Mouth Ulcers in children (Aphthous Ulcers)

Hi,
It has been a long time since the last post.....
Nowadays we are seeing a lot of kids with painful mouth ulcers in our OPD, this causes misery not only to the child but the entire family as thechild is unable to eat even though he/she is feeling hungry!
Here are a few tips to treat this common condition:
HOME CARE
Rinse the child's mouth 3 or more times a day with salt solution (1/2 teaspoon salt to 8 oz. water).
Clean sores frequently with 2% hydrogen peroxide/ chlorhexidene solution on a cotton applicator (an ear bud may be used as an alternative).
If your child's canker sore is caused by a rough tooth or braces, consult your dentist. The sore won't heal until the cause is eliminated.
MEDICATION
Your doctor may prescribe:
Topical anesthetics like xylocaine jelly 2 % to relieve your child's pain.
A mixture of Digene and Benadryl can be applied locally on the ulcer (with a cotton ear bud/applicator) to heal it
Rarely in case of severe disease an oral steroid solution may be prescribed by the doctor.
ACTIVITY
No restrictions.
DIET & FLUIDS
Avoid Spicy Food.
Encourage your child to drink as many fluids and eat as well-balanced a diet as possible while healing.
To minimize pain, let your child sip liquids through straws.
Foods that cause the least pain are cold milk, yogurt, ice cream, and custard.
OK TO GO TO SCHOOL?
When appetite has returned and alertness, strength, and feeling of well-being will allow. Keep the child's eating and drinking utensils separate until sores heal.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF
Your child's temperature rises to 102F (38.9C) or higher.
Ulcers don't improve in 3 days despite treatment.
Pain is unbearable and isn't relieved by treatment.
A child with aphthous ulcers loses weight.
For more details read Mdadvice

Your Feedback Question: Chicken Pox vaccination

The following message was posted on one of my blogs, and I thought I would reply online so that everyone could benefit!
Question: MY CHILD WAS GIVEN THE CHICKEN POX VACCINE AND THE DOCTOR AND I DID NOT KNOW SHE HAD THE CHICKPOX THE SAME DAY SHE GOT THE VACCINE. SHE STILL BROKE OUT WITH THE CHICKPOX EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD THE SHOT. MY CONCERN IS WAS THEIR ANY HARM IN GIVING HER THE VACCINE WHEN SHE HAD THE CHICKEN POX?
Answer: There is no need to worry. The chicken pox vaccine is not going to cause any problem to your child. At best it may cause the chicken pox to be milder, at worst it may not make any difference.
In fact we recommend chicken pox vaccine to contacts of an active patient with chicken pox, as it may prevent / reduce the severity of chicken pox in the family member.
I hope this helps!

Basic Principles of Sleep Hygiene for Children

My bhabhi (sister-in-law) has an adorable 1 year old boy. This otherwise happy baby however becomes a extreemly fussy, irritable and cranky at least once/ twice a day.... Reason: Sleep time! In my practice I have come across innumerable instances of children having a lot of difficulty in falling of to sleep.

Listed below are a few tips to help get your child to sleep without a lot of fuss

Have a set bedtime and bedtime routine for your child.
Bedtime and wake-up time should be about the same time on school nights and non-school nights. There should not be more than about an hour difference from one day to another.
Make the hour before bed shared quiet time. Avoid such high-energy activities as rough play, and stimulating activities such as watching TV or playing computer games just before bed.
Don't send your child to bed hungry. A light snack (such as milk and cookies) before bed is a good idea. Heavy meals within an hour or two of bedtime, however, may interfere with sleep.
Avoid products containing caffeine for at least several hours before bedtime. These include caffeinated sodas, coffee, tea, and chocolate.
Make sure your child spends time outside every day whenever possible and is involved in regular exercise.
Keep your child's bedroom quiet and dark. A low-level nightlight is acceptable for children who find completely dark rooms frightening.
Keep your child's bedroom at a comfortable temperature during the night (less than 75 degrees).
Don't use your child's bedroom for time-out or punishment.
Keep the television set out of your child's bedroom. Children can easily
develop the bad habit of “needing” the TV to fall asleep. It's also much more
difficult to control your child's TV viewing if the set is in the bedroom.

Source: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics