Website: iafamilysupportnetwork.org Phone: 1-888-IAKIDS1
The Iowa Family Support Network serves as a central point of contact to help parents and providers connect to Early ACCESS, Family Support, and Group Based Parent Education Services for 0-5 year olds and their families across the state of Iowa.The IFSN Newsletter is intended to keep you connected and provide information that may be informative and beneficial to the families and clients that you serve.
CMV and Pregnancy
CMV (Cytomegalovirus) is a common virus that infects people of all ages. Most people become infected with CMV during their lifetime. Most infections are “silent” meaning most people have no signs or symptoms or suffer any harmful effects.
When CMV infection occurs while a woman is pregnant, the baby can then become infected before birth. This is known as Congenital CMV. In this form the virus can potentially lead to developmental disabilities such as hearing and vision loss, lack of coordination, and seizures.
One of the highest risk groups are pregnant women who have not yet contracted CMV prior to pregnancy. Healthy babies and toddlers can get CMV from their peers and pass it to their pregnant mother.
Prevention: Simple steps for pregnant women to prevent exposure to saliva and urine that may contain CMV
· Do not share food, drinks, or utensils with young children
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after changing diapers, handling toys, or wiping a child’s nose
· Clean toys and countertops that come into contact with a child’s urine or saliva (Information from National CMV Foundation)
For more information on CMV and prevention, visit https://www.nationalcmv.org/
Heatstroke Prevention
Did you know that A child’s body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s body? Heat stroke is a serious condition that occurs when a person becomes overheated but their body cannot regulate their temperature. Heat exhaustion starts slowly, but if it's not quickly treated it can progress to heatstroke. Babies and young children are especially vulnerable.Symptoms of heatstroke
· A temp of 103 degrees or higher, but child is not sweating
· Hot, red, dry skin
· Rapid pulse
· Restlessness
· Headache (which may make him irritable)
· Vomiting
· Rapid shallow breathing
· Lethargy ( baby may not respond as strongly as usual when you call his name or tickle his skin, for example.)
If you suspect your baby has heat stroke, you’ll need to bring your baby’s internal temperature down as quickly as possible. Move the baby indoors to a cool area and call 911.
The link below has more information on what to do and how to prevent heat stroke in babies. http://www.newkidscenter.com/Heat-Stroke-In-Babies.html
Talking with Kids about Health
Kids who get sick or injured often have a lot of questions about what is going on with them. Kids think about their bodies in very visual ways. Experts recommend parents answer medical questions using age- appropriate, simple, easy-to-visualize terms.It’s useful to explain what a condition or illness is, and how it is treated. This gives a child back some control over their body, and can also calm them down and tolerate a procedure, or taking medicine better.
By putting something into words, you make it real and easier to deal with, even if it can be scary.
PBS has created a great kid-friendly medical dictionary that provides explanations for terms that relate to common illnesses and conditions.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/health/med_index_1.html
Providing Care and Support to Iowa’s Families and Children / Page 2 of 2