Advice for kids with health conditions

Posted on by swfhealthsocial

Content originally from Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System.

Children love playing outside in the summer months, but for children with certain long term medical conditions, the warmer weather can sometimes bring challenges. 

Being aware of some of the risks that hot weather can bring with it, can help you support your child stay well and still enjoy the summer holidays. 

Safety advice for children with allergies and other health conditions

Allergies are where your body reacts to something that’s normally harmless like pollen, dust or animal fur.  Summer heat is proven to circulate mould spores and pollen, making seasonal allergies worse.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:

  • a runny nose or sneezing
  • pain or tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
  • coughing, wheezing or breathlessness
  • itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)
  • diarrhoea
  • feeling or being sick
  • swollen eyes, lips, mouth or throat

There are many over the counter medications available for you at your local pharmacy or supermarket to keep at home to help control symptoms of allergic reactions and insect stings/bites. 

Find out what you should keep in your medicine box and why

However, if your child is having a serious allergic reaction and has an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen), you should use it immediately. For more information on allergies visit Allergies – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Asthma 

If your child has asthma, warmer weather, humidity and increased pollen can trigger attacks.

Watch this video below to learn more about how to control childhood asthma. 

Screenshot of asthma video, press play to watch

Has your child missed their school vaccinations? Don’t worry, summer holiday catch up clinics are available across Essex.

If your child has missed their school vaccinations, it is easy to catch up in one of the local vaccination clinics being offered by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) during the summer holidays. Clinics are open across most major towns and cities in Essex throughout the summer holidays.

Vaccinations for HPV* are offered to year 8 pupils and over. Vaccinations for Meningitis ACWY and Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio Booster (DTP) are offered to year 9 pupils and over. Visit EPUT summer vaccinations to find a catch up clinic near you.

Book an appointment at your nearest clinic, or for more information about missed vaccinations on 0300 790 0597.

List of clinics

*Eligible boys born on/after 1/9/2006