Women that postponed maternity have led to a major soar in the number of offspring detected with Down’s syndrome in the span of the previous two decades. With documentation revealing a sharp seventy-one percent rise in cases diagnosed during pregnancy has shot up from 1,075 during 1989-1990 to 1,843 cases during the years 2007-2008. However, the rate of births of babies congenitally having Down’s syndrome has shown slight plummet over the same span of time due to the major improvement in diagnostic procedures and consequent medical terminations of pregnancy. The cases of women in their forties giving birth to children have risen twofold in ten years time. Authorized statistics during 2005 have shown more than 22,000 child births among forty-plus women that have risen from 11,300 child births  [...]

Experts from the United States have pointed out that expectant obese women could be putting their children through a lifetime of obesity except if they reduced weight prior to attempting conception. Scientists from New York and Quebec medical centres discovered that an overweight mother’s womb could transmit a signal to their foetus that promotes them into growing into an obese kid and grownup. The progression is not a mere transmission of the genes that elicit obesity but the researchers have stated that they still have to trace down a biological rationalization for the signs. Robert Waterland from the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston researched the effects of being overweight among mice. He contemplated the signals in-between mother and the progeny could have major bearing on the kid’s  [...]

A legally sightless, 9-year-old boy since birth had an ailment that would gradually devour his vision, but has lately been restored to normal eyesight with merely a single shot. The implausible procedure is a ray of promising hope spelling a conclusion to blindness in some cases. The Geneticists from the University School of Medicine, USA, have successfully snapped the cipher for creating light-receptive seeing cells that would help regain sight in many blind in the UK. During this path-breaking procedure, Corey Haas was the foremost patient globally to have been given this injection with the innovatory gene therapy following which his vision has become nearly perfect. Corey was the foremost of the 5 kids and 7 adults with the rare condition LCA or Leber’s congenital amaurosis (affecting  [...]

A U.S-based girl having a congenitally atypical condition known as ‘mermaid syndrome’, cheated death for nearly a decade. Due to being born with this syndrome also called sirenomelia, Shiloh Pepin had conjoint legs, one partly functional kidney, and absence of a lower colon or genitalia. According to her doctors, Shiloh was anticipated to have a maximum life expectancy of only ten hours that could have stretched to possibly few days following her birth. However, she surpassed all hopes. Few of those children that do manage to survive sirenomelia undergo operative procedures for separating their legs. But, Shiloh was not able to undergo the surgery as the blood vessels in her circulatory system that criss-crossed from one side to the other side made it a tricky venture and would most probably  [...]

Schilder’s Disease is an atypical, progressive demyelinising condition majorly affecting the central nervous system that typically starts in infancy. This neurological disorder causes major harm to the myelin sheath of the nerve fiber observed to affect a whole lobe (a section of the brain like the frontal, occipital or parietal) or even hemisphere (the entire half of one) that could prove perilous to one who has the disorder. Schilders Disease Causes: Doctors speculate that it might be occurring due to certain kinds of medications, heredity factors among others. Though the damage to the myelin sheath of the nerve fibers is the most certain reason behind this disorder occurring. Schilders Disease Symptoms: The signs could be wide-ranging and could exhibit signs that could be confused  [...]

Every aspect of Halloween is so endearing, right from the candies to the attire; Halloween is chock-full of fun and good times for both the kiddie brigade and the parents alike. However, it could also be a holiday that might pose underlying dangers to the infant revelling gang. To assist in making this year’s celebrations a trick-free treat, one needs to adhere to the below stated crucial safety guidelines: Prettifying the small ghost Always opting for a costume that is light in colour or by adding in the glowing- in-the-night adhesive tape to the front sides and back parts of the child’s costume so that the kid could be easily traceable. Always desist from buying a costume that does not have the ‘flame-retardant’ labelling on it. This would translate to the costume easily catching  [...]

Several children exhibit sensitivities to particular foods, most of which are not grave. But, Celiac disease is a severe condition occurring due to long-standing gluten intolerance – a kind of protein present in wheat, rye and barley. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease (the individual’s immune system goes into self-destructive mode). About forty thousand celiac disease cases have been detected in the United States. In case the child is having celiac disease, then consumption of gluten would cause major harm to the villi (finger-alike protuberances that line the small intestines of the child). Risk Factors: Kids are at increased risk of developing celiac disease when they are having: Type 1 diabetes. Autoimmune thyroid disease. Dermatitis herpetiformis. Down’s / Turner’s/ Williams  [...]

Providentially, being diagnosed with bipolar disorder no more translates to a life of solitude and seclusion. With effective treatment obtainable, those individuals ailing from this mostly misconstrued mental ailment could live life to the hilt and have a normal existence. Blossoming careers, caring and enduring relationships are all possible for such people and could also successfully bring up normal, healthy kids. Treatment being the solution out in Bipolar disorder wherein the inflicted individual undergoes sporadic episodes of depressive feelings and manic behaviourisms. Extreme moodiness could time and again play havoc in the lives of such persons in all spheres of their lives, such as the work place and in their family. There are varied kinds of bipolar disorder that differ in accordance  [...]

Several kinds of diaper rashes occur due to the skin facing irritation because of contact with urine and feces. The sensitive skin of the baby reacts unfavourably leading to rashes. Some of the diaper rashes might be occurring due to candida yeast infection. Candidiasis is a form of infection occurring due to the presence of a cluster of infinitesimal fungi or yeast. Candida occur in more than twenty varying species, the widely prevalent being the Candida albicans. These fungal forms tend to flourish on body surfaces. When the conditions are favourable enough, they could rapidly proliferate leading to infections, especially in the clammy, tepid areas like diaper areas and the skin’s surfaces. Usually areas in children that get affected are the areas enclosed in the diapers and the mouth.  [...]

Self-tending at Home The three vital objectives of home tending for a kid having fever would be lowering the temperature, averting dehydration and monitoring any grave or life-menacing ailments. The preliminary goal would be making the kid feel restful and at ease by checking and assuaging the temperature to below 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.9 degree Celsius. The fever is measured by employing a thermometer, giving medications and making the child dress in appropriate manner. A tepid water soak could be beneficial to the child. Thermometer employed for checking the child’s temperature are obtainable in glass mercury, digital and tympanic (in the ear) models. It is safer to not opt for the tympanic thermometers as the adjudicator is still out on their exactness. Glass mercury thermometers  [...]

Self-Tending at Home On majority of the occasions children face dehydration due to either diarrhea or vomiting occurring due to a viral infection. The ideal line of treatment to resolving infant dehydration is by giving plentiful fluids during the entire time the child in unwell. This is known as fluid replacement. Apposite fluid replenishment in kids less than 2 years comprises of Pedialyte, Rehydralyte, Pedialyte chilled pops, or any analogous products intended to reinstate fluids, glucose and electrolytes (liquid suspension containing sodium, potassium, chloride). These products could be bought at almost all big grocery and medical shops. A potent as well as easily-made ORS or oral rehydrating solution or fluid could be whipped up by adopting the following proportions: Half teaspoon of  [...]

Self-Tending at Home As a parent, one’s preliminary endeavours must be aimed at firstly safeguarding the kid from further self-harm. Assisting the child in lying down. Removing glasses or any kind of items that could prove unsafe from the surrounding area. One must never attempt at putting anything into the kid’s mouth, as when this is done, it could majorly prove injurious to both the kid and oneself too. Instantly checking for whether the child is displaying continual breathing. In case there is no breath detected in the child, then it is imperative to promptly contact 911 for getting urgent medical help. Subsequent to the seizure ending, the child needs to be placed on his/her one side and staying with the kid till completely conscious. Observing the kid for breathing pattern.  [...]

BHS (breath-holding spells) also called as Expiratory Apnea are episodes wherein the kid halts breath and becomes unconscious for short spans of time shortly ensuing a terrifying, emotionally distressing or an agonizing experience. BHS is known to affect five percent of children in good health. They generally start in the initial year of life, peaking by the age of 2, subsiding by 4 years of age in fifty percent infants and by 8years in 83% of infants. BHS could take one of the two below stated forms, namely: The cyanotic form of BHS: The most prevalent and initiated in subconscious manner by young kids mostly as a part of a temper tantrum or as a retort to being scolded or other disconcerting events. These episodes become quite recurrent at about two years of age and are uncommon among children  [...]