ACONITUM: This remedy should be considered at the initial stages of chickenpox when there is fever, restlessness, and increased thirst.

Antimonium crud: Most characteristic of these children is their white-coated tongue and their irritable disposition. Other indications for this remedy are when children have pimples and pustules which itch, especially after a bath or exposure to water, in the evening, and from the heat of the bed. The children tend to experience a prickly heat which is aggravated by exercise and warmth.

Apis: Children who have itching and stinging pox that is worse from heat and in warm rooms and better from cold and in cool rooms should be given this remedy.
Belladonna: Chickenpox with severe headache, flushed face, hot skin, and drowsiness with the inability to sleep well should be treated with this medicine.

RHUS TOX: This is the most common remedy for chickenpox. These children experience intense itching, especially at night and from scratching. They are very restless.

Copyright 1992 by Dana Ullman, M.P.H. used by permission of the author from the book Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants published by Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.

For further information about homeopathic medicine, contact:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA. 94704

(510)649-0294

(510)649-1955 (fax)

Email: mail@homeopathic.com

The History of Acupressure

Because acupressure evolved from acupuncture, an ancient Chinese healing practice, the history of this form of treatment begins with traditional Chinese philosophy as it applies to the healing arts. The fundamental principle of Chinese philosophy is the concept of yin and yang. The yin and yang are two opposite, yet complementary, forever-entwined forces that underlie all aspects of life. Yin-yang is depicted as the subtly curved light and dark halves of a circle. Both proceed from the t’ai chi (the Supreme Ultimate). According to this philosophical system, the human body, like all matter, is made up of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each element corresponds to an aspect of the body, such as the organs, senses, tissues, and emotions, as well as to aspects of nature, such as direction, season, color, and climate. The five-element theory, combined with the principle of yin and yang, forms the basis of the Chinese concept of balance. The intention is to balance yin and yang and to balance the energies of the five elements.

Yin is earthy, female, dark, passive, receptive, and absorbing. It is represented by the moon, the tiger, the color orange, a broken line, and the shady side of a hill. Yin is cool, inward, still, and soft.

Yang is represented by the sun, the dragon, the color blue, an unbroken line, and the sunny side of a hill. Yang is hot, outward, moving, aggressive, and bright.

Because yin and yang are intertwined halves of the same whole, all things, and all people, contain elements of both, although at any one time, one or the other will be predominant. Thus, a baby or young child is more yin; an older child more yang. When your child asserts herself, it is her yang that is coming to the fore.

The sun is yang, the moon is yin. We awaken in the morning and greet the sun. It is natural to be active and moving throughout the daylight. As twilight descends into night, we become more passive and quiet. Nighttime expresses the qualities of yin.

Chinese medical theory teaches that the two branches of the body’s nervous system, the sympathetic and parasympa-thetic, correspond to the two halves of the yin-yang circle. The sympathetic branch is the part of the nervous system that mobilizes our bodies to respond to stress. It initiates the fight-or-flight re-sponse, a more yang part of the cycle. The parasympathetic branch replen-ishes and supports the body during rest, the yin part of the cycle. These two branches oppose and balance each other to create stability and health. When the yin and yang are balanced within the body, all the body’s functions are healthy. Illness is caused by an imbalance between yin and yang.

Conventional Western medicine typically pinpoints and directly treats only the affected part of the body. Chinese medical philosophy encompasses the entire universe. Everything that affects the patient is considered, including emotion, environment, and diet.

Chinese philosophy proposes a way of life based on living in accordance with the laws of nature. This profound connection with nature is reflected in the language used to describe illness. For example, a patient may be diagnosed with a “wind invasion” or “excess
heat.” Acupuncture (or acupressure) points may be chosen to “disperse wind,” “remove summer damp,” or “disperse rising fire.”

In traditional Chinese medicine, every aspect of health is described in terms of a balance between yin and yang. For example, yin illnesses are caused by excessive expansion (overweight as a result of eating too much sugar, for example), while yang illnesses are caused by excessive contraction (sunstroke or fever). An imbalance of yin and yang factors can be demonstrated by showing how red blood cells respond to different substances. When red blood cells are placed in water (yin), they absorb the water, expand, and finally burst. When red blood cells are placed in a concentrated saline (salt) solution (yang), they contract, shrink, and shrivel. In a solution of normal saline (0.9 percent salt), the yin and yang are perfectly balanced and the cells remain virtually unchanged. An example of how the ancient yin-yang theory can be used to describe concepts in conventional medicine can be found in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer: Female hormones (yin) help control prostate cancer (yang); male hormones (yang) help control breast cancer (yin). The interplay of the yin and yang-as one increases, the other decreases-describes the process of the universe and everything in it. In more familiar Western terms, as modern physical science teaches, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

The Five Elements and Their Correspondences
in Nature and the Human Body

In traditional Chinese Philosophy, all matter is considered to be composed of five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water). The elements in turn have correspondences in various aspects of the natural world, including the human body. According to this philosophy, health is achieved when yin and yang, and the energies of the five elements, are all in proper balance. The elements and some of their corresponding characteristics and parts of the body are illustrated in the chart below.
THINGS IN NATURE	ELEMENT
	Wood	Fire	Earth	Metal	Water
Direction	East	South	Middle	West	North
Taste	Sour	Bitter	Sweet	Pungent	Salty
Color	Green	Red	Yellow	White	Black
Growth Cycle	Germination	Growth	Ripening	Harvest	Storing
Environmental Factor	Wind	Heat	Dampness	Dryness	Cold
Season	Spring	Summer	Late Summer	Autumn	Winter
HUMAN BODY
Organs	Liver, gallbladder	Heart, small intestine	Spleen, stomach	Lung, large intestine	Kidney, bladder
Sense/Organ	Eye	Tongue	Mouth	Nose	Ear
Tissue	Tendon	Vessel	Muscle	Skin and hair	Bone
Emotion	Anger	Joy	Meditation	Grief and Melancholy	Fright and fear

In Chinese philosophy, the energy that pulses through all things, animate and inanimate, is called chit Health exists when there is a harmonious balance under heaven of both internal and external forces. Each bodily organ must have the right amount of chi to function. Too much or too little chi causes an imbalance, resulting in illness or disease. Chi flows through all things, enters and passes through the body, creating harmony or disharmony.

Chinese medicine works directly with the natural, vital energy-or chi-of the body. The goal of acupuncture and acupressure is to normalize the body’s energies. Chi can tee tapped at specific points along channels known as meridians. Activating one key point sets up a predictable reaction in another area. By tonifying (increasing energy in) a specific area, the yin-yang balance is treated. Moving an excess of chi from one area and directing it to another, weaker area, corrects the yin-yang balance.

Acupuncture is an ancient protocol. As a component of Oriental medicine, it has been practiced for centuries. The Huangdi Neijing (Canon of Medicine), written about 500-300 B.C., is the oldest surviving medical text. Among other medical practices, it describes the use of acupuncture.

Acupressure Today

Acupressure is a form of body work in which pressure is applied to specific acupuncture points to balance internal function. Acupressure is practiced around the world.

The Chinese have a very descriptive term for taking advantage of a combination of two or more healing systems-a practice this book advocates. They say the’ patient is “walking on two legs.” A two-year study conducted jointly by the Northwestern University Medical School and Evanston Hospital in Evanston, Illinois employed a combination of acupuncture and acupressure. In this study, patients suffering from chronic head aches of all types, including migraine, cluster, whiplash, and tension, were first treated with acupuncture. The patients were then individually instructed in specific acupressure techniques to use when a headache seemed imminent. The researchers reported that the need for prescription painkillers and other drugs was eliminated entirely in most patients-thus verifying the effectiveness of “walking on two legs.”

Working with an Acupressurist

There are professionally trained and college-educated acupressurists, just as there are acupuncturists. If you wish to consult a trained acupressurist, check the yellow pages of your telephone book. You’ll find this category listed in most large cities.

For the most part, though, the gentle form of acupressure recommended in the Treatment and Care entries in Part Two of this book is something you can do yourself, at home, to ease a hurting or ailing child.

Treating Your Child with Acupressure

In The Chinese Art of Healing (Bantam, 1972), author Stephan Palos identifies the hand as “man’s original medical tool.” We instinctively use our hands to alleviate pain. When we suffer a bump or bruise, have a cramp, or hurt anywhere inside, we rub, knead, or massage the painful spot.

When your child is ill, gently working the acupressure points recommended in the appropriate entry in Part Two will probably be beneficial (the illustrations in Part Three provide guidelines for locating all of the acupressure points recommended). Your child will very likely love receiving an acupressure treatment.

Massaging a particular point will help relieve symptoms as well as strengthen and balance the yin-yang in your child’s body. For example, applying acupressure to the point identified as “Large Intestine 11” helps relax the intestine, thus relieving constipation. Another related

point is Stomach 36; massaging Stomach 36 helps tone an upset digestive tract. When your child is ill, the appropriate acupressure points, as well as other areas of your child’s body, will be tender. Use your intuitive sense. Ask what feels good.

Common Acupressure Points

In acupressure, there are twelve lines c ailed meridians that run along each side of the body. Each pair of meridians corresponds to a specific organ. For example, there is a pair of Lung meridians, Spleen meridians, Stomach meridians, and Liver meridians. Acupressure points are named for the meridian they lie on, and each is given a number according to where along the meridian it falls. Thus, Spleen 6 is the sixth point on the Spleen meridian. The table on page 38 lists some of the acupressure points most often recommended in the entries in Part Two of this book.

Administering Acupressure

When you give your child an acupressure treatment, your tools are your hands, notably your thumbs and fingers, and occasionally your palms. For the most part, you will be using the balls of your thumbs and fingers, never the nails. Before administering acupressure, make sure your fingernails are clipped short, so that you do not inadvertently scratch your child.

Choose a time of day when your child is most relaxed, perhaps after a warm bath and just before bedtime. Have her take a few deep breaths. This aids relaxation and will automatically focus your child’s attention inward on her body.

You might want to start an acupressure session with a loving and comforting back rub, a treat most children welcome, especially when ill. Remain calm and unhurried. Make sure to keep your child warm throughout the treatment. You can apply pressure to the points directly onto the skin, or through a shirt or light sheet.

Work right-side and left-side acupressure points at the same time. Use your fingers or thumbs to apply threshold pressure to the point. Threshold pressure is firm pressure, just on the verge of becoming painful The idea is to stimulate the point without causing the body to tighten up or retract a the pain. The pressure you exert should not hurt your child. Firm but gentle is the rule.

Apply from one to five minutes of continuous pressure. Or apply pressure for ten seconds, release for ten seconds, reapply pressure for ten seconds, release for ten seconds. Repeat this cycle five times.

To learn how to locate specific acupressure points, specific points
which are helpful for different childhood conditions are
included in
Administering an Acupressure Treatment.

When your child is ill, acupressure is a wonderful way to use your hands with a loving, nurturing touch, while also stimulating your child’s body to heal. By using the acupressure points described in this book, you will be working to relieve the underlying cause of illness. At the same time, your gentle healing touch will convey your love and concern to your child.

Common Acupressure Points

Point	Effect	Indications
Bladder 23	Increases circulation to the urinary tract and reproductive organs.	Vaginitis, urinary tract infection; lower back pain.
Bladder 28	Master point for the bladder.	Urinary tract infection.
Bladder 60	Increases circulation to the urinary tract and reproductive organs.	Urinary tract infection.
Four Gates	Motion sickness; chickenpox; croup; hay fever; herpes; hyperactivity; pain; fever; poison ivy; sleeplessness; weight problems.	Urinary tract infection.
Kidney 3	Strengthens the bladder and kidneys; increases circulation to the reproductive organs.	Bedwetting; urinary tract infection; vaginitis.
Kidney 7	Strengthens the bladder and kidneys.	Bedwetting.
Large Intestine 4	Beneficial to the head and face; relieves congestion and headaches; removes energy blocks in the large intestine; clears heat.	Acne; common cold; headache; menstrual cramps; teething; sore throat; fever; toothache.
Large Intestine 11	Relieves itching; reduces allergic reactions.	Chickenpox; hay fever; constipation.
Large Intestine 20	Decreases sinus congestion.	Hay fever; sinusitis.
Liver 3	Quiets the nervous system; relaxes muscle cramps and spasms.	Asthma; menstrual cramps; teething; headache; eye pain.
Liver 7	Clears the lungs; moistens the throat.	Asthma; common cold; sore throat.
Neck and Shoulder Release	Relaxes the muscles of the neck and shoulders; relaxes the body.	Headache; weight problems.
Pericardium 6	Relaxes the chest; relieves nausea; relaxes the ming.	Asthma; motion sickness; croup; sleeplessness; stomachache; vomiting.
Points Along Either Side of the Spine	Improves circulation; relaxes the nervous system; balances the respiratory system; relaxes the spine.	Anxiety; colic; common cold; menstrual cramps; nervousness; insomnia.
Spleen 6	Reduces uterine cramping.	Menstrual cramps.
Spleen 10	Detoxifies the blood.	Acne; herpes; impetigo; poison ivy, boils, vaginitis.
Stomach 36	Tones the digestive system; strengthens overall wellbeing.	Colic; diarrhea; chronic runny nose; vomiting, constipation, indigestion; stomachache.

From Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Janet Zand, N.D., L.Ac., Robert Rountree, MD, Rachel Walton, RN, ©1994. Published by Avery Publishing, New York. For personal use only; neither the digital nor printed copy may be copied or sold. Reproduced by permission.

Tetanus

1. Tetanus is a potentially life-threatening disease.
   
2. Infection occurs through wounds.
   
3. Incidence of tetanus is approximately 50 cases per year for the past 10 years; less than 10 of these cases are under 30 years old, and these cases are rarely fatal.
   
4. A series of tetanus toxoid injections does provide protection from tetanus for at least 10 years. Tetanus immune globulin protects unvaccinated individuals if they receive an injection soon after injury.
   
5. Immediate vaccine reactions are usually mild, though many severe reactions have been reported, some of them causing permanent disability and a few fatalities. Long-term adverse effects are unknown.
   

Polio

1. No cases of wild polio have occurred in the United States since 1979. The risk of a child acquiring polio in the United States is zero, except from the vaccine itself.
   
2. The vaccines have questionable effectiveness.
   
3. Oral, live-virus vaccine (OPV) does cause polio in vaccine recipients and contacts. It has caused Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in recipients. It also may contain live monkey viruses that have been associated with human diseases, including AIDS.
   
4. Killed polio vaccine (IPV) may have some adverse effects, but does not cause polio in recipients.
   

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

1. The vaccine is associated with severe reactions including encephalitis, seizures, brain damage, and deaths.
   
2. The disease itself has these same risks, though the incidence of pertussis is now low in the United States.
   
3. The vaccine has limited efficacy—60-80 effective in various studies.
   
4. The disease can be treated with homeopathic medications.
   

Acellular Pertussis Vaccine

1. Severe reactions to the whole-cell pertussis vaccine have spurred worldwide efforts to produce a safer vaccine.
   
2. The acellular form of the pertussis vaccine seems to diminish mild-type reactions compared to the whole-cell vaccine.
   
3. Severe reactions to the acellular vaccine also occur, including encephalitis and possibly death.
   

Diphtheria

1. Diphtheria is a potentially serious disease, but extremely rare in the United States, with an incidence of less than 5 cases per year.
   
2. The vaccine has questionable effectiveness.
   
3. Long-term effects of the vaccine are unknown.
   

Measles

1. Measles has historically been a common childhood disease with rare complications.
   
2. Mass vaccination has resulted in a dramatic decline in measles incidence, but outbreaks now occur in older populations and in infants born to women whose immunity from vaccination has deteriorated. Periodic epidemics continue to occur.
   
3. The vaccine is associated with serious adverse reactions including permanent nervous system damage and thrombocytopenia (a decrease in blood platelets responsible for blood clotting with accompanying spontaneous bleeding) all resulting from autoimmune disease triggered by the vaccine. Long-term effects are unknown.
   

Mumps

1. Mumps is generally a benign disease of children. Complications of mumps do occur, but an estimated 30 percent of cases go unnoticed.
   
2. Mumps has increasingly become a disease of adolescents and adults since the widespread use of the vaccine.
   
3. Complications of mumps occur much more frequently in adults.
   
4. The vaccine has caused significant adverse reactions, including vaccine associated meningitis, in as many as 1 per 1,000 doses.
   

Rubella

1. Rubella is a mild childhood disease which requires no treatment.
   
2. A woman who contracts rubella during the first three months of pregnancy risks abortion, miscarriage, or birth defects in her child.
   
3. Rubella incidence has shifted to older age groups since widespread vaccination.
   
4. Rubella vaccine is associated with significant adverse effects, including arthritis and central nervous system disorders (peripheral neuropathies, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and transverse myelitis, a paralyzing disease of the spinal cord).
   
5. Parents have three options: avoid the vaccine entirely; vaccinate their child against rubella; or test girls for antibodies at adolescence or before considering pregnancy, and decide whether to vaccinate then. Since a child’s health is not compromised by contracting rubella, there is no advantage to the child from vaccination.
   

Every adolescent girl and woman of childbearing age should have a blood test for immunity to rubella. If they do not have evidence of immunity, then they should decide whether they wish to have the vaccine. Susceptible women who decline the vaccine should attempt to avoid exposure to children with colds, fevers, and rashes during the first three months of pregnancy. Again, the consideration is whether the possible adverse effects of the vaccine are worth prevention of problems during pregnancy. Avoidance of the vaccine during childhood will eliminate the risk of untoward vaccine reactions in your child.

Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) Meningitis

1. Hib meningitis is a potentially life-threatening disease, and long-term sequelae of infections (hearing loss, learning disabilities) do occur.
   
2. Long-term effectiveness of the vaccines has not been determined, and reports of short-term effectiveness vary considerably.
   
3. Serious vaccine-associated reactions have been reported. These result from autoimmune processes apparently triggered by the vaccine, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), thrombocytopenia, and transverse myelitis (a paralyzing disease of the spinal cord).
   
4. The vaccine has been associated with an increased susceptibility to Hib meningitis in the first week following vaccination.
   

Hepatitis B

1. Hepatitis B is primarily a sexually transmitted disease. Other common sources of transmission include exposure to infected blood, injected-drug use, and occupational or household contacts.
   
2. Infants can contract hepatitis B from their infected mothers.
   
3. Women can be tested during pregnancy to determine if they are infected, and infants born to infected mothers can receive hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis immune globulin at birth.
   
4. The practice of vaccinating all infants for hepatitis B is unnecessary since only those children exposed to infected mothers are at risk. Antibody levels produced by vaccination will probably decline to non-protective levels before children reach the age when they are sexually active or exposed to other risk factors.
   
5. Hepatitis B vaccine has been associated with severe, debilitating, and life-threatening adverse reactions. These include the typical autoimmune reactions common to other vaccines, arthritis, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), thrombocytopenia, and other paralyzing nervous system disease processes.
   

Varicella (Chickenpox)

1. Chickenpox is a mild disease of childhood; complications of the disease are extremely rare in healthy children.
   
2. Adults almost always have more severe infection than children, and disease complications are more common.
   
3. Long-term efficacy of the vaccine is unknown. Widespread vaccine usage may shift the age distribution of chickenpox from children to adults.
   
4. Adverse and long-term effects of the vaccine are unknown. They could be more serious than measles and mumps vaccines, because the chickenpox virus is associated with cancer and herpes zoster.
   
5. The only justification for the use of the chickenpox vaccine in healthy children has been the saving of parents’ time lost from work.
   ]]> 14357 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/chicken-pox/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chicken-pox Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/chicken-pox/ Chicken pox is a very contagious disease caused by a virus
   (Varicella/herpes zoster). It is spread from child to child, and
   sometimes to adults, by sneezing, coughing, contaminated clothing
   and direct contact with open blisters. Children exposed to the virus
   get chicken pox 7-21 days later.
   

   
   Most of the time there are no symptoms
   before the rash appears. Some children, though, may be tired, have
   a fever and complain of a stomach ache a day or two before a flat,
   red rash appears. The rash generally begins on the scalp, face and
   back, but can spread to any body surface. It is rarely seen, though,
   on the palms of hands or soles of feet. Sores smaller than a pencil
   eraser, that are sometimes encrusted, can also be found in the mouth,
   on the eyelids and in the genital area.
   

   
   Within hours, these flat,
   red spots turn into tiny clear blisters that itch a lot. As your child
   scratches the blisters, serum spills out, dries and forms hard crusts
   that loosen and drop off about two weeks later. Since the rash continues
   to break out for the first two to six days, new red spots are often seen
   alongside old dried scabs. Some children have very few spots while others
   are covered.
   

   
   Most children recover from chicken pox uneventfully in
   less than two weeks. Complications are rare, although chicken pox can
   occasionally lead to encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain),
   meningitis or pneumonia. Children who have cancer and those who take
   medications that affect the immune system are at a higher risk of
   complications from chicken pox. The biggest problem parents face
   with chicken pox, though, is infected blisters.
   

   
   There is prescription
   medication available that can decrease the length and severity of chicken
   pox. It is not recommended for routine cases. Also, it is only effective
   if started within 24 hours of the onset of the infection. It does not
   interfere with the child’s developing immunity to chicken pox. Ask your
   doctor for more information.
   

   
   One attack of chicken pox usually
   gives your child lifelong immunity. Children rarely have a second round
   of chicken pox, but if it does occur, the attacks are usually very
   mild.

   ---

   
   
   Prevention
   

   A
   vaccine has been developed for chicken pox. It is called Varicella
   Zoster Virus Vaccine. Ask your child’s health care provider about it.

   ---

   
   
   Self-Care Tips
   

   The goals are to make your child comfortable and to reduce and relieve the itching so your child does not scratch off the scabs, which could start a secondary infection and/or leave scars.
   

   
   
   • Encourage your child not to scratch the scabs. Keep him or her busy with other activities.
     
   • Give your child a cool bath without soap every 3-4 hours for the first couple of days (15-20 minutes at a time). Add one-half cup of baking soda or colloidal oatmeal bath packet such as Aveeno to the bath water. Pat, do not rub, your child dry.
     
   • Dip a washcloth in cool water and place it on the itchy areas.
     
   • Apply calamine
     (not caladryl) lotion for temporary relief.
     
   • Trim your child’s
     fingernails to prevent infection caused by opened blisters.
     Scratching off the crusty scabs may leave permanent scars.
     
   • Cover the hands of infants with cotton socks if they are scratching their sores.
     
   • Wash your child’s hands three times a day with an antibacterial
     soap such as Safeguard or Dial to avoid infecting the open blisters.
     
   • Keep your child cool and calm. Heat and sweating makes the itching worse. Also, keep your child out of the sun. Extra chicken pox will occur on parts of the skin exposed to the sun.
     
   • Give your child Benadryl, an over-the counter antihistamine, if the itching is severe or stops your child from sleeping. (See label for proper dosage).
     
   • Give your child acetaminophen (children’s versions of the following: Tylenol, Tempra, Liquiprin, Datril, Anacin 3 or Panadol) for the fever. [Note: Do not give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to anyone 19 years of age or younger, unless directed by a physician, due to its association with Reye’s Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.]
     
   • Give your child soft foods and cold fluids if he or she has sores in the mouth. Do not offer salty foods or citrus fruits that may irritate the
     sores.
     
   • Have your child gargle with salt water (1/4 teaspoon to 4 ounces of water) to help ease itching in the mouth, if necessary.
     
   • Reassure your child that the “bumps” are not serious and will go away in a week or so.
     

   ---

   
   

   Questions to Ask
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   

   Does your child have a severe headache, stiff neck, convulsions, abnormal behavior and/or continuous vomiting?
   Is your child hard to wake, confused or having trouble breathing?
   Does your child have cancer, or is your child taking medications that affect the immune system and have a fever higher than 102oF?
   Does your child have cancer, or is your child taking medications that affect the immune system but not have a fever higher than 102oF?
   Does your child have a fever higher than 103oF or had a fever higher than 102oF for more than two days?
   Does your child have any scabs that are red, oozing pus, or bleeding or has he or she developed a red rash with tiny pink dots?

   ]]> 15191 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/fever/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fever Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/fever/
   

   Elevated temperature isn’t always a sign that something’s wrong. Although 98.6^oF has been considered normal for years, many healthy people walk around with a temperature a degree or so above or below average. A recent study has concluded that normal body temperature may range from 97^oF to 100^oF.
   

   
   Body temperature even fluctuates throughout the day. It’s usually lowest in the morning and highest in the late afternoon and evening. Where you measure your temperature also makes a difference. Rectal readings are usually more accurate and read a degree higher than oral readings.
   

   
   Taking your temperature by mouth after you drink a hot liquid like soup or tea can mislead you into thinking you have a fever when you don’t. Other factors that can temporarily affect your temperature include:
   

   
   
   • Wearing too much clothing (if you’re over-dressed enough to raise your body temperature).
     
   • Exercise.
     
   • Hot, humid weather.
     
   • Hormones (increased progesterone levels increase body temperature, so women’s basal body temperature increases following ovulation).
     
   
   If you’ve ruled out other factors and your temperature is higher than 99^oF, you might have a fever. If your temperature is higher than 100^oF, you definitely have a fever.
   

   
   Typically, in an adult, if having a fever causes no harm or discomfort, it may require no treatment. But if the fever is making you uncomfortable or goes over 104^oF (102^oF in the elderly) you should treat it.

   ---

   
   
   Self-Care Tips
   
   
   
   
   • Drink fruit juice, water, and soft drinks.
     
   • Take a sponge bath with warm (about 70^oF) water. (Sponging with alcohol has no advantage and often makes people feel ill, because of alcohol’s pungent odor).
     
   • Take the appropriate dose of aspirin or acetaminophen for your age every 3 or 4 hours. [Note: Do not give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to a child 19 years of age or younger unless directed by a physician, due to its association with Reye’s Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.]
     
   • Get plenty of bed rest.
     
   • Don’t wear too many clothes or use too many blankets.
     
   • Don’t do heavy exercise.
     
   
   

   ---

   
   

   Questions to Ask
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   Is the fever accompanied by any of the following? Seizure Listlessness Abnormal breathing Stiff neck Excessive irritability Confusion Inability to be comforted
   Is the fever accompanied by any of the following? Ear pain Persistent sore throat Vomiting Diarrhea Urinary pain, burning or frequency
   Does the fever occur in a child less than 2 months old?
   In an adult, does the fever exceed 104oF, (102oF in an elderly person), or has it lasted more than 4 days despite efforts to reduce the fever?
   Has the person recently had surgery or does the person have a chronic illness, such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, cancer or diabetes?
   Does the fever occur in a baby less than 6 months old?
   Has the fever done any of the following? Gone away for more than 24 hours and then come back Come soon after a visit to a foreign country Come after having a DTP or MMR shot and is present with dizziness
   In a child, does the fever over 101oF or (102oF rectally) without decreasing in 48 hours despite efforts to reduce the fever?

   
   

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   Healthy Self: The Guide to Self-Care and Wise Consumerism
   
   © American Institute for Preventive Medicine
   
   
   
   ]]> 15323 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/childhood-skin-rashes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=childhood-skin-rashes Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/childhood-skin-rashes/

   Skin rashes come in all forms and sizes. Some are raised bumps, others are flat red blotches. Some are itchy blisters; others are pathes of rough skin. Most rashes are harmless and clear up on their own within a few days. A few may need medical attention. The skin is one of the first areas of the body to react when exposed to something you or your child is allergic to. The chart that follows lists information on some common skin rashes.
   

   Common Skin Rashes

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   Condition or Illness	Causes	What rash looks like	Skin area(s) Affected	Other symptoms
   Diaper Rash	Dampness and the interactioon of urine and the skin.	Small patches or rough skin, tiny pimples.	Buttocks, thighs, gennitals.	Soreness, no itching
   Cradle Cap	Hormones that pass through the placenta before birth	Scaly, crusty rash (in newborns)	Starts behind the ears and spreads to the scalp	Fine, oily scales
   Heat Rash (Prickly Heat)	Blocked off sweat glands	Small red pimples, pink blotchy skin	Chest, waist, back, armpitts, groin	Itching (may be a result of fever)
   *Roseola	Herpes virus type-6	Flat, rosy red rash	Chest and abdomen	High fever 2-4 days before rash – child feels only midly ill during fever
   *Fifth Disease	Human parvovirus B19	Red rash of varying shades that fade to a flat, lacy pattern (rash comes and goes)	Red rash on facial cheeks, lacy-like rash can also appear on arms and legs	Mild disease with no other symptoms or a slight runny nose and sore throat
   Eczema	Allergens	Dry, red, cracked skin, blisters that ooze and crust over, sufficent scratching leads to a thickened rough skin	On cheeks in infants, on neck, wrist, inside elbows, and backs of knees in older children	Moderate to intense itching (may only itch first, then rash appears hours to days later
   *Chicken Pox**	Varicella/herpes zoster virus	Flat red spots that become rasied resembling small pimples. These develop into small blisters that break and crust over	Back, chest and abdomen first, then rest of body	Fatigue and mild fever 24 hours before rash appears – intense itching
   *Scarlet Fever	Bacterial infection (streptococcal)	Rough, bright red rash (feels like sandpaper)	Face, neck, elbows, armpits, groin (spreads rapidly to entire body)	High fever, weakness before rash, sore throat, peeling of the skin afterward (especially palms)
   *Impetigo	Bacterial infection of the skin	In infants, pus-filled blisters, and red skin. In older children, golden crusts on red sores	Arms, legs, face and around the nose first, then most of body	Sometimes fever – occasional itching
   Hives	Allergic reaction to food, insect bites, viral infection, drug or other substances	Rasied red bumps with pale centers (resemble mosquito bites), shape, size and location of spots can change rapidly	Any area	Itching- in extreme cases, swelling of throat, difficulty breathing (may need emergency care)
   Posion Ivy, Oak, Sumac	Interaction of oily resins of plant leaves with skin	Red, swollen skin rash and lines of tiny blisters	Exposed areas	Intense itching and burning
   Lyme Disease	Bacterial infection spread by deer tick bite(s)	Red rash that looks like a bullseye: rasied edges surround the tick bites with pale centers in the middle. Rash starts to fade after a couple of days	Exposed skin areas where ticks bite, often include scalp, neck, armpit and groin	No pain, no itching at time of bite. Fever-rash occurs in the week following the bite(s)

   
   
   
   

   Questions to Ask

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   Does your child have a severe allergic reaction with any of these problems? Trouble breathing Blue color around the lips and mouth Trouble swallowing Swelling of the face, tongue and mouth
   Does your child have a purple, blotchy rash? And are their hands and feet cold?
   Does the child have any of these problems? Fever Headache Sore throat A red rash that feels like sandpaper Pain in the arm and leg joints, along with a rash that looks like a target
   Does your child have any of these? Big blisters full of water Pus Swelling around the rash
   Has your child been near someone with “strep” throat?
   If your child has diaper rash: Do they have blisters or small red patches outside the diaper area? (The chest is one place to look.)
   Was the child taking medicine when the rash started? Or was the child stung by a bug?
   Are any of these things true? Your child’s rash is getting worse. Your child can’t sleep because of the rash. You can’t make the rash better, even after using Self-Care

   
   

   
   

   Self-Care Tips

   
   

   For Diaper Rash
   

   • Change diapers as soon as they are wet or dirty. Do this even at night if the rash is bad.
     
   • Wash your baby with lots of warm water. Don’t use throwaway wipes. Put a little zinc oxide ointment on the skin after it is dry.
     
   • Keep the skin dry, and give it air.
     
   • Keep your baby naked for 10 to 15 minutes before putting on a fresh diaper. Put the baby on a soft, fluffy towel while you wait.
     
   • Put diapers on loose, so air can get inside. If you use throw-away diapers, put some small holes in them. Don’t use throw-aways with tight leg bands.
     
   • Don’t use plastic pants until the rash is gone.
     
   • Wash cloth diapers in mild soap. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water. It helps get all the soap out.
   
   

   For Cradle Cap
   

   • Use dandruff shampoo on your baby. Shampoo your baby’s head once a day for 5 minutes. Use a soft brush or washcloth.
     
   • Put a little mineral oil on the baby’s head before shampooing. This can make the cradle cap softer. But be sure to wash out all the mineral oil.
   
   

   For Heat Rash
   

   Keep your child in a cool, dry place. The rash should go away in 2 to 3 days. Try these tips to make your child feel better:
   

   • Give the child a bath in cool water every 2 hours or so.
     
   • Let the air dry your child’s skin. (Don’t rub with a towel.)
     
   • Put calamine lotion on the very itchy spots. (Don’t use Caladryl.)
     
   • Put corn starch in the body creases.(Examples: inside the elbows, behind knees, inside tops of thighs)
     
   • Don’t use any greasy ointments or creams. They can block the skin’s pores.
   
   

   For Hives
   

   • Give your child an antihistamine like Benadryl. Check the labels of cold medicines. Some cold medicines have diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine. These can help. But remember that antihistamines can make your child sleepy.
     
   • Cool your child down. Try one of these tips:
     
     • Rub an ice cube over the hives.
       
     • Put a cool, wet washcloth on the hives.
       
     • Give your child a bath in cool water.
     
     
   • Rub your child’s body with calamine lotion, witch hazel, or zinc oxide.
     
   • Find out what caused the hives. Keep your child away from it.
   
   

   For Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Sumac
   

   • Take off your child’s clothes and shoes.
     
   • Wash your child with soap and water to clean off the plant oil.
     
   • Rub the skin with alcohol. Then rinse it with water.
     
   • Wash all the clothes and shoes your child was wearing.
     
   • Cut your child’s nails. Try to keep your child busy so they won’t scratch.
     
   • Soak the rash in cool water. Or give your child an oatmeal bath. You can use Aveeno or just put one cup of dry oatmeal in a tub of water.
     
   • Give your child a hot shower if they can stand it. The itching will get worse at first, but then it stops for hours. Do it again when the itching starts again.
     
   • Put calamine lotion on the rash every 3 or 4 hours.
     
   • Put a little hydrocortisone cream on the rash. Use a tiny bit and don’t rub. (You could spread the poison.) You have used too much if you can see the cream on the skin. You can do this every 3 or 4 hours. Don’t get the cream near your child’s eyes.
     
   • Teach your child to know poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac. (Poison ivy and poison oak both have 3 little leaves on each stem. Poison sumac has a row of 7 to 11 little leaves on each stem.) Tell your child to stay away from them.

   To Protect Your Child from Lyme Disease
   

   • Have your child wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when they are in fields and woods. Have them tuck their pants into their socks. (Light-colored, tightly woven clothes are best.)
     
   • Check your child for ticks when he or she comes back from the woods. Take off any ticks you find on your child’s skin:
     
     • Use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as you can.
       
     • Pull gently up from where the tick sticks into the skin.
       
     • Try not to crush the tick. Poison from the tick can spread the sickness.
       
     • Wash the bite and your hands with soap and water after.
       
     • Save the tick in a closed jar with alcohol. Show it to your child’s doctor if your child gets sick.
   ]]> 15377 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/aromatherapy-and-children/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aromatherapy-and-children Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/aromatherapy-and-children/ Care must be taken in treating children with essential oils, although there are any number of safe ones. Use one-third to one-half the adult dose, or a 1-percent dilution (five or six drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil), and don’t forget that citruses may irritate the skin. See “Guidelines” chapter.
   

   
   Chamomile, melissa and fennel used as massage oil, or taken as herb tea, soothe a variety of tummy-aches-and the problems that can lead to stomachaches, such as frayed nerves, anxiety and over excitability. Colic, gas pains, nausea and food allergies are also good candidates for these remedies. A study from Israel found that a chamomile, fennel and melissa herb tea with licorice helps stop crying and fussing in infants with colic. Researchers think that essential oils relieve muscle spasms caused when babies swallow air as they eat. Nineteenth-century parents gave colicky babies a “gripe water” of dill, fennel or anise, and East Indian and Lebanese mothers still use dill to ease colic. A European carminative water contains fennel, chamomile, caraway, coriander and bitter orange peel, all known to kill bacteria and relieve flatulence.
   

   
   Most digestive woes are helped by a simple tummy massage.
   

   
   Tummy-Rub Oil
   
   2 drops Roman chamomile
   
   1 drop fennel
   
   2 drops dill
   
   1 drop melissa
   
   1 ounce carrier oil
   
   Mix together and massage the tummy gently.
   

   
   A relaxing treatment for children before bedtime is a warm lavender and chamomile essential-oil bath. Most children love taking aromatherapy baths, particularly if they have their own personal blends, and may want to get involved in choosing and blending scents. Popular fragrances include orange, grapefruit and tangerine-all antidepressants and relaxants. (See the Baths section of the “Aromatherapy Body Care” chapter for proper dilution guidelines for kids.) Nature’s gentle relaxant teas such as melissa, lavender and chamomile can calm a nervous, overstimulated, cranky child, make headaches go away, or gently induce sleep-as well as help soothe a worn-out parent!
   

   
   A child suffering from a headache, sleeplessness or overexertion will find relief in a cool compress of lavender placed on the forehead. Frankincense used in a vaporizer or as a massage oil is safe and effective for respiratory congestion or infection, even for infants. Other safe essential oils for children include mandarine, marjoram, neroli, jasmine and petitgrain. Treat a fever, measles, chicken pox or mumps with a tea of yarrow, catnip, peppermint and elder flower; ginger with a touch of lemon juice is also effective. The soreness of mumps is relieved by syrups and gargles made from teas of thyme, rosemary or sage. Antiviral oils of melissa and bergamot have proven effective against the mumps and chicken-pox viruses. (If you use melissa, be sure it is the real thing and not citronella or lemongrass; these don’t have the same healing properties.) Use these essential oils in a steam or make a tea from the herbs.
   For teething pain, give chamomile tea and rub the gums with a little diluted clove oil on your finger.
   

   
   The following formula may be used for swollen tonsils, mumps and other lymphatic swelling in the neck area:
   

   
   Neck Wrap
   
   2 cups warm water
   
   8 drops lavender essential oil
   

   
   Mix the water with the essential oil. While the water is still warm, soak a soft cloth, preferably flannel, in the water and wring it out. Wrap the cloth around the neck. Cover with a towel to hold in the heat. Remove before it gets cold. Repeat as many times as you wish.
   

   
   European children were once given “dilly pillows” filled with aromatic herbs such as lavender and dill to send them off to dreamland. The scent was also considered a digestive. Add chamomile and thyme to prevent nightmares.
   

   
   Dilly Pillow
   
   1 cup total:
   
   lavender flowers
   
   hops strobiles
   
   lemon-balm leaves
   
   chamomile flowers
   
   dill seeds
   

   
   Fold a 5″ x10″ piece of cloth in half and sew up the edges, leaving just enough room to stuff the herbs inside. Combine the herbs in equal parts to make 1 cup. Stuff the herbs into the material, then finish sewing it up. Place beside or under the child’s regular pillow.
   

   ]]> 15399 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/chicken-pox-varicella/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chicken-pox-varicella Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/chicken-pox-varicella/ An acute viral disease, usually ushered in by mild constitution symptoms that are followed shortly by an eruption appearing in crops and characterizedby macules, papules, vesicles and crusting.
   

   
   

   This common problem usually occurs in children less than nine years old.There is a low grade fever, headache, a rash that usually appears first on the face and scalp as red dots. These merge into pus- or fluid-filled blisters, which form crusts and scabs as they heal in various stages. Itching may be intense, each pock lasting several weeks. May form scars. Rash emergescontinuously over 4-6 days. Mostly central body, fewer on arms and legs.Inner mouth sometimes involved. Treatment is symptomatic as with measles, although there will be no photosensitivity to deal with. An example of asimple and very effective treatment for itching, that may avoid the complicationsof secondary infection caused by scratching, is again given by Ms. Riggs:
   

   
   

   :
   

   
   

   1 oz. dried Rosemary
   

   1 oz. dried Calendula
   

   1 qt. water
   

   Clean washcloth
   

   
   

   
   

   1. Combine the Rosemary and Calendula with the water in a covered pot, bring to a boil and simmer gently for 5 minutes.

   2. Take the pot off the heat and steep the herbs for 15 minutes.
      
   3. Strain out the herbs through fine cheesecloth and discard them.
      
   4. Cool the wash to a comfortably warm temperature for applying to an infant’s skin. Refrigerate any unused portion of the wash and reheat with each use.Discard any remaining wash after 3 days.
      
   
   

   Application: This wash is most effective when applied right after a bath. Apply the wash as warm as possible, but not so warm that it is uncomfortableto an infant’s already irritated skin. Test a little on the inside of your wrist before applying it. Dip the washrag in the wash, and wring it outso that it is not dripping but is quite damp. Press it gently on the infant’s skin where needed. Do not rub! This will only cause more oozing and irritation.Let the wash air-dry on the skin. Perform this treatment once each night until the skin is clear, which, depending on the condition, is usually 2 days to 1 week.
   

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