Soon we enter July and with it the holiday season starts, many of us will go to the beaches, mountains, the town or we will simply enjoy the local swimming pools. But as we always say on these dates, we should not lower our guard with the little ones and the possible complications that may arise.
To give you some useful advice we have interviewed Marián García García, Doctor in Pharmacy, Nutritionist and Optics. I hope you find utility in them.
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Marian She is the mother of two children of two and three years, she works in a pharmacy office since 2005 and for a year she tries from her blog, Apothecary Garcia, shed some light on those bulk mistakes about our health that we make a lot for trusting in excess of Google.
Summer and high temperatures arrive, we know that it is important to keep our children hydrated and protected from excess sun, but how to recognize that we are facing sunstroke or dehydration. How should we proceed?
Babies are very vulnerable because they have a large body surface in relation to their weight and in them the loss of water by perspiration can be high. In addition, they have the ugly habit of not talking so we must be aware of some signs that can make us suspect dehydration:
Humor: the dehydrated baby is not for parties and is sleepy, apathetic or irritable.
Mucous: when you run your finger over your tongue we can feel it rough (it is known as "cat tongue").
Fontanela: the "little hole" of the head that is not yet closed is sunk instead of turgid as would be desirable.
Diapers: the frequency of urine is lower and the stool is drier.
Skin: in these babies the skin is also drier and with less elasticity.
Children, although they know how to speak and are able to ask for water when they feel thirsty, do not have to do it and are also cannon fodder for dehydration. Therefore, it is important to monitor the previous points along with possible dizziness, fainting or headaches.
Before signs of mild dehydration we must offer the child liquids or oral rehydration sera. If we think that it is a severe dehydration (loss of consciousness or delusions), you should go to the emergency room.
How much sun exposure time should we not exceed with our children?
When each individual is born, he does so with a certain “solar capital” that protects him from the sun.
When each individual is born, he does so with a certain “Solar capital” That protects you from the sun. That solar capital is not infinite nor can it be replenished and unfortunately it is easily "spent" in the first years of life. One of the risks of melting our capital is the appearance of melanoma and therefore sun protection during childhood is very important.
The danger of sun exposure depends on many factors such as geographical location, season, time of day or phototype of the individual in question. Children under one year should not be directly exposed to the sun in any case and children under three, taking extreme caution.
Like many parents, for me, the month of August is the month without viruses, so there is no daycare and reducing infections. But, is there a typical disease of this summer (apart from getting thin with the fried in the beach bars), fungi, papillomas?
Although mushrooms are typical of autumn, summer is the high season of their first cousins, Foot fungus To prevent them, it is important to teach our children the importance of always remaining footwear in bathrooms and public locker rooms. The typical mother phrase "out of the house shower with flip flops" has not lost an iota of splendor.
Another classic of summer in children and adults are diarrhea. Heat is a potential danger to keep food in proper condition. It is necessary to choose with head the type of food that we take to the field or to the beach and in what conditions we transport it. In addition, in these months we must take special care when making the purchase and, until arriving home, maintain the cold chain of foods that require it by means of thermal bags or portable refrigerators.
The digestion cut, I think that next to the man in the bag was one of the hits of my childhood and like this one, I never saw any. Myth or Reality?
The digestion cut, understood as an interruption of digestive function, does not exist. However, we could talk about poor digestion or indigestion as a result of immersion. Therefore, in the same way that it is advised not to perform any type of physical exercise after the meal, it is also wise to avoid bathing for a few hours.
Although very rare, what does exist, and has a more terrifying name than that of the man in the sack is the “hydrocution" It consists of death due to cardiorespiratory arrest due to a thermal shock caused by the difference between body temperature and water temperature. As I say, it is uncommon, although it is advisable not to dive suddenly into the water when it is heated (after prolonged sun exposure, or exercise).
What should we put in the kit this holiday season? Is there any product to let us take a nap?
So that children or mosquitoes let us nap? For mosquitoes there are very effective insect repellents (for example of citriodiol in the smallest and of DEET in those over two years old). For children ... being politically correct I will tell you that it is best to tire them a lot in the morning at the pool.
In case the repellents fail us, a topical antihistamine must not be missing in the travel kit. Other classics of yesterday today and always so as not to have to go out in search of the pharmacy on duty are Dalsy or Apiretal, disinfectants and dressings, and in the case of children with a certain propensity to “give everything” on trips, assess with the doctor the possible use of some syrup or blister to prevent motion sickness (dizziness).
Wasps, caterpillars, jellyfish and other dangerous bugs from our coast and villages of Spain, how to act? In what cases should we worry?
After the inevitable initial fright, it is important to remain calm and not unnecessarily transfer fear to children. Most likely, children are not allergic and that the discomfort disappears in a few hours or a few days by applying ice and the relevant antihistamines (or corticosteroids always prescribed). However, we must go to the emergency room if abnormal symptoms occur, such as:
• Redness at some point in the body other than where the sting has occurred.
• Swelling in the mouth (tongue or lips), in the eyes or on the face.
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing (gasps, wheezing, coughing…).
• Weakness, dizziness or feeling faint.
How should we proceed on the beach with the little ones so that they don't end up with a beautiful shrimp color nº 5? When and how to get aftersun?
If we are beach, of those going to spend the day, during the central hours the day we must plant the umbrella as mandated by the canons and wear hats and even t-shirt. The cream should be applied in quantity and quality (that of last year may have lost its effectiveness) and be replenished every two hours and after dives or “batters” in the sand.
With babies or very young children, my advice is to go to the beach in the afternoon. In addition to saving us the awkward umbrella that nobody wants to load, the beach is more clear and safer in many aspects.
As for aftersun, it can be applied daily after bath or shower at home. If we do not have aftersun and the skin is not flushed, the body lotion that we usually use for children can serve. The important thing is to ensure the hydration of the skin so that it can continue to defend itself the day after the trot that we have prepared for it (sun, salt, chlorine, sand, etc.).
Home remedies and sunburn, bad idea from the beginning or is any saved?
One of the possible complications of sunburn is subsequent infections. Before home remedies, I would say, as in Don Quixote, "worse is meneal."
Apple vinegars, white (or any color of the rainbow), bicarbonates and other grandmother's poultices can even worsen the state of the burn.
In the case of redness and / or itching, regenerating balms, antiseptics with silver, or aftersuns specially formulated for burns (different from those for daily use) can be applied. If the erythema does not improve or is a severe burn, it is advisable to see a doctor to assess the use of corticosteroids or other treatments.
What is your advice for a healthy vacation?
A sunscreen or a repellent applied in time can save us sleepless nights and unnecessary suffering to all.
A topic of those that are always met is that prevention is easier than cure. Holidays involve relaxation, but also exposure to situations of relative risk (sun, water, bugs) to which as parents and responsible adults we cannot lower our guard. A sunscreen or a repellent applied in time can save us sleepless nights and unnecessary suffering to all.
As for food, it is important to use common sense. Our eighties summers would not have been the same without their mikolápices or their frigopiés. Now, without being a supporter of prohibitions, let us not let chaos take over our eating habits or it will cost us a lot to retell the story of spinach.
Finally, remember that the ultimate end of the holidays is rest. As far as possible, you should try to maintain a certain order in the sleep and meal times so as not to break the pace in the little ones. If you do not get it, calm down: sooner than you think, September will be back. Bless routine.
More information | Apothecary Garcia
In Babies and More | The importance of keeping the child hydrated, Summer with children: some last safety tips
