Teething Baby: Five Things You Need To Know To Help

Teething is one of the most difficult parts of your baby’s first year, and it is often very trying for parents, too. Your baby will likely be fussy and irritable during this time. A fever and decreased appetite might also occur while your little one is teething. While you might feel helpless at times, know that you can help your baby. Here are five things you need to know to help:

 

Ready or not, here they come!

Is your baby unusually cranky? Have a peek at those gums. The first tooth might appear around three months or anytime afterwards. According to cleaning dentist Joel E. Rothman, your baby’s first dental exam should be scheduled once the first tooth emerges. Your baby will get a simple exam and cleaning at this appointment.

 

There will be discomfort

You need to know that your baby could have a variety of discomforts while teething. Excessive drooling is often the first symptom that parents notice. Sleeping problems are common, as are gum swelling and sensitivity. Ask your doctor about using a pain reliever, such as Tylenol.

 

Fever can happen

A fever of up to 101 degrees can happen when your baby is teething. Some people think this is because of gum swelling, but no one knows the true cause. Ask your doctor about using a fever reducer when your baby is teething. If your baby has a fever above 101 degrees, call your doctor.

 

Nursing is great

Don’t stop breastfeeding when your baby’s teeth start coming in. The comfort you’ve provided your baby through nursing is especially important now, and those antibodies are still needed. Even if your baby has shown biting behavior, which is common during teething, you aren’t likely to be bitten! If baby does nip you, just let him or her know that’s a no-no.

 

Baby needs to chomp

As mentioned above, your baby will likely have the urge to chew on things as those first teeth are emerging. This is a perfectly normal behavior, and your baby will get relief from chewing. Try giving your little one a teething ring, a clean finger, a toothbrush, a frozen washcloth or stuffed toy to gnaw on. If your baby spits one thing out, try another.

 

Once it begins, teething can happen on and off for a year or more. While it can be stressful for you and baby at times, you can help sooth your baby by remembering the five things listed above. Remember, your little one might be hurting and otherwise not feeling well. Provide your little one with dental care, comfort and plenty of things to chew on to help make teething an easier time for you both!

Categories: Baby, discomfort, fever, gum swelling, happen, nbsp, teething

Can You Get Diseases From Your Pet? Here are 6 of 129!

When you open up your home to a new furry little friend, it can do wonders for your wellbeing. Your pet can teach your children about responsibility, get you exercising more by going for walks, and even enhance your emotional wellness. However, household pets also make you vulnerable to a whole host of health concerns. You can catch a minimum of 39 diseases directly from animals, 42 diseases by eating or touching food or water contaminated with animal faeces, and at least 48 diseases from the bite of bugs that feasted on an infected animal. The numerous wellness benefits of pets far outweigh the risks, but it can’t hurt to know what to watch out for:

 

1. Lyme disease. When your pets go cruising in the woods and dunes, they can bring back infected ticks and pass the Lyme disease on to you. Therefore, it’s important to check your pets for ticks on a regular basis.

 

2. Psittacosis (Parrot Fever). This may sounds like the plot to Pirates of the Caribbean 5, but parrot fever can affect your wellbeing with blood-tinged sputum, dry cough, fatigue, fever and chills, headache, joint aches, muscle aches and shortness of breath. Also known as psittacosis, this infection is caused by Chlamydia psittaci, a type of bacteria found in the droppings of birds, including parakeets, macaws and cockatiels, who don’t show signs of infection.

 

3. Cat scratch fever. You may have heard it called cat scratch disease, but this is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. You normally get cat scratch fever after your cat bites or scratches you, as the wound becomes mildly infected. As a result of this disease, you can experience swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, fatigue and diminished appetite. In very rare cases, complications of B. henselae infection are possible so it’s important to get checked out.

 

4. Plague. Yep, it may not be 1348 but the plague is still alive and kicking, albeit not to the same extent. Plague is generally associated with rats, but according to the US National Library of Medicine, ‘risk factors for plague include a recent flea bite and exposure to rodents, especially rabbits, squirrels or prairie dogs, or scratches or bites from infected domestic cats.’ The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that the plague you’ll typically find in your cat will be bubonic plague, which you can tell from such symptoms as fever, anorexia, lethargy and an enlarged lymph node that may be abscessed and draining.

 

5. Q fever. Although the primary targets of the curiously named Q fever are cattle, sheep and goats, although a variety of species may be infected, which includes house pets. The bacteria Coxiella burnetii is the culprit behind Q fever, which is found in the milk, urine and faeces of infected animals. The problem with Q fever is that it is resistant to common disinfectants as well as heat, which meaning it can survive for a long time. The Q stands for “query” as the etiology of the mystery disease was unknown when it was first recognised. However, now we know where it comes from; humans are infected through the inhalation of the organisms, as well as through tick bites or consuming unpasteurised dairy products.

 

6. Rabies. This viral disease will normally be transmitted to you if you’re bitten by an infected animal, which isn’t hard to discern as said animal will most likely be wild-eyed and foaming at the mouth. Most of the cases of rabies that are reported to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention come from the likes of raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes, but domestic species accounted for 8% of all rabid animals reported, so keep your pet’s rabies vaccinations up to date.

Categories: cat scratch, Disease, fever, Infected, infected animal, lyme disease, parrot fever, pets, Plague, Rabies, scratch fever

Tackle Hay Fever with Complementary Therapy

Hay fever affects around 20 percent of people in the UK according to research, but for many people who have this condition this means summers filled with sinus problems and sneezing. Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is the allergic reaction by the body to pollens which are breathed in or which get into the eyes. It’s most commonly birch pollen which causes hay fever in people, which is released in March, and grass pollen which develops in late May. However, depending on which type of pollen you’re allergic to you can have symptoms at any time of the year. It’s important to remember with any complementary therapy, there are limited studies to prove the effectiveness of the treatment – you should always consult your GP before starting any new treatment to ensure that it is safe.

 

Homeopathy is a form of treatment which is based on the theory of ‘like for like’. In the form of allergies, this means using anti-allergy herbs and ingredients which can ease the sneezing and itching symptoms attached to hay fever. Homeopathic nasal sprays often include ingredients such as traces of red onion which relieves runny noses, nasal irritation and sneezing. Pollenna is another treatment which provides tablets to be sucked or chewed every two hours, six times a day, until your symptoms begin to wane. Infrared light has limited scientific proof attached to it, but there have been trials carried out which reveal that 72 percent of hay fever patients claimed to have a reduced level of symptoms and felt better overall. This is because infrared light consists of wavelengths which have been proven to trigger the healing of nasal membranes, helping to soothe hay fever in sufferers. Membranes can become damaged during this time, so membrane protectors are a great idea. Cellulose powder is applied to the nasal passages which forms a coating on the nose and traps allergens before they can get into the respiratory passages which can be irritating.

 

Nasal sprays are often considered by most to be the top product to use during bouts of hay fever, with 77 percent of people claiming that they’re successful in reducing hay fever symptoms. Used in the long-term, it can even help to prevent hay fever from developing or getting worse. If you want to get the same effect, a little Vaseline rubbed just inside the nose can protect the membranes and trap pollen before it is inhaled.

 

There are ways to treat your hay fever with your lifestyle changes and diet as well. The air you breathe plays a big part in how bad your symptoms are, so an air purifier could be beneficial in cleaning this and helping to reduce the amount of pollen in it. If you’re venturing outdoors, it may be worthwhile to check the pollen count before you leave the house and stay away from parks and nature-rich areas where the pollen will be worse. Garlic is a great addition to your diet if you have hay fever, as it is a natural antihistamine, as is local honey which can desensitise the immune system so it doesn’t react quite so strongly to pollens. Green tea is also a great choice, as this can bolster the immune system and soothe the throat. As with any condition, a healthy diet in general will keep your body working on top form and will strengthen your immune system. If you are worried about your condition, seek advice from your GP who can advise of any other treatment options.

Categories: complementary therapy, fever, Hay Fever, infrared light, nasal sprays, Pollen, sneezing