Sleep walking is very common in children though it occurs only occasionally and children grow out of it as they grow older. It is also called somnambulism. The behaviour exhibited by a child said to be sleep walking covers a wide range. A child may sit up while asleep and then lie down. This is…
Near the nasal passage are air filled pockets called sinuses. These are four sets of spaces in the cheek bone, forehead, at the back of nasal passage and deep inside the brain. Just like the nasal passage, sinuses are lined with mucous membrane. When the sinuses near the nose get infected, the resultant problem is…
The level of learning and the speed of learning process differ from a person to person. Even some adults are able to pick up things faster as compared to other adults of the same age and understanding. A child may have a problem with his handwriting which could be due to difficulty to learn the…
Concussion, or in simple terms temporary loss of brain function, can result from head injury which is generally not accompanied with loss of consciousness. This is a mild traumatic brain injury. We hear about concussion in athletes and players caused due to injury to head while playing or cycling or due to fall. In case…
Scarlet fever is caused by an extoxin bacterium. Being caused by bacterial infection, antibiotics are quite effective for its treatment. When antibiotics were not developed this used to be a major cause of death worldwide. The signs and symptoms of scarlet fever are: Sore throat. Fever The tongue of the patient turns bright red and…
Rubella is another form of viral infection also called German measles or 3 day measles. The term German has no connection with the country but may have come from French term ‘germain’ meaning similar. When a child contracts rubella he has mild fever between 99 to 100°F which lasts for about two days. Glands on…
RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a viral organism that causes infection in both upper and lower respiratory track. This virus is the most common cause of development of pneumonia and bronchitis in children up to the age of 1. The chances of a child developing RSV and consequently hospitalisation are much more as compared…
Rotavirus infection is a very common infection in children and is a cause of severe diarrhea. Throughout the world, about 6, 00,000 children die each year due to this infection. The name is derived from the appearance of the virus when examined under a microscope. This virus has a wheel like appearance and as such…
Positional plagiocephaly means or describes a flattened or misshaped head. This may be caused due to crowding in the womb if the foetus does not get sufficient space to position itself. This may also be caused by making the child lie in one position for long hours. Some mothers make the child lie straight for…
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS does not indicate a serious health problem but it does cause discomfort and embarrassment. In consultation with doctors IBS can be managed by making changes in diet and life style, and some symptomatic medication. Symptoms of IBS IBS is an intestinal disorder and the symptoms are diarrhoea or constipation, gas…