LET'S LEARN (7) : TYPES OF HOUSES

There are different types of houses.

Depending on the size we can classify houses as small,medium or big.


Based on the type of roof houses are divided into sloped roof  or flat roof.Slope or slanting roof are used in places of heavy rainfall or snowfall.Different types of materials are used for slanting roof houses. This varies from dry leaves, palm leaves or grasses as in huts or clay tiles as in cottages or reinforced concrete as in modern villas.

Whether the buildings are dwellings for individual families or house many units each for a family, one in each separate building or all in a single building etc, we can call them independent houses and houses for community living or flats.

In remote areas and mountains etc, houses are simply made of readily available materials.Such houses are called kutcha houses. On the other hand, houses that are made of brick, cement etc are called pakka houses.

Some people keep moving from one place to another. They make houses that can be carried. These are temporary houses or mobile houses. Other houses that can't be moved can naturally then be called permanent houses!

Yet another classification that we can give for houses are as cheap and expensive. Huts are the least expensive. Cottages and Baker model houses are relatively cheap compared to Villas and Bungalows.
Those with the most costly interiors are categorised as luxury homes.

Thus we can find innumerable criteria to categorize houses. Whatever it may be, there are innumerable types of houses. I have listed some of the popular ones in and around Kerala and some others that may be of specific interest for kids from else where.

CAVES:

Primitive men and animals lived in caves or caverns. These are seen both on mountains and along seasides.

HUTS:

These are small crude shelters. Mostly made of natural and locally available materials. Its swift and cheap in construction. Nowadays we can see such huts on remote tribal areas only.

TENTS:

These are portable temporary shelters. Mostly made of assembled fabric and poles. Its used by nomads, military personnel and to aid disaster victims.

CARAVANS:

These are mobile homes. Its prefabricated material, shifted from one place to another by trailers as tow. Its a common camp dwelling.

STILT HOUSES:

 These are also called pile dwellings. Seen on mountains. When constructed near lakes, it gives primary protection from flooding.

TREE HOUSES:

These are seen in forests for protection from animals. Its made among the branches of mature trees. Now used as recreation shelters in wild life tourism also.

IGLOO:

This is a snow house. Seen in Arctic regions. It is usually dome shaped. Its a traditional shelter.

HOUSE BOATS:

These are modified boast for human dwelling. Its either moored or motorized. In Kerala, house boats used for leisure trips are locally called kettuvallams.

MARQUEES:

These are large tents. Its made using aluminium frames and canvas. Though not used as dwellings, these are popular as circus tents, at fairs, for performance and banquets etc.

SHAMIANA:

Popular ethnic tents of India. Used for outdoor parties or restaurants. These come in excellent designs and multicolours. Mostly used as temporary venues only.

COTTAGES:

These are modest dwellings and cosy homes. Its a blend of traditional build and modern amenities. Now popular in tourist resorts and home-stays.


VILLAS:

Formerly this referred to elegant, upper class country homes. Now modern detached town houses are also called villas.

BUNGALOWS:

Low rise Indian dwellings with verandahs. Spacious homes used as single family unit.

KERALA HOMESTEADS OR  MANSIONS:

Popularly called Nalukettu, Ettukettu or Pathinarukettu; these are traditional tharavads of Kerala now called Heritage homes. These have excellent natural modulation of light, air and heat. This is maintained through a special component called nadumuttam or courtyards that open to the sky and are within the buildings. The number of courtyards ranges from 1,2 or 4 and the names accordingly.(ex: 1 courtyard = nalukettu; 2 = ettukettu and 4 courtyards = pathinarukettu)

SHARED VIDEO OF A MODERN NALUKETTU

PALACES:

Royal residences of yester years, some have been converted as hotels, museums or tourist centres. Some are used as homes of Heads of State. The Kowdiar Palace in Thiruvananthapuram is still used by present generation of Thiruvithamcore dynasty.

KOVILAKOMS:

Traditional large palaces that refers to the residence of all members of the Royal dynasty who are not heirs of King or Queen.

ECO FRIENDLY HOMES:

These are houses that pool together many factors like rainwater harvesting, multi-fuel burning stoves, gardens, glazed windows, insulated loft, solar panels, wind turbine, compost heap, waste recycling, energy efficient appliances etc. 

 HABITAT HOUSES:

Baker model houses are cost effective, sustainable, organic architecture initiatives. Concept visualised by British Indian Architect, Laurence Wilfred Baker, this has been popularised in Kerala as the Eco-friendly low cost houses. Each building is unique and beautiful with space considerations that blend with nature of that plot.
For more information peep into: http://lauriebaker.net/

PAPER HOUSES:

Modern modular homes designed by a Swiss Company. These are structures made of resin soaked cellulose; proposed to be used in Nigeria and Angola.

GREEN HOUSES:

The term means 100% energy efficient houses. An isolated house with less impact on environment has been reported from Costa Rica.

GLASS HOUSE:

A house where the structure is natural glass enclosed rooms. First made as the residence of Philip Johnson in 1949. He is the apostle of modern austere architecture.

APARTMENTS/FLATS

These are self contained multi-storeyed housing units. the lower floors are called basement suites and top floors are called pent houses. The small ones are called studios or Bachelor's Quarters. Here, many families dwell in the same building. most public facilities are common. Popular community living of present urban locales.


TOWER BLOCKS:

Also called residential towers, these are extremely tall high rise buildings. These are popular as dwellings since 1940 in dense urban environments.

ANTILLIA

This is the world's first billion dollar house and is on Malabar Hills at Mumbai. A 27 storeyed building, it is Mukesh Ambani's new residence for his single family. With a proposed construction cost of more than 2 billion dollars it has 3 helipads and 9 elevators.
For amazing pictures and a quick look click:
http://lifeisreallybeautiful.com/lifeisreallybeautifulandsuchawonder/antilia-mukesh-ambanis-palace/

Video shot covered by News tonight shared from you tube:

For complete details see links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilia_%28building%29
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2010/oct/13/mukesh-ambani-antilla-mumbai

ROLE OF PARENTS IN PRESENT EDUCATION SCENARIO

The Hindu Sunday Magazine carried a topic of great interest on 13th March 2011. Covering pages 1 and 4 of the supplement in three different articles, it highlights the misconception of parents towards English medium schools in Tamil Nadu in general and the trauma that parents undergo to get their kids admitted there.

In the background of a similar program in Kerala,the reading triggered a rewind of my experience few years back. The anxiety was just the same, so I quit the play!

Read along side with the conclusion of education reality show of Government of Kerala, entitled Haritha vidyalayam the write ups clearly underscores the success of working alternatives based on Activity Based learning at LP and Active Learning Methodology in UP sections of Government schools. Reverse migration and paradigm shifts are already recorded by the evaluations conducted in Tamil Nadu, by Planning Commission and NCERT.

Another recent compilation of the views of jury members and program coordinator during the Grand Finale published in the following link vibrates on the same tune. These have triggered many parents to think deep at least now.

http://calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/harthavidyalya/harithavidyalaya_interview.htm

As the discrepancies are remedied and system promoted further let us strongly hope for a positive reverse migration in Kerala also.

Most of the experiences highlighted in the writeup referred to seemed a replication of exactly the scenario of any parent in a similar state in  Kozhikode (Calicut) also.

There are many reputed schools around the city. In most schools, admission procedures start during October this year for admissions to coming academic year.

Some of these schools release thousands of printed applications for hundreds of seats. As quoted in the write up, here also parents or representatives start the queue from the midnight of the day before issue of forms! Getting information on the exact date of issue of forms by itself is a blessing for the lucky fellows only.

Some other schools don't issue application forms. It is simple submission on white paper.

The range of "donations" as liquid and "secure deposits" are to the tune of  1 to 3 lakhs in the most prestigious schools. Education is indeed big business now. Ironically, most of these are run by missionaries who have made great contributions to our education scenario!

There are still other private schools and franchisees of established brands elsewhere trying their hands in the consumer state.

Some other private schools don't have hectic donations at the time of admissions; Oh!Thank God! No, dont be consoled....

They have a higher extent of term fees, ranging from 4-5000 INR per term. Most of these schools don't have recognition or lack adequately trained staff and some don't even have a good playground nor library nor laboratory.

I personally feel during discussion with other parents that even some of the policies at some centres are not even child friendly and so on...But who cares? rather who is responsible for this degradation and decay?

Its quite pathetic that this is happening in the elite literate state of Kerala !Ultimately each and every one of us are to be blamed!

Our education scenario, which should be handled with so much care and caution as they mould the citizens of tomorrow is expecting a revamp soon.

There is no written test for play school admission, but they observe kids for decent behaviour and etiquette! Of course the parents are interviewed!

For KG classes and higher levels, there is an undeclared screening test, which is mostly written.

While some schools evaluate the education background of parents; others are simply interested to observe the vehicle used by the family, the brand or cost range of dress materials used by family members, the model of the mobile phone used and so on; which are obvious indicators and symbols of status, at least  in the city.

From the parents view point, the selection and decision criteria are yet another. They seldom get all desired components in one place, so they prioritize and opt for the best of their choice. Those who consider finance as the criteria, opt accordingly; those who take Spoken English select accordingly; those who wish discipline as the standard select thus and those who prefer more participation in extra curricular activities go thus. Those who follow only prestige have no other option ! This varies from parent to parent ...

There is also a world school in Kozhikode now. Here the fees is in 10 multiples, as the name implies! Here kids are picked by the school vehicle and they are provided breakfast and lunch based on a variety menu at school itself. Kids are also trained on various extra curricular activities and taken on field trips also. It is indeed a blessing for employed mothers to enroll kids there, if they can meet the same. Also others who follow prestige and consider it as an esteem to enroll kids there try out that as the first choice.
Visit them at: http://sadhbhavanaschool.org/

Regarding schools in the general stream in Kozhikode, apart from Kendriya Vidyalaya and Nadakave Girls High School, I personally doubt whether there are any good ones at least in the city. So I enrolled my kids in a small adjacent private school.

The ones I visited thereafter because of my attraction to the DPEP and Activity based methods revealed a truly pathetic status.

Most schools didn't have well maintained roof's; adequate or good seating arrangements and some didn't have side walls (so that kids would get wet during rainy days) or good toilets (no doors) and so on. In most places the whole show was run by hand countable staff and in some places by the Ayahs who came to cook food.

I recalled my friends, who opted for teaching because it was the most lucrative career for girls.

One of my close friend used to say, there are innumerable benefits. A teacher need work only 150-180days a year unlike other government staff. The timing is also in tune with your kids, so taking care of the family during working days is also not a hectic task.  If posted in a different or difficult area, you have the privilege to avail leave.

I have seen other cases where alternate hands are employed by the Headmaster or Managers of aided schools on contract basis and the listed teacher derives salary from the Government and sits at home for personal reasons, but of course contributing to the wages of the recruited employee. They are invited to attend the school functions on days of inspection alone! Definitely the system has to function somehow...

These are not isolated cases and its as transparent as ever. but we have learnt to accept the same and adjust accordingly.

Education for our kids has become a matter of concern only for the parent. No school environment is perfect either.At least that's what I concluded from my personal survey six years ago.

The proximity of the school, the safety in transportation, the infrastructure, etc are some standards which we can observe and understand; but how about the qualification of staff (who changes every year in most private schools), the standard of education(all schools project only the repeatedly trained smart ones), the overall development of the children, no idea....

So as parents let us devote some time for our kids and try our best to engage qualified teachers where necessary to guide them (not as tuition but only facilitation and interactive learning) and otherwise keep the curiosity lit and lets just be with them....

Recently during one of my regular visit to CSE site, we came across the green school program in other states. If interested, read more about that at: http://www.cseindia.org/taxonomy/term/20071/menu

This made us search for an excellent green school and we came across one ... drop in to see the link of this school...http://www.greenschool.org/
Truly amazing...

The Rishi Valley school is yet another which kids aspire for... It is an epitome for Jiddu Krishnamurthy's vision on education.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishi_Valley_School


To conclude, let us positively hope for a transformation for better holistic education, accessible for common man and beneficial to build an upcoming generation that we can be proud of.

OUR HOME LIBRARY (PART II)

ENGLISH BOOKS FOR READ-BY-YOURSELF GROUP

The category Read by yourself is an elaborated version of many of the earlier fairy tales; classics etc which kids enjoy reading by themselves. Because children are familiar with most of the initial crisp summarized versions, they enjoy reading this type in simple lucid style and it automatically enhances their language ability.

OUR HOME LIBRARY (PART I)

Books are indeed a fascination that draws us like junkies…

Once into a bookstall, we seldom feel like coming out…

That’s the basic nature of book lovers.

Anybody who is interesting in reading would naturally have their own personal taste and my experience shows it’s the same with kids as well. I personally feel that the best way to kindle reading habit in children is to facilitate them to select books of their choice and help them understand the meanings or explain only when they seek help from us.

Simply let them enter the ocean of books and see them getting equipped all by themselves.

CHILDREN'S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT- A CURTAIN RAISER

A talk by Shri.L.Gireeshkumar, Acharya, Shripuram Trust, Irinjalakuda on personality development of children. A must read for every parent to better understand their role and mould kids in accordance with their inborn talent instilling morale and values. Listening at leisure would help us retrace our roots... Any description in words would only belittle the effort...So,...

This video is an ice breaking session. Kids answer honestly and with confidence.Basic starting point: Why do you study?

This video searches for truth of sustained happiness. Here again we can see kids arriving at the answers all by themselves by minimum facilitation.

Video3 is on How to be happy ? What should we learn?
 Most attractive part is the explanation of meaning of rhymes...

This video instills values in a most touching manner. A must watch for modern parents...

What is the aim of education? How to achieve excellent results from limited resources? The track rather right path- it starts here...

This takes us to the true definition of Chatur Varnyam...the composition of a human self...

On the must do of Indian Culture...

This thrusts on the daily duties and rights of a human being in order to become a cultured person. It warrants that we should follow Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha; all 4 sutras, 5yajnas, 4 varnas and 4 ashramas - essence of the talk- for proper evolution of our self and gradual development of our personality, helping us submit ourslef for collective good will  which is inevitable for rejuvenating our degrading society...

Interactive session that establishes significance of truth and honesty, relates confidence, courage and success..MISSION WITH A VISION...

Brilliant questions from our upcoming generation...
Intelligence is that which tells you what to use when you don't know what to do...by Swiss Development Psychologist Jean Piaget has been linked or rather related well to the gem of mantras in Indian Tradition, Gayathri so beautifully explaining on intuitive intelligence...

CUCKOO AS OUR ENTRY POINT TO ORNITHOLOGY

Kuoo..kuoo..Cuckoo..cuckoo..???

It was Friday. 

The day started as usual.

My elder daughter went to fetch the milk sachets and daily news paper. She loves passing through the kids supplement in the courtyard itself.

As she started to read the children’s page, we heard a feeble moaning sound.

Initially we thought it’s our younger fellow sobbing for being late or for having missed her chance to fetch the kids’ magazines afresh.

We went to her. But it was not her!

By then, lots of crows were making a gala show above our roof!

My kids rushed outside. They saw that all these crows together were violently scaring a poor bird. 

As my kids yelled, I went out. The crows gradually tuned into silence and finally left.

As we looked on, the poor frightened bird fell down the roof. 

My elder girly ran quickly and sat near the bird observing it. She felt very sorry for the bird.

As I took some water she ran and got a dropper and gave it with so much of care and passion, into its beak. 

Now the bird crawled and groaned. Slowly, it vomited something. She gave water for a second time. Once more the bird vomited. It repeated until the bird became comfortable.

 Now all were relieved.

School time got already over. Another day of absence!

I said it’s a koel and it would have tried to harm eggs in a crow’s nest. Else it would have tried to replace crow eggs with its own. The crows might have observed the act and hence the hungama.

She already knew all that!

She said it’s a female koel and that the males who visit our homestead sing sweet. Grandma had told her many stories long back!

As the koel remained in silence, she left us to care for the bird and went in to check the shelves for books on birds. She wanted to identify the bird with the images in it and know its nature and feed!

Now into the details gathered.

H&C Books has a small compilation (Rs.10.00) in Malayalam, on Birds- winged servants,(pakshikal chirakula sevakar) collected by Satheesan. It says about Cuckoo of family Cuculidae on page 21.Spotted cuckoos are females. Apart from sweet singers, they are brood parasites, eat lot of fruits and are good pest control agents.

  The Wonderful world of birds (Pakshikalude Adbuda prapanjam) is an excellent handbook for children, a preface for bird watchers. It is priced at Rs.90 and published by KSSP. 

A popular bird watcher and writer with the pen name Induchoodan, Prof. K.K.Neelankandan was former Principal of Brunnen Collge, Talassery. He is also founder member of the Kerala Natural History Society.

From page 32 of this book, we understand that Cuckoo is known as Indian koel. Scientifically it is named Eudynamys scolopacea. These birds cannot built nests by themselves nor take care of their young ones without help of crows. So these birds are seen wherever crows are popular.

        Further the page facilitates kids into watching birds for the difference in appearance due to gender, and continues the effort through many questions like why they became parasitic? Can’t crows identify koel eggs? And so on.

Common Birds, a book in the series India- the land and the people; by Salim Ali and Laeeq Futehally, from National Book Trust sketches the life habits of Cuckoos on page 72. (Plate 10.51)

It says Cuckoos are world wide in distribution. Males are glistening metallic black all over with a striking yellowish green bill and blood red eyes. The female is brown, spotted and barred with white. Only males can sing!

 

They are basically arboreal and feed on figs, berries, insects and hairy caterpillars. These birds are called Kokilas in Hindi and Kuyil or Pullikuyil in Malayalam.

Ornithology is the study of birds. This was popularized by Dr. Salim Ali (1896-1987); who is accredited as an authority on Indian birds, internationally.

 Those who are further interested can peep into his compilation entitled “The Book of Indian Birds”, published by Bombay Natural History Society. (ISBN 0195637313). It’s like an encyclopedia on Indian birds and an excellent field guide for bird watchers.

 

Plate 33, narrates the habitat of these birds as lightly wooded country sides, gardens, groves and cultivated areas. On page 179-180 of the Centenary edition, field characters are described vividly. We understand that koels are silent during winter and become noisy with onset of summer. They represent indicators for change of season.

Our Pullikuyil was silently lying down on the ground.

We were trying to search for the biography of this great scientist and ornithologist, when our fellowmen came in to gather donations for the upcoming temple festival.

 One of them asked for the bird. 

My kids were reluctant to part with the bird then. They didn’t want to cage the bird either. When asked why, they surprised me by reciting a verse taught by Grandma:

ബന്ധൂര കാഞ്ചന കൂട്ടില്‍ ആണെങ്കിലും 

ബന്ധനം ബന്ധനം തന്നെ പാരില്‍...

They സൈദ്‌: "Let the bird totally revive and fly off". 

But the visitor promised to take care of the bird and tried to catch it. 

The bird that lay for more than an hour now struggled and managed to fly onto a nearby branch. From there it flew still higher after sometime. It remained silently there for two days and then went off.

We thanked God for the fortuitous instance to save a life and the opportunity to learn from nature…

      

CHICKEN POX EPISODE- A MONTH’S TURMOIL FOR CHILDREN

It was Tuesday. 

My elder daughter came from school very tired. She simply put off her bag and without even changing her uniform, quickly climbed on to bed. 

That was never her nature. So I wondered whether it was something that has disturbed her emotionally.

After helping my younger one with her toiletry, dress change and lunch, I sat with her and poked deep in expecting something sensitive an issue that might have troubled her sister. It was a futile exercise. 

My elder one had already fallen into deep sleep. She woke up after 3-4 hours and still bore a tired look. However, apart from that look everything else was fine.

This repeated again on Friday evening. 

She took rest during the weekend, skipping her hobby classes. It was again quite unusual of her.

Sneezing all morning, I was right behind checking whether she took her medication for allergic rhinitis. She was so keen and had not skipped her medicines.

 However, she was back on track by Monday morning.

She is underweight for her age and immune challenged too. So, I was gradually getting worried.  

As far as routine went undisturbed, I controlled my anxiety. (All Mammas are over anxious after all!!!)

On Wednesday afternoon, as soon as she came home, she said: “Mamma, look I have some small spots on my chest. One of my classmates had chicken pox last week and he had come to school before total recovery. So teachers had retained him in the staff room and I had to be with him as I was late for the assembly. Is this how chicken pox starts, Mamma? I am getting frightened. Because my classmate had brown scars all over his face and hands. Another of my classmate, who shares my desk, had said all her body was itching yesterday and so she took the vaccine today.” 

Oh God, poor girl, she has just completed her usual self declared vacation due to cold intolerance that triggers discomfort during early morning hours with a combination of dry cough, sneezing, running nose etc. How she would make up this term? My thoughts went thus…

With prayers, we immediately consulted our family doctor. He asked whether she has fever and body pain. He further asked whether the spots are watery blisters or reddish small ones. Whether it was itching or irritating in anyway? No; not at all. Then maybe some skin allergy; anyway let me see for myself, he advised.

 At the sight of the very first spot, he certified: “Its chicken pox. There’s nothing to worry. It’s better that she got infected now; it would help boost her immunity! Now she need not worry of a chicken pox amidst public exams. It is more severe in adults than in kids. Let her have the medication and take rest. Put her on a low diet and don’t bath her until it subsides totally;” doctor advised.

INITIAL BLISTER

WATERY BLISTER

 There were only very few spots; maybe 5 or 6; that too quite small ones. No fever, whatsoever. As for the early morning sneezing, it was already usual with her.

 “Can I effectively prevent spreading by vaccinating my younger one?” 

Doctor said: “Elder fellow was exposed to this and she was carrying it since few days. As she sneezed and coughed during these days, she has already spread the virus unknowingly. If the younger fellow is infected, she would show symptoms soon or within 21 days. [Incubation period for this virus is 21 days.] Same is the case with all others at home. Those who gain immunity would escape from the infection. Those who have had it earlier also may escape unless the virus is a different strain.

Usually the care takers have a severe infection. Getting vaccinated or isolated after prolonged exposure is futile.

 Homeo practitioners say they have a preventive medicine; but, if you are infected the incubation period are up to 21days; you will show the symptoms within the period; even if you take the preventive Homeo medicine. 

As for the vaccination, it is valid only for 6 months. No use advocating a vaccine after getting exposed. It’s costly as well, ranging from 1200-1500 INR.”

INITIAL REDDISH SPOT

SORE LIKE BLISTER

 I continued to raise my doubts. 

"Can I send the younger one to school? She has been exposed for few days, already.”

Doctor replied: “You can refrain her when she expresses any symptoms like sneezing, cold, cough, fever, headache, and vomiting or body pain. Else she should have popped blisters. Until then she can move out.

Usually others who have caught the infection would start expressing the symptoms by the time the initial diseased person returns to normalcy. By the time the first fellow recovers, has her bath and starts going to school, the younger one might succumb to the virus.  

Generally it takes 10 to 14 days to express or if she builds up immunity she would escape from the infection. Let’s wait and see.”

“Should I isolate and shift her residence?” I queried.

“You have had a long exposure. Initially the virus spreads through air as the suspected person coughs and sneezes. So no use isolating yourself now. During last stage, the virus spreads through touching the lesions and the oozes.”

After buying the prescribed medicine for antivirus, I purchased some tender coconuts and went home. 

I browsed and gathered all available details. I don’t know whether there is scientific truth behind all this or whether all of them are traditional home remedies. Anyway, I took the risk and followed most of the recommendations, which were effective on my daughter. Hence it inspired me to blog on the topic.

Patient was initially isolated from the moment she was identified with chicken pox. A well ventilated room that was live during morning hours, where I could always pop in was selected. 

Next day she had headache and then gradually body pain set in. Blisters started popping out on the head, face, neck, upper arms, palms, back, thighs, etc. 

LESION

 Diet went as follows. 

(Nutrition experts are most welcome to rectify mistakes if any and suggest additions available. Kids always prefer variety.)

Generally an easily digestible, vegetarian diet, with lot of fiber, fruits and vegetables is recommended. Avoid all oily items, junks and fast foods.

Breakfast: Idli with sambar or coconut chutney; Bread with stew or jam or cheese.

Snack: Oats as porridge in milk; cornflakes in skimmed milk.

Tender coconut (1)

Lunch: Unpolished broken rice porridge with green gram or green peas alternated with Basmati rice mixed with green peas or carrot as a sick man’s special pulao!

Skimmed milk curd or butter milk 

DEVELOPING RED SPOT

  Clear soup made with carrots and fresh coriander leaves or celery leaves and small onion or amaranth leaves and onion. These were spiced with black pepper, cumin, coriander, garlic and ginger.

Snack: plain fruit salad (mix of all fruits available- banana, apple, oranges, papaya, watermelon, strawberry and a chickoo)

Tender coconut (2) or a drink of protinex, pediasure or nurture (protein powder) which she disliked, but still managed.

Dinner: Aappam (fermented flour with yeast) or Nice Pathiri and vegetable curry of carrot, green peas, etc.

Snack: vegetable salad with onion, tomato, salad cucumber, capsicum and green leaves like lettuce or broccoli or Chinese cabbage.

She drank lot of water to prevent dehydration.

CRACKED LESION

 In 2 days, more spots got scattered all over her body, as if it is a design on a plain cloth. As the blisters became watery and big, itching set in. She couldn’t wear any dress. Now, I gave her frequent sponge baths with warm water (a bowl) mixed with baking soda (1 tbspn) and crystal salt (a handful). During first few days, this was repeated once in 1 or 2 hours and she said it lowered her itching a great lot. I also used lacto calamine lotion (with Aloe Vera) and it soothed the sores, she said. Boiling the towel after every sponge bath, with a cap- full of Dettol was also done. 

The blisters appeared in series, as one batch crops, becomes water filled, forms lesions, slowly dries and leaves a scab; another would have cropped up…We can see all stages of the blister on a persons body during a week. Spot-blister-lesion-crust-scab-scar-are the different stages of the pox…As the blisters formed, she had difficulty to sleep properly and so she slept in breaks during the morning hours also. First week kept them tied to beds. 

CRUSTS - DRYING LESIONS

 Second week made them more irritated by boredom unless engaged. Fever and itching subsides. But they are kept isolated and not permitted outdoors either. Absence from school and all activities naturally bores them. Eyes are paining for some, so reading is not easy. Neither is watching television. 

So, I gave her all her toys, story books, kids’ magazines and indoor games. Kept of all her books and school materials! 

After few days, she started watching television also. However, I disinfected all her toys and games by exposing them to hot sunshine hours for days repeatedly.

In 5 different crops, she totally had 140 spots, apart from those on head. Doctor said it’s a mild infection. There would be more blisters otherwise.

 After two weeks, all blisters started drying and in another week all became scabs and later scars in 21-25 days. Some of the spots in the last crop didn’t develop into blisters but dried up as it popped.

FINAL SCAR ON SKIN

 When all fell off, by itself, she had her bath. Now the patient is ready to move outdoors. It was a month of turmoil by then…

On the 10^th day after I saw blisters on my elder, my younger one had a dry cough and throat pain and was given expectorant. She opted steam inhalation for smooth breathing and gargled salt water for relief of throat pain. After 2 more days, she had a viral fever with severe body pain and was administered with antipyretic and analgesic. After 2 more days, spots were visible which popped out after one more day. From this stage, she was given anti viral medicine. She had spots inside her eyes also for which she was given an eye drops and eye ointment, to be applied @6times a day for 3 days.

On my younger child, spots were spread more uniform, covering all parts of her body from head to under her feet. The blisters were huge and some were pus filled. It was less itchy. However, she had severe fever for more than a week. The last crop took more time to crack and dry. She had about 194 spots in all. On her I tried sponge baths with water mixed with vinegar (1 cup vinegar in a bowl of water) and she was comfortable with 1 or 2 baths a day.

PUS FILLED BLISTER

 Apart from changing her bedspread, towels and dress materials daily and washing them with antiseptic liquid; I also ensured that they are sundried for long hours.

 I gave her warm water for toiletries and used disposable paper plates and cups. When ever she was near the young one, I gave them disposable masks to cover their mouth and nose and disposed them too. Wet baby wipes or soft napkins were used to clear the blisters which broke during wake hours and these were also properly disposed.

It is said that Chicken pox spreads through air; as we sneeze or cough. Once the blisters start to crack open, they spread through touch also. Hence it is better to avoid sharing of utensils, even combs.

A Homeo medicine that soothes skin of scars completely is available. A liquid formulation for internal administration, it’s a bit bitter. 

An ayurvedic cream now available under the trade name Cutis is also said to be equally effective as topical application on skin. Manufactured in India by VASU Healthcare Pvt. Ltd; an ISO 9001 company, It has a good smell and kids willingly use them. (www.vasuhealthcare.com or Helpline 0091-265-2644459)

 Home remedy recommends application of an herbal paste made of neem leaves and Kasthuri manjal, variety of turmeric rhizomes, soaked and peeled overnight.

Spreading neem leaves on the bed of the patient reduces irritation and itching.

In total, kids have to be retained for a month indoors; under proper care. They take a week or two to overcome fatigue and fall back to the usual routine.

Amidst their convalescence or soon after, depending on our immunity, the caretakers also succumb to the virus…

In adults, as said, the infection is more severe; with recurrent fever, headache, body pain, and far more number of spots, sometimes big ones, that too spread all over making an ugly rather devilish a look! 

It’s more aggressive on oily skin, and in parts with suntans.  It is said that for some, blisters occur in mouth and food intake is hindered.

The onset of the disease has many variations, the pain or discomfort also varied with individuals and the process of healing also was different. While my elder had high extent of discomfort and was not at all feverish, my younger one was more feverish and had less itching. While the sores in my elder dried at a faster pace, it took more time in my younger.

Once the whole process of chain infection is complete in the family, its better even to paint the house and disinfect all furniture and utensils, even television remotes and keyboards!

Taken on a positive spirit, this is a real break from routine life and cleanses our system with the special diet and adequate water intake. It makes us more health conscious as well. The only disadvantage is the loss of productive work hours and man days. It’s an era of inventions. So, let’s hope better preventive mechanisms become popular soon.

(Please do share additional tips and experience if any on chicken pox infection; its cure and care.)