Due to the warming weather in the summer months, children spend more time outside and may be negatively affected by the increasing temperature. Especially sunstroke and burns, rash, rash, urinary tract infections caused by poor pool and sea hygiene, eye inflammations called conjunctivitis, inflammations of the external ear canal, diarrhea, food poisoning, fevers due to travelling, insect and fly bites, falls and impacts. Injuries are common. Before going on vacation, we need to take some precautions for the health of our children. Child Health and Diseases Specialist Dr. Cansu Yılmaz gave information about the subject.
Sunstroke and burns
Sun rays coming from a steeper angle to the earth in summer may cause sunstroke in children. Features: Caution should be exercised in babies under 6 months. In case of sunstroke, fever, weakness, vomiting and loss of consciousness may occur. The risk of skin cancer also increases due to the harmful UV rays of the sun.
In case of vitamin D deficiency, at least twice a week between 10:00 and 16:00, cover the face and arms directly for 10-15 minutes without applying sunscreen (glasses in between). It is recommended to expose it to sunlight (without tulle), but in summer, more care should be taken during these hours when the sun is at a right angle. In summer, there should be no direct exposure to the sun between 11:00 and 15:00, when the sun is vertical.
For children, sunscreen with a protection factor (SPF) of 50 should be used half an hour before going out into the sun, and a light-coloured hat as much as possible. Umbrellas and shaded areas should be preferred. Children should be dressed in light-coloured cotton clothes that absorb sweat. Children's pool or sea games should not last longer than 20 minutes. Plenty of fluids should be given to replace the fluid lost in extreme heat.
Rats and rashes:
Baby skin is very sensitive compared to adults. Since the skin surface area is larger in babies, heat and fluid loss occurs more. The frequency of diaper changes should be increased for children who have not acquired the toilet habit and use diapers. Especially in the newborn period, diapers should be checked every 2 hours and diapers should be changed every time the diaper gets dirty. should be raised. After cleaning, the diaper area should be left open for a few minutes to breathe and a protective diaper rash cream should be used if necessary. Newborns should be bathed every day. Children should be bathed and dressed in new dry cotton clothes every time they sweat.
Diarrhea and food poisoning:
In the summer months, our body loses excessive fluid due to sweating. It is necessary to replace this fluid loss by drinking plenty of water and consuming fluids. However, attention should be paid to the water and liquid sources we use. Diseases such as typhoid, paratyphoid, diarrhea and viral hepatitis (hepatitis A) may occur from drinking water of unknown origin and from fruits and vegetables washed with this water. If human and animal feces and waste are mixed into the water, especially in picnic areas, the water becomes contaminated with invisible microbes and causes intestinal infections.
The most important symptoms of intestinal infections are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If the microbes do not pass through the intestinal wall, the toxins they secrete cause diarrhea in the form of abundant and watery stools. Fever is usually absent and abdominal pain is mild.
If microbes have penetrated the intestinal wall, it may cause bleeding. Abdominal pain and fever occur. Bloody diarrhea, that is, dysentery, may develop.
Food spoils quickly due to increasing temperatures. In summer, even if food is cooked, it should be kept in the refrigerator. Since microbes grow easily on food that is exposed to heat and in the open, it causes food poisoning. Products such as mayonnaise-containing foods, milk and dairy products, cream, and meat carry more risks. It is necessary to stay away from foods that have been left open for a long time, which are displayed in open buffets in places such as hotels and holiday villages.
With diarrhea, a large amount of water and salt is lost, blood pressure decreases, dry mouth occurs, there are no tears and the eyeballs collapse. . Acute kidney failure may develop due to fluid loss due to diarrhea, and diarrhea may result in death.
The treatment of diarrhea is to replace the lost fluid. Oral rehydration fluid can be given to children who can consume oral fluids to replace lost electrolytes such as sodium potassium chlorine bicarbonate. < 2 years old from one packet of ORS prepared in 1 liter of water �: 1/2-1 tea glass (50-100 ml), > 2 years old: 1/2-1 water glass (100-200 ml) + additional fluid should be given or 10 ml ORS should be given per kilo. Older children should be given yoghurt, buttermilk, meat, potatoes, rice dishes, carrots, bananas and freshly squeezed fruit juices. Probiotics such as Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus acidophilus can be used.
Children who have fever along with diarrhea and who cannot take fluids orally due to nausea and vomiting should immediately go to the hospital and be given fluids intravenously.
To prevent diarrhea. Precautions that can be taken for:
1. Let your children drink water that you know is clean. If you are not sure about the cleanliness of the water, boil the water for at least 10 minutes, make it lukewarm and use it.
2. Pay attention to hand hygiene. Make sure your children wash their hands before every meal and after using the toilet.
3. Make sure your food is freshly packaged and has not expired.
4. Do not feed your children fresh fruits and vegetables without washing them
Diseases that can be transmitted in the pool:
The pool and the sea are indispensable entertainment for children during the summer holiday. Urinary tract infections, eye infections, and external ear canal infections may be more common during the summer holidays due to children swimming in unclean pools. If chlorination and cleaning are not done properly in aqua parks and pools with water slides, the possibility of infection is higher. You must take a shower before entering the pool. Pool water should not be drunk and hands should be washed with plenty of water after using the toilet.
In children with water in their ears, bacteria in the water can cause external ear canal infection. Complaints such as itching, discharge, congestion, pain and fever in the ear occur. In this case, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible
. Ear plugs can be used to prevent water from entering the ear when entering the pool.
Complaints such as eye redness, pain, burrs, burning and stinging may occur due to microbes transmitted from the pool. It is necessary to wash the eyes with plenty of water. If the complaints do not go away, it is necessary to consult a doctor without wasting time.
Insect stings and flies:
With the warming weather in the summer, insects, flies, scorpions, snakes, bees, ticks, poisonous stings occur in nature. Our contact with animals such as marine animals is also increasing. Systemic findings are rarely seen in insect bites. Allergic symptoms that usually occur are itching, pain and local swelling. The bitten area must first be washed with plenty of water. To relieve pain, pressure can be applied for up to 10 minutes or ice can be applied. If itching, pain and swelling increase, it is necessary to consult a healthcare provider immediately. If you go to the picnic area, wear long, thin clothes and do not leave your legs exposed. Check your child's body for insect bites after a picnic in green areas.
Trauma
Children spend more time outside during the summer holidays. People may be exposed to trauma in games such as cycling, skating, football and basketball. Children should use protective equipment such as headgear, knee pads and elbow pads while doing these activities. In case of bleeding, bone deformity, pain or loss of consciousness, immediate medical attention should be sought. Children who cannot swim should have equipment to prevent drowning such as armbands or life preservers, and children should not be left alone by the sea or pool.
Fever due to travel:
8% of patients seek medical treatment after returning from travel to developing countries. is needed. The most common complaint in children after international travel is fever. Most infections are lower respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, or middle ear infection. Among travel infections, malaria is seen in 21%, traveler's diarrhea in 15%, equilibria fever in 6% and typhoid in 2%. Depending on the region to be traveled, precautions must be taken beforehand and vaccinations must be complete. Particular attention should also be paid to hand hygiene.
In order to avoid negative effects from air conditioners used to cool off in extreme heat, air conditioner filters should be cleaned in a timely manner. In order to prevent air conditioning crashes, we should set the air conditioning to 23-26 degrees in summer.
We hope that you will have a happy, peaceful and healthy summer holiday with your children after taking the necessary precautions...
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