Archive for September, 2009

Baby Hives

Hives, also known as urticaria or welts, are swollen areas on the skin. They can show up in different shapes and sizes, but are generally well defined, with a pale, central, raised area surrounded by a red border. Baby hives usually itch.  Hives can come and go over a period of minutes, hours and sometimes even weeks. They also can appear for only a few minutes and never return again.

Baby hives are a sign of an allergic reaction, and are usually harmless if they are the only symptom your child is having. Children with hives and more severe symptoms, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling in their mouth or throat, may have anaphylaxis – a serious allergic reaction. These children need immediate medical attention.

Hives are a type of allergic or immune system reaction that occurs when something triggers the release of chemicals, including histamine, from cells in a child’s body. It is important to remember that there are many more things in addition to food allergies that can cause hives in kids. These include medications, infections, exposure to the sun, and for some kids, even physically touching their skin repeatedly, like scratching, which is called dermographism.

A baby with hives may have additional symptoms depending on what is triggering the hives. For example, if a viral infection is causing the hives, then he may have a sore throat, runny nose, and/or a cough. Although some things, such as certain foods, commonly cause hives, keep in mind that almost anything can trigger hives.

To help figure out the cause of baby hives in your child, keep a diary of all of your baby’s medications and everything he has recently had to eat and drink.

Since hives are caused by the chemical histamine, it is logical that you would treat them with an antihistamine medication, such as diphenhydramine more commonly known as Benadryl.  Of course, the best treatment for hives, whenever possible, is to remove and then avoid whatever is triggering your baby’s hives.

Common causes of hives can include:

·         foods, especially peanuts, eggs, tree nuts, milk, shellfish, wheat, and soy

·         medications, especially antibiotics like penicillin and sulfa drugs

·         additives in foods or medications, such as the food dye tartrazine (Yellow No. 5)

·         infections, especially viral infections

·         insect bites and stings

·         latex

·         exercise

·         stress

·         exposure to heat, cold, or water

Baby Heat Rash

As suggested by the name, baby heat rash is triggered in some babies when they become overheated, either because they are overdressed or because it is just too hot outside. As they become hot and sweat, their sweat ducts become blocked and rupture.

Prickly heat, which is also known as miliaria rubra, is the most common type of heat rash. In this form of heat rash, the sweat duct becomes red and inflamed.  They look like small bumps with a red halo around them. These may cause a ‘prickling’ or stinging sensation. This type of heat rash may also cause mild itching. Usually found in areas under a child’s clothing, these bumps can be found grouped together inside the folds of the child’s skin, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. Infants who wear a hat may also get a heat rash on their forehead and scalp.

Just like prickly heat, Miliaria crystallina is a type of heat rash that occurs when the sweat ducts become blocked and rupture. These sweat ducts are closer to the skin surface though and don’t get inflamed, leading to the classic appearance of small clear vesicles on the child’s skin, without any redness or other symptoms, typically on their neck, head, or upper chest. Try to prevent any scratching of the affected areas as this could lead to a secondary infection.

Most methods of preventing heat rash start with the goal of not allowing your child to get overheated and include things like dressing your child in weather appropriate, loose fitting clothing, so that he doesn’t get overheated. Another key factor is avoiding excessive heat and humidity when possible. Occlusive ointments, including moisturizers, or oil based products on a child’s skin, which can also block the sweat ducts should also be avoided.

Although heat rash usually goes away on its own in a few days, some children do require treatment, which can be as simple as removing the child from the environment that triggers the rash.  These include alternatives such as dressing in less clothing.  Moving the child inside to a cooler, air conditioned environment also goes a long way to easing their discomfort.  Mild strength topical steroids, although these usually aren’t needed can be used for treatment if necessary. Calamine lotion is another remedy often used on itchy baby heat rashes.  Another option to try is compresses with cool water.  In the event a secondary infection does occur, antibiotics will probably be needed to treat it.

Baby Rashes

Certain medications, viral illnesses and allergic reactions can cause an acne-like rash in babies. Many other conditions common in infants, such as eczema, erythema toxicum, and heat rash, can resemble baby acne.  Baby acne develops during the weeks after birth. This is thought to be most likely due to hormones that passed from mother to infant during the last stage of pregnancy.  Baby acne can be aggravated by milk, formula, or spit-up coming in contact with the skin. Other irritants include rough fabrics or fabrics laundered in strong detergent. If your baby has acne, don’t use soap, lotion or creams on the face because these can also be irritations.

Newborns are prone to baby rashes.  Most baby rashes cause no harm and go away in time on their own. Some examples of baby rashes that are commonly found in newborns are as follows:

•           Pink pimples (“neonatal acne”) are often caused by exposure in the womb to maternal hormones. No treatment is needed, just time. They can last for weeks or even months on baby’s skin.

•           Erythema toxicum is another common newborn rash that looks like mosquito bites or hives. Its cause is unknown, and it resolves without treatment after a few days or weeks.

•           Dry, peeling skin is often due to a baby being born a little late. The underlying skin is perfectly normal, soft, and moist.

•           Little white bumps on the nose and face (“milia”) are caused by blocked oil glands. When baby’s oil glands enlarge and open up in a few days or weeks, the white bumps disappear.

•          Salmon patches (called a “stork bite” at the back of the neck or an “angel’s kiss” between the eyes) are simple nests of blood vessels that fade on their own after a few weeks or months. Occasionally stork bites never go away.

•           Jaundice is a yellow coloration to your baby’s skin and eyes. It is caused by an excess of bilirubin which is a breakdown product of red blood cells.

•           Mongolian spots are very common in any part of the body of dark-skinned babies. They are flat, gray-blue in color and they look a lot like a bruise. They can be small or large. The spots are caused by some pigment that didn’t make it to the top layer when baby’s skin was being formed. They are harmless and usually fade away by school age.

Pictures of Fleas
Anyone who owns a cat or a dog will understand the problems that are associated with an infestation of fleas; these microscopic parasites infect, it is estimated, every single domestic dog and cat at least once during its lifetime, and in many cases considerably more frequently.
With them being so small fleas have always been a favourite among education classes using microscopes; by magnifying these tiny parasites we can see their biological make up in very clear pictures and recent advances in digital photography and computer enhancement techniques have led to a great many pictures of fleas being available to look at on websites and also in many publications.
Pictures of fleas need to be magnified considerably in order to get the best effect, and when a successful depiction is secured it makes a very interesting picture indeed. In it we can see the very powerful and specially constructed back legs that enable the flea to jump over 200 times its actual body length – a feat unable to be repeated by any other creature – and also we can identify that the flea has no wings, and can only move from host to host by jumping and crawling.
These pictures also allow us to dig deeper into the life cycle of the flea, and this allows us to understand better the ways with which we have become accustomed to getting rid of fleas.
As the magnification of pictures of fleas is done to such a great degree we can understand the difficulty in treating the creatures; killing fleas is not simply a case of catching the creatures – an impossible task – and crushing them, but one that has to be done using the correct and adequate flea treatment, available from a vet or from a pharmacy. While fleas on dogs are generally unique to dogs, and fleas on cats likewise, each can quite happily live on the other, but neither of these can live on humans; fleas on humans are a unique species of flea, but we are easily bitten by fleas that jump on to our skin from our beloved pets.
Fleas are a nuisance and, in the case of young animals, sometimes very dangerous thanks to their ability to induce anaemia and allergenic reactions which can, in extreme cases, be fatal to the animal, and thanks to the high tech world of photography we have the ability to learn more and more about these parasites that share our lives.

Killing Fleas
How many of you own a cat or dog, and of those how many have experienced the problems presented by fleas? Fleas are tiny, absolutely microscopic parasites that live on cats, on dogs and on humans and other animals, and feed off our blood. They are so small that they are nigh on impossible to catch, so killing fleas becomes a challenge that has many different approaches.
First, it is important to understand that the flea will most likely lay eggs on your carpets and furniture, bedding and other soft places, so these have to be attended to in time, but the initial detective work involves finding out where the fleas are coming from.
If you have cats or dogs they are very likely to be the culprits; fleas are so common and widespread that it is said no domestic cat or dog will go through life without experiencing fleas. Killing fleas on cats and fleas on dogs involves the application of an insecticide powder or spray (something that, I can tell you from experience, cats in particular will find very annoying indeed!) The chemicals in these are designed to kill the fleas although getting rid of fleas also involves destroying the eggs.
The best way to approach this is to get into a regular routine of vacuuming, including going over the furniture as well as the carpets; this will remove the majority of eggs and reduce the likelihood of the infestation spreading, but you also need to make sure your beloved cat has not gone out to meet his friends and brought yet more home – he will, in time.
Fleas are often thought of as irritating but harmless creatures, yet they can – in kittens and puppies especially – induce anaemia from the feeding on blood and also cause allergic reactions in some. These can be dangerous conditions for infant pets to undergo, and must be kept at bay if an infestation is found. No contact with an infected animal should be allowed for kittens or puppies, and also young children should be kept away from infected animals for the same reason.
While the common dog flea and cat flea are actually different creatures from the same family, they are adaptable and can live on each others named host, but while they bite us they will not live on us. The human flea is in fact a rare occurrence, and instances of fleas living on humans are not of the commonest variety.

Getting Rid of Fleas
Fleas occur everywhere, and it is believed that every domestic cat or dog – our favourite pets of choice – will succumb to an infestation of these miniature parasites during its lifetime, and most of them more than once. While they cause itching and irritation, fleas on dogs and cats are actually more dangerous than that, as we shall see.
Fleas are blood sucking creatures that can occur on dogs, cats and humans as well as many other domestic and wild animals. Cats that tend to roam outdoors are prone to infestations more so than many, but it is a mistake to believe that they will only occur on animals that are let out of doors.
The speed at which fleas can spread is quite alarming; although not able to fly the flea is a creature that is able to perform some amazing feats of movement – it can leap up to 200 times its own body length thanks to specially formed rear legs, a performance that is simply unequalled elsewhere by any other creature.
One animal – or person – who comes into contact with an otherwise clean house can, therefore, be unwittingly responsible for a rapidly spreading infestation of fleas. Fortunately there are several different species of flea, many of which are unique to their chosen hosts. Cat and dog fleas are different species of the same creature and tend to infest there chose host – but cat fleas can live on dogs, and vice versa – but will not live on humans, whereas human fleas are not liable to infect animals. The widely famed hedgehog flea, for instance, is absolutely unique to those spiny nocturnal garden friends.
A flea infestation can have devastating effects on a cat or dog – particularly a young one – as its propensity for drinking blood can lead to instances of anaemia which can be very serious, or even fatal, in puppies and kittens. Likewise, allergies can develop which lead to further complications, making getting rid of fleas essential.
Getting rid of fleas is a case of choosing the right treatment, and supplementing it with routine vacuuming and cleaning of the infected house; insecticide treatments, and additionally a range of home and natural treatments, are widely available and the choice is up to the individual. Trying to catch fleas is futile as the incredibly small size of the creatures makes it nigh on impossible, so killing fleas is best done by one of the proven and tried methods – and must be done quickly, too.

Getting rid of bed bugs
Bed bugs represent one of the commonest problems in terms of insect infestation across the world today, and are found almost ubiquitously across the world; these tiny creatures live in our bedding as it provides the ideal environment for them to survive, and they come out nightly to feed on our blood. Symptoms include the effects of bites, yet the itching and red marks are difficult to use as a diagnosis as they are not prone to appear in all cases. For this reason, getting rid of bed bugs involves finding the creatures first, and to do so we must look in the places that they like to live.

These are creatures that hide away in the daytime, so look for the dark areas of the bedding and the mattress, and surrounding areas; anywhere that is dark, cosy and not normally inspected by us is likely to be a valuable place for the bed bug, so look there and known what you are looking for – a tiny creature without wings and with a strangely flat body, no more than 8mm long and generally much less.

Bed bugs are thought to have become prevalent again – their numbers declined with the advent of advanced medicine and better living conditions in the second half of the 20th century – thanks to our propensity to travel around the world, and it is a known fact that the creatures are brought into our houses by way of being carried on luggage or clothing from all over the world. They are common in hotels and other places where many people will stay over a period of time, yet rare in houses where the occupants do not travel or do not have travelling guests.

These creatures are notoriously resilient and have been known to go several months without eating, hence getting rid of an infestation is much more difficult than you may think; the

best method, should you find they are present, is to start by thoroughly washing – and maybe disposing of – the bedding and mattress, and any clothes that may have been infested. This sounds drastic, but as the alternative is to fumigate the property – an unpleasant procedure that may be necessary anyway in more serious cases – it represents the lesser of two evils.
Bed bugs are parasites that we have known for all time, and no matter how much we learn about them they will remain; the best thing we can do is keep up regular checks, particularly if

you have had visitors that have stayed in multiple occupancy dwellings.

Fleas

Fleas are famous as the tiny creatures, microscopic even, that infect our pet dogs and cats and force them to itch uncontrollably; anyone who owns a dog or cat will undoubtedly have had an experience with fleas, as it is practically impossible to stop these tiny parasites from taking up residence on your beloved pet’s hair.
Despite common belief fleas on dogs are different creatures to fleas on cats or, indeed, to fleas on humans; while one will jump from a cat to a dog it will not survive for very long, hence treating each animal individually is essential. Getting rid of fleas can be a time consuming exercise, and you can be almost certain that there will never only be one infestation of fleas. A cat that goes out into the neighbourhood, for instance, is bound to catch them from other cats in the area, and dogs likewise.
Fleas are, in fact, quite remarkable creatures which have fascinated scientists and biologists for as long as we have been aware of them; measuring no more than a little over 3mm, and often much less, fleas have a quite remarkable ability to jump more than 200 times their own body length, an achievement enabled by specially designed back legs which are made for the purpose. Contrary to many tales they cannot fly, and it is by jumping that they move between hosts.
Killing fleas is a problematic concern; it is nigh on impossible to catch a flea with the fingers, and even when it has been caught it is difficult to crush such a small animal, hence there are a number of insecticide treatments for dogs, cats and humans – make sure you have the right one for each may be dangerous to another – that are made to deal with the flea problem. Also advised is vacuuming, as in the case of the dust mite, for fleas will undoubtedly be present on soft furnishings and other household items present in the average home, and there are also pest control services that will try and eliminate the creatures from your home.
It is common in those who wish to use home remedies to obtain Borates, and this is known to kill the flea eggs at source. All of these methods should be treated with caution, however, for the use of potentially dangerous chemicals and substances is not something that should be done without first making sure the correct diagnosis has been made.

Fleas on Humans – Often confused with Bed Bugs
We tend to think of fleas as creatures that our cat or dog brings into the house, yet fleas on humans are also a frequently observed problem. Whereas fleas on cats and fleas on dogs cause the animal discomfort and, by biting us, cause us to suffer in a mild way, it is important to understand that these are different species from the same family; the human flea will not live on cats and dogs, and cat and dog fleas – although they can live on either – will not live on humans, merely bite us and leave us with a nasty itch.
Fleas are practically ubiquitous, that is they occur everywhere, and are also very resilient indeed; they have developed over many millions of years to become among the most prevalent parasites in the world, and are a constant source of embarrassment and annoyance to us and our pets.
We know when we are suffering from human fleas as the irritation is more pronounced; a bite from a cat or dog flea will leave a mark and not recur, whereas bites from human fleas will occur in many places, all the time.
What is interesting to know is that it is very likely the carpets, bedding and soft furnishings of a house are likely to harbour more human fleas than we are, as they live in these places and emerge to feed – on our blood.
In fact, the human flea has undergone a great deal of evolutionary changes in its lifetime, and is now able to live on other animals; in particular it is partial to pigs, and human flea infestations are common among pig farmers as the parasites can jump a great distance and leap from pig to man.
It is important to keep young children away from fleas as they are more susceptible to allergenic reactions than adults, and flea bites can induce such a reaction in some cases. Flea bites can, if left to get out of control, result in exaggerated skin infections, and thus require treatment.
There are many ways of killing fleas, but rest assured that catching them is impossible! Vacuuming the house – particularly soft furnishings and bedding – will remove eggs, and there are many different sprays and other treatments that can be readily bought. There are also professional pest control services that will remove fleas, but it is perhaps the best form of treatment to keep you cat and dog well powdered with flea treatment, and to keep a close eye out for the tell tale bites on your own body.

Fleas on Dogs
We love to keep pets – the companionship and the enjoyment we get from caring for a cat or dog is something that cannot be found elsewhere – yet fleas on dogs are an almost ubiquitous problem, just as the tiny parasites affect cats to such a great degree, too.
Fleas are everywhere; these microscopic and very resilient creatures are said to affect every single dog and cat at some point during its lifetime (and in most cases more than once) and treating them is made more difficult still by the absolutely minute size.
The problem with fleas on dogs is that the creatures feed on the animal’s blood; in young dogs especially this can lead to added infection as the fleas cause blood problems and other infections which can lead to serious illness and even death in very young animals.
Dogs that associate with others are likely to contract fleas by contact; fleas cannot fly yet they have an amazing ability to jump more than 200 times the length of their body, a feat that is not matched by any other creature. This means they can easily transfer between hosts, and that they spread very quickly indeed.
One problem that is prevalent in flea infestations on dogs – and in fleas on humans, too – is that some can be subject to allergenic reactions to the presence of the creatures. This is another way in which the parasites can cause greater problems if they are left untreated.
Fleas are not just a minor problem, therefore, but one that should be treated with a serious intent. If you have more than one dog then the fleas will undoubtedly spread between the animals, making successful treatment ever more important.
Getting rid of fleas is best done by way of one of the many insecticide treatments available from vets and pharmacies widely, and these are known to have very successful results. Further help can be given by frequent and thorough vacuuming and keeping the animals washed, while combing through the hair of the pet can allow you to see fleas as they fall off onto a carefully placed sheet of white paper.
Any animals that are suspected of having fleas should be kept away from others until the infestation is known to have been destroyed, while any suspected cases of fleas need to be diagnosed quickly and correctly, and the very best possible treatment administered as quickly as possible.