Treating Common Childhood Illnesses and Treatment

Posted on February 19, 2009 by john

Any illness in a child is different from, and more serious than, the same illness in an adult because the immune system is not fully developed. Getting familiar with the advice in these pages will help you take prompt action if your child feels sick.

EARS

Ear infections are common in children because their eustachian tubes (the tubes that connect the middle ear to the throat) are short; thus, any throat infection can ascend quickly to the middle ear.

MIDDLE EAR INFECTION

Otitis media, or infection of the middle ear, is quite common in children and is associated with recurrent tonsillitis. In fact, one of the main reasons for removing tonsils (and adenoids) is chronic middle ear infections. Infections are caused by bacteria entering the middle ear from the nose and the throat via the eustachian tube. If middle ear infections are left untreated, they can result in permanent hearing loss. Recurrent middle ear infections are often linked with middle ear effusion.

Symptoms The most prominent symptoms are severe earache and loss of appetite. Your child may also have a fever or a discharge from the ear, and there may be some hearing loss. A toddler with a middle ear infection may be distressed and pull and rub the affected ear, which will be very red; in fact the whole side of his face may be inflamed.

Treatment The usual treatment is a course of antibiotics and pain-relieving medication. At home you should keep your child comfortable and cool and give lots of drinks as well as his medicines. An ear, nose, and throat specialist should treat repeated middle ear infections to avoid middle ear effusion. An operation to remove the tonsils may be recommended.

MIDDLE EAR EFFUSION

If your child has repeated infections of the middle ear or throat, or tonsillitis, the middle ear can gradually fill with jellylike fluid. Because the fluid cannot drain away through the eustachian tube, it becomes gluelike and impairs hearing because the sounds are not being transmitted across the middle ear to the inner ear, where they are actually heard. It’s important to deal with this condition promptly or your child could be slow to speak and learn.

Symptoms Middle ear effusion usually causes no pain, but partial hearing loss and a feeling of fullness deep in the ear may occur. A child with chronic middle ear effusion may sleep with his mouth open, snore, and speak with a nasal twang. If this condition is not treated it can cause permanent deafness, resulting in speech and learning problems.

Treatment After examining your child’s ear with an otoscope, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection and vasoconstrictor drugs to allow the fluid to drain. In severe or recurring cases of middle ear effusion, a minor operation may be necessary to insert a tiny plastic tube that drains the mucus through the eardrum, which quickly heals after a few days. The tubes quite often drop out of their own accord and rarely have to be reinserted, since all the fluid has drained.

A child who has tubes inserted should take precautions to avoid letting water into the ears, and should swim only if he is wearing snug-fitting earplugs.

THROAT

Throat infections such as tonsillitis and adenitis are rare in babies under one year. ‘They are more common in children who have just started school and are being exposed to a new range of bacteria.

SORE THROAT

An uncomfortable or painful throat is usually due to infection by a bacterium such as streptococcus, or a virus such as the cold or flu viruses.

Symptoms Your child may tell you that he has a sore throat, or you may notice that he finds it hard to swallow. Depress his tongue with a spoon handle and tell him to say “aaahhh” so that you can look down his throat for signs of inflammation or enlarged red tonsils.

Treatment Give lots of drinks, and puree your child’s food if he finds it difficult to swallow. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if there is a bacterial infection or tonsillitis.

TONSILLITIS AND SWOLLEN ADENOIDS

The tonsils, situated on both sides of the back of the throat, prevent bacteria that invade the throat from entering the body by trapping and killing them. This can sometimes result in the tonsils themselves becoming swollen and infected. The adenoids, which are situated at the back of the nose, are nearly always affected at the same tIme.

Symptoms Your child will complain of a sore throat and may find swallowing difficult. On examination, the tonsils appear red and enlarged, possibly with yellow and white patches. He may have an elevated temperature, the glands in his neck may be swollen, and his breath might smell. If the adenoids are swollen, too, his speech may sound nasal.

Treatment Consult your doctor, who may take a throat swab and examine your child’s ears and glands. Bacterial tonsillitis is treated with appropriate antibiotics. Removal of the tonsils is considered after many severe recurrent attacks, or if the ears are badly affected too

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Sleep and Wakefullness in Child

Posted on February 9, 2009 by john

Many two-year-olds periodically wake up during the night. If your child is one of them, this may be distressing for you and your partner, but it is both usual and normal, and you should never deny your child love, comfort, and affection because of this. There may be some obvious problem that causes your child to wake up, but often you won’t be able to find a reason for this happening. It could just be that she’s afraid of the dark, but she cannot explain to you what is wrong, nor can you reassure her with words. You have to comfort her with actions, so give lots of kisses and hugs to show your child that she is loved.

Daytime naps As your child gets older you will find that she doesn’t necessarily want to sleep at nap time, but she still does need to rest. Try to make a routine out of nap time, whether your child sleeps or not by, say, playing some music or reading. You may find your child goes to sleep at nap time if you allow her to sleep in your bed as a special treat, or if you give her some idea of how long the nap time will be. One way of doing this is to put on her favorite tape and say that nap time isn’t over until the tape is finished.

FROM CRIB TO BED

When your child is strong enough and well coordinated enough to climb out of her crib and come into your room, it is time for her to start using a bed. Most children will be pleased and excited with their new bed, but if your child seems nervous, there are plenty of things you can do to help. The simplest thing is to let her take naps in the bed until she is ready to sleep in it at night. If you are worried that your child might fall out of the bed, you could use a bed guard on one or both sides.

PLEASANT BEDTIMES

From the age of three onward, your child may use delaying tactics in order to put off going to bed. The way you handle this situation really depends on how much energy you have at the end of the day, and what your previous bedtime routine has been.

If you’ve been looking after your child and managing the household tasks all day, you will need private time and may feel you can insist on her going to bed. On the other hand, if you have been out at work all day, you will want to see your child, so you may feel sympathetic to her pleas for your attention.

If you’ve always had quite a strict bedtime routine and your child suddenly departs from this, then it’s probably best for both of you if you firmly reinstitute the bedtime with loving fairness. If, however, you’ve always been flexible about bed times, then it’s probably best for your child’s happiness and peace of mind and your serenity to let her stay with you and make herself comfortable. She will be asleep in a few minutes if she has the reassurance of your presence in the room.

KEEPING BEDTIME PEACEFUL

I am convinced that bedtimes should be happy times, and with my own children I would do anything to keep them from going to bed unhappy. I was always prepared to make concessions to them at this time. I would do my utmost to prevent any crying, and where during the day I might admonish or punish a small misdemeanor, it would go unmarked at nighttime to make sure that my child didn’t go to sleep with the sound of an angry parent’s voice resounding in his ears.

If you have more than one child, let them enjoy their bedtimes in the same bedroom. Company is reassuring and seeing a sister or brother in pajamas at the same time as she is makes your child feel that bedtimes are just and fair, even if your older child is allowed to stay up slightly later. Until they get to an age where they need their privacy , it’s a good idea for them to share a bedroom.

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Education of Child

Posted on January 22, 2009 by john

Child Preschool Education

The choice as to whether or not you decide to send your child to preschool will depend largely upon the options available and whether or not they suit her needs. Find out what’s available in your area and spend what time you can visiting nursery schools and talking to teachers and other parents to get a good idea of what is being provided.

There is no single kind of preschool that is best for every child. Each child should be in a school that fits her particular needs. All evaluations of preschool education show mixed results. One long-term assessment showed that boys in Montessori programs sustained gains in reading and math throughout their school careers. Other research shows that children improve intellectually in all but the poorest of programs. But it’s difficult to know how long these benefits last. Evaluations of Head Start, for example, show that apparent IQ differences between children in Head Start and those who don’t attend preschool diminish over time. Whatever the benefits of preschool education, there is no substitute for a loving and caring home environment.

Play groups often take children from as early as two-and­a-half. They provide the opportunity for interaction with other children of the same age and help develop early social skills, but in a less formal atmosphere than nursery school.

Preschool has a number of benefits. Your child can develop greater confidence and therefore more self-control, as well as learning to share, be concerned for the needs of others, and take turns. Her skill in planning ahead and cooperating with others will improve through fantasy and group play. The opportunities for play in preschool enhance the various ways that your child thinks-that is, imaginatively, speculatively, and inventively. Some preschools are designed to help disadvantaged children by boosting their confidence. Children who attend such schools are less likely to repeat a year than their peers who did not attend preschool, less in need of special education, and less likely to show delinquent behavior when they reach adolescence.

I think there are very few risks to your child attending preschool, certainly no more than when she ventures outside the family; she’ll just encounter them sooner. Risks may include minor health problems or exposure to behavior you find objectionable, such as swearing and tasteless stories.

Settling in at Nursery School

You can help your child adjust to nursery school by taking her along for one or two visits well in advance of her start date. Encourage her to play with the other children and to sit at one of the desks or play with some of the equipment. But try not to push her to socialize with other children if she doesn’t seem interested at first. Some children are naturally more gregarious than others and she will adjust in her own good time. The aim is to make her visits as enjoyable as possible. If you stress all the fun things she will do, her eager anticipation for school will be stronger than 1her worry about leaving you. If she is having trouble adjusting, most nursery schools will let you stay with her on the first day, and for steadily decreasing periods of time on the following days. Make sure you pick her up yourself for the first week when she is most insecure. Once she is confident that she’s not being abandoned, you’ll be free to make other arrangements for taking her home.

Your child’s personality, maturity, place in the family, and willingness to leave home will all influence the way she settles down at preschool. In general, boys are more likely than girls of the same age to cry when their mothers first leave them at nursery school and they tend to cry when frustrated or angry with a teacher or helper. On the other hand, your child may enjoy being with other children as much as she enjoys the play and activities at preschool.

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Causes of yeast infection during pregnancy

Posted on January 16, 2009 by

Pregnant women are more prone to suffer from yeast infections, especially during their second trimester. Although yeast infection during pregnancy may not be too serious a condition, but it can be very uncomfortable for the woman as it causes redness, irritation and itching in the vaginal lips and also during intercourse and even urination.

Yeast infections and pregnancy are closely inter-related because a lot of hormonal changes take place during pregnancy which is the major cause of yeast infections in women. Other causes may include taking birth control pills, hormones, steroids or antibiotics, high blood sugar, douching, vaginal intercourse and semen or blood.

Yeast infections are very common during pregnancy because a pregnant woman’s body experiences several changes and it becomes difficult for the body to sustain health with all the chemical changes taking place in the vaginal area. During pregnancy, more sugar is present in the vaginal secretion which is a favorable condition for the yeast to feed. This causes an imbalance, resulting in too much of fungus. During pregnancy, only suppositories and vaginal creams are suggested for treating yeast infections as oral medication is not considered to be safe.  It is very important to get the yeast infection treated as soon as possible as it may be passed on to the mouth of the baby during pregnancy.

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Weight loss Supplements

Posted on November 22, 2008 by john

Obesity has been on rise due to our sedentary lifestyle and eating habits. The scene where teens are the worst victim of the present trend of obesity is quite alarming. It has become quite necessary to find a solution to such weight gain problems in both adults and teens. Till now there were supplements for weight loss meant for adults only. But now teen or children weight loss supplements are hitting the market too. There is a great debate over the issue of weight loss supplements. A school of people think that weight loss supplements are the only ways to fight the obesity and reduce weight. While the other school thinks that weight loss supplements in the long run pose serious health risks, therefore natural ways of exercising and diet control are the two most effective tips for weight loss.

Whatever may be the arguments, the fact is that weight loss supplements have earned a reputation of themselves in the market and they are now widely used by people who want easy ways to shed the weight. Most weight supplements promise that one need no exercise to get rid of weight if people use their products. If you are willing to use any weight loss supplements, then you should take advice from doctors. An advice from my side is that whatever product you use; never give up the idea of exercising! Weight can have adverse effect on mens health.

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Resuscitation in Children

Posted on November 20, 2008 by john

The body’s vital organs need a continuous supply of oxygen. If any part of the process by which oxygen is carried to body cells and tissues goes wrong, unconsciousness may result. Air must be inhaled to supply oxygen to the blood, and the oxygenated blood must be pumped around the body by the heart. If the brain is deprived of oxygen for more than three minutes, it will begin to fail. If the heart fails, death will occur unless emergency action is taken. Resuscitation is necessary if, for whatever reason, your child has stopped breathing or if his pulse has stopped .

If your child has lost consciousness and isn’t breathing, he’s at risk of brain damage and heart failure. You need to assess his condition quickly in order to know what first-aid treatment to give. If he’s unconscious but still breathing and has a pulse, then you should call for help and place him in the recovery position. If he’s unconscious and not breathing but has a pulse, you will need to give rescue breaths. If he’s not breathing and has no pulse, you must give chest compressions with rescue breaths .

THE RECOVERY POSITION

An unconscious child who is still breathing and has a regular pulse should be placed in this position to keep the airway open and to allow liquids to drain from the mouth. You should not place your child in the recovery position if you suspect a fracture.

  1. lf your child is lying on his back or side, kneel to one side of him. Straighten his legs and gently place the arm nearest you at right angles to his body with the elbow bent.
  2. Ensure that the head is tilted back throughout the procedure so that the airway remains open. Bring the other arm across the chest and place the back of the hand so that it lies against the cheek.
  3. Holding your child’s hand to his cheek, grasp the far thigh and pull the knee up. Keep the foot flat on the ground and place it next to the nearer knee.
  4. Roll your child over into a resting position with his knee bent and his head resting on his hand.

ASSESSING A TODDLER

Check for consciousness

See if your child is conscious by shaking him gently and pinching him. Keep calling his name. If he doesn’t respond, call for help immediately.

Open the airway

Lay your child down on his back on a firm surface such as the floor or a table. Open the airway by putting two fingers under your child’s chin and lifting the jaw. Tilt the head back by placing your other hand on his forehead.

Check breathing

Look, listen, and feel for signs of breathing. Look along the chest and abdomen for movements, listen for sounds of breathing, and feel for your child’s breath on your cheek. If he is breathing, give him two rescue breaths, then check his pulse .

Check the pulse

See if your child’s heart is still beating by placing your fingers just in front of the large muscle at the side of the neck under the jaw. If there’s no pulse, give him one minute of chest compressions and rescue breaths , call an ambulance, then continue.

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Education of Your Child

Posted on November 8, 2008 by john

CHOOSING A NURSERY SCHOOL

When she’s three or four your child will be able to go to nursery school, if you choose. Whether you feel this is the correct step will depend largely on her nature. For example, is she still shy and clinging or naturally outgoing? Only you can know whether she is ready.

Before making a decision, visit several nursery schools in your area. Prepare a checklist of important points so you don’t forget any of them. For example, are the teachers relaxed or formal? Is it a happy environment? What is the standard of facilities? How many children are there, and are they well supervised? What activities are offered? Does the school feel safe? Are the children happy?

You should sit in on a few classes and spend a whole morning or afternoon at the nursery school, and also speak to mothers whose children already attend. You will then have all the information you need to decide.

PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

No single method of preschool has proved to be significantly better fir every child. Many parents send their children to preschool to give them an opportunity to play and be sociable-others simply because it allows their children physical outlets that won’t damage the furniture.

Structured classes are better suited to the needs of most small children. A chaotic environment may cause some boys to react in a way that some teachers describe as hyperactive. Structures vary within preschools. Some nursery schools follow a timetable for certain activities each day along the lines advocated by Dr. Montessori, and organize the school around an orderly child-sized environment with specific behavioral guidelines, such as putting things away when they are no longer being used.

A child who finds tasks easy and has plenty of local friends may be suited to a more traditional nursery school. However, a child who has few local playmates and wants to socialize may enjoy a less structured experience.

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Get the Best Diet Pill for Effective Weight Loss

Posted on October 18, 2008 by john

Finding the correct diet pill for the effective reduction of excess fat and weight from the body is the chief concern that bothers many people, as their initial weight loss programs have not been able to produce positive results.

There are so many diet pills available in the market that choosing the most perfect diet pill requires that you go through a proper weight loss pills reviewrent a car bulgaria. This process requires a good survey into the kinds of diet pills available in the market.

The most common diet pills that are available in the market are – acai pure, hoodie maxx, proactol and proshape RX. Acia berry pills are very effective in the body dieting programs as they reduce the excess fat from the body within a short period of time. These products have no side-effects as they are made of pure acai berry extracts and comprise of no chemical product.

Hoodia Gordonni – A natural plant in Africa has the power to act as a natural appetite suppressant. Hoodie maxx is made from the extracts of this plant and over the years this product has gained considerable popularity as an effective agent for diet control.

Proactol – Another diet control pill made from natural extracts plays a vital role in tightening and toning the body, thereby giving it a proper shape. Even this product is an appetite suppressant and through this way it controls the eating habits.

One of the most common recommended products for diet control is proshape RX pills. These pills are made out of a combination of natural herbs and plant extracts and effectively reduce excess fats by acting as suppressant for appetite and by controlling the cholesterol and sugar levels in the blood. Weight loss pills review leaves us with these viable options.

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Acia berry diet pills – very effective in excess fat reduction

Posted on October 18, 2008 by john

Losing excess weight is very essential to ensure a healthy and disease free life. Many people go for various weight reduction programs but they eventually end up with no positive results. So many people even go to the extent of losing all hopes of weight reduction. However, losing weight might seem to be impossible but it not so. A clear focus with a little knowledge and guidance can take you miles ahead in the weight reduction scheme.

Diet pills are often advised by the doctors for the reduction of excess weight. However, knowing about the proper diet pills which will be most effective is very important. A proper review of the clinical studies of the various available diet pills will help you in choosing the perfect diet pills that work.

Various clinical studies have proved that the acai berry is an efficient agent of diet control and fat reduction. Acai berry review proclaims that this fruit is even more effective than aloe vera in controlling and reducing the excess body calories. Acai berry has the power of improving the digestive process of the body. The intake of this fruit detoxifies the body of unwanted toxins and boosts the immune system by maintaining the ideal cholesterol levels in the body.

For ensuring effective dieting program for your self-use, acai pure is a dieting product with the natural extracts of acai berry in it. This product provides all the benefits to the body as mentioned in the acai berry review. Acai pure is made of 100% natural extracts and works as effective diet pills that work in reducing the excess fat from the body.

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RESCUE BREATHING FOR AN INFANT

Posted on October 11, 2008 by john

If your infanthas stopped breathing

Open the airway

Lay your child down on his back on a firm surface. Your child’s tongue may fall back on the rear of his throat when he is unconscious and on his hack. To move the tongue up and away from the throat, place two fingers under his l’hin and tilt his head back.

Give rescue breaths

Using your finger and thumb, pinch your child’s nostrils closed. Inhale, put your mouth over his mouth, making a complete seal, and breathe out until his chest rises. Remove your mouth and watch the chest fall. Give one breath every three seconds.

Check the pulse

After one minute of rescue breathing, check the pulse in your child’s neck . If there is no pulse, give CPR for one minute, then call an ambulance. If there is a pulse, continue rescue breathing and check the pulse every minute.

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION FOR TODDLERS

If there is no pulse, give chest compressions with rescue breaths

Positioning the hand

Place your child on his back on a firm surface. Put the middle finger of one hand on the tip of the breastbone (the bone where the ribs meet in the middle), and the index finger above it. Put the heel! of your other hand so that it rests just above the index finger.

Give rescue breaths

After five compressions give one rescue breath. Don’t stop to take your child’s pulse unless he shows signs of reviving. Alternate five compressions in three seconds with one rescue breath. After one minute, call an ambulance, then continue.

Give chest compressions

Take your fingers away from the breastbone. Use the heel of the other hand to press down sharply to a depth of about 1inches (3 centimeters). Give five compressions in three seconds (time them by counting “one-and-two-and­three-and- four -and-five”).

CHOKING

If your child’s airway becomes partially or completely blocked he will choke and, if he’s unable to get enough oxygen into his lungs, may lose consciousness. To restore normal breathing, the blockage must be removed. You need to act promptly. Follow the steps outlined below to remove the obstruction. If, after following these steps, you are unable to clear the obstruction, You should call an ambulance immediately.

Get him to cough

Encourage your child to cough because this will help dislodge the obstruction.

Abdominal thrusts

Check inside his mouth for the blockage. If it is still there, make a fist and place this just below the rib cage, cover your fist with your other hand, and thrust firmly inward and upward. Continue the thrusts until the object is expelled, your child can breathe, or he loses consciousness. If this happens, immediately follow the four steps described in the box, right.

THE ABC OF RESUSCITATION

If your child stops breathing or loses consciousness, you must carry out the following checks in the order given:

A is for Airway Open the airway by lifting your child’s chin with two fingers, and tilting back his head slightly.

B is for Breathing /f your child shows no signs of breathing you will have to use rescue breaths to breathe for him.

C is for Circulation Check that your child has a pulse. If there is none, give CPR-chest compressions with rescue breaths .

UNCONSCIOUS

Lay your child on his back. Tilt his bead, lift his chin, and give rescue breaths . If they don’t go in, call an ambulance.

Straddling your child’, legs, place the heel of one hand above his navel and the other hand on top, and give five thrusts inward and upward.

Look in his mouth and remove any object using your finger.

Give rescue breaths again. If successful, continue giving breaths until your child starts breathing on his own or the ambulance arrives.

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