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C
Childhood Liver Disease
Childhood liver cancer is extremely rare among children. It affects children generally under the age of three. This disease, also referred to as hepatoma, produces malignant cancer cells in the tissues of the child’s liver.
Hepatoblastoma is the type of cancer that young children contract. The cause of this cancer is most likely from an abnormal genetic code. There are other reasons that children may be more likely to contract liver disease:
- Children of families whose members carry a gene related to a certain kind of colon cancer
- Children infected with hepatitis B or C
- Children who are not vaccinated for hepatitis B
As soon as you perceive that there is a problem, your physician can order a scan of your child’s liver and determine whether there is anything suspicious looking in the scan. If there is a tumor or a suspicious lump, your doctor can order a biopsy. This is done by using a needle to extract part of the lump and then the cells are studied under a microscope to look for cancerous cells. Because the child may have a difficult time conveying what the problem is, the signs to look for are:
- Jaundice
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Itching
- Swelling or tenderness in the abdomen
Because of the nature of this disease, you will want to seek medical attention immediately. There are treatment options available to children with cancer of the liver:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Liver transplantation
In the case of surgery, the surgeon will remove the cancerous tumor. Chemotherapy is a technique which uses drugs to eliminate or kill the cancer cells. Radiation therapy uses high-dose x-rays to kill the cancer cells. Liver transplantation involves removing the cancerous liver and replacing it with a donated one.
For support, contact:
Contact the CLDF at www.childliverdisease.org or call them at 0121 212 3839.
Cold Sores
If you notice that your child has a small blister that may be red or purple in color, chances are, it is a cold sore. They can be anywhere on your child’s lip but normally they appear on the edge of the lip near the outside. Sometimes you may notice more than one at a time. If left alone, they usually will form a scab and disappear in a couple of weeks. Even though they are called cold sores, your child doesn’t need to have a cold in order to have one. They are actually a result of a virus called herpes. The type that children contract is called HSV-1. They can get it from:
- Kissing a person with a cold sore
- Sharing a drinking glass or utensils
When children contract HSV-1, it never goes away. The child becomes a carrier of the virus and even when the sores go away, they will continue to get outbreaks for the rest of their lives. In order to reduce the amount of outbreaks in your child:
- Reduce her stress level
- Reduce the amount of time spent in the sun
- Proper nutrition is optimal
- Adequate rest is required
Treatment for cold sores is limited. It may help to use cold packs on the sore. Your doctor may prescribe medicine for them.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a very contagious disease that is spread by direct contact. It appears as a blistering rash and spreads all over the body. If your child comes into contact with another child who in fact has the chickenpox, she may not show symptoms of it for ten to twenty one days. Your child may also have chickenpox if she exhibits any of the following signs:
- slight fever
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
Treatment for chickenpox includes rest and anti-itch cream for the rash. Be careful not to let your child scratch her rash because it can lead to scarring. There is a new vaccine available for the prevention of chickenpox that may be accessible to you. Most children get through the chickenpox with little or no major problems.
For support, contact:
British Acupuncture Council, 63 Jeddo Road, London W12
9HQ
Tel: 020 8735 0400
Website: wwwacupuncture.org.uk
Clicky hips
Upon your baby’s first few examinations, the pediatrician will check her for clicky hips. This condition is exactly what it sounds like. The doctor will rotate baby’s legs in their sockets and listen to hear if there is a “click” like sound. This sound may be indicative that the hips are moving in and out of their joints. If in fact there is a clicky sound, an ultrasound may be ordered to check and see if the hip joints are developing normally.
For support, contact:
STEPS (The National Association of Lower Limb Abnormalities)
Lower Ground Floor Lymm Court, 11 Eagle Brow Lymm,
Cheshire WA13 OLP
Tel: 0871 717 0044
The Steps National Office Helpline is open Mon- Fri 9:30am -4:00pm
Go to www.steps-charity.org.uk
Cesarean birth
This is the procedure in which the baby is surgically removed from the uterus. Surgical removal of the baby is a major surgery and should be avoided unless it is completely medically necessary. Recovery from this operation is difficult and takes time. Some situations that doctors and midwives will recommend a cesarean section are:
- failure to progress
- repeat cesarean
- fetal distress
- cephalopelvic disproportion – baby is too big to pass through the pelvic outlet
- active genital herpes
The first reason, failure to progress, is arguably the most subjective. The progression of labor can be slower for some women than others. Mothers that have had a previous cesarean are at risk of rupturing their incision and it is recommended that they endure a repeat cesarean although there has been a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) movement that is widely recognized and deemed safe under medical management. Fetal distress is indicative of any fetal difficulties or irregularities.
Cephalopelvic disproportion is used a lot by doctors to explain why the baby is having difficulty fitting through the pelvic outlet. This can be avoided by changing positions or squatting. Doctors may first want to consider using forceps or a vacuum extractor.
Colds
A cold is the most common illness that your child will experience. The reason being is that there are hundreds of thousands of viruses that cause the common cold. Each strain of the cold virus is extremely contagious. It can be transmitted by direct contact or by airborne bacteria. Symptoms of a cold are:
- scratchy, sore throat
- sneezing and runny nose
- cough
- slight fever
The good news is that your child’s cold will probably only last seven to ten days. There is no cure for a cold but you may be able to treat the symptoms with over the counter decongestants and vaporizers. Make sure your child is getting plenty of fluids and rest. There are ways that you can prevent catching the common cold virus. If you know that someone has a cold, try not to come into contact with that person. Make sure to have you child wash her hands frequently. There are wonderful bacteria killing lotions available now that don’t require water. Again, it may be difficult to get through, but your child will only get stronger by developing antibodies to protect her from the next cold virus that comes her way.
For support, contact:
www.aromatherapy-regulation.org.uk
Colic
Colic is not an illness; only a very distressing pattern of newborn behaviour with no known cause, not treatment and absolutely no ill-effects except on parents’ nerves. The symptoms of colic are:
- unexplained screaming
- gas
- general unhappiness
Even if your baby exhibits these symptoms, don’t assume that your baby really does have colic. If your baby cannot settle after her late-afternoon or early-evening feeding but starts screaming as soon as she has finished, or drops off to sleep but wakes screaming within half and hour, she may be colicky. Because of the lack of treatment, there is really nothing that you can do but give her your time and attention. And remember, however awful the colic may be, it will not harm your baby, neither will it last for any longer than twelve weeks at the very most.
For support, contact:
Serene
Tel: 020 7404 5011 (8am-11pm).
Osteopathic Information Service
Tel: 020 7357 6655
British Chiropractic Association, Blagrave house, 17
Blagrave Street, ReadingRG1 1QB
Tel: 0118 950 5950
www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk
British Homeopathic Association, Hahnemann House, 29
Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE
0870 444 3950
Go to www.trusthomeopathy.org for advice
Colostrum
You may begin to notice around your fifth month of pregnancy a golden yellow liquid leaking from your breasts. This is called colostrum. It is often referred to as your baby’s first immunizations against infection and viruses. It is packed with nutrition and antibodies and will be the only nutrition that your baby will receive from anywhere between three and seven days when your milk comes in.
The reasons why it is important for your baby to receive colostrum are:
- the high concentration of immune factors
- large quantities of antibodies called secretary immunoglobulin
- very high quantities of leukocytes which inhibit and destroy disease causing bacteria and viruses
What colostrum has that human milk doesn’t are lots of protein. It also contains plenty of carbohydrates. If your baby is born with a high bilirubin level or may be a little yellow from jaundice, colostrum will help clear it up by getting rid of excess dead red blood cells from your newborn’s body.
Constipation
All babies are different. Even the amounts of times per day they have bowel movements vary from baby to baby. Just because your baby does or does not have a daily movement is not indicative of whether she is healthy or not. Your baby may experience constipation if she:
- has a dry movement
- has a hard movement that makes its passage difficult or painful
If your baby does have hard movements, offer lots of extra fluids. Juices made from fruit or vegetables have a mild laxative effect due to the small amount of extra sugar. Also, increasing the amount of fiber or roughage in her diet may help. A doctor may want to prescribe a laxative if it is deemed necessary, but it is not a good idea to ever medicate your child in any way without consulting her first.
Constipation (Mum)
Due to the pregnancy hormones, most women find themselves with the problem of constipation. It doesn’t help that the iron supplements that are taken during pregnancy to avoid anaemia also cause you to have harder bowel movements either. The food in your intestines actually slows down and leads to decreased gastrointestinal motility. What you will need to do is to aid the process by changing your eating habits. Foods that increase the water content of your bowel movements and foods that naturally travel faster through your intestines are:
- foods that contain fiber such as prunes, pears, figs, apricots, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, celery, whole grains, and legumes
- increase your fluids
- increase your exercise
The most important thing to remember is to empty your bowels when you feel like you have to go. Try not to delay going for long periods of time.
For support, contact:
Osteopathic Information Service
Tel: 020 7357 6655
British Acupuncture Council, 63 Jeddo Road, London W12 9HQ
Tel: 020 8735 0400
Go to www.acupuncture.org.uk for advice
Couvade Syndrome
Couvade is a French term, “to hatch” and it is used to describe pregnancy – like symptoms that some men may experience during their partners’ pregnancy. You may have heard the term “sympathy pregnancy” before. This is basically what will happen. This phenomenon occurs between 25 and 50 percent of fathers. The most common symptoms are:
- food cravings
- mood swings
- nausea
- morning sickness
- weight gain
- fatigue
- backaches
- sleep difficulties
It usually occurs around the third month of pregnancy and disappears during the second trimester only to reappear again towards the end of the pregnancy. This may happen because of a strong desire on the father’s part to identify with the pregnancy. The important thing to remember about couvade syndrome is that it is entirely real. You are not just “imagining” it!
Contraction
The uterus is made up of muscle tissue and the common misconception is that it will squeeze and relax in order to push the baby out. This is not exactly true. What happens is the uterine contractions work to pull the cervical muscle up out of the way so that the baby’s head can then be pushed through. The easiest way to visualise this happening is to picture a turtleneck sweater being slowly stretched as you pull it over your head.
Contractions can be pretty painful during labour and in order to ease the tension, relaxation techniques can be a great help. Relaxing will help her cooperate with what her uterus is doing rather than resist it. Some reasons to relax during labour contractions are:
- easing discomfort
- speeds up the progress of labor
- helps balance your hormones for birth such as endorphins and adrenals which will give you the energy for second stage pushing
Before your labor and delivery of your baby, you should practice relaxation techniques. This will help prepare you for what to do when you are in the throes of labor and may not remember what you should do.
- Get comfortable
- Collect a bunch of pillows and place them where you feel the most support
- Check your whole body for muscle tension, including your face, neck, and shoulders
- Play relaxing music
- Visualization, imagine you are in a relaxing place
- Try laboring in water
- Remember to take deep relaxing breaths
Many women prefer to try these simple relaxation techniques over pain medication for their contractions during labor. These techniques are shown to be just as helpful as any narcotic or epidural without being harmful to the baby.
Cradle cap
You may notice in the early weeks of your baby’s life that she has a layer of dried, scaly skin on her head. It may appear slightly orange and can be picked off with your fingernail. This is called cradle cap. Cradle cap is completely normal and it is not a sign of poor hygiene. It is very common among newborns to have cradle cap. There is no way to prevent cradle cap from occurring but there are a few ways to get rid of it:
- Apply olive oil or apricot oil to your baby’s head and use a fine comb to loosen the flaking skin
- A doctor may prescribe a special shampoo or cortisone cream for extreme cases
Remember, even if you do decide to try and get rid of your baby’s cradle cap, it may or may not come back. Chances are, it will go away all by itself as your baby gets older.
For support, contact:
Aromatherapy Organisations Council, PO Box 19835, London SE25 6WF
www.aromatherapy-regulation.org.uk
Tel: 0870 7743 477
British Homoeopathic Association, Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE
0870 444 3950
Go to www.trusthomeopathy.org for advice.
Croup
There is no mistaking when your baby has croup. This childhood illness has a very distinct cough that almost sounds like a goose honk. She may also experience much belaboured breathing. The reason for this honk or bark noise is because babies or small children have extremely small breathing tubes. Infection from a cold moves down into the bronchial tubes and the result is croup. In an older child or adult, it might turn into bronchitis or laryngitis. If you suspect that your baby has croup:
- Call your doctor right away
- Take your baby to an open window and let her breathe in the fresh cool air
- Go into the bathroom and run the hot shower until it fills with steam and take the baby with you
Cold air and wet air usually relieve the baby’s breathing so it is a good idea to have a vaporizer on her room at night to keep the air moist.
For support, contact:
British Homoeopathic Association, Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street West, Luton LU1 3BE
0870 444 3950
Go to www.trusthomeopathy.org for advice.
Cystitis (Mum)
This uncomfortable and painful infection of the bladder is called cystis. It is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to wee and a burning sensation during urination. Many pregnant women suffer from cystitis because they don’t empty their entire bladder when urinating. This is caused by the bladder becoming enlarged due to the pregnancy hormones. The added pressure of your baby pressing down directly on your bladder may lead to infection. Kidney infection may be the result if the cystitis is left untreated and spreads. Fortunately, there are a few precautions that you can take to avoid cystitis:
- Make sure to completely empty your bladder when urinating
- Always urinate as soon as you feel the urge and try not to put it off
- Do not wear tight fitting underwear
- Make sure that your underwear is made of 100% cotton
- Drink plenty of water
For support, contact:
Go to www.interstitialcystitis.co.uk for advice.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide is called the silent killer because it is colorless and odorless. There are many household items that are powered by natural gas that may produce carbon monoxide. Cars and burning charcoal also produce carbon monoxide. If you have been exposed to carbon monoxide you may have:
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- dizziness
- headache
- nausea
In order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning you must make sure that your fuel-burning appliances in your home are properly installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure that your heating system is checked once a year by a professional technician. If your hot water supply is decreased or your furnace is not able to heat the house efficiently, you may have a carbon monoxide problem. There are some preventative measures that you can take to avoid carbon monoxide leaking into your home:
- never burn charcoal inside your home, or other contained space
- never use a portable fuel-burning camping stove inside your house or other contained space
- never leave a car running in the garage
- never service fuel-burning appliances without the proper instruction
- never use gas appliances to heat your home
- don’t use gas powered tools indoors
The most important thing to remember is to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. This is your first defense against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Chromosomal Disorders
Chromosomal disorders occur in babies whose chromosomes are abnormal. The risk of having a baby with any chromosomal abnormality increases as you get older. If you are over the age of 35, your doctor will recommend that you have an amniocentesis. This is the only way for you to know absolutely if your baby has a chromosomal abnormality. The availability of genetic counseling is a great help to the parents who really need it, but it can complicate life for low-risk parents. Meeting with a genetic counselor to discuss your risks and options can provide many benefits, and , since this visit does not involve testing, it poses no risk to your baby. Remember, by meeting with a professional, you can get your facts straight.
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