All Entries in the "Child Health" Category

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that every individual get the flu vaccine except for babies below six months of age. Here are some commonly encountered queries regarding the 2010-2011 flu vaccination pertinent to women who have conceived, are breastfeeding or for their babies or kids. Among kids less than nine years of age what are the number of doses of seasonal influenza shot needed for them? It is truly quite complex for parents having kids eight years in age or lesser & those who haven’t ever been totally inoculated from the flu. So, what are the numbers of flu shot doses would children less than nine years of age be requiring in the current year? It would be dependent on duo aspects: Has the child received any 2009 flu pandemic vaccines –  [...]

Pregnancy often elicits panic and fears along with insurmountable happiness. But this ecstasy should not be marred by undue fears. Though the reasons for fear are completely understandable but panicking and worrying is basically pointless. In fact, expectant mothers need to behave more sensibly and cautiously in this prenatal phase. Taking some extra precautionary measures for protecting the baby is all that is necessary. During pregnancy, women generally consume lots of healthy and nutritional food items. It also comprises certain herbs that are considered useful in pregnancy. The traditional usages of home herbal remedies are widely popular among many pregnant women. One such herb having some controversial conditions about usage during pregnancy is fenugreek. This herb has been recommended  [...]

Twelve-year-old Ryan Mendoza’s OCD had worsened to such an extent that his mom exasperatedly mentioned that his triggering reasons - blustery weather and noticing the number six – would impel the child into experiencing stultifying and aggressive meltdown episodes. Totally debilitated by his condition, Ryan was not showing response to multiple drug treatments and had lost hope, states Mother Judy Mendoza. Recalling one heart-shattering incident, when on pulling into the house drive-way, her son sprinted out of the home, throwing himself on the vehicle hood and begging her to run him down and take his life as he no more wished to be alive with OCD any further. Resolute on leaving no leaf unturned to allay her child’s torment, Judy spoke about eventually resorting to a drastic choice –  [...]

Sauntering down the aisles of super marts one is bombarded with an influx of child-chummy staple types like milk, curd, juices and breads which have DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) fortification. DHA is a form of omega-3 fatty acid which has been found to back cognitive functioning. Even though DHA-enriched foods do not cause harm and do not raise levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the kid’s dietetic intake, yet experts suggest such fortified foods must be consumed moderately and bearing in mind some nutrient common-sense. Also the role of omega-3s like DHA have been emphasized as food types which encourage brain functioning and there is sizeable proof backing the part of EFAs (essential fatty acids) in preliminary eye and brain growth. Though presently the United States has not furnished certified  [...]

By three years of age, a child would like to take greater control over his/her day-to-day routines. Children in this age would often exhibit a non-corporative front towards everyday tasks like bathing times and hair brushing chores which appear alike unsolicited interruptions when compared to more enthralling forms of play. The best way to thwart any arguments is turning the bathing, brushing tasks into a game of sorts or incorporating a fun aspect into these tasks. Allow the child to shoulder more responsibilities for undertaking tasks, supervising in case needed, or offering the child some choices like deciding the type of comb or shampoo which he/she could use, for instance, would make the task more appealing and promote co-operation. The following clues would help perk up and simplify everyday  [...]

Dental care should be an integral part of every child’s daily routine to prevent dental disease. By taking care and attention that the child is consuming the right kinds of foods parents could make the most significant contribution towards their child’s dental care. Following are prudent dental care pointers on eating right for healthy teeth: Avoid giving the child juice which is either sugared or not diluted as these would translate to the child’s teeth being continually suffused in sugar and resulting in ‘bottle maw’ – a mouth of decayed teeth – as soon as 3 years of age. The child sweet foods in-between mealtimes would only increase the number of instances the teeth are being exposed to damaging acids that remove calcium and corrode tooth enamel. Hence, in its place it is  [...]

The novel HPV vaccine could shield women from cervical cancer. Factually, the vaccine has maximum efficacy when administered to girls and young age-group women. Several parents might be wondering whether they should be considering the option of giving their daughter the HPV vaccine, its safety quotient or must girls be given the inoculations and are there any associated downsides. HPV referring to a set of viruses known as human papillomavirus is contracted due to genital skin sexual intercourse inclusive of vaginal, anal and probably oral sex. CDC has approximated that HPV has been the most prevalent form of STD and amongst teenage girls having an STD, about fifteen percent of them had one or more STD types. There are several HPV strains though majority of them are not contributory to cervical  [...]

Nearly two million or more parents in the United States alone opt for getting their newly born sons circumcised annually. A huge populace of those opposed to this procedure feel that the scores of doctors and hospitals that facilitate this happening are culpable of infant abuse and genitalia mutilation. A query often tugs deep that ‘Is circumcising an infant male baby is in any form abusing that child’s rights?’ All those not favouring circumcision strongly maintain their stance that it is similar to genitalia mutilation performed on females and other forms of infancy abuse which are presently unlawful in U.S and Britain. A viewpoint held by many is that this method is damaging to young males as it lowers sensitivity in the penis, a matter which has been debated in latest scientific reports.  [...]

Learning difficulties are those that affect a child capacity to read, spell and write in a particular language. Though dyslexia especially is known to affect a child’s adeptness to write symbols like letter, number and musical notes – the child could additionally face problems when speaking that language. Dyslexia is an unambiguous neurological condition and is not the consequence of reduced audibility or ocular skills or low I.Q. Nearly 1 among twenty kids has dyslexia. Ways to spot Dyslexia Several bright kids have dyslexia and this disorder is mostly identified earlier amongst such kids as parents become sentient of the immense disparity in between their kid’s apparent I.Q. and the level of accomplishment in particular arenas. The chief sign of dyslexia is having problems when the  [...]

Having to pacify a persistently irate baby could be quite a challenging task of many a newly turned moms and dads. A child could be termed colicky when despite being in good health, being amply fed is crying for above 3 hours on an average daily, lasting for above 3 days during a week’s time. Colic is a condition that is not totally comprehended though it generally makes its presence felt in nearly fourteen days subsequent to the child’s birth or even afterwards among babies born prematurely. Most often it subsides when the child is three to four months old. Below mentioned are some of the prudent tips that one could employ to soothe your irate, colicky baby: Using pacifiers or baby’s dummy or comforter. Doing gentle rocking motions to the baby placed on one’s lap or seated in a chair  [...]

Botulism is a paralytic sickness, though uncommon could lead to paralysis and other grave, mortal consequences. A bacterial form known as Clostridium botulinum present in soil is the offender that produces a nerve toxin that causes botulism. With 7 identified botulism toxins, however merely toxin forms A, B, E and F are detrimental to human beings. Botulism is of 3 kinds typified variedly depending on the way of their exposure: Food Derived Botulism This form of botulism is the consequence of consuming foods that have faced contamination due to the botulism toxin. Wound Botulism This form of botulism is due to the botulism toxin which grows from contamination due to Clostridium botulinum arising from injuries or wounds. Infancy Botulism This form of botulism arises when children ingest Clostridium  [...]

West Nile Virus is the outcome of being bitten by an infected mosquito that is the carrier of the viral form. However, one must bear in mind that all of the mosquito populace does not carry the infection. The detection of the West Nile Virus could be traced to 1937 in the African subcontinent, though it managed to trace its course to the U.S. in the subsequent two decades. However, ever since, it has evolved into a niggling problem especially in the summer season. Several areas of the U.S. have to face the brunt of these mosquito infestations in the months ranging from July onwards till the initial part of September. Though few areas of the country, the menace of imminent possibility of being bitten by mosquitoes ridden with such infection is all year through. Not every bite of this infection-ridden  [...]

Shigellosis is a form of communicable infection affecting the gastrointestinal tract leading to wide-ranging symptoms such as looseness in bowels, cramps, puking and feeling nauseous, even resulting in grave complications and sickness. Occasionally, shigellosis infections could subside by itself while in other cases a course of antibiotics is required to curb the length of the sickness. A predominantly summer time infection classically affecting children aged between two to four years and a typically children lesser than six months old. Shigellosis Symptoms The Shigella bacteria is the key offender in this infection producing toxins that could launch an assault on the cells which line the large intestine leading to its enlargement, ulcerous growths on the wall of the intestine and blood-inundated  [...]