American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [210]
The doctor may refer your child to a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in treating joint disorders) for further evaluation and treatment. He or she will recommend that your child see an ophthalmologist (a doctor who specializes in treating eye disorders), who can evaluate your child’s eyes for signs of inflammation.
Treatment
Treatment for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis focuses on reducing the inflammation. The doctor may recommend giving your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the fever and relieve pain, or he or she may prescribe a stronger anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and inflammation. The doctor will recommend a combination of physical therapy and regular exercise to slow progression of the disease, help restore and maintain mobility and flexibility in the joints, and build strength and endurance. Because fatigue can trigger a flare-up, help your child learn to balance exercise and other activities with periods of rest. Regular eye examinations are needed to check for signs of vision loss.
Childhood Infections
Infectious diseases occur when infectious microorganisms enter the body through the thin membranes that line the respiratory system or digestive tract. After the microbes enter the body, they start multiplying and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, causing symptoms.
The immune system attempts to fight the infection by producing proteins called antibodies to neutralize or destroy the microbes. Each microbe triggers production of a specific antibody that recognizes it. Once you have had a particular childhood infection, your immune system is able to recognize the infection-causing germ the next time and destroy it before symptoms develop.
Infectious diseases are contagious, which means that they can be spread from one person to another. Childhood infectious diseases can be contracted by inhaling airborne droplets that have been sneezed or coughed into the air by an infected person, or by direct contact with infected secretions. After recovering from some childhood infections—such as measles, rubella, chickenpox, or mumps—a child becomes immune to them, which means that he or she cannot be reinfected. This process is called natural immunity. Today, these infectious diseases are prevented with immunization, injections of harmless forms of the infectious agents to produce immunity.
Caring for a Child Who Is Ill
When a child is ill, he or she may be fussy and irritable or seem withdrawn and mopey. A sick child needs to be comforted. If your child is sick, pay special attention to his or her needs. Keep a record of his or her symptoms and, if you are unsure about anything, call your child’s doctor.
Giving Medications to Children
If your child has difficulty taking medication, ask the doctor for tips. A child 3 years old or older may be able to swallow a tablet or capsule whole with the help of a drink. If the child can’t swallow a tablet, ask your doctor if you should crush it and mix it with a food the child likes, such as apple-sauce or pudding. Don’t open a capsule and mix its contents with food, because you could alter the timed-release properties of the medication. Remember that some medications should only be taken on an empty stomach. If you have any questions, ask the doctor.
Because small children often cannot swallow pills easily, doctors usually prescribe medication for them in liquid form. Give the medication exactly as prescribed, shaking the bottle if it is required. Special medication spoons are available that measure doses accurately. Measuring spoons for cooking, dosing cups, and oral syringes are also accurate, but make sure the unit of measurement is the same as the unit of the dose you want to give. Never use silverware spoons to give medicine to a child because the sizes of spoons can vary.
It is important for a child who is ill to take all the medication exactly as prescribed. If you are giving medicine to a sick child, keep the following in mind:
• Immediately remove and dispose of the cap on a medicine syringe. Children