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Archive for December, 2010

DIAGNOSING ASTHMA IN CHILDREN – HISTORY

Posted by admin on Dec 25, 2010 under Asthma
WHEN A CHILD shows frequent symptoms of coughing and wheezing, parental anxiety is natural and understandable. These symptoms must be brought to the doctor’s attention. Almost every child with asthma needs medical attention at some time or the other, and in most cases the first correct diagnosis is made by the family doctor. Many a time, a child is brought to the doctor with the anxious parents announcing that the child has asthma. All doctors, however, examine the child before coming to any conclusion, or advising any treatment. It is possible that cough and wheeze may not be due to asthma. The doctor would also want to establish beyond any doubt that the child has asthma, and to find out its cause.
History
The doctor will probably start by reassuring the parents and making them feel relaxed. He will ask them to describe the symptoms they may have observed. It is important for the parents to understand that their discussion is at the heart of all investigation by the doctor.
It is also important for the doctor to obtain a clear and a detailed history of the child’s illness. This is a little complicated. The history has to be obtained second hand from the parents, usually the mother, rather than from the child. The way the parents recount is, more often than not, biased by what they believe to be the problem, or what they have heard, or been told.
Parents often feel that all they have to do is recount details of the child’s symptoms, but are surprised, and sometimes confused and frightened, when asked a whole lot of questions by the doctor. It is essential for the doctor to know as much about the child as is possible, including when the symptoms began, early development, and what makes the symptoms better or worse. Questions may also be asked about the child’s general health and previous illnesses, if any, and the emotional state. It is important for the doctor to find out about the frequency and severity of the symptoms the parents have observed, and whether these attacks interfere with the child’s everyday life. The doctor will want to know about the conditions and environment at home and at the school.
It is also necessary to ask if the parents have noticed any other signs of allergic reaction in the child — sneezing, sinus infections, allergic rhinitis, hay fever or eczema or any allergic reaction to foods or medicines.
The doctor would also like to know of factors such as weather, exercise or infection which seem to influence the child’s condition.
All these questions are designed to help the doctor gain a better understanding of the problem. The parents must appreciate that these are necessary, even if they are uncomfortable, or cause some embarrassment.
Family History. It is now accepted that asthma which begins in infancy or childhood is more likely to be inherited than asthma that begins late in life. Knowledge and history about the health of other family members is therefore an important aid in diagnosis. More often than not, some member of the child’s family—father, mother, brother, sister, or a grandparent or a maternal uncle or aunt, may have an allergic illness like asthma, rhinitis, eczema etc.
If one of or both the parents, or someone else in the immediate family and at home, is a smoker, the parents would need to be informed that cigarette smoke is harmful for the child, and likely to aggravate his condition.
*46\260\8*

DIAGNOSING ASTHMA IN CHILDREN – HISTORYWHEN A CHILD shows frequent symptoms of coughing and wheezing, parental anxiety is natural and understandable. These symptoms must be brought to the doctor’s attention. Almost every child with asthma needs medical attention at some time or the other, and in most cases the first correct diagnosis is made by the family doctor. Many a time, a child is brought to the doctor with the anxious parents announcing that the child has asthma. All doctors, however, examine the child before coming to any conclusion, or advising any treatment. It is possible that cough and wheeze may not be due to asthma. The doctor would also want to establish beyond any doubt that the child has asthma, and to find out its cause.HistoryThe doctor will probably start by reassuring the parents and making them feel relaxed. He will ask them to describe the symptoms they may have observed. It is important for the parents to understand that their discussion is at the heart of all investigation by the doctor.It is also important for the doctor to obtain a clear and a detailed history of the child’s illness. This is a little complicated. The history has to be obtained second hand from the parents, usually the mother, rather than from the child. The way the parents recount is, more often than not, biased by what they believe to be the problem, or what they have heard, or been told.Parents often feel that all they have to do is recount details of the child’s symptoms, but are surprised, and sometimes confused and frightened, when asked a whole lot of questions by the doctor. It is essential for the doctor to know as much about the child as is possible, including when the symptoms began, early development, and what makes the symptoms better or worse. Questions may also be asked about the child’s general health and previous illnesses, if any, and the emotional state. It is important for the doctor to find out about the frequency and severity of the symptoms the parents have observed, and whether these attacks interfere with the child’s everyday life. The doctor will want to know about the conditions and environment at home and at the school.It is also necessary to ask if the parents have noticed any other signs of allergic reaction in the child — sneezing, sinus infections, allergic rhinitis, hay fever or eczema or any allergic reaction to foods or medicines.The doctor would also like to know of factors such as weather, exercise or infection which seem to influence the child’s condition.All these questions are designed to help the doctor gain a better understanding of the problem. The parents must appreciate that these are necessary, even if they are uncomfortable, or cause some embarrassment. Family History. It is now accepted that asthma which begins in infancy or childhood is more likely to be inherited than asthma that begins late in life. Knowledge and history about the health of other family members is therefore an important aid in diagnosis. More often than not, some member of the child’s family—father, mother, brother, sister, or a grandparent or a maternal uncle or aunt, may have an allergic illness like asthma, rhinitis, eczema etc.If one of or both the parents, or someone else in the immediate family and at home, is a smoker, the parents would need to be informed that cigarette smoke is harmful for the child, and likely to aggravate his condition.*46\260\8*

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WOMEN AND AIDS: SOME SERIOUS FACTS

Posted by admin on Dec 18, 2010 under Women's Health
Now there is increasing realization that HIV is not an infection that certain groups get because of inherent group characteristics but rather an equal-opportunity pathogen that can attack anyone who engages in certain high-risk behaviors. If you engage in these high-risk behaviors, it doesn’t matter who you are, what your race or socioeconomic status group may be, or what your sexual orientation is.
With this realization, the focus has finally turned to the 51 percent of the population that was long ignored: women. These are a few of the facts that have emerged:
- From 1985 through 1997, the proportion of AIDS cases among American women increased from 7 percent to 22 percent. In 2000, over 43 percent of all AIDS cases in the United States were among women.
- In rural America, HIV/AIDS due to heterosexual sexual transmission is increasing faster than in any other part of the country. Women most at risk are ethnic minorities and the economically disadvantaged. Among sexually active heterosexual teenagers, college students, and health care workers, nearly 60 percent of HIV cases are women.
- Women in the age group of 13- to 24-year-olds accounted for 44 percent of new HIV cases in 1997.
- Most women with AIDS were infected through heterosexual exposure to HIV, followed by injection drug use (sharing needles).
- Women of color are disproportionately affected by HIV; African American and Hispanic women together account for 76 percent of AIDS cases among women in the United States, though comprising less than 25 percent of all U.S. women.
- Of all AIDS cases among women, 61 percent were reported from five states: New York (26 percent), Florida (13 percent), New Jersey (10 percent), California (7 percent), and Texas (5 percent).
- AIDS is the leading cause of death among African American women ages 25 to 44, and it is the fourth leading cause of death among all American women in this age group.
Compounding the problems of women with HIV are serious deficiencies in our health and social service systems, including inadequate treatment for women addicts and lack of access to child care, health care, and social services for families headed by single women. Women with HIV/AIDS are of special interest because they are the major source of infection in infants. Virtually all new HIV infections among children in the United States are attributable to perinatal transmission of HIV.
*44/277/5*

WOMEN AND AIDS: SOME SERIOUS FACTSNow there is increasing realization that HIV is not an infection that certain groups get because of inherent group characteristics but rather an equal-opportunity pathogen that can attack anyone who engages in certain high-risk behaviors. If you engage in these high-risk behaviors, it doesn’t matter who you are, what your race or socioeconomic status group may be, or what your sexual orientation is.With this realization, the focus has finally turned to the 51 percent of the population that was long ignored: women. These are a few of the facts that have emerged:- From 1985 through 1997, the proportion of AIDS cases among American women increased from 7 percent to 22 percent. In 2000, over 43 percent of all AIDS cases in the United States were among women.- In rural America, HIV/AIDS due to heterosexual sexual transmission is increasing faster than in any other part of the country. Women most at risk are ethnic minorities and the economically disadvantaged. Among sexually active heterosexual teenagers, college students, and health care workers, nearly 60 percent of HIV cases are women.- Women in the age group of 13- to 24-year-olds accounted for 44 percent of new HIV cases in 1997.- Most women with AIDS were infected through heterosexual exposure to HIV, followed by injection drug use (sharing needles).- Women of color are disproportionately affected by HIV; African American and Hispanic women together account for 76 percent of AIDS cases among women in the United States, though comprising less than 25 percent of all U.S. women.- Of all AIDS cases among women, 61 percent were reported from five states: New York (26 percent), Florida (13 percent), New Jersey (10 percent), California (7 percent), and Texas (5 percent).- AIDS is the leading cause of death among African American women ages 25 to 44, and it is the fourth leading cause of death among all American women in this age group.Compounding the problems of women with HIV are serious deficiencies in our health and social service systems, including inadequate treatment for women addicts and lack of access to child care, health care, and social services for families headed by single women. Women with HIV/AIDS are of special interest because they are the major source of infection in infants. Virtually all new HIV infections among children in the United States are attributable to perinatal transmission of HIV.*44/277/5*

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SKIN IN DISEASE

Posted by admin on Dec 11, 2010 under Skin Care
Whenever there is disease in the body the skin is affected in some ways. As it is an important elimination organ this is only to be expected, but the fact is often overlooked, especially in relation to effective treatment. More attention should be paid to the skin in this respect because it can be used as a useful diagnostic aid and also as an indication of the progress that is being made in the body’s return to health.
Apart from the actual local changes that may take place when there is a particular skin complaint, such as, for example, psoriasis, the unhealthy skin shows definite changes in its general texture. It may be too dry or too moist, and it will most certainly lack the normal elasticity. When it is picked up under the fingers and thumb it will feel lifeless and lack that responsiveness so characteristic of the healthy skin. There are many people whose skin may be in this condition, and although they may not suffer from any so far diagnosed disease, their general health will be very poor. If the skin were used to estimate the general condition it would be possible to institute effective treatment much earlier than is usually the case.
In some cases the sebaceous glands are either inactive or too active. In the latter case, the skin takes on an oily condition which is far from pleasant and which spoils the appearance of the skin. The same is true of the sweat glands, and here the perspiration may be offensive, especially in certain parts of the body. The feet may often be affected in this way, and too many people think that such a condition can be rectified by the application of some deodorant. This is not so, because the excessive perspiration and its offensiveness are related to some inward disturbance of the system. The nerve endings in the skin may be irritated by the localized condition and set up itching of varying degree. Here again, one should not think that the suppression of the irritation is the proper way out of the difficulty. Whilst local relief may be given, the cause of the irritation must be found and removed if the case is to be satisfactorily handled. So many of these local troubles are the outcome of some disorder within the system that it is usually very dangerous to use suppressive treatment and thus merely put off the day of reckoning.
When the skin is sallow, and showing other forms of discoloration, there is no point in trying to hide the condition by the use of various cosmetic aids, because it is only the outward and visible sign of a toxic system. Nature is trying to store in the least dangerous places the effete matter the disease is developing within the body. The person who suffers from chronic dyspepsia often shows it in the colour of the skin, which is sallow and dry, and the sufferer from sluggishness of the bowels is never without signs of it within the various tissues of the skin.
*18/154/5*

SKIN IN DISEASE
Whenever there is disease in the body the skin is affected in some ways. As it is an important elimination organ this is only to be expected, but the fact is often overlooked, especially in relation to effective treatment. More attention should be paid to the skin in this respect because it can be used as a useful diagnostic aid and also as an indication of the progress that is being made in the body’s return to health. Apart from the actual local changes that may take place when there is a particular skin complaint, such as, for example, psoriasis, the unhealthy skin shows definite changes in its general texture. It may be too dry or too moist, and it will most certainly lack the normal elasticity. When it is picked up under the fingers and thumb it will feel lifeless and lack that responsiveness so characteristic of the healthy skin. There are many people whose skin may be in this condition, and although they may not suffer from any so far diagnosed disease, their general health will be very poor. If the skin were used to estimate the general condition it would be possible to institute effective treatment much earlier than is usually the case.In some cases the sebaceous glands are either inactive or too active. In the latter case, the skin takes on an oily condition which is far from pleasant and which spoils the appearance of the skin. The same is true of the sweat glands, and here the perspiration may be offensive, especially in certain parts of the body. The feet may often be affected in this way, and too many people think that such a condition can be rectified by the application of some deodorant. This is not so, because the excessive perspiration and its offensiveness are related to some inward disturbance of the system. The nerve endings in the skin may be irritated by the localized condition and set up itching of varying degree. Here again, one should not think that the suppression of the irritation is the proper way out of the difficulty. Whilst local relief may be given, the cause of the irritation must be found and removed if the case is to be satisfactorily handled. So many of these local troubles are the outcome of some disorder within the system that it is usually very dangerous to use suppressive treatment and thus merely put off the day of reckoning.When the skin is sallow, and showing other forms of discoloration, there is no point in trying to hide the condition by the use of various cosmetic aids, because it is only the outward and visible sign of a toxic system. Nature is trying to store in the least dangerous places the effete matter the disease is developing within the body. The person who suffers from chronic dyspepsia often shows it in the colour of the skin, which is sallow and dry, and the sufferer from sluggishness of the bowels is never without signs of it within the various tissues of the skin.
*18/154/5*

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