Eleven years and two sons in, I know a few
things about sick kids. First and foremost – they are inevitable. No matter
your lifestyle, diet or culture, your kids will get catch something, probably
from another child, and get sick. Your best chance to survive their childhood
is to be prepared.
By being prepared I mean I reckon every
parent needs the following in their arsenal at all times: age appropriate
paracetamol [Panadol] and ibuprofen [Nurofen], an age-appropriate and
recommended anti-histamine, hydralite icy poles or sachets, bandaids, the
number of an out-of-hours locum doctor, a reliable GP or local medical clinic,
a list of any medications your child may be allergic to, a bucket, Glen-20
anti-bacterial spray, a thermometer and a thick skin.
If you’ve got all that, then you just need
to remember these tips and you may get through the year without wanting to run
off into the bush to escape all germs for the rest of your lives (though I
promise that will cross your mind at least once when you’re drowning in the
fifth virus your child[ren] have brought home that school term).
1. They get sick at the worst times
Right before a big event or just as you’ve
booked an important work meeting or your bi-annual pap smear are the times that
children are most likely to get sick. You can count on your plans being
completely fucked at least half a dozen times a year and you can double that
number with each extra child you have. You can’t plan for it either. Just don’t
think you’re anything special when it happens to you. You’re not. You’re just a
parent. Suck it up and cancel those plans buddy.
2. It’s always worse at night
This seems like pure sorcery doesn’t it?
Kids can go from just being a bit flat and lethargic to a full-blown ebola
outbreak the moment the sun goes down… or you fall asleep – which ever comes
first. I don’t really understand the science in this. Perhaps there isn’t any
but there really isn’t any escaping it either. If your kid is showing signs of
illness during the day, then bunker down for the evening. This includes making
sure you have enough medicine [yours and theirs] before the shops shut [learnt
THAT one the hard way!]
3. Infections come on REALLY fast
This is another disturbing realisation.
Bacterial infections multiply at a rate of knots in kids. It’s almost scary.
I’ve watched my son complain of ear pain to having TWO burst eardrums in a
matter of hours [at night of course]. The best thing you can do if you suspect
an infection is to get a doctor to prescribe anti-biotics as soon as possible.
Because as fast as those infections come on, the drugs seem to stop them just
as quickly. Symptoms of any infection include: localised pain, fever,
drowsiness, rash and extreme whingeing. In younger, non-verbal children they
will often indicate where the infection is by pulling at or rubbing that area.
In older children/husbands there may be declarations along the lines of “I
think I’m dying.”
4. Panadol will become your best friend
Oh Panadol, how do I love thee? I have used
age-appropriate doses of Panadol since my children were tiny babies. The
effectiveness with which it stops a fever in its tracks is astounding and the
most help a parent can get when their child is really sick. My eldest hated it when
he was little though and would bring it up every time I gave it to him.
TIP:
doctors recommend that you DON’T redose your child if they bring up their
medication as you can’t be sure of how much they did ingest, risking overdose.
I would not be thwarted though! They make Panadol in suppository form. *cunning smile* You know what
that means right? Any time my son’s fever was too high or he was in pain from
infection [throat, ears etc] I just popped him on the change the table and gave
him a little paracetamol pressie. Yep, right up the kazoo. My husband couldn’t
do it [soft] but I was the master… and ruthless!
5. You can give paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time
This is a big tip and one that I’m
surprised many parents are unaware of. You can give your child paracetamol [Panadol]
AND ibuprofen [Nurofen] within the same dosage period. Eg, let’s say you give your
child the correct dose of Panadol and after about an hour they are still in
pain and/or their fever has not reduced. You can then give them the correct dose
[within the usual Panadol dosage period of 4 hours] of Nurofen AS WELL. You DO
NOT have to wait. They are two completely different medications and are often
used concurrently by medical staff in hospitals. In fact, that’s where I first
learnt about it. I have since confirmed it, regularly, with specialists, locum
doctors and my own trusted GP. This is incredibly valuable information and
could make all the difference during a night of sheer hell.
6. Locum doctors are travelling angels
I have had the best experience with on-call
locum doctors. When my kids have been really sick outside of normal consulting
hours travelling locum doctors have come TO MY HOUSE and carried out their
consultation at my kid’s bedside. It is a sensational service and I highly recommend
it. One doctor even let my youngest sleep through the entire consultation as he
checked his ears and temp and listened to his breathing when he was really sick
one night. It was seriously amazing and I would have hugged him if we weren’t
both kneeling on the carpet in a lamp-lit bedroom in the middle of the night…
#awkward. They often have at least a couple of doses of anti-biotics in their
bag of tricks that will get you through til morning and the peace of mind they
bring without having to traipse into an emergency department is worth its
weight in gold.
7. The emergency department is hell on earth in the middle of the night
I have seen the emergency department in the
middle of the night many times in my parenting life. It is never fun. I am usually
there for HOURS, waiting, with any number of other parents with their sick
kids. There’s screaming and crying and sleeping in every corner of the waiting
area. All parents are processing their own internal triage to try to suss out
where their kid sits in priority to others. There are lots of hot babies in
nappies and singlets sitting on their parent’s lap. There are prams everywhere
and exhausted adults and nurses who have seen it all before. Probably just last
night. I get all OCD in emergency departments and won’t let my kid touch
anything public that I haven’t wiped down first and when I get home I change
them out of anything there were wearing in hospital in case they’ve brought
home meningitis combined with gastro and polio. This is why, unless it’s an
actual emergency, I call out a locum instead.
8. Back rubbing is certain
Oh the back rubbing that goes on when your
child is sick. “Rub my back, Mum” is the chant of the sooky child.
9. Losing sleep is inescapable
Expect to lose lots of sleep and prepare
for it. Go to bed early yourself if you can. Make sure all medicine is easily
accessible and all syringes/medicine cups are clean for the midnight run. If
your child has gastro [oh that hideous, hideous thing] do as I do and set up
camp with a bucket in the lounge room. They’ll be chucking their guts up about
every half an hour so settle in for a night vomitous hell.
10. Fevers can be scary
My kids have never actually convulsed from
their fever but they do get a bit twitchy and glassy eyed. Anything over 38 degrees and I go in HARD and
fast to try to get it down as soon as
possible. This includes stripping them down to underwear and placing a cold
flannel on their forehead and pulse points if required.
11. They won’t want to eat
Kids will listen to their bodies and will
tell you when they’re hungry. If they don’t want a meal, don’t force it. Keep
them going with crackers, jellies, mild fruits like watermelon and soups. Let
them guide you, within reason but remember the most important thing is to keep
them hydrated. A dehydrated child can get into trouble very quickly.
12. Gastro often presents at both ends
At the same time. It can be a total,
revolting, explosive nightmare. The best way to tackle that, if your child is
toilet-trained, is to pop them on the toilet when they’re ready to spew and let
them vomit in a bucket while it comes out the other end straight into the loo.
13. Mother’s instinct is a diagnostic tool
You know your child. Trust that. I can tell
when my kids are getting sick before they even know it. I also know what
they’re susceptible to. One runs hot and one runs cold so their fever
temperatures are different. I will happily question a doctor’s diagnosis if I’m
not happy with it and will seek a second opinion without a blink of an eye. You
know your child. If all you’ve got to go on is that they just don’t seem right
then go with it and don’t stop until they’re right again. Better to err on the
side of neurosis, I always say.
14. Kid’s germs travel
They will cry on you and sneeze on you and
dribble on you and even vomit on you. The amount of germ-infested body fluids
that you will be covered with will be hard to avoid. All I can say is wash your
hands as much as possible. Don’t share pillows or cutlery and wash all the bed
linen and towels as soon as possible without being a nutcase. But know that
even with all possible precautions made, statistics show that you will get at
least half of your kids lurgies every year.
Just pray their father doesn’t get
them too.
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