Childhood Diseases Early symptoms
- The initial time after baby’s birth is tender. In this stage diseases attack children very quickly. Development of a sick child is hampered. Therefore, mother should be extremely cautious regarding child’s health. Many a time it is seen that parents take the child to a doctor only when the ailment has aggravated. Best efforts should be made to restrict the disease in the initial stage itself. To achieve this, it is important to have knowledge about common diseases of children.
Early symptoms of diseases
The early symptoms of diseases commonly occurring in children are-
1. Changes in behaviour- The behaviour of a sick child is irritable, obstinate and he cries more than usual.
2. Loss of appetite- A sick child drinks less milk and loses appetite.
3. Irregular bowel movements- A sick child either has loose motions or constipation.
4. Change in body temperature- In case of fever or cough-cold body temperature changes from normal.
5. Changes in activeness- A sick child feels lethargic, tired and discomfort.
6. Changes in skin- Different diseases affect skin differently and cause different changes in skin. Skin appears dry, rough, red or grainy and sometimes yellowed.
7. Changes in weight- A sick child does not gain weight as he should according to his age.
8. Changes in sleep- Child sleeps less or he wakes up abnormally from sleep.
9. Stays with mother- Child doesn’t leave mother’s lap as he does usually.
Therefore, if one or more symptoms out of the above are noticed in the child by parents, they should consult a doctor. Until the parents take the child to a doctor, following measures can be taken by the parents-
1. In case of fever, note the temperature from time to time.
2. If the child is in pain touch his stomach, ears, eyes, legs, hands to know the reason of pain by his reaction.
3. If the child refuses to take feed do not force him.
4. Give boiled water to the child for drinking.
5. Take special care of child’s personal and food hygiene.
6. In case of cough-cold and other disease do not depend on home remedies for long, visit a doctor.
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Important Points of Childhood Diseases :-
- The early symptoms of common diseases are-changes in behaviour, loss of appetite, irregular bowel movements, change in body temperature, activeness, skin, weight, sleep, etc.
- Diarrhoea is a result of irregular eating habits and time, excessive consumption of milk or cold and rancid milk or fat-rich milk by an infant, beginning of dentition, etc.
- Constipation is a condition in which there is difficulty in emptying the bowels, usually associated with hardened faeces.
- Liver disease or intestinal infection leads to loss of appetite.
- After feeding milk holding the baby over shoulder, rubbing hand on his back so that he belches reduces chances of milk vomiting.
- Round worm, tape worm and hook worm is found in stomach.
- Consuming contaminated food and water and eating with dirty hands causes entry of worms in body.
- If cough-cold are not treated on time they may cause pneumonia and typhoid.
- Goitre is a throat related disease.
- Fever is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body’s temperature.
- A convulsion is a medical condition in which body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body, teeth tighten, face becomes yellow.
Childhood Diseases Questions and Answers
1. The body temperature rises because of
(a) Fever
(b) Indigestion of food
(c) Not bathing
(d) Un-cleanliness
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2. When sick child
(a) Plays
(b) Feels tired and lethargic
(c) Feels happy
(d) Eats excess of food
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3. When faeces are discharged from the bowels more than 4 times a day, it is a symptom of
(a) Constipation
(b) Vomiting
(c) Diarrhoea
(d) Worms in stomach
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4. Which of the following is infectious-?
(a) Cough
(b) Constipation
(c) Jaundice
(d) Jaundice
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5. Which body part is affected by ?
(a) Ears
(b) Throat
(c) Eyes
(d) Mouth
Answer :- ?????