Chestiness and Children.

When I was seven I caught measles and didn’t get rid of the after effects until I was 12 when the disease I had been fighting broke out in to pneumonia. The clinical assessment of children prone to chest complaints, coughs, wheezes and sneezes is demanding and it requires close attention to the history and examination of the child.

Recurrent chest infections are a common reason for children to be seen by their general practitioner. Recurrent or persistent cough or runny nose may be the only symptom, but often there is also a concerned parent can recollect a history of wheeze, breathlessness, sputum production or general ill-health. A number of disorders can be the cause of these conditions.  Many of these children are simply having the repeated viral upper respiratory tract infections that are a normal part of growing up. This where the use of essential oils with anti-bacterial or viral properties can be so effective.

Natures Children has a carefully researched and formulated safe and natural way of dealing with sniffles for example Fine Nasal Oil. Here you can find a special type of Eucalyptus much favoured by Practitioners who know Aromatherapy as well as a unique Chamomile that has anti-inflammatory properties.

Similarly the Eucalyptus Chest Balm is ideal for night use. Although the obvious way to use it is as a chest balm actually rubbing it onto the feet is a really good idea. Gradually the caring essential oils are absorbed by the thicker skin layer and can help the soothing effect last all night. One of its ingredients has a balsam effect and its use can be as an expectorant as well as being used to treat respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, colds and flu when needed. 

In other children symptoms are a constant recurrence and could be the first manifestations of asthma. But, in an important minority there is a clear history of persistent or recurrent episodes of pneumonia, or of chronic sputum production, indicating more severe pathology. This was certainly the case for me. It was said I had pneumonia all this time and my main symptom was an upper back ache. 

Parents need to be alert to any persistent symptom that does not clear with simple remedies. 

The winter of 2014/15 has been one of colds and particularly a persistent cough. When the temperature dips then rises as in a typical British winter Mum & Dad know what's coming: the start of the sneezing, coughing, runny-nose season. A cold is a minor infection in the nose and throat caused by any one of more than 200 viruses that your tot inhales or picks up from the things they touch or from others around them. Use the fine nasal oil at the first sign and though we all know there is no cure for the cold the child will recover quicker and be more comfortable in the process. It’s just a sign of love and care to give children some help along the road to recovery!