We hope this latest update finds you and your loved ones well.
Please share the article, follow and like us on Facebook and Instagram. Your support and feedback are really appreciated and so valuable in helping us improve these updates. We aim for this information to be useful to you and all families.
Our classes for weaning infants onto solids continue to get some great feedback. These online classes offer top tips on how to make weaning enjoyable for you and your baby and give you the opportunity to ask any questions too. You can book online to join the class.
For families who prefer a 1 to 1 session for their child’s nutrition, we are very excited to be partnering with Bianca Parau, Specialist Paediatric Dietitian. Bianca will be offering nutritional assessments for infants and children of all ages, starting in November. You can book appointments for a Nutritional Assessment with Paediatric Dietitian, Bianca Parau online.
Here you’ll also find dates for our popular First aid training classes for parents. The classes are suitable for all parents and carers so please share with anyone you feel may benefit.
Do you have a question or topic that you would like covered through this newsletter? Please email info@childhealthy.co.uk and we will aim to include this in the next update.
Our practice is here to support you as usual.
We wish you all the very best,
Dr Yiannis and the Childhealthy team.
- Keeping your child healthy this winter.
- What illnesses should I look out for?
- What do I do if my child is unwell?
- Common remedies for winter colds.
- New advice articles: When to worry about nosebleeds and 10 Top Tips for using dummies or pacifiers.
Keeping your child healthy this winter.
It is that time of year again when seasonal changes mean children are coming down with sore throats, sniffles and colds. Of course, it’s also still important to keep an eye out for COVID-19 symptoms.
Our COVID-19 and children FAQs give you information and advice about COVID-19 and the symptoms you should watch out for in children.
There is also a really helpful factsheet that I recommend referring to which shows you when to seek medical advice if your child has a high temperature or other potential COVID-19 symptoms.
Here’s what to watch out for in children of all ages this winter.
What illnesses should I look out for?
Bronchiolitis is a viral chest infection, usually affecting children under 2 years of age. Bronchiolitis starts off with symptoms similar to a cold, with a blocked nose and cough, difficulty feeding, rapid and laboured breathing and a temperature. Most of the time, the symptoms will be mild and resolve by themselves, but the cough can last for several weeks.
Croup is a viral infection causing swelling of the upper airway of babies and children. Children with croup may have a ‘barking’ cough; breathing difficulty; a hoarse voice; and a rasping noise (called stridor) when breathing in. Usually, symptoms are mild and subside within a few days.
Viral wheezing and worsening asthma. While a runny nose and cough are very common symptoms in toddlers and preschool children, in some cases the symptoms may progress to difficult and rapid breathing with wheezing. In younger children, this is usually due to mucus produced in response to a viral infection. In older children known to have asthma, viral infections may trigger a worsening of their asthma. If symptoms are mild, an inhaler prescribed by your doctor may help and the situation can be managed at home.
Flu is an infectious disease that is caused by the influenza virus. Symptoms can range from mild to severe respiratory illness and symptoms include fever, cough and runny nose, headaches, aches and lethargy. Flu vaccines vary each year to protect against the most common, circulating types of flu virus. The vaccine is updated yearly and requires a yearly update for the most protection. Now is the best time to book a flu vaccination online if you haven’t booked one for your child already.
Gastroenteritis is usually caused by viruses and is also very common at this time of year, Norovirus is a common example of a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. Young children can usually be looked after at home by encouraging small regular sips of fluids. Young babies can easily become dehydrated and should be seen by a doctor especially if they appear drowsy, have a fever, or are not managing to keep fluids down.
What do I do if my child is unwell?
Looking after your child at home as with any viral illness, ensuring that they drink plenty of fluids and using pain relief is usually all that is needed. Children tend to bounce back quickly, but need to be monitored closely.
In some cases, medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are needed for pain relief and reducing fever. If you are worried about your child at any time, it is always worth consulting your GP or seeing your paediatrician.
Clinic, remote appointments and home visits are available daily through our online booking system.
Common remedies for winter colds.
Although there is nothing that can prevent a common cold, many different remedies exist and every family has their favourites! A spoonful of honey (only for over 1 year olds) taken before sleep has been shown to help to relieve coughing in children.
Other ‘remedies’ that have no clear medical evidence to support their use for clearing up cold symptoms are:
- Taking vitamin C
- Antihistamines
- Using humidifiers
- Eating garlic
Fortunately, viral illnesses such as colds are self-limiting and usually resolve simply with rest, pain relief, hydration, and lots of tissues.
As parents and carers, it is just as vital to look after our own health to be in the best condition to be able to care for our children. So please do remember to take care of yourselves too!
New advice articles: When to worry about nosebleeds and 10 Top Tips for using dummies or pacifiers.
We’re continuing our drive to give you access to the best advice at your fingertips. Our new advice articles answer some of the most common questions we’re asked here at Childhealthy.
When to worry about nosebleeds tells you what to do if your child has a nosebleed and when you should seek medical attention.
10 Top Tips for using dummies or pacifiers gives you some practical advice if you decide to give your baby a dummy and answers some dummy FAQs.
If there are any other topics or questions you’d like to see answered in our advice articles, then do let us know at info@childhealthy.co.uk and we will our best to include them.
Further resources:
RCPCH Advice for parents during coronavirus flowchart
Gov.uk latest vaccination figures
Childhealthy’s new booking system
