INFLUENZA

Influenza is a contagious Viral infection of nose , throat , and lungs, characterized by a sudden onset of fever , cough, muscle/joint pain and fatigue .
Symptoms usually last 3 to 7 days, though fatigue can persist for weeks .

It is commonly known as FLU

For most people it resolves on its own, however, certain people are at risk of developing complications these groups include.

• Young children < 5 & especially those < 2 years of age.
• Adults > 65 yrs
• Pregnant women & women two- weeks post-partum.
• People with weakened immune systems
• People who have chronic conditions like asthma, copd, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease.
• People who are very obese
• People working in nursing homes.

SYMPTOMS

• Fever over 100.4 (38 C)
• Aching muscles
• Chills and sweats
• Headache
• Dry persistent cough
• Fatigue & weakness
• Nasal congestion
• Sore throat.

When to see a doctor.

If you have symptoms of Flu and are at a risk of developing complications see your doctor right away. Taking anti-viral drugs within 48 hrs of developing the symptoms can help to reduce the duration of illness and prevent complications.

CAUSES

• When someone infected coughs, the germs are spread through the air in the form of droplets.
• Directly by touching objects of the infected person such as mobile, computer etc

COMPLICATIONS.

• Pneumonia (is the most serious complication)
• Bronchitis
• Asthma flare up.
• Heart problems
• Ear infections.

PREVENTION.

Flu shots are available at the Clinic on request.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and children throughout the world and causes the death of about 500,000 children worldwide annually.

Symptoms of rotavirus

The most common symptom of rotavirus is severe diarrhoea. Children can also experience:

• vomiting
• black or tarry stools
• stools with blood or pus in them
• severe fatigue
• a high fever
• irritability
• dehydration
• abdominal pain

DEHYDRATION is the greatest concern in children.

You’ll need to monitor your child carefully for symptoms of dehydration, such as:

• dry mouth
• cool skin
• lack of tears when crying
• reduced urination frequency (or fewer wet diapers in infants)
• sunken eyes

How long rotavirus lasts?

The infection itself can last for 10 days in your stool after your symptoms go away.

Rotavirus transmission.

Rotavirus is transmitted between hand and mouth contact. If you touch a person or object carrying the virus and then touch your mouth, you could develop the infection.

Rotavirus treatment.

In terms of treatment, then, the goal is to stay hydrated and comfortable while the virus works its way out of your system. Here are a few tips for what to do in the meantime:

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Eat broth-based soups.
• Take Pedialyte or other fluids with electrolytes (especially important for children).
• Eat a diet of bland foods, such as white toast and saltines.
• Avoid sugary or fatty foods as these can make diarrhoea worse.

Rotavirus and the Vaccine (Drops) to Prevent It.

Why should my child get the rotavirus vaccine?

The rotavirus vaccine:

• Protects your child from rotavirus, a potentially serious disease.
• Prevents your child from developing diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach pain caused by rotavirus.
• Keeps your child from missing school or child care (and keeps you from missing work to care for your sick child).

Is rotavirus vaccine safe?

Both rotavirus vaccines (RotaTeq and Rotarix) are very safe and effective at preventing rotavirus disease.

Contact your nearest health care facility for more details.

A lot of people enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the morning. It acts to kick start the day in their busy and stressful routine life.

Your friendly cup of tea/coffee could turn out to be the enemy of your teeth!

But beware! Do you know this daily morning routine could affect your dental health…?

We can say if tea and coffee can stain clothes it can stain teeth as well!

“life is like a cup of coffee or tea, no matter how bitter or staining it may be…but still it is enjoyable.

As far as staining is concern tea has more adverse effects than coffee as it has a higher number of tannins. Tannins cause colour compounds to stick to your teeth which further lead to discoloration or brown/black staining of teeth.

Added sugar in tea or coffee is another factor for tooth decay. On the other hand, coffee which contains caffeine can also cause dehydration, dry mouth and enamel erosion.

“Enjoy your favourite cup with a smile”

Healing Ray Clinic, Gurgaon, dentists suggest some of the preventive measures–

• Limit your tea/coffee intake.
• Drink more water.
• Cut back sugar.
• And most important visit your dentist every 6 months for cleaning.

According to world health organization, health is defined as “State of complete physical, mental, and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” This definition includes mental or psychological health too, which shows how important is to maintain the psychological health.

Do we really care about our kid psychological health???

When a kid faces problem at school, first indicator is his academic performance, which  starts declining day after day.  The school teachers are in the unique position to observe their academic performance, day-to-day mood and interactions with peers. Teachers use to handle lot of work in school and have their eyes on many factors that indicate your child’s well-being; and they also have the ability to see changes over the course of the school year.

For all of these reasons, teachers play a key role in linking children with psychological resources at school. As a parent are facing problem to look after child psychological well being, it’s important for parents to know who’s on school team to ensure proper care and support to child.

The Psychological Health Team at Your Child’s School

The School Counselor/Psychologist

Most of the schools don’t have school counselor, though they can play a very important role in child psychological well being. The school counselor’s role includes:

• Providing academic and career guidance
• Providing support for social and emotional problem
• Meet with students to provide support
• Consult with administrators, teachers and parent
• Implement behavior management skills for positive social and classroom interactions
• Provide counseling and psychological testing

The School counselor plays a role of a bridge between child and psychiatrist. If they feel, child needs help of a professional; they prefer to refer the child to them.

Psychiatrist 

In addition to a school counselor, school should have tie up with a psychiatrist to assess the psychological well being of child. These professionals are able to do some or all of the following:

• Meet with students to provide support
• Consult with administrators, teachers and parents
• Implement behavior management skills for positive social and classroom interactions
• Provide proper treatment and helps to assess the problem in better way.

Every school should have their own psychological health team to assess the psychological well being of children.

The Psychological Health team outside school

Most of the big cities have lot of psychiatrist or psychologist, but still there is lot of time lag in getting treatment. It is responsibility of parents to keep a watch on child psychological well being and  if they feel any change in their behavior and see any academic decline, they should consult a psychiatrist or psychological immediately.

We know being a parent you work hard to educate yourself and prepare your child for the milestones ahead, but you should about the warning signs of possible mental health problems, and don’t hesitate to reach and find support in the team at school or outside school. A team approach — with families, healthcare professionals, mental health providers, educators, and social-emotional support sources all working together — can change lives and outcomes during these formative years.