BABY INFECTIONS AT HOME

AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

HAVE you ever been in a restaurant washroom, and noticed someone walk out of the cubicle and head straight out without the slightest indication that they had seen the large hand washing basin beckoning? Or a man who used the urinal, walk to the basin and seem to wash exactly two fingers and a thumb? How about finding these same persons consuming chapatis, or stripping ribs with bare hands?

There is a common ethnic saying in Kenya, whose direct translation states that ‘dirt is already in the stomach’-meaning a little more of it will do no harm! A more common one is ‘train a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’

The question is: are our adult tendencies a reflection of what we were taught by our parents? The truth is, taking matters for granted endangers our children each day.

Now the people referred to in the above examples, are most likely parents. Shortly after their unfinished business in the washroom, you will see them in the street holding the hands of their children. By evening back at home however, the child looks sickly, sulky and is irritable. You know from experience he is unwell, but not why.

At the hospital the doctor confirms this. Besides prescribing some medicine for the infection, he gives you some basic advice – the infection could have been avoided. He must have picked it from other kids.

Taking matters for granted
Some infection control measures are so basic, that we ignore them at our own peril. Many of the diseases that affect children are caused by germs in the home and are preventable. Sometimes we are responsible for delivering germs to our children. Taking matters for granted endangers our children each day. We can however, protect our children by not only walking the talk, but also teaching them from an early age- some basic ways to avoid germ infestation. So, in what ways do our babies get infected?

Faecal-oral route
Some disease-causing germs, are passed on through the faeces of an infected person or animal. The germs are then transmitted by hands, flies or other means to food and water taken by a healthy child, causing disease. Some of the germs will be passed out in faeces, and the cycle continues again. Parasites such as amoeba and worms are transmitted in this way. Tetanus bacteria live in the intestines of man and animals, but will cause no harm.

The bacteria are passed out in faeces, and will live in soil in the form of spores – until it comes into contact with a wound, or a child’s skin ulcer. An adult, who after working in the garden does not clean hands properly before handling a baby,may also transmit the spores to the umbilical stump of a newborn baby. While in the wound, the bacteria break out of the spores, multiply and produce toxins. The toxins produced penetrate the nervous system, and cause tetanus.

Direct contact
There are many people who playfully allow a baby, to put his/her fingers in the adult’s mouth. In many cases a baby will touch her handler’s face—including sores, pimples, etc. In addition some baby handlers routinely share utensils and foodstuff, for instance fruit they have bitten, with a baby. It is important to bear in mind that a child can get infected by direct contact, such as by touching the skin or mucus membrane of an infected person. Diseases transmitted this way include chicken pox, ring worms and some sexually transmitted infections.

‘Sometimes we are responsible for delivering germs to our children.’

Some sexually transmitted infections can cause infections in the newborn, during birth. This is the case especially if the mother’s birth canal is infected. This may cause eye infections, and even blindness in the infant.

Vectors
Vectors are insects and other small animals that transmit infections and diseases. They do not cause the disease, and are not harmed by it. Snails, mosquitoes and flies, are examples of vectors. Vectors may cause the disease directly by biting, or indirectly by touch. Flies, for instance, carry germs on their feet- and then deposit the germs on food.

Through blood or serum
Other infections are transmitted through blood or serum. They may be transmitted through the placenta – from the mother to the unborn child. Syphilis, toxoplasmosis and HIV are spread in this way. It is therefore important to have periodic medical checkups, to ensure that any infections you might have are diagnosed and treated. You will also be advised on prevention of mother-to-child disease transmission.

Droplet infection
Droplet infection occurs when a person who is already infected, coughs, sneezes, spits or throws sputum onto the soil. The sputum or saliva dries, but the organisms remain alive for several weeks in the air. A healthy child may breathe in the air that has been contaminated by an infected person, and get the disease. Tuberculosis is spread in this way.

The Dos
Most diseases are acquired from dirty hands, infected food, flies and dirty utensils. To control the infection at home:

Encourage your children to wash their hands every time after visiting the toilet, and before handling food. This way you can prevent parasitic infections in children, and common diseases like diarrhoea.

Keep the child’s face and eyes clean at all times. Flies like dirty places, and your child’s face should not be the place for them. If the child’s eyes are infected, the flies may make the infection worse by carrying germs from other places, and depositing them onto the child’s eyes. Keep the child’s clothes clean and dry too. Where possible, iron and keep them in a clean place.

Food must always be covered to prevent contamination by flies and dust. Keep left-over food in the refrigerator if you have one, or in a cool place, so that bacteria do not grow in it. Boil leftover food before eating it, because boiling kills bacteria that may have grown in the food.

Ensure that the house is well ventilated. Keep your child away from crowded places. If your child gets certain infections such as measles, chicken pox or mumps, protect other children by keeping your child at home until she is healed.

Your children should sleep under a treated mosquito net to prevent them getting malaria. Get preventive medication for the child, whenever you visit a malaria-endemic region. Clear bushes around your house, and destroy mosquito-breeding areas.

Ensure that your children take clean water that is free of germs. The most convenient way to keep water clean and healthy, is to boil it and store it in clean water containers.

END: BL 4/60-61