Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a viral illness that generally starts with a fever. There are multiple small, red bumps on the skin that become thin-walled blisters filled with water. These become cloudy blisters or open sores and finally dry up with brown crusts (all within 24 hours).

Constipation

Bowel movements may vary for each individual and across cultures depending on the intake of fibre in the diet. Normal bowel movements may vary from 3 per day to 3 per week. When a person has infrequent or hard stools or has to exert considerable effort while passing stool, he may be said to have constipation.

Cleft lip and Cleft palate

Clefts of the lip and palate are frequent birth defects. In a cleft lip, also called 'hare lip', there is an obvious gap dividing the upper lip on one or both sides. This may be incomplete and presents as only a notch in the lip but, more commonly, the defect extends to the nostril, the upper gum margin and even the palate, that is the roof of the mouth.

Children and Television

Children and television:Children between the ages two and 11 spend an average of one full day per week watching television. This is a very familiar scenario in many Indian homes today. With both parents away at work, in the urban, middle class families this trend is very common. Even when parents are at home, watching television is still the favoured family pastime

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders resulting from brain damage that occurs before, during or shortly after birth. It is characterised by loss of movement and nerve functions. Those affected by it have problems in mobility (crawling, creeping, walking), use of hands (eating, writing, dressing) and communication.

Constipation in children

Children with constipation have bowel movements that are hard, dry and painful to pass. These stools may occur every day or may be infrequent. The condition is very common, occurring in at least 2% of 7-year-old children, and probably similar numbers in other age groups

Common Cold

The common cold is a viral infection that affects the upper airways including the nose, voice box, throat, windpipes and the lungs. There are more than two hundred viruses that can cause colds and are commonly known as rhinoviruses or the nose viruses

Appendicitis in Children

The appendix is a finger-like structure at the junction of the small and large intestines. It serves no function in the human body. Inflammation of the appendix is called appendicitis. This is a common surgical emergency in children that requires prompt medical attention and hospitalisation.

Abusive head trauma (AHT)

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a form of inflicted traumatic brain injury, which can be caused by direct blows to the head, dropping or throwing a child, or shaking a child vigrously.