Essential Guide to Caring for Sick Child: Expert Tips for Parents
Gurgaon: Managing a sick child can be challenging for parents, especially with the increasing cases of childhood illnesses like colds, fevers, and stomach infections. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to serious conditions requiring medical attention.
With seasonal illnesses on the rise, it is crucial for parents to ensure their children stay hydrated, consume home-cooked meals, stay up to date with vaccinations, and maintain personal hygiene.
Dr Sanjay Wazir, Medical Director (NCR)- Neonatology and Paediatrics, Motherhood Hospitals, Gurgaon, emphasized the rising number of cases due to multiple factors. He said, “Currently, a large number of children are falling sick due to sudden weather changes, eating outside food, and poor sanitation. The child’s immune system is still developing, making them more susceptible to infections. Seven in ten school-going children aged 5-12 present with symptoms such as fever, cold, cough, wheezing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, abdominal distress, bloating, cramping, dehydration, body ache, joint pain, constipation, and diarrhoea.
While most childhood illnesses are mild and can be managed with proper care, parents should monitor symptoms closely and report to the doctor without any further delay. However, if symptoms worsen, such as difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, or high fever that does not improve with medication, parents should seek prompt treatment.”
Dr Wazir further advised on preventive measures, saying, “Ensuring a clean and safe home environment, practicing good hygiene, following cough etiquette, not being around sick people, wearing a mask, hand sanitizing, social distancing, and staying up to date with vaccinations are additional ways to protect children from frequent illnesses. Remember, parents should not send their children to school if they are sick.
Ensure the child eats home-cooked food, says NO to processed, junk, and sugary foods, drinks boiled water, and exercises daily to help the child stay healthy and hearty. Give medication to the child as per the expert’s advice for managing fever.”
By following these expert tips, parents can better manage childhood illnesses and promote their child's overall well-being.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.