How To Keep Your Kids Healthy This Summer: Dr Gordons Top Tips.
There is no better time than summer for children. Endless days of outdoor play and a well-earned rest from studies. Nevertheless its vital that parents pay close attention to their child’s health and wellbeing as summer can bring with some specific risks. In this article, Dr Daniel Gordon shares his top tips for keeping children well in the summer months, and outlines some of the common illnesses that can affect children in the summer
Which child does not like the summer? Long days spent outdoors, holidays with family and friends and well-earned rest from school. For parents to a can be a special period to spend extra quality time with their children which may be lacking during the academic year due to other life pressures.
Nevertheless, it is important for parents to be aware of the specific health risks associated with the summer months and take appropriate precautions to keep their kids healthy and well. Here are my top tips for your child's health this summer.
Protect your child skin with an appropriate sunscreen
When I was a child sunburn used to be thought of as a painful nuisance. In recent years it become clearer just how damaging sunburn can be for our long-term health. Scientific studies have linked even a few episodes of blistering sunburn as a child with a significantly raised risk of skin cancer in later life.
As a general rule, its best to keep your children out of the sun as much as possible between the peak hours of 10 AM to 4 PM. Dress them in appropriate clothing which keeps sensitive areas covered, including a sun hat for their head.
All children should wear sunscreen of an appropriate SPF rating when outdoors through the summer months. One place where it is easy to get caught out as a parent is forgetting to reapply sunscreen, especially if your children are having a great time. In general, sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours or after any outdoor activities which may involve sweating or swimming. Set a timer on your phone if you think you need a reminder.
“In general, sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours or after any outdoor activities which may involve sweating or swimming. Set a timer on your phone if you think you need a reminder”
Pay attention to their eating habits
One of the best things for children about summer is the increased sense of freedom it provides, especially around diet. Sugar and junk food intake during the summer months tends to increase in children. Whilst all children should be encouraged to enjoy treats during the summer months, try not to get into new habits which will be hard to break at the start of the next school year.
Continue reminding them on a regular basis about the importance of healthy eating and try and lead by example with your own food choices through the summer months.
Always wear a helmet
Well, not always (I haven’t seen that many head injuries from children playing Uno or Chess).
Head injuries are one of the most common causes of serious trauma and injury in children. This has become an increasing problem with the rise of scooters and other similar toys. During the summer months I will often see a number of children who have sustained head injuries of varying degrees of severity from normal outdoor play. As parents, we all know that accidents can happen very quickly and when we are least expecting them. Just because your child is scooting slowly now, it doesn’t mean that something can’t happen - Things change very rapidly.
I cannot stress enough the importance of insisting that your child wears a properly fitted helmet when undertaking activities such as cycling or scooting, regardless of what speed they will be travelling at.
Keep them well hydrated at all times
Hot weather poses a risk of dehydration to children even if they are not visibly sweating or running around. Did you know that children actually have a higher risk of dehydration than adults? There are two reasons for this. Firstly their metabolism is faster and secondly they actually have a higher body surface area relative to their weight than adults.
Even minor degrees of dehydration can make children feel unwell with symptoms such as lethargy and headaches.
Ensure your children are kept hydrated at all times, especially if they are participating in intense activities or spending long periods outdoors. Sweet drinks including fruit juice and fizzy drinks are best avoided, as they may actually worsen dehydration. The best way to know if your child is well-hydrated is if they are passing urine regularly. You can also take a look at the colour of the urine which should be clear or light yellow and not dark yellow.
“Did you know that children actually have a higher risk of dehydration than adults? There are two reasons for this. Firstly their metabolism is faster and secondly they actually have a higher body surface area relative to their weight than adults”
Beware summer illnesses
Thankfully most seasonal illnesses tend to peak between autumn and spring, allowing children a period of better general health over the summer. Nevertheless, there are several illnesses which can affect children during the summer months. He is an example of a few of them:
Swimmer's ear
Summer is a more common time to see external ear infections in children. These are sometimes called swimmer's ear. Unlike viral ear infections, they are caused by bacteria entering the outer ear canal and one of the biggest risk factors is swimming (if you hadn’t worked this out from the name). Common symptoms include ear pain (especially when the ear is compressed from the outside) and discharge from the ear. External ear infections usually require treatment with topical antibiotic drops or sprays so make sure you see a doctor if you have concerns.
Insect Bites
Who has not been bitten by mosquitoes and other biting insects during the summer? In the main, insect bites are a nuisance but not particularly harmful. Use insect repellent if you can, and try and avoid areas where insects congregate in large numbers, such as stagnant water pools, ponds and water fountains (it is kind of unfortunate that kids tend to congregate in these areas too!).
Most itchy bites can be managed with over-the-counter treatments such as topical applications and antihistamines. Rarely insect bites can become infected so if you have any concerns it is very important to seek professional advice.
The exception to the above is if you are travelling to risk areas for mosquito borne illnesses such as malaria or yellow fever in which case you must take your child for a proper travel risk assessment and advice.
Lyme disease
Lyme disease is an illness carried by tics. It can be hard to diagnose but is very important to treat promptly. Whilst it is generally uncommon, the incidence is increasing. Tics affected with Lyme disease can be found in many forested areas of Europe, America and even the UK.
If you have been in forested areas check your children for tics which can burrow under the skin in exposed areas, especially those that are in contact with long grass. If you do find tics follow appropriate guidance on removal.
There is too much to say about Lyme disease to cover here, but I if you have specific concerns suggest seeking professional help or reading the following information from the NHS.
Finally - Don’t forget to enjoy your summer!
Summer is a wonderful time to spend quality time with your children and by following common-sense precautions and seeking help if you have any concerns you can ensure that your family is set up for a safe and enjoyable summer time.
