As a parent, it is incredibly understandable for you to be concerned about your child’s health – especially if they are an infant or younger in age. To help you look out for signs and symptoms of serious health concerns, below are a few health problems commonly suffered by young children.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Children in the modern age are more likely to face musculoskeletal conditions and disorders than any generation before them. This is due to the fact that technology has provided children the opportunity to be entertained while stationary, versus moving around. Parents are also allowing their kids to spend more time in front of a computer, iPad or any other mobile screen device, resulting in children remaining sedentary for long periods of time.
This lack of physical activity has caused many children to suffer from musculoskeletal disorders such as poor posture and conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Due to the fact that such disorders are becoming more common among children, it is important for parents to be aware of the risks of such consequences and take the necessary steps to prevent their children from falling victim to musculoskeletal disorders. This may include teaching them to be mindful of their posture, encouraging regular physical activity and even seeing a health professional such as a chiropractor if necessary.
Sports Injuries
It is quite common for children to play sports when they are young. While children are generally more flexible than adults, they are also more susceptible to pain. Especially in the case that your child is unfamiliar with a sport, or is playing a rough sport which may involve physical contact such as AFL and soccer, they may also be at a greater risk of sustaining a sports injury.
There are many types of sports injuries involving all different types of the body – with some more serious than others. Concussions for example, can be incredibly serious and often require immediate medical attention (as well as a trip to the hospital). Physical sports injuries are also common and in the case that they are quite severe, may require rehabilitation in the form of chiropractic care and physiotherapy.
Head Lice
Head lice or nits are small, wingless insects which feed on the human scalp. They live and breed on the head and cause ‘infected’ individuals to feel itchy and want to scratch their scalp. Head lice can easily spread from person to person, meaning that is a more common health concern for children in schools, who are interacting with others in a small environment daily.
Fortunately head lice is usually quite a mild condition and can be easily treated by applying a special conditioner to dry hair. Head lice can also be manually removed from the scalp, and many other home treatments are available.
While there are health conditions that overlap, there are certainly a few health problems and disorders that children are more likely to experience than adults. Visiting a health practitioner when faced with these problems is an important step to making sure your child is safe and healthy.
