10 Common Family Health Problems

Family health problems can cover a multitude of common complaints and ailments. This article is not meant to replace medical advice, and you should always seek medical advice if you are concerned about the health of your child or another family member.

Here are 10 common family health problems and ways they can be resolved.

1. Colds, coughs and runny noses will often get better by themselves in a matter of days.  Some people prefer to treat colds with painkillers and cough medicine, whilst others don’t.  Some people will prefer to take time off work, or school, whereas others will soldier on.  There isn’t really a right way to fight colds.

2. Headaches can be caused by a number of things, such as stress, hunger, a bang on the head, or even needing to wear glasses.  By finding out why your child has a headache, you can help to get rid of the headache.  Perhaps a dose of painkillers is all that’s needed, or maybe your child will need a trip to the opticians if the headaches occur regularly, or whilst reading or watching TV.

3. Tummy aches can be caused by hunger or too much food, as well as for other reasons.  You will want to find out what your child has eaten to establish the cause of the tummy ache.

4. Sometimes children will feign an illness or condition in order to try and get a day off school.  After a while you will be able to tell when your child is genuinely ill, and when they haven’t revised for a maths test.

5. Cuts and scrapes will need to be cleaned and dressed, but unless they are serious, they probably won’t require medial attention at a hospital.  By keeping a well stocked first aid kit, you will be prepared for most eventualities.

6. Schools are a breeding ground for viruses and other diseases.  It’s likely that if there is an illness going round school, then your child will probably be at risk of catching it.  Depending on what the condition is, other family members may be at risk too.  You might need to make sure that you have the right items to treat the illness, such as camomile lotion for chicken pox, or anti-nit shampoo.

7. Sometimes your child may be generally unwell, and you might not know what’s wrong with them.  If the symptoms don’t appear, and your child doesn’t get better in a couple of days, than you may want to seek professional medical advice.

8. Broken bones such as from falling out of trees or from sporting injuries are common in children, and will normally heal properly with the right medical treatment. 

9. If your child needs an operation, or to spend time in hospital, it can be a very traumatic time for all concerned.  You might need to reassure your child, or be reassured yourself.  You might want to learn more about the procedure, how long it will be before your child is up and about again, and any other useful information to help answer you child’s questions.

10. If your child has symptoms of an illness, or looks unwell, or is clearly in agony, then you might want to seek medical attention straight away.  Even it there’s nothing much wrong with your child, it’s much better to be safe than sorry.

Now you know more about some for the common family health problems, the next time your child has a cold, or a tummy ache, you will be better prepared, and know when you can treat it yourself, and when to seek medical advice.

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