Babies under age one should not be given any cow’s milk. Babies can't digest cow’s milk as easily as breastmilk or formula, and cow’s milk doesn’t provide them with all the nutrients their tiny bodies need. Once your baby turns one, you can start introducing pasteurized whole or 2% milk. Learn more: https://shorturl.at/dd8CQ
9 Common Asthma Triggers in Children and How to Manage Them
Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among children, impacting approximately 10% of children in the United States. Although asthma cannot be cured, it can be effectively managed by identifying and avoiding triggers that cause symptoms to worsen. Here are nine common asthma triggers and practical advice on how to manage each one.
1. Viral Respiratory Infections
Respiratory viruses such as the common cold, flu, RSV, and parainfluenza are frequent causes of asthma flare-ups. These infections can complicate asthma management and may lead to hospital visits.
What You Can Do: Monitor your child carefully when they show cold-like symptoms. If symptoms like coughing, wheezing, or breathing difficulty worsen, or if your child needs their rescue inhaler more frequently, contact your pediatrician immediately.
2. Tobacco and Environmental Pollutants
Exposure to tobacco smoke and other pollutants like smog, strong fragrances, and cleaning chemicals can irritate airways and trigger asthma episodes.
What You Can Do: Avoid exposing your child to tobacco smoke and use unscented, mild cleaning products. Ensure good ventilation at home when using any cleaning agents or chemicals.
3. Indoor Allergens
Common indoor allergens, including dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches, and rodents, are significant triggers for asthma, especially in allergic children.
What You Can Do: Reduce your child's exposure by using allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers and washing bedding weekly in hot water. Consider using a dehumidifier to manage indoor humidity and prevent mold growth.
4. Outdoor Allergens
Seasonal outdoor allergens such as pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, along with outdoor molds like Alternaria, can aggravate asthma.
What You Can Do: Limit exposure during high pollen seasons by keeping windows closed and having your child bathe after spending time outdoors, particularly after playing sports or outdoor activities.
5. Pets and Animal Allergies
Animals like cats, dogs, rabbits, and rodents produce allergens in their skin, saliva, and urine, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
What You Can Do: If your child has pet allergies, avoid having those pets in your home. Cleaning your home thoroughly if a pet has previously lived there and using HEPA filters can help reduce allergen exposure.
6. Cold Air and Weather Changes
Cold, dry air and rapid weather shifts can inflame airways and prompt asthma symptoms.
What You Can Do: Consult your child's pediatrician if cold weather consistently triggers asthma symptoms, as medication adjustments may help manage these triggers effectively.
7. Exercise-Induced Asthma
Physical activity can sometimes lead to asthma symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing, typically occurring shortly after exercise.
What You Can Do: Discuss with your pediatrician whether your child should use a rescue inhaler before exercising to prevent symptoms. Proper pre-exercise treatment can help your child enjoy physical activities safely.
8. Insect Stings
Asthmatic children allergic to stinging insects like bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants may experience rapid onset asthma symptoms following a sting.
What You Can Do: Seek advice from an allergist if your child experiences asthma symptoms after insect stings. Treatment may involve additional allergy medications, such as antihistamines or epinephrine.
9. Stress and Anxiety
Emotional stress and anxiety can increase inflammation in the airways, potentially leading to asthma symptoms.
What You Can Do: Speak openly with your pediatrician if stress seems to worsen your child's asthma. They can provide strategies and resources to build emotional resilience and better manage asthma symptoms triggered by stress.
Remember:
Managing your child's exposure to these asthma triggers can significantly improve their quality of life by reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms. If you have further questions or concerns regarding your child's asthma, feel free to contact the Children's Clinic in Jackson, TN, to speak with a pediatrician or schedule an appointment.
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Vitamin D Essentials: Building Strong Bones and Immunity from Birth
Vitamin D is crucial for supporting children’s bone health and immune systems. The AAP recommends that all children begin receiving vitamin D supplements shortly after birth. Babies younger than 12 months of age should receive 400 IU of vitamin D each day, and toddlers and older children should receive 600 IU. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4inQanF
The Power of Hand Washing: A Simple Way to Stay Healthy
How often have you and your child washed your hands today? It might not be something you think about much—it’s either second nature, done automatically throughout the day, or perhaps not as often as it should be. However, as your pediatrician may have mentioned, hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness.
Building a Hand Washing Habit
Encouraging your child to wash their hands frequently and properly from an early age can help establish a lifelong healthy habit. Throughout the day, children come into contact with countless bacteria and viruses—whether playing with friends, handling toys, or petting a family pet. These germs can quickly enter their system when they:
Rub their eyes
Touch their nose
Put their fingers in their mouth
In just a matter of seconds, this can lead to infections that last days or even weeks.
When to Wash Hands
Hand washing is a powerful tool in stopping the spread of germs. It’s essential to encourage kids to clean their hands regularly, especially:
Before eating meals or snacks
After using the restroom
After playing outside
After touching animals, including pets
After sneezing or coughing (especially when covering their mouth with their hands)
When someone in the household is sick
Unfortunately, studies show that many people don’t wash their hands properly—often just rinsing with water or using a small amount of soap without thoroughly scrubbing.
How to Wash Hands Properly
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following steps for effective hand washing:
Wet hands with clean water.
Apply soap—either liquid or bar soap placed on a draining rack.
Rub hands together vigorously, making sure to scrub every surface, including between fingers and under nails.
Continue scrubbing for at least 20 seconds to remove germs.
Rinse hands thoroughly and dry them with a clean towel or air dryer.
Are Antibacterial Soaps Better?
While antibacterial soaps are widely available, research suggests they are no more effective at removing dirt and germs than regular soap. Some experts even warn that overuse of antibacterial products may contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
For the best results, stick to warm water and regular soap without antibacterial agents like triclosan. When soap and water aren’t available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be a helpful alternative—but only if hands aren’t visibly dirty.
Making Hand Washing a Routine
A proper hand washing routine takes longer than most people realize—20 seconds may seem short, but it’s longer than you think! To make it fun, try timing your child or singing a short song that lasts about 20 seconds. Encourage them to practice good hygiene not just at home, but also at school, at friends’ houses, and in public spaces.
Good hand washing habits are easy to develop and can make a big difference in staying healthy year-round!
This content has been provided by the Children’s Clinic in Jackson, TN.
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Food Help For Families
Children need enough healthy food to grow, but food can cost a lot. If you’re worried about running out of food, your pediatrician can help direct you to various resources. Programs such as SNAP, WIC and in-school meals can provide your kids with food to lighten the cost burden that comes with grocery shopping. You can also talk to your doctor about other resources such as food banks, food pantries and other possibilities. Learn more about these programs at https://shorturl.at/hfnLv.