REMEDIES FOR SICK CHILDREN

VUYOLWETHU FUNDAM

As we enter winter, moms are undoubtedly concerned because common colds are a threat.

Children enjoy playing, which means they touch a lot of surfaces, particularly if they go to daycare, making them more susceptible to sickness than adults.

Common cold symptoms in children are similar to those in adults and may include: fatigue, a sore body, dry coughs, runny or blocked nose, and a sore throat.

Children, however, are more likely than adults to experience digestive problems such as vomiting and diarrhoea when they get the flu.

KidsHealth from the Nemours Foundation offers these tips on what to do if your child catches a cold:

◆ Offer plenty of liquids. Fever and appetite loss is common with colds and can lead to dehydration.

◆ During periods of chills or fever, dress your child in layers that are easy to add and remove.

◆ You can give over-thecounter cough or cold medicines

◆ Running a cool-mist humidifier can help relieve coughs and runny or blocked noses. Clean it after each use or at least once a day.

◆ Honey can help loosen a stubborn cough in children older than 12 months. Give 1–2 teaspoons of honey at night.

◆ For a blocked nose, put a few drops of saline (salt water) into the nose, then gently suction the mucus out with a bulb syringe. Do this no more than 2–3 times a day so that the inside of your baby’s nose does not get swollen or sore.

The Mitchells Plain Community Healthcare Centre’s (MPCHC) paediatric services unit provides these home remedies:

Coughing

1 cup black rooibos tea 2 tsp honey or sugar 1 lemon (juiced) Mix and give four times daily

Eye drops

1 cup boiled water (cooled) ½ tsp salt Mix. Using cotton swabs, clean the cleanest eye first, then the second eye. Use 4 times daily. Consult your nearest clinic if there is no improvement within a week.

Nose drops

1 tsp salt 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 cups lukewarm water Mix. Put a few drops in the nose every 4-6 hours.

Diarrhoea and Vomiting

8 level tsp of sugar ½ level tsp of salt 1 litre of boiled water (cooled) Mix, and give each time when the child visits the bathroom or vomits.

Diarrhoea and vomiting may lead to dehydration. The above mixture replaces the fluids that are lost during that time.

MPCHC recommends consulting a clinic or doctor if the condition worsens.

Tips and remedies for when your little one is battling cold or flu symptoms. | SNAPWIRE Pexels