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Causes and Symptoms of Hirschsprung’s Disease

Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is a congenital disorder that is caused by a loss of nerve cells at the end of the bowel. This loss in innervation causes stool to move really slowly or not at all in the parts of the bowel affected. Hence, there is a functional bowel obstruction that arises.

10 Oct 2016

Diagnosis and Treatment of Hirschsprung's Disease

Caused by a congenital absence of innervation at the end of the bowel, Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) results in functional obstruction of the gut. The rectum and sigmoid colon are typically affected, but the entire large intestine and even part of the small intestine may be involved as well.

10 Oct 2016

Hirschsprung's Disease (HD)

The congenital defect where nerve cells at the end of the bowel are missing is known as Hirschsprung’s disease (HD). This absence of ganglia at the distal end of the colon results in functional obstruction of the bowel where the stool moves really slowly or doesn’t move at all. HD should be considered as a potential diagnosis in any newborn baby who fails to pass meconium (i.e., the baby’s first stool) within the first 24 – 48 hours after birth.

10 Oct 2016

Types of Leukonychia

Many local and systemic diseases reflect in nail abnormalities. Among these, nail discolorations are prominent. They may range from white to green.

10 Oct 2016

Paget's Disease of the Nipple

Paget's disease of the nipple (or mammary Paget disease) is an uncommon form of breast cancer characterized by the accumulation of cancer cells in or surrounding the nipple. It occurs in less than 5% of diagnosed breast cancer patients and is most common in women after the age of 50. Despite this, occurrence in adolescents and in the elderly is not unheard of.

10 Oct 2016

A Brief History of Pediatrics

Throughout history, dating back to ancient Greek times, doctors have provided medical care to people of all ages, including children. Despite this, pediatrics is a relatively new field of medicine.

10 Oct 2016

Hydrocephalus in Children

Hydrocephalus in the pediatric population occurs due to the accumulation of spinal fluid within the brain.

10 Oct 2016

Hydrocephalus Prognosis

A disruption in the flow, formation, or absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may lead to hydrocephalus. It is a very dangerous condition with life-threatening consequences if left untreated. The disturbance in the hydrodynamics of CSF may be acute, subacute, or chronic, occurring over days, weeks, and months to years, respectively. The disorder has a bimodal distribution in its peak incidence, peaking first in infancy and usually associated with a congenital malformation. Its second peak incidence occurs after the sixth decade of life.

10 Oct 2016

Hydrocephalus Research

The disruption in the hydrodynamics of cerebrospinal spinal fluid (CSF) flow, production, and absorption leads to hydrocephalus. This condition can be life-threatening if left untreated and has a bimodal distribution in its peak incidences.

10 Oct 2016

Infections in Childhood

There are many viral and bacterial infections that commonly affect young children. Each of these is characterized by particular symptoms that distinguish them and the recommendations for their management. Several of the most prominent childhood infections are covered in more detail below.

10 Oct 2016

Epilepsy in Children

Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). This neurological dysfunction arises due to disruption in nervous activity in the CNS that causes seizures or periods of highly unusual sensations, behavior and, at times, a loss of consciousness.

10 Oct 2016

Growing Pains and Restless Leg Syndrome

Growing pains (GPs) and restless leg syndrome (RLS) are often confused with each other, but are different conditions. GPs are not dangerous and are the most common form of episodic childhood pain of the musculoskeletal system.

10 Oct 2016

Gastric Carcinoma

Gastric cancer (or stomach cancer) occurs when the growth of a tumor arises in the inner lining of the stomach. It is not a particularly common form of cancer; however, the danger of this form is in its vague initial symptoms that often lead to the misdiagnosis of it as less severe conditions. For example, late stage cancer can often present with symptoms which indicate peptic ulcer disease – a condition characterized by pain in the upper abdomen provoked by factors such as indigestion.

10 Oct 2016

Colic Treatment Options

Colic is a distressing part of early infancy for many babies as well as their parents. The regular crying fits may seem to be intolerable, especially when it looks as if the baby is in pain. The most frustrating part of the experience may be that it seems impossible to comfort the baby. Ordinary soothing sounds and songs, feeding, or rocking, may all fail.

10 Oct 2016

Colic Prevention

Colic is a frustrating phenomenon consisting of regular fits of inconsolable crying in infants. It is often associated with motor symptoms such as grimacing, drawing up of the legs or arching of the trunk, or clenching of the fists. The daily episodes of screaming may take a toll on the parents, but colic usually subsides on its own in 4-6 months.

10 Oct 2016

Symptoms and Causes of Colic

Colic in infants is one of the most upsetting features of early infant life. Affecting from a third to a fifth of all babies, it is characterized by the occurrence of frequent and unexplained episodes of excessive crying, which start around the same time on almost every day, and last for three hours or more. It may last from weeks to months, but usually subsides without specific treatment. Colic is found to occur equally in bottle-fed and breast-fed infants.

10 Oct 2016

Growing Pains

The most common form of episodic musculoskeletal childhood pain is growing pain (GP). GPs are not dangerous and are most often described as a throbbing or aching pain in the legs. Children between the ages of 3 – 12 years are typically affected with at least 1 - 4 in every 10 children experiencing GPs at least once. Both boys and girls are affected and these pains tend to occur at night, sometimes even waking a child from sleep.

10 Oct 2016

What Causes Clubbing of the Fingers or Toes?

Clubbing of fingers or toes appears as the curled, spherical enlargement of the ends of the digits . The swelling of tissue distorts the normal placement of the skin and the nail plate, and causes the base of the nail to become spongy.

9 Oct 2016

Where did 10,000 steps a day come from?

There is a general consensus amongst fitness enthusiasts that if an individual wants to stay healthy, they need to walk about 10,000 steps a day. People across the globe have accordingly been adjusting their target of daily steps on fitness trackers to this number. Scientific studies based on fitness have also been conducted to check the validity of the claim that walking 10,000 steps will ensure good health. How did this belief come into being? Is there any truth behind it or is it just another myth?

9 Oct 2016

What Causes White Milk Spots on Nails?

Leukonychia refers to the white discoloration of nails that occurs in several conditions. The normal nail is pale pink with a whitish crescent called the lunula at the base. It is the most common color variation in the nails. Other names for this condition are white nails, fortune spots and gift spots. The word comes from the Greek “leuko” which means white, and “onyx” which means nail.

28 Sep 2016