COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES: SORE THROAT & COLIC
Sore throat
Sore throat is a common symptom of many childhood illnesses such as colds and the flu. However, if you see small white spots on your child’s tonsils or on the back of his or her throat and the swollen glands under the jaw, it could signal strep throat or tonsillitis.
If there is a strep infection, your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics. Otherwise you can give the child acetaminophen and ordinary cough drops to ease the discomfort.
Colic
Colic is usually most severe in babies from 4 to 6 weeks old and is characterized by the infant’s being irritable, crying or screaming excessively, drawing the knees up to the abdomen, and sometimes, passing gas.
Treatment essentially involves waiting for the baby to grow out of the condition, which usually happens by 3 to 4 months. There are no cures for colic, but you can treat the symptoms in various ways, including:
A) Fennel tea— pharmacologists say that the oil in fennel seeds is a carminative— a substance that helps expel gas. To make fennel tea, boil fennel seeds in water, then strain and dilute the liquid.
B) Place the baby face-down on your knees while stroking his or her back.
C) Give the baby a pacifier.
D) Place a heating pad—set on a safe, comfortable setting—or a warmed wash cloth under the baby’s stomach.
E) Take the baby for a ride in the car. Motion seems to be good for colic.
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