seizures may occur.

Roseola is most common in children from 6 months to 2 years of age. It is rare after age 4.

Home Treatment

• If the child has a fever over 102° F and is uncomfortable, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20, because the risk of Reye’s syndrome
• Give the child lots of liquids
• If a fever seizure occurs, click here

When to Call a Health Professional

click here