Board index › Coping in life › Parents' Discussion

hygiene suggestions needed

Page 2 of 2 [ 22 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

Previous topic | Next topic

BurntOutMom
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 11 Mar 2011
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 502
Location: Oregon, USA

12 Apr 2011, 12:32 pm

y-pod wrote:
Germs are not avoidable, if basic hygiene doesn't help him, try boosting his immune system with good food and exercises. Maybe some probiotic supplements. Most kids aren't too careful about washing and they aren't sick all the time. It's quite normal to get sick a few times a year. It may sound odd but is it likely that you have been too strict about cleanliness? Like if you change clothes or towels after just one use, washing and disinfect everything all the time and bathe them daily? That might actually weaken their immune systems. Bathing kids once or twice a week is usually quite enough unless they roll in the dirt everyday. Ditch any antibacterial cleaners or those containing bleach. You want a clean home, not a sterile home.


Generally, I would agree. Your body can only build resistance with exposure.. However, knowing that there is a bacterial infection going on here... that needs to be taken care of before you take steps to encourage that immune system boost.



redwulf25_ci
Toucan
Toucan

User avatar

Joined: 13 Feb 2010
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 263
Location: Michigan

12 Apr 2011, 1:44 pm

willaful wrote:
My son is very prone to bacterial infections lately; seems like he gets impetigo every other week. Now he has cellulitis of the eye, which is a potentially very serious condition although fortunately it does not seem to be a bad case. But it's made me realize we really need to take action.

I suspect the problem may be linked to poor hygiene. I've resumed sanitzing his hands after school, something I used to do regularly. Changed his bathroom towel to disposables. Will wash his pillowcases more frequently, though honestly, to really make an impact there I would have to wash *all* his bedding every single day, the way he sleeps.

Any suggestions for how I can reinforce hand washing or make it less unpleasant? He really dislikes it and probably isn't doing a sufficient job.


Do you know what he dislikes about it? When I was young I was very sensitive to heat and wound up washing my hands in ice cold water so I didn't burn my hands by turning the hot water to high. Could the water be too hot/cold for him? Or maybe the soap smells awful to him, or feels gross on his hands. If those are the case maybe a different kind of soap could help.



willaful
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Mar 2010
Gender: Female
Posts: 788

12 Apr 2011, 2:03 pm

He likes the soap, that's why we use bar soap. I haven't been able to figure out what the other issues are, if any. I think he mainly thinks it's pointless and boring.


_________________
Sharing the spectrum with my awesome daughter.


markitzero
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Sep 2010
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Posts: 600
Location: Phelan, CA

12 Apr 2011, 2:14 pm

if he does bar soap what type is he using check and see if it anti-bacterial of not change to one that is like the Dial Anti-bacterial bar soaps.


_________________
My Blog: http://aspietechygamer.x10.mx
-Diagnosed with High Functioning Aspergers back in High School-


willaful
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Mar 2010
Gender: Female
Posts: 788

12 Apr 2011, 3:58 pm

markitzero wrote:
if he does bar soap what type is he using check and see if it anti-bacterial of not change to one that is like the Dial Anti-bacterial bar soaps.


I don't do anti-bacterial soaps, I think they're dangerous in the long run.


_________________
Sharing the spectrum with my awesome daughter.


BurntOutMom
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 11 Mar 2011
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 502
Location: Oregon, USA

12 Apr 2011, 4:15 pm

I totally understand not using anti-bacterial agents on a regular basis.. but using it when your son is having an outbreak might be preferable to bleach baths...

That said, I was thinking about a product that we use in the ER, and you might find it worth a try. ShurClens

I haven't figured out how to accurately link a page here yet (not for lack of trying) but here a site that tells about it...

http://oscar.virginia.edu/explorations/x15670.xml

If you find yourself interested, give your doctor a call and see what he thinks.