Magazine

The causes of ear pain can be varied and do not always have to involve the ear itself.

Children are more often affected by ear pain from an ear infection than adults. This has to do with the anatomical conditions of the ear and throat. Pain can be felt in the ears due to inflammation of these regions. The therapy options against the pain also start there.

Measures:

All measures for free nasal breathing help against fluid and secretion accumulation in the middle ear, because this also allows the middle ear to be well ventilated and thus the pressure and pain are relieved. 

• Physiological salt water nasal rinses
• Decongestant nasal drops or sprays
• Sliced raw onions in a bag of onions
• Onion wrap for the ear
• Complementary remedies on the advice of your family doctor
• Keep the ears warm and dry
• Gargle, if possible (e.g. with sage tea).

Report to docter if:

• Persistent pain over one day
• More severe limitation in general condition
• In case of additional fever
• When fluid leaks from the ear

(stenosing laryngotracheitis)

What is the pseudocroup? 

Pseudocroup is a classic viral upper respiratory tract infection. It can spread to the larynx and cause typical hoarseness, barking cough and/or a typical harsh breathing sound when inhaling due to swelling of the mucous membrane. Pseudocroup occurs mainly in infants and young children.

What are the symptoms?

• Fever
• Dry, barking cough (similar to the barking of a dog or the sound of a seal)
• Hoarseness
• Rough breathing sound when inhaling 
• signs of respiratory distress: strained or accelerated breathing; retractions of the skin above the sternum, between the ribs

The symptoms often occur at night and are often milder during the day. Sometimes the symptoms last for several nights.

What measures can I take at home to help my child?

• Rest for child and parents (severe agitation may worsen symptoms).
• Wrap the child up warmly and take him out into the fresh and cool air (often the symptoms disappear as a result).
• Inhale steam: go into the smallest bathroom and run the shower spray hot, with the shower curtain closed inhale the resulting water vapor
• Lower high fever
• Slight elevation of the upper body (facilitates breathing), e.g. with the help of books or folders under the pillow
• Give (mildly cooled) water to drink
• Sleep with (partially) open window
• Increase humidity in the bedroom: Hang wet laundry or set up a humidifier.
• Complementary remedies on the advice of your family doctor
• If shortness of breath persists despite the above measures, cortisone (e.g. Betnesol) can be given once to reduce swelling if this has been previously prescribed by the physician and the appropriate dose is known.

When and how soon should I go to the doctor?

• If the child has shortness of breath and/or a harsh breathing sound when inhaling and the complaints do not improve sufficiently despite the above measures: direct medical presentation recommended (at night, if necessary, to the hospital).
• If the symptoms improve sufficiently with the above measures and the general condition permits, it is possible to wait until the next morning (call your pediatrician to discuss the further procedure)
• If your child has not been vaccinated according to the CH standard and, in addition to a high fever, there is pronounced salivation, we recommend that you see a doctor immediately.

Appearance:

In many cases, children develop a fever when their immune system is dealing with an infection. It is a sign that your child has to deal with something (still unknown). That is why fever is important and useful, because it supports the maturation of the immune system in the long term. Under certain circumstances (see below), fever should also be allowed. Children grow from it.

Take the temperature in your child's bottom during the first twelve months of life. From then on, ear thermometers are also possible. 

A measurement above 38°C in the first three months or above 38.5°C from the fourth month of life is considered a fever. 

Measures:

• Give enough to drink
• Bed rest
• Offer gentle food (low fat). But it is not a problem if your child has no appetite
• Antipyretic agents can be used from a temperature of 39°C onwards
• Non-drug measures (e.g., calf compresses) can also be very helpful and reduce fever (See Health wrap)
• Give a lot of attention
• Regularly ventilate the room briefly
• School/kindergarten/daycare may be attended again when the child has been fever-free for at least 24 hours and is fit enough to participate

Report to docter if:

• Infants under three months of age with a fever of 38°C or more.
• Shortness of breath with too fast or strained breathing
• If the child has a headache with sensitivity to light, sensitivity to touch, or stiff neck
• If the child is listless and apathetic, even if the fever has dropped
• If fever persists for more than 2 days, even if no other accompanying symptoms are present

• Wraps are external applications
• They are mediators of healing processes through the skin and include the whole human being
• They support other remedies/medicines
• Wraps require rest and time
• The environment should be warm and comfortable
• An after-rest of 30min is important
• Attention to the child is an important step in the healing process
• Children are very sensitive to smells and temperatures, so always dose carefully
• For neurodermatitis patients it is recommended to use silk instead of wool or linen for the wraps
• Do not use essential oils on infants and use only lightly tempered compresses
• Essential oils should always be emulsified or diluted (e.g. with olive oil)
• Warm compresses should always be wrapped well and warmly - as soon as they cool down, they are taken away or renewed
• Cold wraps should only be fastened and left open - as soon as they become warm, they can be taken away

The wrap set for neck and ear wraps can be purchased at our practice in the Youkidoc store at reception.

Correct positioning

• Position the arm above heart level as often as possible during the first days, do not let it hang down
• While sitting, place the cast on a pillow
• Move fingers regularly

Itching

• In case of itching, never scratch under the cast with sharp objects

Showering / bathing

The cast should not get wet

• Protect the cast with a plastic bag and seal it waterproof with adhesive tape
• Showers are allowed, no bathing

Discomfort
If there is a feeling of pressure, pain, swelling, formication, discoloration of the skin or a cold sensation:

• elevate for 30 minutes
• If there is no improvement: prompt check-up by a specialist

Coughing is a useful protective reflex. It is often the longest lasting symptom of respiratory infection.

Measures:

• Set the crib at an angle at the head end (possibly place books or folders underneath)
• Regularly offer sips of warm tea or water. A little honey in the warm tea helps well with dry cough
• Mucous cough:
  • Cleanse the nose before sleeping: Rinse the nose with saline solution and then give decongestant nose drops (for a maximum of seven days at a time). Chest rubs and compresses are also helpful, as is inhalation of a chamomile (tea) infusion. It is best to discuss the use of expectorant remedies with your doctor.
  • Air the bedroom in the evening and make sure the air is sufficiently humid (hang a humidifier or large damp terry cloth).
  • Put a sliced fresh onion next to the bed
  • Drizzle three drops of eucalyptus oil on pillow/outside of bed
• For barking cough:
  • See Pseudocroup

Report to docter if:

• Shortness of breath: with accelerated or strained, painful breathing. (without fever!)
• For blue lips/mouth triangle
• If the cough is accompanied by fever, accelerated breathing or pain when breathing for more than three days

Appearance:

Diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting may occur.

Risk of infection:

Vomiting and diarrhea are often very contagious.

Measures:

• Giving enough to drink by offering frequent sips of liquid
  → Sweetened or unsweetened tea, water with dextrose. For infants, infant milk or breast milk. If necessary, electrolyte solutions can help (Oralpädon, Normalytoral, Elotrans) or the WHO one-third solution (1/3 orange juice, 1/3 black tea, 1/3 tap water, 1 pinch of salt and a soup spoon of dextrose) per liter - cold in small quantities.
• Relieve abdominal pain with a hot water bottle
• Rest
• No personal contact with immunocompromised persons
• Rusks, pretzel sticks, bananas, light food (low fat) in small amounts (If the child has no appetite, there is no need to worry about this. Drinking is currently more important)
• Avoid fruit juices, cow's milk, or hard-to-digest foods for short periods of time
• Careful hand hygiene

Report to docter if:

• bloody vomit or bloody diarrhea
• if your child refuses fluids or urinates less than 3x/day
• if the child is weak and apathetic even without fever
• as long as none of these criteria are met, no medication is usually necessary