Archive for the ‘Beauty & Health’ Category

Singapore reports its first H1N1case today. A 22-year-old Singaporean who had just returned from New York yesterday was tested positive for the virus.

Though there is no need to be overly alarm, I have purchased face masks, sanitizers, anti-bacterial hand wash and hand wipes for the family.  We had a hard time sourcing for face masks and thermometers when the initial news of swine flu was announced few weeks ago.

Often many of us do not practise the “full steps of hand washing” even though we are aware.  I found this useful hand washing video clip to show the boys the correct techniques of hand washing to prevent germs especially when they both have the common habit of either pinching or rubbing their lips.

Darren started developing big red blotches of rashes on his waist, hips and body last night. Coincidentally, he is having a common cold and we started wondering whether it is the result of the cold medication that he has consumed. The running nose and itch made him feel so unbearable. This morning the blotches have become redder and bigger scale. My poor boy’s eye was swollen, with unsightly blotches on his face too.

Swollen eyes and face caused by the skin blotches

Red big blotches of skin rashes on body, legs, hands and face

Doctor confirmed that Darren is suffering from a type of skin rashes known as “URTICARIA”. This is similar to what Chinese termed as “Feng Mo” which I used to experience when I was a kid. My mum used to make me wear long sleeved pyjamas, with long pants then because I was not supposed to be in direct contact with the wind or active fan which is believed to aggravate the condition.  I decided to let Darren put on long sleeved shirts and pants since my mum’s/grandmum’s/great grandmum’s  theory seemed to work on me previously.

Doctor prescribed antihistamines medication for Darren and also calamine lotion to be applied on the body. I was told that the rashes are likely to subside in two to three days or more, and in some cases could subside and re-develop again. Poor Darren is kept at home again to rest and recover.  Poor ME decided to take the day off to tend to an itching Darren and at the same time also to do some office work at home.  Considering that Darren has just missed school for two weeks due to hand-foot-mouth disease and now missing school again due to urticaria, I have no choice but to provide him with a lot of homeschooling for the time-being.

Some common causes of urticaria are i) allergy to food, drugs, environment, ii) possible viral infections (in this case, there is a chance that it can infect others), iii) use of unsuitable synthetic products iv) stress v) systemic and general disease.

While my boy suffers the day/days, feeling high level of itch, running nose and unsightly rashes, what I can do is to give him the care and support by being with him and not forgetting to also attend to office deadlines at home.

This is the beauty of a mother - able to tend to a sick child and office work at the same time.

I guess the hot news that interests the world now is swine flu. Here is a video on the symptoms and prevention.  This video has been most informative to my kids in updating them on this latest flu outbreak.  

My message to the kids is “to wash hands and watch their personal hygiene”.  Let’s hope that this outbreak does not become pandemic.