Reactive Attachment Disorder ... : In Depth - Children and ...
Print
Email
SaveHealthline's Premium Tools
Healthline Part D Plan Selector
Medicare's drug plans are subsidized by the US federal government and offered through insurers.
Advertisement
Marketplace
Licensed from
Goodies
|
Find out what you know about doctor-patient communication.
|
|
 |
How often should your child see the doctor? Not just when he or she is sick! The doctor will set up a regular checkup schedule that includes a physical exam and an assessment of your child's social, psychological, and nutritional development.
|
|
Your child should see a dentist six months after eruption of the first tooth, experts say. The dentist can provide or recommend preventative information regarding baby bottle tooth decay, infant feeding practices, mouth cleaning, teething, pacifier habits and finger-sucking habits.
|
 |
An emergency means you could die if you don't get care quickly. Or you could be hurt permanently. Read below to know when to use, and when not to use, an emergency room.
|
|
You or a loved one may have had an accident or serious illness. If so, you are likely to be worried and afraid. Knowing more about the emergency room (also called the emergency department) can help you feel less anxious.
|
|
If having surgery makes you nervous, imagine how it can seem for a child. By helping the youngster anticipate and face those fears, you can ease the trauma and smooth the way for a quicker, easier recovery.
|
 |
The intensive care unit (ICU) is also sometimes called the critical care unit. Here patients receive constant care and close monitoring. Some hospitals may have more than one type of ICU. These may include a medical, surgical, cardiac, neurological, or pediatric ICU.
|
|
The ICU is a busy place. There may be other patients with monitors in the same unit. Be prepared to see lots of wires, tubes, and equipment. Your loved one may be asleep or unconscious.
|
|
A medical error can occur when something that was planned for medical care doesn't work, or when the wrong plan was used in the first place.
|
Goodies
|
Test your knowledge of vaccinations against a variety of diseases
that can affect your child. This quiz is based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
|
|
|
You can do a lot to keep yourself healthy. Avoiding germs, eating a balanced diet, getting enough rest -- all these steps and more can put you on the road to good health. How much do you know about preventing disease? Take this quiz and find out.
|
|
|
If you are the parent of a young child, you may be confused about the safety of immunizations.
|
|
By teaching your kids to follow a healthy lifestyle, you can help reduce their risk for heart disease later in life.
Although children and teens usually don't show the symptoms of heart disease, the silent buildup of plaque (fatty deposits) can start in childhood and can have a serious impact on their adult life.
|
|
Baby fat is something children are supposed to outgrow, not grow in to. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), one in five children in the United States is overweight or obese.
|
|
Until recently, type 2 diabetes was also known as adult-onset diabetes. Now, the adult-onset prefix has been dropped because so many children are developing the condition.
|
|
Secondhand smoke threatens everyone who inhales it, especially kids. Secondhand smoke is not only smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar, but also smoke exhaled by smokers.
|
|
High blood pressure has joined type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol on a list of ailments that once struck only adults but now afflict children.
|
|
A vaccine can protect babies from rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants.
|
Goodies
|
Test your knowledge of fevers and how to treat them.
|
|
|
Test your knowledge of tonsils and adenoids by taking this quiz, based on information from the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).
|
|
|
You should always call a doctor if you have any doubts or questions about how to take care of your sick child at home.
|
|
Knowing when to call the doctor and when to home-treat a sick child is a common parental concern. Though you can home-treat many childhood illnesses, such as colds and stomachaches, having guidelines to tell you when symptoms are serious enough to warrant medical attention is important.
|
|
School avoidance syndrome, as described by doctors, is the most common cause of vague, unverifiable symptoms in school-age children and is triggered by stress, says a clinical professor of pediatrics.
|
|
You want to help a child with cold symptoms feel better, but choosing among countless over-the-counter (OTC) cold medicines can be daunting. Here are some guidelines that can help.
|
|
Most medical professionals agree a fever by itself is not an illness; it is a symptom of an underlying problem. Fevers actually can be a positive sign the body is fighting an infection. However, a fever can cause discomfort for a child.
|
|
While it doesn't take long -- about 20 to 30 minutes -- for an ear, nose and throat specialist to remove a child's tonsils, a tonsillectomy should be recommended only after careful consideration.
|
|
Before your child undergoes any medical treatment, it is critical for you to have a full understanding of the diagnosis, procedure and options available. This will help you manage the fears and anxieties your child may feel.
|
|
Problem-solving techniques can help you manage if your child has asthma, diabetes, autism, or some other serious health or behavior problem.
|
|
If your child often has a sore throat, you may wonder whether he or she has tonsillitis, or inflamed tonsils.
|
Goodies
|
Every year, thousands of people experience interactions between prescribed drugs and over-the-counter drugs, or between drugs and herbal products. Other unexpected interactions can occur between drugs and certain foods or health conditions. Assessing how much you know about these potential interactions and learning what you can do to prevent them can help keep you safe. Take this quiz, based on information from the American Pharmacists Association's publication "Pocket Guide to Evaluations of Drug Interactions" and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
|
|
|
There are some simple rules for using over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for children. The first and most important: NEVER give any OTC medicine to children 2 years and under without a doctor's advice, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.
|
|
Antibiotics are not necessary for the majority of infections seen in the pediatrician's office.
|
|
Firms are advertising herbs and supplements as remedies for everything from colds and asthma to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but dietary supplements and herbal mixtures aimed at children may be a waste of money -- and a threat to their health.
|
|
OTC drugs have information on the bottle or box. Always read this information before using the medicine.
|
 |
Abdominal pain is very common in children, and in many cases there's no serious cause. But stomach pain can sometimes point to a serious problem, such as appendicitis, so it is important to know when to seek help.
|
 |
In most cases of amblyopia, the brain ignores signals coming from one eye. Over time, the brain gets used to working only with the other eye. So amblyopia must be treated as soon as possible.
|
|
Appendicitis, an infection of the appendix, is the most common reason for a child to need emergency abdominal surgery.
|
|
A child's bones heal the same way as an adult's. But since a child's bones are still growing, there are a few special concerns.
|
|
Bulimia nervosa is a disorder in which food intake gets out of control. Having this eating disorder is nothing to be ashamed of. Talk to your doctor or another person you trust. You may find it's a relief just to tell someone.
|
|
Cellulitis is an infection of the deep layers of skin. Cellulitis can get into the bloodstream and lymph nodes and spread throughout the body, causing very serious illness. It is important for a child with cellulitis to get medical attention right away.
|
|
One minute you and your child are laughing at the dinner table. The next minute the child is choking. Here's what you should do.
|
 |
This is an extreme medical emergency. Knowing what to do can help save your baby's life.
|
|
Conduct disorder is one of the most common emotional disorders in teens. It affects twice as many boys as girls. Behavior therapy can greatly help children with conduct disorder.
|
 |
Dehydration happens very quickly in the bodies of infants and small children, who don't have as much fluid to spare. It can quickly become very serious. Rehydration is the crucial process of returning those fluids back to the body to restore normal functioning.
|
|
Depression is more than just feeling sad. In depression, sadness persists, with feelings so intense that they interfere with the child's life.
|
|
A growing number are children, usually girls, aren't overweight but believe they are. Magazines and TV shows that worship ultra-thin models and pop stars fuel the trend.
|
|
A scaly, red, itchy, dry rash can show up in the first weeks of life. It signals a vexing but treatable skin problem called atopic dermatitis (AD), often known as eczema. Most children outgrow AD, but in some cases, it may recur in the teenage years or in adulthood.
|
|
"Asthma is a disease with many triggers, including allergens and viral infections," says a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics. "But for a small set of patients, exercise is the sole trigger."
|
 |
Your child is nearsighted if far away objects look blurry. Your child is farsighted if close-up objects look blurry. Other common eye problems: wandering eye, injuries and infections.
|
 |
A fever is a way for the body to fight infection. But it may also be a sign of a serious illness, especially in children younger than 3 months and children who haven't been immunized. Know when to seek medical care for your child.
|
|
GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease ("acid indigestion" or "heartburn"). It happens when stomach contents flow back up (reflux) into the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach).
|
|
Most headaches in kids are caused by tension, not disease. Your pediatrician can determine what kind of headache your child has.
|
 |
If your child's legs aren't completely straight, he or she may have bowlegs or knock knees. They are common in young children, but usually decrease as the child grows.
|
 |
There's no substitute for good old-fashioned loving care. Beyond that, if a child hasn't had a fever for the past 24 hours and feels okay, he or she can return to regular activities. The following suggestions should help your child get back up to speed soon.
|
 |
Fevers are only a symptom of something else happening in the body. Your child can have a fever and not look or feel hot. So always take your child's temperature for at least 1 minute before deciding how serious a fever is.
|
 |
Although some children develop arches as their "baby fat” disappears, some children don't. If not, it's still considered normal, and usually not a cause for concern.
|
 |
Is your child overly restless or cranky—maybe tugging on an ear or talking about his or her ears "making noises”? If so, your child may have a middle ear infection.
|
 |
Oral thrush is a yeast infection that affects the mouth. Babies with thrush are often fussy and may have trouble feeding. Thrush is seldom serious in healthy children and adults.
|
 |
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a painful knee problem that can occur in active young people. It almost always gets better with rest and simple treatment.
|
 |
Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) is a highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract. It spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Because pertussis can be very serious, it's important to know when to seek medical care.
|
 |
Pneumonia is a term that means lung infection. Though most children are able to get better at home with treatment from their doctor, pneumonia can be very serious and can require hospitalization.
|
|
For some children, the pain of certain events may be too much to bear. As a result, they may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fortunately, there is hope for children who suffer trauma.
|
|
R.I.C.E. stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Doing these things helps limit pain and swelling after an injury.
|
 |
Soft tissue may become trapped between the bones in a child's elbow joint (radial head subluxation). It usually occurs when a child is lifted or pulled by one arm.
|
|
Rotavirus is a germ that infects the small intestines. It is very common in the winter months, and is the leading cause of diarrhea in children.
|
 |
Scoliosis is a problem that makes the spine curve and twist from side to side. It is most often found in girls in their early teens. But boys can have it, too.
|
 |
Your doctor will suggest the best treatment for you based on your age, how much more you are likely to grow, and the size and type of your spinal curve.
|
|
Children with epilepsy may have seizures only once in a while, or every day. Though seizures can be scary for parents and caregivers, they aren't painful and are usually brief.
|
|
Children's eyes change rapidly, and problems can occur at any age. It's important to observe your child's eyes and to pay attention to how your child acts and what he or she says.
|
 |
Strabismus and amblyopia are two common vision problems in children. Your child won't outgrow strabismus or amblyopia, but both can be treated.
|
 |
When your child has strabismus, the eyes aren`t aligned. If strabismus isn`t treated, the brain may start ignoring the eye that`s not aligned. This can lead to another vision problem, amblyopia.
|
 |
Strep throat is an infection caused by bacteria. It mainly affects children between 6 and 12 years of age, but can affect adults too.
|
|
A foreign object may become stuck in the esophagus (food tube) or trachea (windpipe). In that case, your child needs prompt medical care.
|
 |
Your acne treatment will work best if you follow your treatment plan. Acne often takes months to improve, so you will need to be patient.
|
 |
Acne is a skin condition that causes blemishes on the face, back, chest, or upper arms. In time, your acne may go away by itself. But treatment can help to control your acne now.
|
|
Type 1 diabetes can be controlled by taking insulin, eating a proper diet, and being active. These help your child's body keep healthy blood sugar levels.
|
 |
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) condition. The good news is that diabetes can be managed. Your child's healthcare team is there to help.
|
 |
During the development of a fetus, the testicles (male sex organs) form near the kidneys. Normally, they're in the scrotum before the baby is born. An undescended testicle doesn't fully descend into the scrotum.
|
 |
Viral gastroenteritis is an irritation of the stomach and intestines due to infection with a virus. A child with gastroenteritis may have trouble keeping fluids down, and is at risk for dehydration and should be watched closely.
|
 |
Most cases of viral meningitis occur in children under 5 years of age. Viral meningitis is usually mild and often goes away without treatment. It is much less serious than bacterial meningitis.
|
 |
Viral respiratory illnesses include colds and flu. Treatment: relieve your child's symptoms and ensure the infection does not get worse. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses.
|
|
Your baby has been checked for jaundice each day while in the hospital. If you think your baby is yellow after you are home, you can check for jaundice yourself. Press the skin on the chest to see if it looks yellow when released. Darker skin babies can be checked by looking at the gums or whites of the eyes.
|
 |
 |
Home | About | Health Experts | Careers | Site Map | Feedback | Help | Health Tools | Tell a Friend
Advertise | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Advertise | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2005 - 2008 Healthline Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.