Lice:
Your child can get head lice, and it has nothing
to do with hygiene or cleanliness. Lice thrive
in crowded environments. Exposure may occur in
day-care and child-care. This infestation is caused
by a small parasite that lives on the body, most
often where there is hair. Symptoms include itching
and scratching, redness of scalp, eggs or nits
in the hair and hives.
Check for head
lice
by examining the scalp on the back of the head
at the hairline or around the ears. Use a magnifying
glass. Tiny, gray, oval-shaped specks called nits
may be visible that are firmly attached to the
hair. If there are no nits, another popular sign
is intense itching.
If your child gets
lice,
wash all sheets, towels and clothing in hot water
with disinfectant. Dry clean items that cannot
be washed. Soak combs and brushes in very hot
water for at least 10 mins. Do not share towels,
combs, brushes or other hair-care items.
Call your doctor
if you believe your baby has lice. Do not use
over-the-counter medication on baby without your
doctor's advice. If your doctor advises you to
use over-the-counter medicine to deal with the
problem, be careful to keep the shampoo out of
your baby's eyes. After shampooing, comb the hair
thoroughly while it is wet with a special comb
to remove the nits. Sometimes a repeat is necessary,
and this should again be done with your pediatrician's
advice. If the over-the-counter medication does
not work, you may need to get a prescription shampoo.
Preferably, get one that does not contain lindane
as an overuse causes harmful side effects in children.
Baby eczema
It is a skin disorder,
also called atopic dermatitis. The problem can
occur any time in early childhood and affects
about 10% of all children. 60% of cases occur
during baby's first year. Most cases are not severe.
The problem tends to subside, as baby grows older.
At this age, the problem occurs when baby's delicate
skin encounters the floor once he is crawling.
It may also be triggered by a food-related allergy.
Dry scaly red patches first appear on the face.
The rash then moves down to the trunk and limbs.
It does not affect the diaper area usually. Symptoms
include:
• Itchy skin
• Flaking or peeling of skin
• Small blisters that leak a little fluid
(in some cases)
• Infection
If your baby does
have eczema,
give her fewer baths. After her bath, pat her
dry instead of rubbing her dry. Lubricate her
skin often, 2-3 times a day. Check with your pediatrician
which lubricant works best in this situation.
Dress baby in loose-fitting clothes that allows
skin to breathe. Avoid perspiration situations
as this aggravates irritation. Avoid feeding baby
foods she is allergic.
