Rainy Season: Expert Warns Parents Against Exposing Children To Cold Weather

Health Matters With

FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

The rainy season is here again and parents especially mothers have been warned not to over-expose their children, especially those below the age of five for fear of catching cold and infections associated with the wet season.

This warning was given by Mrs. Esther Oke, a retired Pediatric Nurse in a chat with this medium in Osogbo during the recently immunization plus days exercise in the State of Osun.

Mrs. Oke who counseled that the cold weather had made it inevitable for children to be adequately protected, stated that the weather was not favourably disposed to little children.

She advised parents to always ensure that their children are dressed up in warm clothing and always eat hot or warm food.

“As you know, we are deep into the rainy season now, infact, we should be expecting more rains but there is need to exercise caution on the part of mothers. I refer to mothers because they are the ones that are closer to the children more.

“They should ensure that on cold mornings usually after rains the night before or an early morning downpour, they should bathe their children with warm or hot water, they should also give them hot meal to eat and ensure they are wearing warm clothing throughout the day.

She also extended her warning to parents who allowed their children to walk about barefooted on cold ground, saying it is a dangerous trend which may cost them more later.

Oke added that children during this season should wear thick knee length socks as part of their protective clothing.

According to her, “unnecessary exposure of children during this wet season can bring about cold, cough, fever, pneumonia and ultimately lead to draining of the finances of parents.

“If you go to the children ward at this time of the year, you will find the beds filled with children suffering due to the sicknesses attributed to the wet and cold we are experiencing during this period.

“What happens is that the cold is much and most parents do not take care to protect the chest, head and eyes of their children.

“The cold concentrates on these areas and they form an infection which if not treated with the right dosage of painkillers and antibiotics may lead to life threatening complications.

“Even if they finally get treated late, some of the children may not recover fully from the scars of such illness. This is why we advocate that the health of our children must be taken into consideration at all times”.

The retired nursing officer also had a note of caution for the parents.

“As you take care of your children, also make sure to attend to your own health as it is also important.

“If the parents and their children are knocked down by illness at the same time, who will take care of who”, she asked?

Tooth Cavity

Ever Wondered How To Get Rid Of Cavities? It is the diagnosis no one ever wants to hear.

Sure, it is not exactly deadly, but cavity treatment is potentially pricey, and sitting in the dentist’s chair for a filling is not the most pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

So, it is only natural to wonder if there is an alternative to the drill-and-fill routine.

Basically, a cavity is a small hole in the tooth or teeth as a result of tooth decay from bacteria.

That cavity causing bacteria is in everyone’s mouth and combines with food to form plaque, a thin, sticky substance that coats the teeth [this is why dentists recommend that we brush our teeth mornings and evenings].

This is precisely why the dentist is always talking about dental hygiene—if the teeth is brushed after eating, no sugars remains to help bacteria flourish and eventually eat away at the tooth.

Reasons The Tooth Hurt

Cavities start off with tooth decay in the tooth’s enamel [the outermost layer of the tooth]. At that point, it is still a pre-cavity [an incipient caries lesion]. If the decay continues to spread to the dentin [the middle layer of your tooth], it then becomes a full-blown cavity.

That is when it is usually treated or filled, but if the decay continues to worsen and reaches the pulp of the tooth [the soft tissue like part of the tooth where sensory nerves are located], it can cause some serious issues like pain, infection, and even tooth loss.

For adult permanent teeth, there is no magical cure where there is presence of a true cavity where it can be fixed outside. The only form of treatment is drilling and filling.

In any case, pre-cavities might actually be reversed. The dentist can spot pre-cavities during exams or on x-rays, where they will appear as a small shadow.

As long as it is within the enamel layer it is not a true cavity, it is a pre-cavity. So, it is something that can be reversed.

Some people are more prone to cavities than others and this is why they are always prone to getting cavities?

Instead of filling a pre-cavity, the goal is to re-mineralize the teeth, restoring enamel that has been eaten away by acid. The process can be as simple as diligent, regular flossing and using toothpaste with fluoride.

If the pre-cavity is on the top surface of the teeth, where some people’s teeth have grooves, a fluoride-releasing sealant can be applied to prevent further growth and aid healing. This process might involve a drill, but it is super fine, so the patient will not feel it.

Unlike pre-cavities, where fluoride treatment, stellar dental hygiene, and sealants can sometimes reverse the problem, a filling is the only solution for a real cavity.

To treat a cavity, the dentist will start by numbing the patient’s mouth. Once there is sufficient numbness, they will use a drill to remove the soft, decayed portion of the tooth, and then fill the remaining hole with a fluoride-releasing polymer to rebuild the tooth structure.

Most dentists are not happy with the drill therapy. In fact, drilling the tooth is a last resort. Once they put a drill to a tooth, it is never the same. So at least, if a patient needs a cavity filled, know that it is totally necessary.