CHILDREN HEALTH: MEDICINE CHEST
Although most of the medications your child will take will be on a doctor’s prescription, there are certain items every parent ought to have on hand at home. Some of these are nonprescription medications that you can buy over the counter at your drugstore. These are usually called OTC medications. Other items, like a thermometer, are basics of a home health care kit. You’ll also need antiseptics, ointments, gauze pads, and bandages in preparation for the inevitable bangs, bruises, scrapes, cuts, and other minor crises of childhood.
When you’re assembling this kit, however, remember a few safety rules:
• Do not buy or administer any but the most basic drugs without the advice of a doctor.
• Only buy medications in containers that have child-proof caps. Keep all medications in their original, clearly-labeled containers.
• Unless your child takes a prescription medication on a regular basis, do not keep leftover medicines. Flush liquids and pills or capsules down the toilet and throw out the containers.
• Keep all medications locked away from children. If you and your young child are visiting friends who do not have children, make sure that no dangerous substances are within reach of the child.
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ANIMAL BITES IN CHILDREN
Animal bites that break the skin are cuts, puncture wounds, or scrapes. However, animal bites may result in serious complications. First, animal bites often become infected by the bacteria in the animal’s mouth. Second, animal bites may cause tetanus (lockjaw) or rabies.
Tetanus (lockjaw) is a serious disease caused by a germ that lives in soil, dust, and the intestines and intestinal wastes of animals and humans. It can easily enter the body through puncture wounds or scratches caused by animal bites and claw wounds. A vaccine to prevent tetanus is available.
Rabies is unknown in Australia. It is a fatal disease of the central nervous system that may affect any mammal. It is caused by a virus that can be identified within the brain of an affected animal. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of the sick animal.
Signs and symptoms
Even in younger children, an animal bite is usually obvious from its appearance. It is sometimes difficult to tell a bite from a claw wound; however, claw wounds should be treated in the same way as bites because a claw wound can also contain bacteria from the animal’s saliva. U the bite has caused a bruise, but there is no break in the skin, you do not need to worry about tetanus.
Home care
Scrub the wound with soap and water for five to ten minutes and flush with water. Apply antiseptic to minor wounds. Report the wound to your doctor immediately for advice concerning tetanus, and repair of the wound. Let your doctor know when your child was most recently vaccinated against tetanus.
The chance of an animal bite becoming infected is very high. If redness begins spreading out from the wound, or if the wound becomes more tender, call your doctor.
Precautions
• Be sure your child has regular tetanus boosters.
• Always contact your doctor about treatment in the case of animal bites.
Medical treatment
Because of the high possibility of infection, your doctor may decide not to stitch the wound. However, if the wound is located where scarring is not desirable (such as on the face), the doctor may choose to stitch the wound. Before stitching, treatment first includes removing the injured tissue and a thorough cleansing. Antibiotics taken by mouth may be prescribed. If necessary, your doctor may give the child a tetanus booster or antitoxin (a substance that counteracts the poisonous effects of the tetanus germ).
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DIABETES: QUESTIONS ASKED BY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Can I join scouts or guides or a youth club?
Certainly there is no reason at all why you should not join any youth club or group. Make sure that the leader knows that you have diabetes and is told what to do if you should have an insulin reaction.
Can I go camping with my youth club?
Yes, as soon as you are able to do your own injections, measure your own insulin dose, do your blood tests, and know how to measure your diet. Most children can do all these things by the time they are 12 or 13 (and some younger) and if you cannot, you should only go if there is some adult with the group who is prepared to take responsibility and can do these things for you. One of the important objectives of learning about diabetes is to make you self-reliant so you can
Who should you tell that you have diabetes?
Your parents of course will tell your close relatives and perhaps your adult friends who have a lot to do with you. They would need to know about your diabetes if you have meals with them or so they could help if you should have a hypo when they are responsible for you. Clearly your schoolteacher ought to know and so should any youth club leader or sports instructor or coach. They will want to know so that they can allow you to have extra sugar to cover extra physical exertion and so that they will know what to do if you should by any chance have a hypo.
The major problem may be to decide which of your own friends and acquaintances should be told and how to tell them. Sometimes this problem is very easily resolved and certainly any boy or girl who is a good friend should be told that you have diabetes.
Perhaps your friends will ask you where you have been when you go back to school after developing diabetes. Then it is easy to say, ‘Well I got sick and had to go to hospital where they found I had diabetes. I have had treatment and I am perfectly all right now.’ Perhaps your friends will want to know a little more about it and you can tell them that you have insulin injections each day and that you have to restrict certain foods. If your friends are interested in a sensible way then, there can be no harm in discussing it with them and giving them as much information as they want.
There is really no need for other people who are not particular friends and who are not responsible for your care to know about your diabetes. You might tell your friends that although you are not ashamed about having diabetes you see no point in having it generally discussed around. In general, it is better to adopt the attitude that diabetes is not particularly important, it is just something you have got; it does not affect you in any way.
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