Hygiene, important thing for children

Hygiene, important thing for children

Dear Dr. Donya,

I'm turning to you to help me find a solution to a quite
common but ticklish problem, particularly in mixed marriages and
for couples with different cultural and socioeconomic
backgrounds.

The problem is connected with the birth of my daughter about
two years ago. As you know, hygiene standards in some villages in
Bali are often very low or nonexistent. Conscious of this
problem, my wife has accepted and I have encouraged her to read
specific publications, and to visit regularly health care centers
for babies and children.

However, since our baby was about six months of age she
stopped these activities.

While working all day, I cannot help but sometimes make
remarks about the hygiene and education principles used or
accepted by my wife, especially because I have noticed that
behaviors are different if I am or am not at home.

For instance, I recently found my daughter inside the house
playing with dirt from the patio (with the clear consent of her
mother), which is probably used as a nest for cockroach eggs. My
immediate remarks to my wife were made, wrongly, in front of the
child. This generated a reaction in both of them, and I have
noticed a clear use of this fracture between parents from the
child to get her way.

Considering these kinds of things are happening more and more
often and are having an increasing effect on my daughter, and
considering that these effects could cause, over time, confusion
about what is right and wrong, I have begun considering the
possibility of leaving to my wife sole responsibility for all
things concerned with hygiene and our daughter.

What I am kindly requesting from you is your kind advice about
this dilemma, also because I am not sure I can always pretend not
to see!

It may be useful to inform you that my daughter has to go to
the doctor an average of at least 12 times per year (i.e. every
month). During the last five weeks, moreover, we had to take her
to the doctor five times.

My worry about hygiene standards should be seen in relation
with the above mentioned frequent visits to the doctor, which I
do not consider to be normal or good for the overall health of
the child.

-- Reader

Dear Reader,

Thank you for the letter and I have to say that it is a very
delicate issue, as you said. People from different areas or
different cultures are not the same, but I also have to convince
them that hygiene is the most important thing for children.

I myself understand your frustration and do agree that your
daughter should learn how to take care of herself, or be taught
to clean herself up after she plays. Children love to play,
especially with things that they can touch, and this also
stimulates the development of children. At the same time,
children should be taught that they have to wash their hands
after playing and before putting food in their mouth.

I suggest you spend time talking to your wife, do not blame or
shame her about hygiene issue. What you can do is ask her NOT to
allow your daughter to play in dirt, and strictly teaching your
daughter to wash her hands every time after playing and before
eating.

About your daughter's illnesses, what is wrong with her? It is
not good if she has to go see a doctor every month. If you are
more specific about what is wrong with your daughter, I may be
able to offer a more detailed explanation.

-- Dr. Donya

Dear Dr. Donya,

I am a college student. I recently hit my head on a marble
surface and suffered a minor head injury. I think my skull is
cracked and the area still hurts when I touch it. Could you
please tell me what I should do?

- Al

Dear Al,

By the time you get this answer, you will probably already be
better. Head injuries depend on mechanisms. If you think you have
a skull fracture, you should go see a doctor to evaluate your
neurological and trauma score. I would say that if you just have
a little headache, you are normal. Just observe your signs and
symptoms, watching out for vomiting and increased and severe
headaches. If you have any of these symptoms you should go see
your doctor right away. Take care

- Dr. Donya