The Care and Feeding of Children Part 23

_What should be done in this case?_

Give the child plenty of dry food, like bread, potato, etc., but under no circ.u.mstances either an emetic or cathartic. An infant may have its usual food.

_What harm would a cathartic do?_

It is likely to hurry the foreign body too rapidly through the intestine and in this way do harm; otherwise it becomes coated with fecal matter and pa.s.ses the intestine usually without doing injury.

_What should be done if a child gets a foreign body into the ear?_

Unless this can easily be removed with the fingers it should not be meddled with, for it is likely to be pushed farther into the ear. The child should be taken to a physician.

_What should be done if there is a foreign body in the nose?_

The child should blow his nose strongly while the empty nostril is compressed. Unless this removes it a physician should be called.

Meddlesome interference is always harmful.

COLIC

_What are the symptoms of colic?_

There is a strong, hard cry, which comes suddenly and returns every few minutes. With this there is drawing up of the feet, contraction of the muscles of the face, and other signs of pain. The abdomen is usually tense and hard.

_What should be done for a baby with colic?_

First, see that the feet are warm. Place them against a hot-water bag, or hold them before an open fire; apply a hot flannel to the abdomen, or let the child lie upon its stomach across a hot-water bag. If the colic continues, a half teacupful of warm water containing ten drops of turpentine may be injected into the bowels with a syringe; at the same time the abdomen should be gently rubbed so as to start the wind.

If the gas is in the stomach, half of a soda mint tablet may be given in a tablespoonful of very warm water.

EARACHE

_What are the symptoms of earache?_

The pain is generally severe and accompanied by a sharp scream; the child often puts the hand to the affected ear, or cries whenever it is touched. The pain is likely to be prolonged and continuous.

_How should a child with earache be treated?_

The ear should be irrigated with a solution of boric acid (twenty grains to the ounce) as warm as can be borne. Dry heat may then be applied in several ways. The ear having been first covered with cotton, a small hot-water bag or one filled with hot salt or bran, may be bound over it with a bandage; or a small b.u.t.ter plate heated in hot water may be used in the same way. The hot-water bag may be held against the ear or the child may lie with his head upon it. The use of such substances as oil and laudanum in the ear is not to be recommended.

CROUP

_What are the symptoms of croup?_

There is a hollow, dry, barking cough, with some difficulty in breathing.

_When is this likely to come on?_

Usually at night.

_Is simple croup dangerous?_

The ordinary croup of infants is spasmodic croup, and is very rarely dangerous, although the symptoms seem very alarming.

_What are the symptoms?_

In a mild attack there is simply noisy breathing, especially on drawing in the breath, with a tight, barking, or croupy cough. In a severe attack the child's breathing is more noisy and becomes difficult.

_What is the dangerous form of croup?_

Membranous croup, which is the same thing as diphtheria of the larynx.

_How does this develop?_

Gradually; very rarely does it come on suddenly.

_What should be done for a baby who has spasmodic croup?_

The room should be very warm, hot cloths or poultices should be applied over the throat, and either a croup kettle or an ordinary tea-kettle kept boiling in the room. This is more efficacious if the child is placed in a tent made by a raised umbrella with a sheet thrown over it, and the steam introduced beneath the tent. If the symptoms are urgent, ten drops of the sirup of ipecac should be given every fifteen minutes until free vomiting occurs. Whenever the symptoms reach a point where breathing becomes difficult, a doctor should be summoned without delay.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

_What are the first symptoms of measles?_

Measles comes on rather gradually with cough, sneezing, watery eyes and nose, much like an ordinary cold in the head. The eruption appears after three or four days, first upon the face and neck as small red spots, and spreads slowly over the body.

_Is measles a serious disease?_

In infants and during the winter season it is likely to be very serious on account of the danger of bronchitis and pneumonia, which frequently accompany it. In children over four years old it is generally not severe. No child should be voluntarily exposed to this disease, and particularly one who is delicate or p.r.o.ne to disease of the lungs should be protected against it.

_When and how is measles contagious?_

Measles may readily be conveyed from the very beginning of the catarrh, two or three days before any eruption is present. It is not often carried by healthy persons. Its poison does not cling long to a sick room.

_What is German measles?_

German measles, or rubella, is a distinct disease and has nothing to do with ordinary measles. It is extremely rare for a child to be much sick with it. There is usually a very extensive eruption which may cover the body, but few other symptoms.

_What are the first symptoms of scarlet fever?_

Generally it comes suddenly, with vomiting, high fever, and sore throat. The eruption usually appears within twenty-four hours as a red blush, first upon the neck and chest, and spreads rapidly.

_When and how is scarlet fever contagious?_

Scarlet fever is only slightly contagious for the first one or two days of the attack. It is most contagious at the height of the disease and during desquamation. It may be carried by healthy persons and by the clothing or bedding from the sick room.

_How does whooping-cough begin?_