Common Diseases of Children Living on Street

Following are among the diseases common to children living on the street. 

Skin Diseases

A child's infected hand

   

Sore Eyes due to viral infection

Sore Eyes is the inflammation of the thin covering of the eyeball and inner eyelid. The inflammation is brought on by a viral, bacterial, or allergy infection. Extremely contagious, it spreads easily by eye to hand to eye contact,a
runny nose or cough, or when people come into contact with a contaminated surface or object. If severe enough or long lasting, it can eventually lead to corneal scarring that can cause glare and decreased vision. Experts recommend not going to work or school if you have sore eyes or symptoms of sore eyes until symptoms are relieved and treatment  is successful. 
                                                                                                                         

Sore Eyes Symptoms

• Redness of the eyes
• Discomfort
• Burning
• Gritty sensation
• Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
• Pain
• Difficulty opening eyes after sleeping
• Eyelids stuck together after sleeping
• Water-like discharge
• Soreness
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Lymph glands are sore (lymph glands are your body’s defensive filter, they are located behind the ears)

Sty

Sty is a common infection results from blocked glands within the eyelid. When the gland is blocked, the oil produced by the gland occasionally backs up and extrudes through the wall of the gland, forming a lump which can be red, painful, and nodular. Frequently, bacteria can infect the blocked gland, causing increased inflammation, pain, and redness of the eye, and even redness of the surrounding eyelid and cheek tissue. The medical term for sty is hordeolum.



Due to lack of medicine for sore eyes, our RN gives one droplet medicine for at least 3 to 5 children knowing that droplets must be administered every after 2 hours.She advised the parents to bring their children to the nearest clinic if possible.


                                                                                       

                                                                         
 Eczema  which is also called dermatitis.                                                                                      

                        

Boil

Boil

Boil/Pigsa

Boil is a disease which has been experienced by the people in the olden times. According to the bible, “If there is in the skin of one's body a boil and it heals, and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil. But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. And if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a disease. ...Leviticus 13:18-23. 

Anyway, scientifically speaking this is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After 4-7 days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin. The most common places for boils to appear are on the head, legs, face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks. 

Causes of Boils: Most boils are caused by a germ (staphylococcal bacteria). This germ enters the body through tiny nicks or cuts in the skin or can travel down the hair to the follicle.

Symptoms of Boils: A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump usually less than an inch in size. Over the next few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. These are the signs of a severe infection:

1. The skin around the boil becomes infected. It turns red, painful, warm, and swollen. 
2. More boils may appear around the original one.
3. A fever develops.
4. Lymph nodes become swollen.