5 Childhood Illnesses Potentially Caused By Your Home

It’s common knowledge that the majority of accidents occur within the home, but what about illnesses? Whilst the risks of catching a contagious illness will be far higher when you’re out in a crowded environment, it would be foolish to think that your house is an illness free zone. The difference between the illnesses prevalent in your home and those carried by other people is how you’re able to combat them. We’ve put together a list of 5 childhood illnesses that could be caused by your home as well as including a short recommendation on how best to combat their spread.

Asthma

Whilst research shows that there’s no one single cause of asthma there are believed to be a number of contributing factors. Two of these factors can easily be combatted with a little care and due diligence.

The first belief is that asthma can develop out of another allergy your child may suffer from. The second cause is from the exposure to second hand tobacco smoke.

Combatting second hand smoke is extremely simple. Keep any smoking outside of the house and away from any ventilation intakes or open windows. As for combatting other allergies, you’ll first have to identify exactly what it is that is causing the allergic reaction once you’ve identified the cause you’ll be able to effectively combat the issue.

For tips on how to reduce the number of allergens in your home check out our article on how to clean for family members with allergies. 

Zoonoses (Infections Spread from Animals to Humans)

Whether scaled, feathered or furred, pets are great addition to the family and loved by kids. Unfortunately in getting a pet you won’t just have to worry about the added financial strain of food and insurance, organising the cleaning schedule or deciding who’s going to walk the dog, there’s also the potential for new illnesses that can be brought in by your family’s new addition.

Illnesses can be spread from animals in a variety of ways. To reduce the risks of contracting a zoonotic illness (which are already low) you should ensure that your pet’s vaccinations are kept up to date, wash your hands after cleaning up after your pet, ensure pets are regularly checked for fleas and treated for worms and avoid letting them lick your face.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is, in short, the inflammation of the main respiratory tract to the lungs. The illness can be quite uncomfortable causing a chesty cough and respiratory difficulties.

Generally speaking the illness does not need professional treatment and will pass in around 2 weeks. To prevent the onset of the illness, keep away from tobacco smoke and any irritating substances such as chemical cleaners, excessive levels of dust and smog. A well maintained ventilation system should help clean the air in your home making it safer for you and your family.

Hives

Hives is another very uncomfortable illness which will often not need professional treatment and can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It’s often very hard to discern the cause of hives, however, the majority of cases are caused by an allergic reaction to either a substance such as latex, medication or a food allergy. There’s little that can be done unless you are already aware that you will have a reaction to a certain substance, however, antihistamines will go a long way in reducing inflammation and increasing comfort.

Mould Sickness

Mould is usually nothing more than a slight pest causing nothing more than a musty smell and slight respiratory issues. However, if a person is exposed to untreated mould for a long period of time there can be very serious symptoms including constant headaches, acute bronchitis and uncomfortable rashes. Due to their developing immune system and sensitive skin, children are more vulnerable to mould sickness so you shouldn’t delay in combatting the issue early.

To prevent mould you should ensure that all wet rooms have adequate ventilation, if mould is still able to grow treat the affected area with mould killing chemicals.

Your home should be the area in which you feel most safe. These tips should greatly reduce the risk of illness in both you and your children. If you have any other useful tips on the subject, we’d love to hear them in the comments below.

Image – Cali4beach