Child Wellness Category
Chicken Pox Symptoms
Varicella is one of the most common contagious diseases in children. It is caused by the virus varicella-zoster.
The symptoms of varicella include: fever, weakness, and after a few days-rash.
Fever- to Treat or not to Treat?
In general, fever is a normal, healthy response of the immune system to an infection in the body. The height of the fever itself is no indicator of the severity of the infection and fever itself is an important part of the body’s fight against the infection. It is important to note that fever itself, less than 41.7 degrees is not dangerous and does not cause any brain damage or other problems whatsoever. Because fever is an indicator of infection, it is important for the doctor to figure out what is the CAUSE of the fever and what is the severity of the infection, but again fever is a symptom of a infection and not a problem in and of itself.
PANDAS- Can Strep Cause Psychiatric Problems in Children?
In 1998 Dr. S. Swedo from the National Institute of Mental Health described another pediatric problem caused by step-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She described a group of patients who developed the psychiatric symptoms during or after a Strep infection. These children were all pre-pubertal and did not respond to the usual psychiatric medications. They all had extremely elevated levels of the anti-Strep antibody DNASE B. Some of them improved dramatically after treatment with antibiotics.
Understanding Antibiotics – Then and Now
Although antibiotics have been used for over 50 years, we are now just beginning to understand the impact of their use. Since everyone is affected by antibiotics, it is important that we all understand them.
Ear Problems 101- Infants and Children
During infancy and childhood, many problems can arise with the ears. Some, like ear tags and malformed outer ears, are purely cosmetic. Some are painful but usually not serious, like swimmer’s ear or otitis media. Some are painless but very serious, like congenital deafness. The following is an overview of the problems that can arise in children’s ears.
Prevent Accidents- Childproof your Home!
It is well known that more children die as a result of accidental injury than from all illnesses combined. Thirty years ago The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Safety Council proposed the concept of Childproofing to teach parents how to avoid injury around the house.. Most people know that they must try to make the environment in their home safe for their children. Electrical outlet covers and kinderlocks on cabinets have become standard in most households. There are, however, many more basic aspects of home safety that must be considered to effectively child proof a home. Here is a simple checklist.
Allergies 101
Allergic reactions in children can be manifested in many different ways. In their mildest form, they can cause a runny nose or a dry itchy patch on the skin. In their most severe form, they can cause catastrophic swelling of the airways and/or shock, which can be fatal. Here is an overview of childhood allergies.