Whether you are a parent, soon-to-be parent, an aunt, uncle, or family friend of a child either in elementary or high school, it can never do any harm to be aware of simple ways to help your loved one protect themselves and aid them in preventing the contraction of common childhood diseases.
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So with that being said, here are the six most common childhood illnesses in the United Kingdom and the most popular and effective treatments commonly used.
Ear Infection
One of the most common of all minor health conditions is an ear infection. Most children will have one at some point in their life.
Often, earache, either caused by the common cold or simply being out in the cold air for too long, can be confused with an ear infection, but one way to distinguish the two is that an infection is likely to be accompanied by a high temperature and a general feeling of being unwell.
To prevent your child from repetitive ear infections, always ensure that both they and you wash your hands before brushing their hair and washing their face and that your child is never exposed to second-hand smoke.
Chickenpox
Another common childhood illness is chickenpox. Although an individual of any age can contract the chickenpox virus, around ninety percent of children in the United Kingdom between the ages of four and sixteen will develop the chickenpox rash.
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The good thing is that once your child has had chickenpox, it’s incredibly unlikely they will ever contract the virus again. They could be chickenpox-free throughout the rest of their life. By far the easiest and safest way to ensure that your child’s immune system will resist and fight back should it encounter another child with chickenpox is to ensure they are vaccinated against it.
Conjunctivitis
Another highly common infection your children may, at some point in their adolescence, catch, is conjunctivitis. This can be caught purely by spending time with a friend who already has the infection.
If you’re concerned your child may have conjunctivitis, the best course of action is to take your child to your local pharmacist to seek their professional opinion.
Usually (as with an ear infection), with bed rest and eye drops, conjunctivitis will clear up on its own. However, do contact your doctor if you have any worries or concerns.
To stop your child from spreading conjunctivitis, make sure they wash their hands thoroughly, even more often than they should be as standard. Also, make sure they always use tissues when they sneeze or cough, which are immediately disposed of.
Nits & Head Lice
Head lice are overwhelmingly more common in children and teenagers than in adults. Perhaps simply because adults spend far less time in close contact with lots of people each day. It is highly likely that your child may, at some point, contract nits or head lice.
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The only way your child can pick up nits or headlice is by direct head-to-head contact. Should you discover tiny, brown/grey seed-like dots in your child’s hair or hairline, you should treat everyone in the house, with a headlice-killing shampoo. Thoroughly comb out their hair. The shampoo helps with the bulk, but it is the comb that actually removes the infestation.
Coughs & Colds
Unfortunately, the common cold thrives in environments such as school and large workplaces. In younger children both can last several weeks rather than around five days in older children and adults.
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Naturally, if you have any concerns that your child is wheezing, has a high temperature as well as a cough, or indeed for any reason you are worried, be sure to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you can.
However, in the majority of cases, the common cold is just a part of a child’s life as it is for an adult. Regardless of how long it lasts, be sure that your child is ingesting plenty of fluids and is keeping warm.
Vomiting & Diarrhoea
A common virus children tend to pick up, either at school or in the playground is sickness and/or diarrhoea.
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If your child has a stomach bug and is either being or feeling sick, ensure that they stay home from school. Staying in bed with plenty of blankets. However, also ensure they manage to take small sips of water to ensure they do not become dehydrated.
Again, if you have even the slightest concern that your child has one of these common childhood illnesses, then you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
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