CHICKPOX
Chickenpox is caused by a virus called varicella zoster that usually starts with a fever. After the fever and being infected by the virus a rash develops within a day or two. The rash looks like a small, red bump that has a thin water blister surrounded by a small area of redness on the skin around the blister. These blisters then become open sores that finally dry and crust. The blisters initially appear on the head and neck area. The arms and legs and then palms and soles appear with lesions near the end of the course of the disease.
How do your kids catch chickenpox?
Chickenpox is contagious. Someone who has chickenpox is most contagious during the first 2 to 5 days that he or she is sick. That's usually about 1 to 2 days before the rash shows up. It is quite possible that your child could have caught it in the house or at school without you even knowing it. A person who has chickenpox can pass it to someone else by coughing or sneezing. When he or she coughs, sneezes, laughs, and even talks, tiny drops come out of the mouth and nose. These drops are full of the chickenpox virus. It's easy for someone else to breathe in these drops or get them on their hands. Before you know it, the chickenpox virus has infected someone new.
Symptoms
Chickenpox may start out seeming like a cold: Your child might have a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and a cough.
1 to 2 days later, the rash begins, often in bunches of spots on the chest and face. From there it can spread out quickly over the entire body. The number of pox is different for everyone.
Besides the rash, someone with chickenpox might also have a stomachache, a fever, and may just not feel well.
How can you help your kids?
Chickenpox and its itchy blisters can drive any kid crazy and can frustrate any parent. These tips can help your child feel less itchy:
Keep him/her cool because heat and sweat will make your child itch more. You might want to put a cool, wet washcloth on the really bad areas.
Trim your children’s fingernails, so if they do scratch, at least they won't tear their skin.
Soak your child in a lukewarm bath. Adding some oatmeal to their bath water can help relieve the itching.
Apply calamine lotion to the blisters; this soothes the itching.
Get your children vaccinated by the chickenpox shot. Thanks to this vaccine, lots of kids don't get chickenpox at all.
INDIGESTION
Indigestion is just another name for an upset stomach. It's also called dyspepsia. Indigestion usually happens when people eat too much, too fast, or foods that they are sensitive to. Stress and not getting enough sleep can also make indigestion worse.
Heartburn is a burning feeling that travels from a person's chest up to the neck and throat. It's caused by stomach acid, which isn't a problem unless it gets out of your child’s stomach.
With heartburn, stomach acid splashes up and irritates the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Also called acid indigestion, this usually leaves a sour or bitter taste in the person's mouth.
Indigestion and heartburn are common problems for kids and grownups. But don't give medicine to your child for indigestion unless your child’s doctor says so.
How does your kid get indigestion?
Indigestion may be caused by a number of reasons; mostly they have to do with overeating or eating foods that make your children’s tummies upset. Your child’s stomach may be aching due to indigestion if s/he may have had fatty, greasy foods, like fries and burgers. Too much chocolate or too many citrus fruits (the acid in citrus fruits can upset the digestive tract) can also cause heartburn.
Symptoms
If your child has indigestion or heartburn, s/he will probably have one or more of the following symptoms:
Pain or burning in the upper belly - usually in the middle.
Nausea (feeling sick in the stomach).
Bloating (that too-full feeling where the stomach sticks out).
Burping that s/he has a hard time controlling.
How can you help your kids?
Some children can eat anything and they never get upset stomachs. But other kids are more sensitive to food and they might find certain ones just don't agree with them. If your child is sensitive to some food items, it's best not to let them eat a lot of them or skip them entirely. In addition to avoiding problem foods, it's a good idea to eat slower and eat several smaller meals instead of a couple of really big ones.
If your child has also been troubled by severe indigestion its best to go to a doctor and let him/her know what your child has recently eaten. The doctor may take stomach X-rays or other tests to make sure that your child’s indigestion is not the sign of another problem.
