Bhopal: 'Encourage Children For Physical Activities Throughout The Year'

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Paediatrician Dr Vinod Jain said parents should encourage children for physical activities not only in summer but throughout the year. Free Press talked to him on health issues and physical activities of children in summer. Excerpts

Children look for fun during summer vacation. What precautions should parents take for their children?

Dehydration is one major issue. Parents should encourage children for physical activities but they should be cautious during summer. They should ensure proper hydration. Children should carry water bottle whenever they go out to play in scorching heat. They should have fruits juice and seasonal fruits, butter milk, more intake of water for proper hydration.

Children also suffer heat stroke when they play out in summer.

Summer exhaustion and heat stroke are most common in summer months. Summer exhaustion can occur due to number of reasons including exposure to the sun, dehydration and sleep disturbances. It can lead to fatigue, irritability, and sluggishness.

Heatstroke is a condition caused by body overheating. This usually happens because of exposure to high temperatures or physical activity in high temperatures for too long. In heatstroke brought on by hot weather, skin feels hot and dry. In heatstroke brought on by strenuous exercises, sweating may be profuse. Person with heatstroke may complain of nausea or stomach ache.

Children complain about sunburns even during nominal exposure to sun in summer?

Sunburn in children can cause pain, redness and itchiness. It can occur within hours of sun exposure and symptoms can last up to two weeks. Symptoms include pain and heat, itchiness and tightness, skin peeling and blisters. So, cover your body well before going out. They should wear full-sleeved clothes and hats for protection.

Physical and social activities of children take place only during summer as they are busy with studies. How does it affect children’s overall growth?

There are no joint families now. Nuclear family culture has robbed charm of childhood. Children are missing it in family. Though parents give time, it appears a mere formality. Parents should have good tuning with neighbours so that their children get chance to interact with neighbour’s children. This is important when parents have only one child.

What other problems children face in summer?

When children play out, mosquito bite, insect bite is common. The symptoms of bug bites and stings include red bumps, itchiness, mild swelling. Parents should ensure that children should wear full-sleeved clothes or apply body lotion (mosquito repellent) whenever play out in park, open ground. Mosquitoes mostly bite around wrist and ankles, so it's wise to cover those areas.