Archive for the ‘Childhood’ Category
Childhood Depression
For many years its existence has been denied in childhood. Currently it is considered that the child may also have depression in the psychiatric sense of the word, but should talk about it when it has a certain length and importance. Unlike the adult, the vast majority of children are reactive depressions, i.e., there is a cause in the environment: depressions by excessive demand (school), parental separation, loss of a loved one, etc. Usually manifested by discouragement and loss of pleasure or interest in playing. Also anorexia, weight loss or insomnia is symptoms.
It is also true that young children may have depression, one might speak of two forms: the so-called analytic depression, caused by a “lack of support” of the mother, usually to leave her after 6 months of age, after it had created the link. And the basin called “hospitality” in which the separation occurred before the mother created or strengthened the link (before 6 months of age). The latter form can become very serious if not treated before 5 months of age. It occurs in critically ill children from birth who are hospitalized but exceptionally long today because the current inpatient units allow a stay, however minimal, from mother to child.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Children and AIDS
The relentless spread of HIV/AIDS leaves its mark on the lives of children and threatens the stability and prosperity of nations. Millions of children have been left orphaned by AIDS and many struggle to survive. A large number of children born with the virus and suffer in the course of his short life, while millions of children fighting to grow in a world which revolves constantly the threat of HIV infection.
At the same time that rates of HIV infection are stabilized, deaths from AIDS continue to rise. In some countries, perhaps the number of orphans will not reach its peak until after 2020.
The World Food Program (WFP) helps to ensure the safety and welfare of orphans and other vulnerable children. Nutritional support to be provided to children and their parents inspires hope in people whose life has become uncertain because of the disease. These nutrients help to extend as far as possible the life of HIV-positive parents who have more time to spend with their children.
Popularity: 3% [?]
The Baby does not Eat
Sometimes kids just eat anything. This can cause great concern to mothers who insist that your child eats, but not hungry. What happens is that the appetite of a child is related to its energy needs. When they make a lot of activity, children eat more. If, however, spend less energy, not hungry.
Experts say that fluctuations in appetite are normal if the child stay active and grow in a normal manner. Moreover, if a kid eats a snack at an inconvenient time, such as a gingerbread or chocolate, it is likely that lunchtime has no appetite.
Human beings, according to their growth, meets certain stages. In the first six months of life, a boy has an intake of fat and large accelerated growth. And he has a very important food demand. This demand begins to decrease after six months. Between the year, or 15 months and three years, they go through a stage of physiological appetite, which is functional and, somehow, must be respected.
The timing of the food habits
In the stage of consolidating physiological appetite eating habits. But at this time that mothers do the most appointments because her son “does not come”. What happens is that mothers are accustomed to a rhythm in which the infant sat down to eat and left the plate clean.
A year and a half after a period of socialization begins, the incorporation of dietary habits, but also for selection. So can a guy want much food and then leave.
After the age of 5 or 6 years during the preschool, begins to form more amount of fat tissue and begins to grow more quickly. Therefore, energy demands are greater.
Nutritionists stress the importance of building proper eating habits. The consulting pediatrician for appetite often coincides with the fact that, with the aim of feeding, the mother tends to chase her son with food, or offer substitutes that are not important from the nutritional point of view: candy snacks, or beverages that have additives and sweeteners. Thus, altered eating behavior. The kid knows that if he does not eat, going to get what he wants.
Sometimes the lack of appetite or normal physiological circumstances is installed by the family context. But the appetite can be due to an acute pathology. A query often occurs because the child does not eat when suffering from a respiratory or gastrointestinal disorder. Both boys and adults, when facing a disease, are off their feed, and this is normal.
Food and emotions
The relationship of the family with the boy through the food has great importance, but should be that this is not oversized for the need to gratify the child and take care not to be made only through food.
When the appetite is installed, you must verify weight gain and height of the boy. Doctors have reference tables by sex. With this information the patient are evaluated. If the boy away from his proper lane without a visible cause, specialists assess whether this appetite has relevance in relation to a disease or pathology.
But the important thing, experts say, is to see where they were being produced that appetite. Because sometimes is related to family history. Not only must analyze the organic from the point of view of nutrients that are incorporated, but also observe what happens within the family, said the specialist. There are kids who, for lack of affection, do not feed.
But there may be other reasons: competition with siblings, for example. Loss of appetite always emerges within a context. Who eats the child, if it comes from school and finds a fast food prepared, if this is a kid who never shared a meal with his mother and brothers are all factors to consider when confronted with a child without appetite.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Birth Weight Affects Infection Risk in Childhood
Birth weight is inversely associated with the risk of hospitalization for an infectious disease throughout childhood, according to results of a study in Denmark. Infants born prematurely and those whose growth was restricted during pregnancy have depressed immune function. Studies have shown that these low birth weight children have higher mortality rates from infection, Drs. Anders Hviid and Mads Melbye from Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, report. However, there is less evidence of a relationship between birth weight and rates of illness from infection.
The researchers therefore examined the relationship between birth weight and hospitalization due to an infectious disease in 1.7 million children born in Denmark from 1977 through 2004. The authors linked information on birth weight with information on hospitalizations for an infectious disease.
The investigators observed an inverse association between birth weight and the risk of infectious disease hospitalizations. The risk of hospitalization between birth and the age of 14 years increased by 9 percent for each 17.64 ounce-reduction in birth weight. The risk peaked in infancy and persisted until the children were10 years old.
This effect of low birth weight was seen in preterm infants and full-term infants as well, Hviid and Melbye report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
They point out that the association between birth weight and infectious disease in infancy is biologically plausible as a result of a depressed immune system. However, there is no explanation for why the association persists into childhood.
Popularity: 2% [?]