Summer Heat and Your Kids Prickly Heat Risks

by Syeda Mahwish Fatima Naqvi

As the summer heat beings to take its toll, children need to be monitored. They have a high metabolic vulnerable to heat; their body growth, and are more activities need to be adjusted to the demands of summer.

Children are fond of physical activities and do not know that playing in the heat can lead to heat to stroke. Direct exposure to the sun during peak that hours can cause excessive sweating, resulting in loss of body fluid and important electrolytes like sodium and potassium.

This can result in severe muscle cramps and affect the child's cerebral functions, resulting in dizziness, vertigo, loss of consciousness and sometimes, fits.

Ensure that your children remain indoors during peak heat hours (from11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). When outdoors, they should wear floppy hats, loose half sleeve T-shirts (preferably cotton) and sunglasses with ultraviolet light resistant lenses.

Children must drink a lot of fluids such as water, juices or lemonade; make sure they carry their water bottle to school. Also, hot food like chilies should be avoided and cool, watery fruit like watermelon and crunchy vegetables like cucumbers become a part of their meal.

A frequent feature of summer is power breakdowns. During prolonged failure, keep young children in the open (balcony, roof or terrace) and give them more liquids that usual. Another essential during power breakdowns is mosquito repellent to prevent malaria.

Bathing should be frequent and rigorous; due to excessive sweating and scratching, the skin can develop heat rash, which if not treated can lead to skin infections.

Summer brings with it water borne disease such as hepatitis, gastro-enteritis, typhoid and urinary tract infection. Make sure that your drinking water is free from pathogens and bacteria. Boil tap water for at least 15 minutes and you will immunize your child from most diseases through summer.

To learn what to put on prickly heat rash, click on treating prickly heat rash You'll find dozens of articles about skin problems and skin care on this site, so make sure you check out the a-z directory section of the site as well.