Oral thrush, a type of Candida, or yeast, infection, commonly occurs in infants under the age of 6 months. It can occur in toddlers, older children and adults as well. The infection happens when the yeast that is usually present in the mouth becomes overgrown. Oral thrush is usually treated very easily and most toddlers will recover quickly.
Last year, with all the hype surrounding the H1N1 (swine flu), patients came in droves to get their flu shots. My practice, as well as many across the country, ran out of vaccine and had difficulty getting more vaccine. This year is a different story. Without much media attention, and an overall mild flu season so far, my practice has not immunized even half the number of patients that it did last year.
Each winter the flu makes its way to America and wreaks havoc on hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting residents. Children are an at-risk groups for flu complications, according to the Center for Disease Control, and those with health issues such as asthma and diabetes are at an even greater risk for flu-related problems. Once a child comes down with the flu, the duration of the illness depends on several factors.
You may associate heart conditions such as heart attack or coronary artery disease with adults, not teenagers. Teenagers can have heart conditions too, although they are usually not the same conditions that plaque adults. Some conditions are the result of birth defects, while others result from insufficient medical care or an unhealthy lifestyle.
Judging from its small size, the thyroid gland may not look important. The opposite is true, however. The gland produces hormones that the body needs for proper organ function, proper growth and proper energy use. In some cases, the thyroid can produce too much hormone, which can make a teenager feel overly energized and restless or it cannot produce enough hormone, which can lead to sluggishness.
Middle ear infections are common in children, especially in toddlers between the ages of six months and two years. Environmental factors and lifestyle factors can increase your child's risk of developing middle ear infections. While antibiotics can help clear up many infections, recurrent middle ear infections in your toddler may require the use of ear tubes.
The appearance of toddler stools change in consistency due to diet and overall health. Loose stools don't always constitute toddler diarrhea, which is also known as chronic nonspecific diarrhea. Childhood diarrhea is watery and usually causes your toddler to have bowel movements more frequently than normal. Diarrhea is often treated at home, but some cases of toddler diarrhea warrant a trip to the doctor.
Exercise is not only healthy for adults, it's just as essential for kids, too. Regular exercise also helps children to feel good about themselves and increases their self-esteem. Although a lot of kids get their exercise by playing team sports, if your child doesn't play sports, she can get exercise on her own in several enjoyable ways.
Children can contract shingles, a red, blistery rash that appears along nerve pathways, if they have already had the chickenpox. Following a bout with chickenpox, the disease will lie dormant in the body. In some cases it reappears years later as a case of shingles. Shingles in a child is generally less painful than shingles in an adult. Knowing what to look for and when to call the doctor will help your child be more comfortable if he gets a case of shingles.
To many families, the holiday season is not complete without a decorated tree twinkling in the window. Each year, U.S. tree farmers sell an estimated 25 to 30 million pine and fir trees, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. For people with Christmas tree allergies, this abundance of pine and fir needles can make allergy symptoms difficult to control during holiday festivities.
