Surgery Notes

Archive for the ‘Childhood Illnesses’ Category

Malnutrition
Children who do not receive adequate nutrients may present with malnutrition. When the amount of food (and energy) required for the development of children is inadequate, there may be underweight (thin children). However, even when weight is normal, a child may be malnourished. Malnourished children may have abnormal pigmentation of hair, skin disorders and are more often victims of infectious diseases. They do not have adequate defenses and develop physically and intellectually to the fullest.

Also, if there is a specific deficiency of some element, such as iron, anemia can occur whose consequences include poor school performance, decreased concentration, decreased growth and lack of intellectual skills.

Anemia is common especially in younger children who still do not get (for lack of appetite usually) solid iron-rich foods like red meat and organ meats. Anemia can also occur because the iron in food is of poor quality and not absorbed, especially when the consumption of vitamin C (which helps absorb the iron) is low. Later you will see the importance of iron to prevent anemia.

Also, malnutrition disorders include excessive consumption of certain food groups that bring harmful consequences for the child. Refined sugars (found in soft drinks, soda, candy etc..) Predisposed, egg cavities appear.

Excess calories can lead to childhood obesity, a disease that also produce psychological distress to the child, more easily leads to obesity in adulthood and a predisposition to certain diseases prevalent in developed countries. Excessive intake of calories and fat can lead to abnormal increase in blood fats like cholesterol and triglycerides.

Anemia. Decreased iron stores
Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin (the pigment that gives color to red blood cells) whose duties include carrying oxygen to the tissues and collect the CO2 produced by them. The iron and hemoglobin, are therefore fundamental in the formation and renewal of the blood. Children have higher iron requirements because they have a fast metabolism, are growing and their bodies are in the process of maturation. Besides physical activity requires an adequate oxygenation of all tissues.

Foods rich in iron include red meat and all the viscera of animals. Other plant foods may have iron but this is not absorbed well. If power is combined with adequate amounts of vitamin C, iron is absorbed better.

Does the child may have psychosomatic illnesses with symptoms of organic disease?

Indeed, this is possible. In certain situations such as entry into kindergarten, moving, death of a loved one, separation or divorce of parents and other manifestations may appear in the body such as diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, headaches too, eczema, allergic-type conditions in the skin, asthma.

Characteristics of these children
Generally these children express themselves through the emotional body can not channel or show otherwise.

Environmental stresses and download them in your own body.
Children in general are well adjusted at home and at school.
No drawbacks of conduct, the problems are expressed through a physical symptom.
How to differentiate psychosomatic disorders of non-psychosomatic? Read the rest of this entry »

We now know without doubt that the early years are vital to the future life, because they are built the foundations of identity, a safe emotional base or not. And we know that the birth of a child is a critical time in the lives of men and women to become fathers and mothers, possibilities and limitations are discovered so far unaware of themselves. It is important that new parents are informed of the evolutionary process of a child to understand their behavior and set good communication.

Through the development of this work, we come to know about those diseases that can be diagnosed children at some stage of their growth, thus evaluating what the best steps to take and what measures should be taken into account in exercising an appropriate action for each of these diseases .

We will see diseases that range from a simple cold to diseases infectious to explain what the disease , why it occurs, what are the main symptoms to we must take into account, how to make a definite diagnosis, how it can be prevented and how to deal with. The diversity of diseases to be discussed below, are those most common in children, those who can take us by surprise, not knowing even there, and others that are common and easy to detect. It is important to manage all this information.

They are arranged in alphabetical order, so that in this way to facilitate finding a disease specific when necessary. Also included is the Calendar National Immunization force in our country and a practical and brief information box about the diseases preventable by childhood vaccinations. In our role as effectors of Childhood Diseasesis essential to have knowledge and accurate information to power. ..

Chickenpox
Symptoms: red spots or blisters spread all over the body and cause itching. Foot and moderate in the child.
Treatment: treatment with calamine lotion to relieve itching. Drug antivirals in severe cases.
Incubation period: 10 to 20 days between exposure to infection and the onset of symptoms.
Period of contagion: the chicken pox is contagious before the onset of disease and may be until the last spots have disappeared and the scabs have fallen off. The child should stay in bed until they fall off the scabs and blisters will not ooze.

Pertussis
Symptoms: Access prolonged cough followed by shortness of breath and possible vomiting. Symptoms are often worse at night.
Treatment: Fresh air is important. Due to the risk of vomiting, it is preferable that the child does many snacks rather than short and heavy.
Incubation period: 10 to 14 days between infection and the onset of symptoms.
Period of transmission: The whooping cough is especially contagious during the first week, when the child still has symptoms of a cold. However, the possibility of infection persists, although to a lesser extent, over the five or seven weeks. It is important to keep the child away from other children, especially children under one year.

Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum)
Symptoms: Your child has red spots on the cheeks, nose, arms, legs and buttocks. Often blurred by the face, it seems that the child had been slapped. For this reason, it is known as fifth disease syndrome face slapped. It can last up to 14 days and rarely causes fever. It usually occurs in children between 4 and 12 years. Read the rest of this entry »

In the period of infancy is characteristic that the child from various diseases because it is a developmental period where all your body is trying to develop. Later, we will present you the most common diseases of childhood to alert you if you have small children, and you can meet.

It is always important that parents are well aware of the symptoms the child has to transmit the pediatrician so he can diagnose the problem. The children are very exposed to the following conditions:

Cold. In the first years of life is very common disease. It is recommended that a doctor who treats you. Usually resolves with antibiotics.

Constipation. When we begin to incorporate solid foods to the diet drink is when it starts this problem of constipation.

Diarrhea. It is more common in children than in adults. It is recommended to drink plenty of water because too much is lost in this period, and reduce the amount of sugar you eat.

Ear infection. It is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the ear canal or due to colds.

Fever. It usually is a symptom of something not right or some disease that is incubating.

Allergy to foods, due to the direct ingestion of food or during breast-feeding for some food that the mother has eaten.

Vomiting. Many times, after being fed baby has a reflux of food than to remove and sometimes vomiting, are caused by viruses.

Background
Every day millions of parents turn to hospitals, health centers, pharmacists, doctors and healers who apply traditional practices for health care for their sick children. Studies indicate that in many cases, these health care providers do not assess or adequately treat children, and parents do not receive appropriate advice. In the first-level health services in low income, diagnostic support services such as radiology and laboratory services is often little or no shortage of medicines and equipment. The limitation of supplies and equipment, along with the irregular rhythm of the patient flow, reduce the chances that the doctors in this level of care to implement complex clinical procedures. On the contrary, to determine a treatment to the maximum of available resources are often based on medical history and examination semiological.

Due to these factors, the provision of quality care to sick children is a major challenge. To address this, WHO and UNICEF have developed a strategy called Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI).

What is IMCI?
IMCI is an integrated approach to child health that focuses on the general welfare of the child. Its purpose is to reduce mortality, morbidity and disability in children under five years, as well as promote better growth and development. The strategy includes preventive and curative components for use by both families and communities as health services. Read the rest of this entry »

Specialist Hospital Korea-Mexico Friendship submitted to the Ministry of Health of Yucatán (SSY) Screening Program for Retinopathy in premature infants, to prevent blindness in children Yucatan.
The researcher, Dr. Lourdes Cauich Aragon said that for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a cause of disability, but preventable, so it is necessary to provide screening in premature babies.
At present the program “Retinopathy of Prematurity in Yucatan”, he clarified that it is a condition that occurs in newborns with risk factors who suffer from total blindness.
This type of blindness is derived from the retinal vascular immaturity in newborns exposed to factors such as exposure to oxygen, infection, transfusion, etc.
Thus, in the retina is abnormal regulation in the production of vascular endothelial growth factor vascular, so it alters the development of vascularization, and when a child loses insufficient sight.
Dr. Ermilo Sanchez Bueno said that the diagnosis be established early, when the patient attends the fourth or fifth week of life, ie, between weeks 35 and 40 of gestation corrected.
He explained that a specialist assesses the fundus by indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy using a pediatric speculum, with 20-diopter lens and scleral an identity.
The ROP is classified by grades and areas. Those who reach grade III or more require treatment by cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation.
The Grade IV may warrant surgical intervention, but when it is higher and retinal detachment, to date there is no treatment and are therefore totally blind.
Objectives and projects. Elizabeth Copas Silva, director of the hospital of La Amistad Korea-Mexico, reported that investigated the number of children with total blindness in Merida and found that the Multi Care Center “Luis Braille” there are 22 children with a history of prematurity, and of which 10 have between one and two years of age.
With the opening of the Neonatal Unit at the hospital in 2005 was established ophthalmic assessment and management of risk premature opening its doors also to the assessment and treatment of premature external ie other neonatal units.
He explained that in the span of the years 2005-2006 were seen by the ophthalmology, neonatology Friendship Hospital, 26 infants were diagnosed with some degree of ROP in 40% of them meriting cryotherapy 10% (three patients ) laser and 20% (five patients). Being totally blind patient. In 2007 we evaluated 14 preterm and in 2008 until September to 44 infants, with a total of 58 patients evaluated of which 55% (32 patients) had some degree of ROP. Deserved treatment of laser photocoagulation and of these 12 patients, 10 (83%) had remission of ROP, one of them warranted additional surgery. Were detected three patients with total blindness without treatment option, as they reached old age valuation grade V disease.