Hospital Care for Your Child's Severe Sunburn


by Kathy Gupton - Date: 2007-03-16 - Word Count: 326 Share This!

People tend to think about sunburn and sun protection only in the hottest days of the year, however it can happen any time of the year. But, as summer approaches and spring breaks take families to the beach for some fun in the sun, families need to be especially aware of the symptoms of sunburn and sunburn prevention for their children. This article just serves as a guideline but should no substitute the advice of your child's doctor.

Sunburns can easily be protected with sun block or sunscreen and keeping your child either out of the direct sun or in some sort of protective clothing such as a hat or swimsuit coverup are some of the best ways to help prevent over exposure to the sun. Even just 15 minutes in the sun can be harmful to a child's delicate skin.

Symptoms of a sunburn include redness, swelling of the skin, fever, chills, pain, blisters and weakness. If you feel like your child has a sunburn you should first consult with your child's pediatrician for tips on how to treat it and make your child feel comfortable. A mild sunburn is typically treated by such measures as applying cool compresses to the sunburned area, giving your child a cool bath, applying aloe gel or hydrocortisone cream and keeping your child out of the sun until their sunburn is healed.

If your child develops blisters, do not pop them or open them and contact your child's pediatrician immediately. They might have you come in to get checked out. If it is the weekend, your child's pediatrician's office is closed or you are on vacation, it is best to take them to the local emergency room or children's hospital if a severe sunburn has occurred. They might need fluids by IV or to stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. When it comes to your child's health and well being, it is better to be safe than sorry.


Related Tags: children, child, symptoms, hospital, prevention, sunburn, pediatrician

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