Parent Circle
I have a seven-year-old son and I’m anxious about the breakout of diseases like poxes and water-borne diseasesin summer. I want to know the preventive actions I can take to keep him as safe as possible.
A lot of the diseases such as chicken pox, measles, mumps, water borne diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis-A raise their ugly head in summer. Protect your child from these diseases by firstly vaccinating them as per their schedule. Diseases such as measles, mumps can be minimized with MMR vaccine. For water borne diseases, give them double boiled or filtered water. Avoid eating out from streetside vendors and unhygienic places. Diseases such as chicken pox require isolation so it is not passed on from person to person. Stay away from sick people suffering from colds and coughs and wash hands well after visiting crowded places.
My two and a half-year-old son has already started getting diarrhoea and skin rashes. Please suggest ways I can prevent rashes and keep him comfortable in summer without AC. To keep him cool, is it okay to allow him to play in water under supervision?
There are several water borne diseases that can give rise to diarrhoea and vomiting in the summers. You can minimize the risk by giving them cooked non contaminated food and by avoiding eating out from unhygienic places. Give them water that has been double boiled or filtered. To keep him comfortable without AC, dress them in light coloured cotton or linen clothes with less layers underneath. If they are near water they need supervision. Use sunscreen to protect skin and near reflective surfaces such as water.Since the body surface area in a child is large comparatively, they can quickly get hypothermia if the water is cold and they are in the water for too long. Keep checking on them and take them out of the water. Similarly staying out in the sun by the pool can dehydrate the child so keep some juices and fluids nearby for hydration.
What should be the everyday skin-care regime I should follow for my two-year-old daughter and five-year-old son this summer? Can sunscreen be applied to small children?
Sunscreens can be applied if the baby is more than 6 months old. Use a broadband sunscreen of spf 30 regularly on the childs face and body if it is getting exposed to the sunlight. Choose a physical sunscreen with ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Nowadays sunscreens with mineral filters are available too for sensitive skin. Use a generous amount about a dollop sized for the face and an amount enough to form a thin layer over the skin. Sunrays are the harshest between 10 am and 3 pm so keep them clothed and indoors during this time. Sunrays are also harshest felt near reflective surfaces such as sand, water, glass. Wearing full sleeves and pants with a wide brimmed hat will help.
The MET’s heat-wave prediction for 2018 is alarming. My nine-year-old son is all up for outdoor play. How do I keep him protected this summer, should I restrict him to indoor play?
Let them wear full sleeves and pants and wear wide brimmed hats to protect from the sun. Keep them indoors during 10am -3pm when sunrays are the harshest. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 and apply a generous amount on the sun exposed areas. Being near the glass, water or sand will expose them to more rays because of the reflection of the sunlight. Keep them indoors and away from those elements. Hydrate plenty and let them have a high fruit and vegetable intake.
My teen refuses to turn off the AC in her room. She also refuses to step out during the summer. She feels she sweats too much, her face becomes oily and that it is embarrassing for her. I’m worried for her health. How can I help her?
Being confined to the room with AC all the time is not very good as some amount of sunlight is important too to make the vitamin D. The AC can be very drying on the mucous membranes, the lack of natural light can play with the circadian rhythm and cause lack of sleep, depression etc. Encourage them to get sunlight during the non harmful hours of the day between 7am and 10am when they can partake in some sort of sport such as running, cycling, tennis, badminton etc. Let them stay well hydrated through the day and carry a glass bottle of water with a piece of mint or lemon for flavoured water. They can use non fragranced face wipes and tonic water to keep spraying themselves throughout the day.
