Health Archives - Page 3 of 6 - Life with Gremlins

Pinworms: Symptoms and Treatment

It’s been three days since my kid’s school sent home a notice their facility had been exposed to pinworms, and I am still grossed out. You know as a parent of school-aged kids I totally expect to get warnings about things like lice and strep throat, but worms?!? Just reading the notice gave me the heebie geebies and led me to do some serious research on worms and pinworms symptoms. So, what do you probably not want to know, but should know about pinworms?

What are pinworms?

As the name implies, pinworms are a type of worm also known as seatworms or threadworms. To be specific, they’re intestinal round worms that are white in color and range from about ¼ of an inch to ½ inch in length. Now on to the part that is likely going to have you inspecting your own poop for the next month. While you are sleeping female worms exit your digestive tract through the anus and lay their eggs in the skin folds there. You can have worms without knowing it until the adults die and are excreted to be seen in your excrement.

How do I know if my children or I have pinworms?

I was serious about inspecting your poop. You should be checking your kids too. Be on the lookout for what looks like small pieces of white thread. Outside of seeing them in poop you may also notice you or your child experience:

-Anal itching: This is the primary symptom of pinworms. It is usually even worse at night, so you might just notice your kiddo is being way more restless than usual at first, before you spy the butt picking.

-Anal rash
-Digestional upset
-Loss of appetite

You may also consider checking your child at night with a flashlight. Wait a few hours after he/she has fallen asleep and look near the anus for white, moving worms. Yes, you will be able to see them, they are as mentioned up there a bit about the size of a staple, but only come out at night. The general recommendation is to check 2 to 3 nights in a row.

Ok, how do I avoid pinworms?

To make these little parasites even creepier, their eggs are invisible to the naked eye, that’s usually how people become infected. They consume the eggs, and since anal itch is one of the primary symptoms of pinworms, it’s common for those infected, particularly young children, to have eggs under their nails to be deposited on whatever they touch. The best way to avoid pinworms is to frequently wash your hands, especially before eating—just like your mom told you.

What, gods forbid, do I do if my kid does have pinworms?

There are over-the-counter treatments for pinworms at most department stores, but you can also get a prescription from your doctor. You will have to clean and sanitize the crap out of your house though, surviving eggs can result in a new infection. Also, don’t feel bad, pinworms are actually the most common parasite in the US and more common in school-age children than lice. The more you know…

Medication Safety for Kids: Separating Candy from Medicine to Prevent Poisoning

Tacs, M&M’s, Mike N’ Ikes, Good N’ Fruity, Sweet Tarts, Skittles, even chocolate — the list goes on. Look in a medicine aisle and you’ll find a medication that looks nearly identical to many popular candies. Packaging removed, many adults can’t even tell the difference between candy and pills. Mix that with the impulsive sweet-tooth of most kids, and you have a recipe for misfortune and a serious reason to practice some medication safety for kids. One out of every 250 2-year-olds ends up in the ER from accidental medication poisoning.

So how can you keep your child from mistaking medicine for candy?

Medication Safety for Kids:

-Teach your child a symbol that means something is icky, a no-no, and dangerous. Since many poisonous substances already use the skull and crossbones, you can add this symbol to your medications, pills, and other hazards for children such as make-up, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. Make the symbol big and on neon paper if possible. You want it to really stand out. Be clear to your child that they should never touch anything that has this symbol. You can also buy stickers if you prefer.

-Avoid referring to medications or pills as “candy.” While I realize children often make this association themselves (my toddler calls his Flintstone vitamins candy), never tell your child a pill is candy to get them to take it. If they do mistake a medication for candy, correct them. Teaching that there is a difference between medicine and candy from the very beginning is important.

-Teach your kids never to eat candy off the floor. My toddlers eat off the floor all the time, it’s an effect of constantly throwing food. However, teaching that all foods should pass a mom/dad inspection can prevent accidental poison or medication ingestion. This one can take time, so in the meantime, keep a close eye on younger children, especially when in public places or locations like hotel rooms where you may not know who all has been there.

-Try to take your medicine out of your child’s sight. Young children in particular, as you likely have noticed, are mimics. Anything you do they’ll not only want to do, but likely will try to do. Simply taking your pills out of your child’s sight can help tremendously when your aim is medication safety for kids.

-Buy child-resistant packaging, and be sure the bottles are closed after use. Most medications now come with tamper-resistant or child-proof packaging, but some don’t. Be on the look-out for packaging that is extra tricky to open, the more difficult the better. Also be sure you properly close medication after use. My very first scare with my toddler and pills was due to me not fully placing the lid back on my Advil. Luckily he didn’t consume any, but if the cap isn’t secure, child resistant packaging doesn’t work, so check it twice. Also be sure to always keep medication in its original, safe package with the added no-no label.

-Keep medication in a locked location well above your child’s reach. When it comes to preventing accidental poisonings and medication safety for kids, you really can’t be too careful. Place those child-proof bottles and packages in a locked location that is well above your child’s reach, such as a bathroom cabinet above the mirror or toilet or on a high shelf.

What should you do if you suspect your child ate a pill or medication?

Don’t wait to see if your child has a reaction. Many medications will show little to no symptoms, but can be fatal over time. If you know the medication or pill that was or possibly was ingested, call poison control at 1-800-222-1222 in the US for instructions and follow them. If you’re unsure of the pill or medication taken, grab any remains — even if it’s covered in spit and is half-eaten — and go immediately to the ER. Also try to remember or even write down what the substance looked like in detail, so you can provide hospital staff with accurate information.

How Much is Too Much Candy for Kids?

There are a few opinions in life that just might as well be considered fact. One such opinion is that kids love candy. You’d be hard pressed to find one example that disproved the suggestion, but since we can’t go surveying every kid on earth, it remains a simple opinion, an opinion my three often chocolate-faced children would support. With Halloween quickly approaching, those same three sweet-toothed kids have a great deal of satiating treats coming their way soon. The holiday season in general is ripe with sugary goodness, so now seems a better time than ever to review how much candy is too much for kids and ways to make candy healthier for kids.

How much is too much candy for kids?

A study done between 1999 and 2004 found a correlation between candy consumption and lowered obesity rates. No, that isn’t a typo; children that consumed candy were found to have a 22% lower incidence of obesity. Those same kids were also at a lower risk for cardiovascular disease. The study, however, did not allude to why or to how much candy consumption each child had. The World Health Association recommends kids get no more than 10% of their daily caloric intake from sugars. You can calculate your child’s need by taking their height in inches and multiply it by 40. For example, a 32-inch tall toddler needs 1,300 calories. Then take your result, and multiply by .1. This is 10%. So the same 32-inch tall toddler should not exceed 130 calories from sugar — at least not regularly. To give you an idea of how much that is, a regular sized snickers bar contains 120 calories from sugar. (1 gram sugar on the package equates to 4 calories.) The occasional, say Halloween, binge certainly isn’t going to kill your tot, but keep this recommendation in mind for everyday consumption.

How can you protect your child’s teeth from candy-induced damage?

Dentists recommend avoiding sour candies as they contain acid which can erode enamel. Any type of candy for kids that sticks in the teeth is also not recommended, such as taffy. You can help keep your child’s teeth healthy by offering water after consumption. Try to teach your child to “squish” the water before swallowing; you can make a game out of it. Allowing your child to eat candy just before bed is also frowned upon, as it decreases salvation during sleep hours, allowing sugars to sit in the mouth longer. The best time as far as your child’s teeth are concerned to eat candy is just after a meal or snack. The idea of giving your child a piece here and piece there has also been shown to be worse for teeth than handing them all the pieces you intend to give at once. Avoid spacing out treats in an effort to be healthier.

Is there such thing as a healthy candy for kids?

That would depend on what you consider healthy. Candies tend to naturally vary in sugar levels, protein, vitamin and mineral content, and fat, but there isn’t really a catch-all “healthy” candy. Even dried fruit often sticks in teeth and according to dentists, can be as bad for teeth as regular candy. In the end, you are best just sticking to allowing candy in moderation, no matter the kind.