Treatment | Child Health and Prevention

Using Health Informatics to Prevent Diseases in Children

June 3, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Health informatics is a new medical-based technology that uses information technology to help advance the different fields of medicine. It uses information systems for public health practice, as well as databases systems for learning and research.

Public health informatics differs from other field of informatics because it specializes in preventing medical problems in population groups. This is especially significant when discussing disease prevention in children.

This system provides accurate and timely information. Because of the wide ranging sources of information, informatics must use a systematic approach to analyzing this data to present the most beneficial outcomes. It can use information technology to coordinate care, education and research to help prevent such childhood issues as obesity and other such illnesses.

The interdisciplinary approach of this medical system uses techniques and information from many different disciplines. Combining these disciplines requires the use of many technology-based fields including database design and architecture and networking.

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Public health informatics does concentrate on populations rather than individuals. In addition it tries to prevent illness and injury through environment conditions. It also attempts to prevent the causes of illnesses without specific environment or societal restrictions or contexts. Finally, the system tries to incorporate and bring together any and all governmental entities that can produce results for disease and injury prevention.

By combining all of these factors into a central database or system, medical professionals can come up with solutions and prevention programs for many childhood maladies and illness before rise to a critical stage throughout large populations.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Health informatics, Information technology, Medicine

Travel Nursing Agencies: Improving Children’s Health Everywhere They Go

December 7, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Not all people who work as nurses than work at one specific hospital, clinic, or other medical facility. Rather, they have chosen to travel from place to place throughout the country and sometimes throughout the world offering their nursing services where they are most needed. These people receive their assignments through travel nursing agencies.

Travel nursing agencies keep track of the travel nurses who receive their assignments through them. They locate places where travel nurses are needed, such as clinics in rural areas that may be the only place where those in that area (including children) can receive medical help. They then determine the length of the assignment and contact the travel nurses to let them know which jobs are available.

Travel nursing agencies may also act directly as the travel nurses’ employer. In other words, although the travel nurse works in a specific location, they are actually on loan or on contract to that place. Their paychecks are issued through the travel nursing agencies, and the agency provides all standard benefits (insurance, pension plans, etc.). It may be the travel nurse’s responsibility to see that the proper documentation is sent, or personnel at the assignment location may do this.

If travel nursing agencies send travel nurses overseas, they may assist their employees in procuring the necessary documentation, such as passports, visas, proof of nursing certification, etc., to enter and leave the countries in which they will be assigned. The travel nursing agencies may also act, or designate a similar organization in the assigned country to act, as an embassy or safe haven for the nurses should any type of civil unrest or uprising occur.

Travel nursing agencies perform a service that is almost as important as that of the travel nurses themselves. The agencies know where the travel nurses are needed, and make sure they get there.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Employment, Nurse, Nursing

Be Free of Passive Smoking with the ECig

December 6, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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There is widespread controversy over the ill effects of passive smoking. While some argue that passive smoke is safe, most believe that passive smoke can cause illnesses to non smokers present in the vicinity. Some lawsuits in the past have been filed against smokers and organizations permitting smoking in public, as well as several petitions filed to strengthen the ban. Reputed health institutions have spent millions of dollars on research to ascertain the damage of passive smoke. While there can be no hard proven facts about the ill effects of passive smoke, there is a general consensus among them which deem passive smoke as dangerous.

It has been purported that passive smoke can cause respiratory illnesses, heart illnesses, lung and ear infections and other conditions affecting organs of the body. Smokers are prone to direct affects from burning carcinogens out of the cigarette or the cigar, which can cause throat and bronchial infections, leading to tumors and lung cancer, however, their exhalation and further contamination of smoke cannot re-infect them. Passive smokers on the other hand are susceptible to the dangerous chemicals exhaled by the smoker, which is believed by some experts to further react in atmosphere before it reaches them. Most developed and developing countries around the world do not permit smoking in public places.

Most smokers are ashamed of the tobacco stench they give out, which evidently causes discomfort in social meetings. Stale tobacco stench arising from the smoker’s lungs does not smell the same as tobacco smoke. People who smell it can develop nausea and irritation and this can adversely affect the social gathering. An ecig is a battery operated electronic cigarette, containing nicotine solution only and does not light up or give out smoke. They also come in flavors such as cherry, vanilla and chocolate. An ecig eliminates the ill effects of carcinogens on non smokers in the vicinity.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: electronic cigarette, Passive smoking, Respiratory disease, Tobacco smoking

What To do When Your Child Is Sick

October 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Raising children is thought to be one of the hardest things that any person will ever do. It is a full time job without benefits or much time off. Making the correct parenting decisions is a very important part of being a good parent.
However, tehre is a lot of information offers differing opinions
about the validity of certain beliefs. Chwo-foundation.org exists to help parents and caregivers make the best decisons possible for their charges.

Anytime that a child is sick, parents worry. This is particularly true if your child is under the age of two, and for many years, it was common practice to use over the counter cold medicines for infants and toddlers. In 2008, this practice changed and instead parents are now advised to encourage hydration and remove existing mucus when possible from their children. Chwo-foundation.org is an excellent reource for parents who are trying to determine appropriate medical care for their children.

How To Know If It’s More Than A Cold

If parents were automatically able to know if their child has allergies, a cold, or something more serious, they would be able to save themselves a lot of time spent in doctors’ offices. However, in general, parents are encouraged to contact their pediatrician if their child under the age of four months runs a fever of more than 100 degrees Fahreheit or 37.7 degrees Celsius, it is a good idea to get medical attention. Chwo-foundation.org offers helpful information on what to expect at your appointment.

When in doubt, it is typically recommended to seek medical care. It is better to spend time waiting in an office, than to risk the very real possibility of your child becoming sicker due to that delay. Some pediatricians have different waiting areas available for sick and healthy children, in attempt to prevent spreading illness.

Regardless of what you are told by well-meaning individuals, it is potentially lethal to give children under the age of a year honey. It is similiarly harmful to give a child under 18 aspirin.

Filed Under: Child Care, Health, Parenting, Treatment Tagged With: Child, Medicine, Parent, Pediatrics

Missouri’s Children’s Hospital

September 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Missouri gets its first children’s hospital. University of Missouri Women’s and Children’s Hospital, is the first of its kind in Missouri. Quite a remarkable achievement this, considering it took so long, but the wait has been worth it. Missouri’s children’s hospital is quite large in capacity, and offers everything under the sun.

All rooms in this children’s hospital are private. No public wardrooms. Considering that it’s a children’s hospital, and children will need to play, there is an area to play as well. Game rooms have been decked-up to give children, not a hospital ambience, but a playschool ambience!

When you visit the children’s hospital, you can’t help but notice, the aesthetics of the hospital. Specially crafted and constructed to appeal to the imagination of little children, this hospital is a source if inspiration. What a lovely place to get well!

A mascot represents the hospital. TJ is the name of the mascot. Being a tiger does not make this mascot fierce, but a cool guy, with lots of fun quotient. TJ has a lot of friends as well. The whole hospital resonates with a jungle theme. Making sure that even hospitals can be fun, University of Missouri Women’s and Children’s Hospital has developed a hospital worthy of emulation.

This children’s hospital offers a comprehensive range of services under one roof. In Adolescent medicine service, an adolescent specialist will treat adolescents using a combination of behavioral and medical treatments. ADOBE is a clinic of the children’s hospital that treats adolescent obesity. Adolescent obesity is rising in large numbers. With sedentary lifestyles, and pressures of educational systems, adolescents are becoming more and more inactive. The ADOBE obesity center of this children’s hospital has treatment speciality for obesity in adolescents.

To help raise funds for poorer sections of the society, who have no access to healthcare, Missouri’s children’s hospital is part of the Children’s Miracle Network. It is an initiative to make people pool in funds. Collected funds are used in treatment of underprivileged children. Functioning on an ongoing basis, the Children’s Miracle Network, accepts donations for its internal needs as well.

Filed Under: Child Care, Health, Treatment Tagged With: Health, Health care, Hospital, Medicine

Keep Communicating, use Dell Coupons

August 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

It has been proven that a patient who feels confident and comfortable in hospital, generally recovers and responds well to treatment, so the choice of a Children’s Hospital is especially important, as the child can’t choose themselves.

The choice needs to be made deliberately, rather than emotionally, particularly if the hospital stay is going to be a little lengthy and involves a child. Look at a hospital room, will it be comfortable, and allow and overnight guest? You may want a private room with peace and quiet where you can sit with your child. Bringing your laptop and reading material is smart, but check to make sure there’s no interference with medical equipment. If you get the go ahead, Dell Coupons have great offers on laptops if you don’t own one.

Another important factor is how the staff interact with their young patients. What will your child’s doctor’s role be? Will he work closely with you? Your choice may be limited by your doctor or your insurer. You’ll need to check with them before choosing a hospital. You’ll need to find out what hospitals your doctor and insurers are affiliated with.

You will also need access the medical condition your child will receive care for at the hospital. Not every hospital offers every service like cancer research, open-heart bypass or diabetes specialty wards. Check that hospitals have adequate equipment, or the specialists have multiple years of expertise.

It is important to check the hospital’s track record. Is the hospital meeting quality standards and patient safety? Is it accredited by the Joint Commission? Is it conveniently located for you and your visitors? Is the hospital clean and comfortable? What do the charges include and what is covered by your insurance?

Do the necessary research and ask the questions until you have peace of mind about your choice of hospital for your child’s welfare.

Filed Under: Health, Parenting, Treatment Tagged With: Hospital, Medicine, Patient

Should a child’s earwax be cleaned?

June 4, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The human body naturally creates earwax in the outer ear canal, between the outer and middle ear parts. Earwax is the body’s way of protecting the ear from infections, making a waterproof coating that keeps the ear drum from getting damaged. Earwax prevents particles and dust from entering and injuring the ear. Although most people know the function of earwax, they don’t realize that the earwax is only produced in necessary qualities and should not be cleared. ‘Cleaning’ the ear is still considered a common hygiene practice, even though it has potentially hazardous implication. Among children, regular clearing of earwax can lead to infections, ear damage and in severe cases loss of hearing.

The ear constantly produces earwax that sometimes accumulates and gets passed out to the outer ear. This does not require specific cleaning as the wax generally gets washed off each time you bathe. If you notice residue earwax in the outer ear of your child after bathing, you can clear it by simply wiping it off using a towel or a soft cloth. You should never try to deep clean the ear by inserting cloth or cotton swabs into the inner ear canal. Although there are several over the counter products like ear buds that can be used to clean your child’s ear, you should only use these to clean the other ear. Inserting objects into the ear can cause damage to the ear canal or drum, in addition to clearing away necessary earwax.

In a few rare cases, the child’s ear does end up producing extra earwax. Discourage the child from inserting fingers into the ear. If your child complains of itchiness or pain in the ear or you notice an excessive growth of earwax which may be hindering your child’s hearing, take the child to a doctor who will be able to diagnose and treat any infections. Under no circumstances should you try and remove excessive earwax from the child’s ears yourself, always get it done by a professional. Following these steps will help you keep your child’s ears healthy and free from infections.

Filed Under: Child Care, Health, Treatment Tagged With: Cotton swab, Ear canal, Earwax, Health

Signs that your child may be suffering from anxiety

April 28, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Anxiety among adults is almost common now. With careers becoming competitive, managing finances difficult and balancing work and home tough, stress levels are high. However, parents sometimes fail to realize that children too can suffer from anxiety and stress. To grow up minds, school going children lead an easy life and have no reason to be anxious but a child’s mind is fragile and what may seem mediocre to an adult can be quite stressful for a kid. While an adult is capable of identifying signs of stress and take corrective measures to relieve it. Children themselves are not psychologically equipped to deal with such situations. It falls on the shoulders of parents to keep an eye out from signs of anxiety in their kids and help them cope with the stress.

There are symptoms that a child will display if he/she is anxious or stressed about something. If you notice a sudden change in your child behavior, for instance if he/she loses interest in socializing with other children or becomes quite and does not indulge in conversation, stays alone and aloof, it could be a sign that something is troubling the little one’s mind. The child’s eyes will appear sunken and dry and his/her movements with have signs of fatigue and lethargy. The child may also grow irritable and starts to cry easily. His/her appetite may suddenly reduce and the child will refuse to eat even snacks that were once favorites.

In such a situation, you should try and talk to the child and find out what is bothering him/her. A lot of times, the child will not be able to identify the cause, so you need to ask questions related to school, friends, sibling and other factors that influence the child to try and figure out what is ailing him/her. You could also try talking to the child’s teacher. Tell the child that you love him/her and always be approachable so that he/she is confident of sharing problems with you. Careful observation and support will help in your child’s emotional health.

Filed Under: Child Care, Health, Treatment Tagged With: Anxiety, Child Health, Mental health, Stress

Recognizing signs of sickness in a new born baby

April 4, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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It is easier to identify signs of illness on older children while compared to new born babies as older children have ways to tell you if something is ailing them. The only way in which new born babies communicate is by crying, which is something they do even when they are hungry, need a nappy change or are simply bored. This is why it is important for parents to be able to identify signs of sickness in a baby so that it can be diagnosed and treated well in time. So what are the signs a parent should look out for?

New born babies, especially small or premature ones, have a risk of developing jaundice. If on the very first day of life your baby appears yellowish, press the baby’s sole with your thumb for a few moments and then release. If the returning color is pink, there is nothing to worry about but if the color returns as yellow then you should consult a doctor immediately.

A new born baby is used to the warmth of the mother’s womb and loses a lot of body heat if not covered properly. Lowering of body heat may lead to infections especially in premature babies as their immune system is not that strong. Touch the babies sole with the back of your hand and then touch the abdomen. If the sole feels cooler, then your baby’s body heat is low. Immediately take measures to warm the baby and feed him/her more frequently. If the condition persists, consult your doctor.

Other signs of illness are, if a baby’s crying seems weak suddenly, has difficult or irregular breathing, does not respond well to nudging or it gets difficult to feed, then your baby may be ill. If a baby’s vomit is greenish or brownish and persistent, instead of the usual curdled milk after feeding, seek medical help immediately. New born babies lose a bit of weight initially but quickly gain it back in about 10 days of life. If your baby loses excess weight and is not regaining it, consult your doctor.

Filed Under: Child Care, Nutrition, Treatment Tagged With: Infant, Jaundice, Milk

First aid measures for burns in children

January 14, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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It can be a scary experience when a child suffers from burns and a lot of parents panic and don’t know what to do in such a situation. Firstly, it is very important that parents stay calm. Seeing a panicked parent will scare the child even more. A parent should know how to identify the level of the burn and also how to give first aid treatment to ensure quick relief and safety of the child.

To begin with, a parent should know that there are four levels of burns. First degree burns are superficial and affect only the top most layer of the skin, like scorching from a hot iron. Second degree burns penetrate a few layers of skin and feel moist to the touch. Third degree burns are more serious and penetrate all levels of skin. Fourth degree burns are the severest and, fortunately, the rarest and penetrate down to muscle and bone levels. The following are the first aid steps parents should follow while treating burns:

The very first and most important step in first aid for burns is to place the affected area under cool running water till the pain felt by the child reduces. Never place ice on the burn as this will be very painful and does not help. Remove any clothing from the burnt area, without damaging the skin, even if you have to cut the clothing. It is suggested you do this while the affected area is placed under running water. If the burn is caused by chemicals, make sure it does not spread to other areas.

Blisters generally form if it’s a second or third degree burn but you should never break or puncture a blister at home, leave it for a professional to take care of. Trying to clean blisters at home may lead to infections. In case of first or second degree burns, once the area has cooled under running water for 15 to 20 minutes, you may apply burn specific creams and cover it with sterile gauze. Consult a doctor immediately once first aid has been delivered.

Filed Under: Child Care, Treatment Tagged With: Blister, Burn, Wounds and Injuries