Flu Symptoms
Those infected often have severe congestion with headache, high fever, body aches, and decreased energy and appetite. Some times you may also expierance stomach upset or vomiting.In rarer cases you may have red itchy eyes with or without a discharge or a possible ear infection. These symptoms can lead to dehydration and in severe cases lead to respiratory distress that can require breathing treatments and or hospitalization.

To try and avoid getting the flu, you should follow strict guidelines for hand washing. Avoid situations for high risk exposure and protect yourself with an influenza vaccine every year. The flu shot is highly recommended by medical organizations for those in “high risks” populations. The most at risk for complications are the very old, very young, and those with chronic medical problems. Many physicians’ offices can perform a test to verify an infection with Influenza A or B. It is recommended that the above fore mentioned and all children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years of age receive the flu shot. If the first dose is given under 9 years of age, a booster is recommended at least 4 weeks later. A flu vaccine should be given in October or early November, if possible, to receive the most reliable protection for the coming flu season. The immune protection peaks about 6 weeks after the shot is received and gradually wanes after that. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot. The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine,so it does not contain live viral particles. Be sure to mention to your doctor if you have an allergy to latex or a food allergy to eggs.

There is a “Nose Spray ” version of the flu vaccine. It is called FLUMIST. It is a live attenuated, cold adapted vaccine against influenza A an B. That means that it is active against influenza in the mucus membranes, where primary exposure occurs. When the vaccine encounters the warmth of the body, it is deactivated;therefore a few systemic side effects are observed from this method of vaccination. It is a safe and highly effective flu prevention. It is approved for use in healthy people ages 5-49. The major insurance companies and medicaid usually cover the flu shot for those who meet the high risk or recommended criteria; some cover it for all their customers.

Talk to your doctor about the ideal weight for your child based on age, height and sex. The amount of food and the number of calories needed vary based on the age and sex and level of activity of the child. You must limit the intake of added sugar, saturated and trans fat, cholesterol and salt. Meals should include a variety of food groups and must be presented in a way that appeals to the childs eye and appetite.

Frequently you will have to separate the foods rather than present a medley or casserole. Many kids do not like to have foods mixed so you must respond to the information you are getting from your child.

There are five food groups and you need to insure that your child has something from each group each day. You can get information about the groups and the amounts from the USDAs website, www.mypyramid.gov. Also talk to your childs doctor to find out was the doctor specifies for your individual child.”

There are five food groups (Based on a 2,000 calorie diet) Grains: Eat 6oz Vegatables: Eat 2 and a half cups every day Fruits: Eat 2 cups every day Milk: 3 cups every day Meat and Beans: Eat 5 and a half oz. everyday

Some of the changes may include; oily hair, acne, body odor, weight gain, growth spurts, deeper voice, and emotional changes.

Some things you can do to help manage these changes during puberty are;

wash your face daily, take showers every day, use gels and creams to clear up pimples, start shaving , wear deodorant to avoid body odor, wash your hair daily to prevent oily hair, and exercise

Diarrhea can cause a depletion of the levels of sodium potassium and other electrolytes in your body. When you have diarrhea your body loses a lot of water, which can cause dehydration. Children and elederly are especially at risk. Most diarrhea is caused by viruses or bacteria that gets into your intestinal tract through water or food. Some other causes of diarrhea are illness, food allergies, antibiotis, or a change in your normal diet.

Signs of Dehydration

• dark colored urine
• infrequent urinating
• prolonged vomiting
• fast heartbeat
• high fever
• no tears when crying
• sucken eyes
• dry mouth

To prevent dehydration you should drink plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine, they can actually cause dehydration. You should pick such drinks as fruit juices that are high in potassium, to encourage the retention of electrolytes. You should however avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. You should also try to avoid dairy products. 

Some of the changes may include; oily hair, acne, body odor, breast development, weight gain, growth spurts, menstruation, and emotional changes.

Some things you can do to help manage these changes during puberty are;

wash your face daily, take showers every day, use gels and creams to clear up pimples, shave under your arms and your legs, wear deodorant to avoid body odor, find the right bra size, wash your hair daily to prevent oily hair, talk to someone about menstruation so you can know what to expect, and exercise.

Chickenpox is very contagious. A person can catch Chickenpox by coming in contact with the fluid from the blisters or breathing the air when an infected person coughs or speaks. A person infected with the Chickenpox virus is contagious from the day before the rash begins until all the blisters have scabbed over and dried up. You should always keep a child with Chickenpox home from school or daycare and away from persons who have not had Chickenpox. You should also avoid contact with pregnant women as it can harm the fetus.

Chickenpox infection usually starts as a rash on the chest and rapidly spreads to the rest of the body. The rash tends to begin on covered areas of the body and appears to be little red bumps. The little red bumps then turn into fluid filled blisters. The blisters will crust over and fall off in about one to two weeks. Since some children get as many as 300-500 blisters per infection, the child may have blisters, bumps and scabs at the same time. Since the rash usually itches badly, cool soda baths may help. To make a soda bath, add a half a cup of baking soda to a small of cool water in a bathtub. Do not pick at the scabs because this could increase the chances of scarring. The scabs should fall off by themselves .For severe itching consult your health care provider. Your doctor might be able to recommend other medications. It is also important to keep your child’s fingernails short and hands clean to avoid the rash from becoming infected. Your child may also have a slight fever. You want to give your child plenty of water to drink. Your child may have a headache and not feel like playing or doing his/her normal activities. The average for a Chickenpox outbreak is about 7 days. If your child develops a bad cough, stiff neck, high fever or any of the blisters become infected, you should call your health care provider immediately.

don’t make a big deal about your child’s bedwetting
limit fluids one to two hours before bedtime
have your child use the restroom right before bed
teach your child how to change their pajamas and bed sheets
don’t scold, punish or embarrass your child
There can be several causes for your child to wet the bed:

small bladder capacity
stress
slower physical development
deep sleep If your child would like to go to a sleepover, let them. Just be sure they pack disposable underpants, and a plastic bag to store any wet items in. Be sure that your child knows that he can put on and take off the disposable underpants in the privacy of the bathroom so that other children will not have to know. Most importantly, always be positive with your child and recognize success.

Autism is one of five disorders that falls under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development.

The five disorders under PDD are:

Autistic Disorder

Asperger’s Syndrome (My son falls under this category)

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD)

Rett’s Disorder

PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

Asperger’s Disorder was first described in the 1940s by Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger who observed autistic-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills in boys who had normal intelligence and language development. Many professionals felt Asperger’s Disorder was simply a milder form of autism and used the term “high-functioning autism” to describe these individuals. Professor Uta Frith, with the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience of University College London and author of Autism and Asperger Syndrome, describes individuals with Asperger’s Disorder as “having a dash of Autism.” Asperger’s Disorder was added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in 1994 as a separate disorder from autism. However, there are still many professionals who consider Asperger’s Disorder a less severe form of autism.

What distinguishes Asperger’s Disorder from autism is the severity of the symptoms and the absence of language delays. Children with Asperger’s Disorder may be only mildly affected and frequently have good language and cognitive skills. To the untrained observer, a child with Asperger’s Disorder may just seem like a normal child behaving differently.

Children with autism are frequently seen as aloof and uninterested in others. This is not the case with Asperger’s Disorder. Individuals with Asperger’s Disorder usually want to fit in and have interaction with others; they simply don’t know how to do it. They may be socially awkward, not understanding of conventional social rules, or may show a lack of empathy. They may have limited eye contact, seem to be unengaged in a conversation, and not understand the use of gestures.

Interests in a particular subject may border on the obsessive. Children with Asperger’s Disorder frequently like to collect categories of things, such as rocks or bottle caps. They may be proficient in knowing categories of information, such as baseball statistics or Latin names of flowers. While they may have good rote memory skills, they have difficulty with abstract concepts.

One of the major differences between Asperger’s Disorder and autism is that, by definition, there is no speech delay in Asperger’s. In fact, children with Asperger’s Disorder frequently have good language skills; they simply use language in different ways. Speech patterns may be unusual, lack inflection or have a rhythmic nature or it may be formal, but too loud or high pitched. Children with Asperger’s Disorder may not understand the subtleties of language, such as irony and humor, or they may not understand the give and take nature of a conversation.

Another distinction between Asperger’s Disorder and autism concerns cognitive ability. While some individuals with Autism experience mental retardation, by definition a person with Asperger’s Disorder cannot possess a “clinically significant” cognitive delay and most possess an average to above average intelligence.

While motor difficulties are not a specific criteria for Asperger’s, children with Asperger’s Disorder frequently have motor skill delays and may appear clumsy or awkward.

Living With Autism The demands of raising a child with autism are great, and families frequently experience high levels of stress. Recognizing and preparing yourself for the challenges that are in store will make a tremendous difference to all involved, including the parents, siblings, grandparents, extended family, and friends.

The uniqueness of each individual with autism makes the experience of raising a child with autism different for each family. But there are some consistent themes or issues that most families will want to be aware to be able to provide the best support to the individual and to family members.

The ASA has developed in-depth information on a variety of topics related to living with autism. This information is by no means exhaustive, but it should help to equip families with some of the basic tools they may need to successfully raise a child with autism. Autism Society of America 2008

Anaphylaxis is a serious medical emergency. Death can occur within minutes, so it requires immediate attention. Millions of people are known to have allergies to medications, these medications include antibiotics, asprin, muscle relaxants, seizure medications, and many others. Fire ants, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and bee stings are also big affenders, as well as latex products. Some people have allergies to certain foods including peanuts, other tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, and milk.

Your doctor can perform tests to determine what substances you are allergic to. The tests may indicate how severe an allery is. There aren’t any test for anaphylaxis. However, you might be experiencing anaphylaxis if you have any of the following symptoms: Nausea or vomiting Headache Swelling of the lips, throat, or tongue Itchy skin (Hives) shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing

Usually symptoms apppear within a few seconds up to two hours after the exposure to the allergen. If you think you are at risk for anaphylaxis you should talk to your doctor. He will probably discuss with you the possibilities of carrying an epinephrine injection. Epinephrine acts almost immediately. It relaxes the lung muscles so that you can breath easier. It also stimulates the heart and reverses the swelling. The sooner anaphylaxis is treated the greater likelihood of survival.