General health

CHILD’S HEALTH/SKIN DISORDERS: IMPETIGO (SCHOOL SORES) TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Treatment

The mainstay of treatment is a course of antibiotics. Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic ointment to be used 2-3 times a day. In between applications of the ointment, wash the skin gently with soap or an antibacterial solution, and pat dry.

• if the sore is surrounded by an area of red skin;

• if [...]

BABY FEEDING: COMPOSITION OF BREASTMILK

During pregnancy the milk ducts in the breast develop under the influence of hormones and breastmilk is produced and stored. This first breastmilk is called colostrum, a yellow, sticky fluid with high nutritional value. It provides special immunity which protects your baby against infection. During the first 24-48 hours after birth, colostrum is the only [...]

YOUR MARITAL HEALTH/GETTING FIXED UP SEXUALLY: PLAY FOR YOUR MARRIAGE

“I want you to learn to juggle together, to jump rope together, to play jacks, do puzzles, play board games, and generally get back to being playmates,” I said to one of the couples who seldom smiled.

“Do you mean go to Toys ß Us and get games? We don’t have to. Our kids [...]

THE SEX PHASES OF COURTSHIP / ACCEPTIVE PHASE: THE SETTLEMENT

He really used to come to see my parents more than me. In fact, I think they came to like him more than I did. He would just sort of show up. No more official dates or invitations. The quality of our outings went down severely. We started to save money. He didn’t pay for [...]

SHINGLES – GENERAL INFORMATION

Should the ophthalmic branch of the fifth cranial or trigeminal nerve be involved, this can effect the eye. Blisters may form on the cornea, the clear window over the eye, and lead to ulcers and scarring. The inflammation may lead to loss of sensation on the cornea, predisposing it to injury. To protect the cornea [...]

DIABETES – CONCLUSION

Several types of insulin are available which act for different lengths of time. Short acting forms last about six hours; intermediate forms about 12 and long acting about 24 hours. These may be combined in injections which are given once or twice daily.

The amount of carbohydrate eaten should be regulated. Those who are overweight need [...]

IMMUNISATION – INTRODUCTION

The common infectious diseases of childhood are not now as frightening as they were to former generations.

This is because of immunisation and antibiotics.

Better nutrition has also contributed and those who are initially healthier have an advantage in fighting off infection.

But, because these illnesses are no longer common, we have become complacent and, unfortunately, some have [...]

VITAMIN D EXCESS

Softening of children’s bones with permanent bowing of the legs, (“bandy legs”), medically known as rickets, was fairly common before World War II. With the discovery that rickets is caused by vitamin D deficiency, bandy legs have become rare.

Now, with rickets a thing of the past, physicians are beginning to see an illness due to [...]

STREP THROAT IN CHILDREN

Signs and symptoms

The onset of strep throat is sudden. It begins with a headache, fever up to 40°C, sore and red throat, vomiting, abdominal pain, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. If the infecting organism is rash-producing and the child is not immune, he or she will develop a rash within 24 to 72 [...]

PREVENTION AND HEALTH: STRESS

Let’s look here at some everyday things that anyone can do to de-stress themselves. Some are preventive, in that they mean that the stress will not continue to plague the individual, and others are more curative.

•     Have a good cry. According to one research biochemist crying at times of stress helps [...]