Migrane - What a pain...

Emily remembers her first bad headache. "It was really scary. The pain was unbelievable and I felt like I was going to throw up," she said. "I had no idea what was happening." The headaches struck once a month, then once a week. They were getting worse and worse. Emily told her mom, who took her to the doctor.

It turned out that Emily had migraines (say: my-graynz). Luckily, the doctor gave Emily some medicine to treat her headaches. The doctor also taught her how to know when a migraine is coming and how to avoid them.

What's a Migraine?

Almost everyone gets headaches. You might have one after bumping your head or during a cold or bout with the flu. Some types of headaches may happen only once in a while, whereas others can happen as often as every day. Most headaches produce a dull pain around the front, top, and sides of your head, almost like someone stretched a rubber band around your noggin.

But a migraine is worse than a regular headache. Migraines usually occur about one to four times a month. The pain is often throbbing and on one or both sides of the head. Kids with migraines often feel dizzy or sick to their stomachs. During the headache, some kids are sensitive to light, noise, or smells, and want to sleep. When they wake up, they usually feel better. Most migraines last from 30 minutes to 6 hours but some can last a day or 2.

If you have migraines, you are not alone. About one out of every 20 kids, or about 8 million children in the United States, gets migraines. Before age 10, an equal number of boys and girls get migraines. But after age 12, during and after puberty, migraines affect girls three times more often than boys.

Migraines aren't contagious, which means you can't catch them from someone who has them.

What Causes a Migraine?

A migraine begins when, for some reason, blood vessels in the brain narrow (constrict) temporarily. When that happens, the amount of blood and oxygen flowing to the brain drops. So the brain sends a message: "Hey guys, we need some more blood and oxygen here!"

That causes other blood vessels to dilate (expand). When those blood vessels expand, they become inflamed, throb, and cause a pounding pain. Because it involves changes in blood vessels, a migraine is a vascular (say: vas-kyuh-lur) headache.

Some scientists believe that people who get migraines have inherited a tendency for their nervous systems to react differently to changes in their bodies or their environment. Certain things may trigger a reaction in the person's nervous system and start a migraine attack.

Some common triggers are:

* stress
* menstruation (having a period)
* skipping meals
* too much caffeine (like cola drinks)
* certain foods (cheese, pizza, chocolate, ice cream, fatty or fried food, lunch meats, hot dogs, yogurt, or anything with MSG, a seasoning often used in Asian foods)
* too much or too little sleep
* weather changes
* travel

No one is really sure why people get migraines. But chances are, if you get migraines, another member of your family gets them as well. That's because scientists think migraines are genetic, which means that certain genes passed on from parents make a kid more likely to get them.

Do You Know a Migraine Is Coming?

Migraines begin differently. Some kids just don't feel right. Light or sound may bother them or make them feel worse, and they may even get sick to their stomachs and throw up. Before or during a migraine headache, some children may have muscle weakness, lose their sense of coordination, stumble, or even have trouble talking.

About one in five kids gets an aura (say: or-uh), a kind of warning that a migraine is on the way. The most common auras include blurred vision and/or seeing spots, colored balls, jagged lines, or bright lights, or smelling a certain odor. An aura usually starts about 10 to 30 minutes before the start of a migraine headache, although auras can happen the night before the headache starts. An aura usually lasts about 20 minutes.

Treatments for Migraines

Getting a bad migraine once in a while may be annoying, but usually doesn't cause any big problems for a kid. But be sure to tell your mom or dad if you have headaches that:

* last a long time
* seem to be getting worse
* happen more often
* cause problems with balance
* interfere with school or after-school activities

Your doctor will want to know about those problems and can try to help. Your doctor also may want you to keep a headache diary. By keeping track of your headaches, you may be able to figure out what triggers them. Answer all the questions in the diary each time you have a headache. The information will help your doctor figure out the best treatment.

Your doctor may suggest one or more medicines you can take. They could include:

* pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
* medicines that reduce nausea and vomiting
* sedatives, which can help you to go to sleep and get rid of the headache
* medicines to prevent migraines or make them less severe

Some doctors may also try to teach you biofeedback. This technique helps you learn to relax and use your brain to gain control over certain body functions. If a migraine begins slowly, many people can use biofeedback to remain calm and stop the attack.

How to Prevent a Migraine

The good news is that many kids outgrow migraines. In the meantime, follow your doctor's instructions and take your medicine as instructed. Make sure you have the medicine on hand in case a migraine starts at school or when you're away from home.

Also try to stay away from your migraine triggers. If certain foods like chocolate or cheese or caffeinated drinks trigger your migraines, it's a good idea to avoid them. Also, take breaks from activities that seem to trigger your migraines, such as using the computer for a long time or listening to loud music.

Fight stress by making a plan so you don't feel freaked out by all the stuff you need to get done. Regular exercise can also reduce stress and make you feel better. The more you understand migraines, the better prepared you can be to fight them before they become a big pain!

Technorati Tags: Migrane, Migrane Pain, kid's health

Rashes - How to deal with them

Types of Rashes

A rash can also be called dermatitis (say: dur-muh-tye-tus), which is any swelling (puffiness) or irritation of the skin. It can be red, dry, scaly, and itchy. Rashes also can include lumps, bumps, blisters, and even pimples. Most people have had a rash or two. When you were a baby, you probably had diaper rash!

But some rashes, especially combined with a fever, can be signs of serious illnesses. Hives, also called urticaria (say: ur-tuh-kar-ee-ah), also can be serious because they can be a sign of an allergic reaction and the person may need immediate medical attention.

Hives, which are reddish or pale swellings, appear on a person's body when a chemical called histamine (say: his-tuh-meen) is released in response to an allergen. The trigger could be a certain food, medicine, or insect bite. A virus also can cause hives.

Here are some other common types of rashes:

* Eczema (say: ek-zuh-muh), also called atopic dermatitis, is a common rash for kids. Eczema can cause dry, chapped, bumpy areas around the elbows and knees or more serious cases of red, scaly, and swollen skin all over the body.
* Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by contact with something irritating, such as a chemical, soap, or detergent. It can be red, swollen, and itchy. Even sunburn can be a kind of irritant dermatitis because it's red and may itch while it's healing.
* Allergic contact dermatitis is a rash caused by contact with an allergen (say: ah-lur-jun). An allergen is something you are allergic to, such as rubber, hair dye, or nickel, a metal found in some jewelry. If you have nickel allergy, you might get a red, scaly, crusty rash wherever the jewelry touched the skin, like around your finger if you were wearing a ring. Urushiol (say: yoo-roo-shee-ol), an oil or resin contained in poison ivy, oak, and sumac, also can cause this kind of rash.

What to Do If You Get a Rash

Some rashes form right away and others can take several days to occur. When a rash appears, you usually know it because it will start to bother you. If you develop a rash, tell a parent or another adult as soon as you can. For instance, you might want to see the school nurse if you are at school.

Try not to scratch. If you do, the rash may take longer to heal and you'll be more likely to develop an infection or scar.

A visit to the doctor is a good idea if you have a rash. Although all rashes may look alike to you, a skin doctor called a dermatologist (say: dur-muh-tah-luh-jist) knows the difference. And knowing which kind of rash you have can help the dermatologist choose the best treatment to heal your rash.

For eczema, the doctor may suggest special moisturizers called emollients (say: ih-mal-yunts). Emollients retain the water in your skin, keeping it soft and smooth while soothing the itchy feeling.

With poison ivy, the doctor may prescribe cool showers and calamine lotion. In more severe cases, a liquid or pill medicine called an antihistamine may be needed. It decreases itching and redness.

For rashes that are caused by an allergen, including hives, the doctor will probably want more information. He or she will want to find out which food, substance, medicine, or insect caused your rash or hives. He or she may recommend a medical test to determine which allergens are causing you trouble. It's important to find this out because the best way to prevent rashes and hives caused by allergens is to avoid the problem food, substance, medicine, or insect.

Rash Prevention

Prevention is also the name of the game when it comes to other kinds of rashes.

* If a poison plant is your problem, learn what the plant looks like and avoid it. It also may help to wear long sleeves and pants when you're camping or hiking in the woods.
* If bugs bug you, have a parent help you apply some insect repellent when you'll be going outside.
* For allergic dermatitis or irritant contact dermatitis, try to avoid that substance. If you are allergic to nickel, wear only nickel-free jewelry. Or if you discover that bubble bath bothers your skin, don't use it.
* With eczema, stay away from harsh soaps that may dry out your skin. Also, make an effort to moisturize your skin with creams or lotions. Short, cool showers are a good idea, too, because hot showers and baths can further dry out your skin.
* When it comes to sun, you should always wear sunscreen to avoid a red and itchy sunburn.

Being a kid means getting a few rashes. But now you know what to do if you get that awful itchy feeling!

Technorati Tags: Kid's Health, Itching, Itch, Rashes

Taking out your tonsils!

Have you ever had tonsillitis? That's when your tonsils, in the back of your throat, get sore and infected. If tonsillitis happens to you a lot, the doctor may suggest you have an operation to remove your tonsils. No tonsils, no more tonsillitis. Or maybe you have really large tonsils that make it hard for you to breathe at night. That's another reason the doctor may say they should come out.

Your tonsils are two lumps of tissue that work as germ fighters for your body. The trouble is that sometimes germs like to hang out there, where they cause infections. In other words, your tonsils start causing more problems than they solve.

The surgery to remove tonsils is called a tonsillectomy.

After this operation, kids usually don't have as many sore throats. And, if they were having trouble breathing at night, that problem goes away, too. Without tonsils, a kid won't look any different and he or she won't have any scars that anyone can see. You don't need your tonsils, so a kid's body keeps on working just fine even after they've been removed.

But how do doctors get the tonsils out of your throat? Will it hurt? And what exactly do tonsils do back there? Let's find out.

Before the Tonsillectomy

Before you go to the doctor, you may need a blood or urine (pee) test. These tests might be done at your doctor's office, at a medical center or laboratory, or at the hospital a few days before your operation.

The night before surgery, you won't be allowed to eat or drink anything after dinner — not even water. That's because your doctors don't want you to throw up during the operation. That would be a mess. So if you don't eat or drink, there's nothing in your stomach to throw up.

You'll also need to pack your suitcase and bring anything you want to have with you. If you have a special stuffed animal or blanket, go ahead and bring it. It's nice to have something that reminds you of home when you're in the hospital.

You'll probably go to the hospital on the day of your surgery. Your mom or dad will help you get admitted. It's kind of like checking into a hotel. You let the hospital know you're there and they give you your room assignment. You'll also get a plastic bracelet that has your name on it. Once you're in your room, you'll meet the nurses and other hospital staff who will take care of you. Your mom and dad can stay with you.

Talking Tonsillectomies

Tonsils are removed in the operating room, so you'll have to take a ride on a gurney. A gurney is like a bed on wheels. When it's time for your operation, you'll get a medicine called anesthesia (say: an-is-thee-zhuh). It will help you fall asleep and keep you from feeling any pain during the operation.

During the surgery, which takes only about 20 minutes, doctors will open your mouth and remove the tonsils. Hurray for anesthesia because you won't feel anything during the operation. The doctors will quickly take care of any bleeding, and before you know it, you'll wake up in the recovery room.

You may feel sleepy and dizzy at first. But soon you will feel a lot better and your mom or dad will come in to see you. You'll probably have a sore throat and maybe a slight earache.

What Happens Afterward?

After your operation, it's important to drink fluids when you wake up. You should try to drink, even if it hurts a bit at first. This will help you feel better and get home faster. Sometimes kids stay in the hospital overnight, but most go home the same day as their operation.

The first 2 days at home should be spent in bed. Drink fluids and eat soft foods. This will help keep your throat moist and your body fueled. Have your mom or dad stock the refrigerator with soft drinks, icepops, gelatin, ice cream, and pudding. Other good things to eat are mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, pasta, and warm soup.

While you're getting better, you'll take a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen. You also may get antibiotics (say: an-tye-bye-ah-tiks) to prevent infection. You may see little white patches in the back of your throat. This is normal. After the first week, the white patches will fall off. You doctor may also have you return to his or her office for a checkup.

After a week or two, you should feel much better. You'll be ready to go back to school and play with your friends again. You can tell them all about your tonsillectomy!

Technorati Tags: tonsillitis, tonsils, kid's health

Indigestion

Brandon was having a great day. He got an "A" on his math test, the girl he likes had said "hi" to him, and, for lunch, he had an awesome steak sandwich with cheese, peppers, and lots of onions.

But later that afternoon, in social studies, he felt a burning sensation in the back of his throat. His chest and stomach started to hurt, too. Brandon had a mean case of .... indigestion!

What Is Indigestion?

Indigestion (say: in-dih-jest-shun) is just another name for an upset stomach. (It's also called dyspepsia (say: dis-pep-see-ah.) Indigestion usually happens when people eat too much, too fast, or foods that don't "agree" with them. It's fair to say that big cheesesteak sandwich didn't agree with Brandon!

Brandon had a little heartburn with his indigestion. It doesn't mean there was anything wrong with his heart. Heartburn is a burning feeling that travels from a person's chest up to the neck and throat. It's caused by stomach acid, which isn't a problem unless it gets out of your stomach.

With heartburn, stomach acid splashes up and irritates the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Also called acid indigestion, this usually leaves a sour or bitter taste in the person's mouth.

Indigestion and heartburn are common problems for both kids and grownups. That's why you see all those commercials for heartburn and indigestion medicines on TV! But don't take any medicine for indigestion unless your parents or doctor says it's OK. Most of the ones that are advertised on TV are meant for adults, not kids.

Stress, not enough sleep, smoking, or drinking alcohol also can make indigestion worse.

Digestive problems, such as ulcers, can cause the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn, too. But they're not common in kids.

Do I Have It?

In addition to heartburn, if you have indigestion, you'll probably have one or more of the following symptoms:

* pain or burning in your upper belly - usually in the middle
* nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
* bloating (that too-full feeling where your stomach sticks out)
* burping that you have a hard time controlling

When to Go to the Doctor?

Usually, indigestion only happens once in a while, like after eating one too many hot dogs.

But you'll want to see the doctor if you get indigestion even when you're eating healthy foods, exercising, and getting enough sleep.

You may need to be examined, have stomach X-rays or other tests to make sure your indigestion is not the sign of another problem in your digestive tract. Depending on what the doctor finds, you might need to make changes in your diet or take medicine.

Be sure to tell your parent right way if you:

* throw up (or vomit), especially if you ever see blood in your throw up
* think you're losing weight
* have no appetite for more than a day
* ever feel short of breath
* sweat for no reason
* have belly pain that won't go away or feels really bad
* have poop (bowel movements) that look black or sticky or you see blood in the toilet or on the toilet paper after you wipe

Indigestion Prevention

Some people can eat anything and they never get upset stomachs. But other people are more sensitive to food and they might find certain ones just don't agree with them. If you discover one of these foods, it's best not to eat a lot of them or skip them entirely. (For Brandon, the problem was the onions on his cheesesteak!)

In addition to avoiding problem foods, it's a good idea to eat several smaller meals instead of a couple really big ones. Here are some other tips to prevent indigestion:

* As much as possible, avoid fatty, greasy foods, like fries and burgers.
* Avoid too much chocolate.
* Eat slowly.
* Don't smoke - or don't start smoking!
* Find ways to relax and decrease stress.
* Give your body a chance to digest food. Don't eat a huge meal and immediately go to sports practice. Try to eat at least an hour beforehand, or eat afterward.

You might do all these things, but still get indigestion once in a while. If you do, just remember to say "excuse me" if it makes you burp!


Technorati Tags: Kid's Health, Indigestion, Stomach

Dealing with Flu

Lots of people get the flu, but what do you do? Here are some tips:

1)Drink lots of liquids, like water, chicken broth, and other fluids.
2)Get plenty of sleep. If you can't sleep anymore, keep resting. Listen to music, watch a movie, or read a book or magazine.
3)If you're feeling achy, ask your parent for some medicine. But avoid aspirin because it can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome (say: ry sin-drome).
4)Wear layers. You might be cold one minute and hot the next, so if you wear plenty of layers you can pull your favorite sweatshirt on and off.
5)Wash your hands! You don't want to spread the germs that cause the flu. Also, don't share cups and eating utensils, like forks and spoons, with anyone.

Most of the time you will get better in about a week, but it's important to let your parents know if you have trouble breathing, your muscles really hurt, you feel confused, or if you start feeling worse at any time. These could be signs that you need to see your doctor again.

Technorati Tags: kid's health, flu, fighting flu

Flu Vaccine

The flu season is from November to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March, but the vaccine is usually offered between September and mid-November (and may be given at other times of the year).

Getting the shot before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or protection from, the virus. Although you can get a flu shot well into flu season, it's best to try to get it earlier rather than later. However, even when there are only 2 or 3 months left in the flu season, it's still a good idea to get protection if the vaccine is available in your area.

In times when the vaccine is in short supply, certain people need it more than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often will recommend that certain high-risk groups be given priority when flu shot supplies are limited. Call your doctor or local public health department about vaccine availability in your area.

A non-shot option, the nasal mist vaccine, is now available, but because it contains weakened live flu viruses it is not for people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions. The nasal mist vaccine is only for healthy, non-pregnant people between the ages of 2 and 49 years. Check with your doctor to see if your child can — or should — get this type of flu vaccine.

Who Should Typically Get the Flu Shot?

High-risk children who should get the flu vaccine include those who:

* are between 6–59 months of age
* were born prematurely and are at increased risk of developing lung problems if they get influenza
* have chronic heart or lung disorders, including asthma
* have chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, severe anemia, or immune deficiency (including HIV/AIDS and immunosuppression caused by drugs)
* are on long-term aspirin therapy and may be at risk for Reye syndrome if they catch the flu
* live with someone in any of the high-risk groups above

High-risk adults who should get the flu vaccine include:

* those who have chronic lung or heart disorders
* those who have chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, severe anemia, or immune deficiency (including HIV/AIDS and immunosuppression caused by drugs)
* pregnant women
* residents of nursing homes and other facilities that care for people with chronic medical conditions
* health care workers and other employees of hospitals, nursing homes, and chronic care and other outpatient facilities who care for patients
* police, firefighters, and other public safety workers
* those planning to travel to the tropics at any time or to the Southern Hemisphere from April through September who did not receive a flu vaccine the previous year
* everyone 50 years of age or older
* out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of anyone in any of the high-risk groups

If you want to get the flu shot and aren't in the high-risk groups listed above, talk to your doctor about vaccine availability.

People who should not get a flu shot include:

* anyone who's severely allergic to eggs and egg products (ingredients for flu shots are grown inside eggs, so tell your doctor if your child is allergic to eggs or egg products before he or she gets a flu shot)
* infants under 6 months old
* anyone who's ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination (although most people do not experience any side effects from the flu shot)
* anyone with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition that affects the immune system and nerves
* anyone with a fever

Kids under 9 who get a flu shot for the first time will receive two separate shots a month apart. It can take about 1 or 2 weeks after the shot for the body to build up protection to the flu.

How the Flu Vaccine Works

Flu vaccines are available as a shot or nasal mist. Given as an injection, the flu shot contains killed flu viruses that will not cause the flu, but will prepare the body to fight off infection by the live flu virus. Getting a shot of the killed virus means a person is protected against that particular type of live flu virus if he or she comes into contact with it. The nasal mist vaccine contains weakened live flu viruses. Because it contains live viruses, the mist is not for people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions.

Even if you or your child may have gotten the vaccine last year, that won't protect you from getting the flu this year because the protection wears off and flu viruses constantly change. That's why the vaccine is updated each year to include the most current strains of the virus.

The flu vaccine reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80% during the season. Because the vaccine prevents infection with only a few of the viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms, it isn't a guarantee against getting sick. But even if someone who's gotten the shot gets the flu, symptoms usually will be fewer and milder.

Side Effects

Again, most people do not experience any side effects from the flu shot. According to the CDC, the flu shot rarely causes serious harm. Some of those vaccinated may have soreness or swelling at the site of the injection or mild side effects, such as headache or low-grade fever.

Although these side effects may last for a day, the flu can knock you off your feet for 2 to 3 weeks and can cause complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and other respiratory problems.

If your child does have symptoms after getting the flu shot, put a warm compress on the injection site to ease soreness or swelling, and give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for headache or low-grade fever. Do not give your child aspirin unless your doctor instructs you to do so.

A common myth about the flu shot is that it can actually cause the flu. But the flu shot used in the United States is made from killed influenza viruses, which means that it's impossible to catch the flu by receiving it. However, because the nasal spray flu vaccine is made from live viruses, it may cause mild flu-like symptoms, including runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever.

Where Can My Family Get Flu Shots?

Flu shots are available at:

* many health care settings, including doctors' offices and public, employee, and university health clinics
* some pharmacies
* some supermarkets
* some community groups

If you have an HMO insurance plan, be sure to check with your primary care doctor before having your kids vaccinated outside the office, since most HMOs will pay for shots only if they're given through their plan. Flu shots are covered by Medicare for senior citizens and are generally covered by insurance for people in other high-risk groups. Otherwise, flu shots may cost anywhere from $10 to $50. If you opt for the nasal mist flu vaccine, check to see if your insurance plan covers it.

Other Ways to Prevent the Flu From Spreading

There's no guaranteed way — including being vaccinated — to prevent anyone from getting the flu. But precautions that can help protect you and your family include:

* avoiding large crowds whenever possible
* practicing good hand washing
* never picking up used tissues
* never sharing cups and eating utensils
* staying home from work or school when someone is sick with the flu
* covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze

Flu-Stop sneezing

Influenza (say: in-floo-en-zah) is also called the flu. It's an infection that causes fever, chills, cough, body aches, headaches, and sometimes earaches or sinus problems. The flu is caused by the influenza virus (say: vy-rus). A virus is a microorganism (say: my-croh-or-gah-nih-zum), which means it's so small that you can't see it without a strong microscope.

For most people, the flu is a drag, but it goes away in a week or two. But for some people, the flu can make them very sick. Those groups include:

* babies and kids under age 5
* people older than 50
* adults and kids who have health problems, such as diabetes and asthma

Anyone who's at risk of getting really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine (say: vak-seen). People such as doctors and nurses also need the shot because they take care of sick people. It’s good for kids who are around older people and younger kids (like little brothers and sisters) to get the vaccine too.

Healthy kids and adults can also get a flu shot, so they are less likely to get the flu. Flu vaccines are usually given in the fall, before flu season starts. Flu season means the months of the year when a lot of people have the flu and it's easy to catch it. It starts in November and usually ends in April.

Getting the Flu Vaccine

If you get the flu vaccine, or shot, it will protect you from getting a bad case of the flu. You either won't get the flu at all or, if you do get it, you will have only mild symptoms and you should get better pretty quickly. Like other shots, a flu shot is given using a needle. There's also a nasal mist flu vaccine, which is a spray that's squirted up your nose.

Whichever one you get, you need to get a new vaccine every year. Why? Because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is specially created to fight the viruses that are going to be a problem that year.

How Does the Flu Spread?

This virus gets around in little drops that spray out of an infected person's mouth and nose when he or she sneezes, coughs, or even laughs. You can catch the flu from someone who has it if you breathe in some of those tiny flu-infected drops. You can also catch the flu if those drops get on your hands and you touch your mouth or nose. No wonder people are always saying to cover your mouth when you sneeze!

What If You Get the Flu?

But even if you steer clear of sneezers and you wash your hands regularly, you still might get the flu. At the doctor's office, the doctor will ask you how you've been feeling and examine you. He or she might use a long cotton swab to get a sample of the gunk in your nose or throat. Testing this sample in a lab can determine, for sure, that you have the flu. But usually this isn't necessary. Based on your symptoms, your doctor can usually tell if you have the flu, especially during times when a lot of flu is going around your town.

Once your doctor says you have the flu, you can start taking these steps to feel better:

* Rest in bed or on the couch.
* Drink lots of liquids, like water, chicken broth, and other fluids.
* Take the medicine your mom or dad gives you to ease your fever, aches, and pains.
* Tell your mom or dad if you have trouble breathing, your muscles really hurt, or if you feel confused. These are signs you may need to see the doctor again.

Most of the time, you'll feel better in a week or two. Until then, you'll have to stay home from school and take it easy. We hope you're flu-free this year, but if you do get the flu, now you know what to do!

Technorati Tags: Kid's Health, Flu, Sneezing

Chilling Out with Colds

You wake up in a cranky mood. Your head hurts. You don't have the energy to even get out of bed. And you can't breathe out of your nose. What's wrong? You have a cold!

Having a cold is the number-one reason kids visit the doctor and stay home from school. Kids get up to eight colds per year with each cold lasting an average of 5 to 7 days. Let's find out more about them.
What Is a Cold?

A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory system. This just means it affects the nose, throat, and ears. A cold virus gets inside your body and makes you sick. There are over 200 viruses that cause colds. The rhinovirus (say: rye-no-vye-rus) is the most common cold virus, but there are more than 200 viruses that cause colds. Because there are so many, there isn't a vaccination, or shot, to prevent you from getting colds.

Fortunately, your body already has the best cold cure - your immune system. The immune system defends your body against illness. White blood cells are the immune system's main warriors. They're your own private army working to help you feel better. Take that, cold viruses!
How Kids Catch Colds

Mucus (say: myoo-kus) is the wet, slimy stuff inside the nose. When someone sneezes or coughs, mucus drops float in the air. Breathing in these droplets can spread a cold from one person to another.

You can also catch a cold if you touch your eyes or nose after handling something with cold viruses on it. Video games, the doors at the mall, and your school desk are all hot spots for viruses. So be sure to wash your hands regularly.

Getting a cold works like space travel - the virus actually has docking points that stick to the inside of your nose - just like a small spaceship attaching to a mother ship! The virus takes over the cells lining the nose and begins creating more viruses.

White blood cells charge to the nose's rescue and cause cold symptoms, while also killing the virus that caused the cold. Runny noses and sneezing actually help to prevent viruses from invading other parts of your body.

You sneeze because your nerves detect the irritation in your nose and get the lungs to push a blast of air out through your nose and mouth. Your body can sneeze over 100 miles an hour (161 kilometers per hour) - faster than a car travels on the road, unless you're at a racetrack!
Cold Clues

Symptoms (say: simp-tumz) are signs or clues that tell doctors you're sick. Once you've been in contact with a cold virus, it takes 2 to 3 days for cold symptoms to begin. If you have some of the following symptoms, you probably have a cold:

* low fever (100 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.2 to 37.8 degrees Celsius)
* body chills
* itchy or sore throat
* sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes
* coughing
* feeling tired and not hungry
* congestion (when your nose is stuffy and it's hard to breathe)

Helping Kids Feel Better

Here are some feel-better tips:

* Bring on the heat. Hot drinks soothe coughs and sore throats while also clearing mucus. So eat (or drink) your chicken soup!
* Get steamed up. A steamy shower helps stuffy or irritated noses. Or run a humidifier (a small, quiet machine that sprays fine cool mist in the air) to relieve your scratchy throat, stuffy nose, and itchy eyes. Humidifiers make room air moist, which loosens mucus.
* Practice healthy habits. Your immune system will be ready to fight colds if you eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and keep your body fit through regular exercise.
* Blow your horn. Blowing your nose is the best way to get rid of mucus.
* Rest. Take a nap or go to bed a little earlier for a few nights.
* De-stress. Kids who are stressed out feel worse when they have colds. Relax and use the time to read, listen to music, or watch a movie. In other words, chill out and you might prevent a cold!

The Scoop on Strep Throat

"It could be strep throat."

Have you ever heard a doctor or your mom say that when you're sick and you have a sore throat? Strep throat is a disease caused by tiny egg-shaped bacteria (say: bak-teer-ee-uh) called Group A streptococci (say: strep-toe-kah-kye). These bacteria cause 15% to 20% of all sore throats and are found in your throat and on your skin.

If a kid has strep throat, the doctor will probably give him or her medicine called antibiotics. These kill the strep bacteria. That's good news because sometimes strep throat can get worse and cause problems with other parts of a kid's body. In rare cases, untreated strep can cause arthritis (say: arth-rye-tus) or heart problems from a disease called rheumatic (say: roo-mah-tik) fever.

Most of the time kids get the medicine they need and recover from strep throat very quickly. After taking the medicine for 24 hours, you will feel a lot better and will no longer be contagious. However, it is really important to take all 10 days of the medicine to make sure you have treated the infection.

How Do I Get It?

If someone in your family or at school has strep throat, there is a chance you may get it. Strep throat is spread when healthy people come into contact with people who have it. When a person with strep throat sneezes or blows his or her nose and you are close by, or if you share the same forks, spoons, or straws, the bacteria can spread to you.

If you get strep throat, you will start to feel sick within 5 days after you have been around the person who gave it to you.

What Will the Doctor Do?

Your doctor will look into your mouth to see if your throat is red and your tonsils are swollen and covered with white or yellow spots. He or she will also look for small red spots on the roof of your mouth. Most of the time, strep will give you a sore throat, headache, stomach ache, and fever. Typically strep will not give you a runny nose or cough, and occasionally it won't give you any specific symptoms.

To prove that what you have is strep throat, your doctor may do one or two tests. First he or she can do a rapid strep test to check for strep bacteria. He or she will rub a cotton swab over the back of your throat. With this test, the doctor may be able to find out in less than 1 hour if you have strep throat.

If the first test doesn't prove anything, then your doctor may do a longer test called a throat culture. A swab from your throat will then be rubbed on a special dish and the dish will be left to sit for two nights. If you have strep throat, streptococci bacteria will usually grow in the dish within the next 1 to 2 days.

How Can I Get Better?

If you have strep throat, your doctor will give you an antibiotic (say: an-tye-bye-ah-tik), a medicine that kills bacteria. Usually the antibiotic used for strep throat is a form of penicillin (say: peh-nuh-sih-lun). You will take penicillin as a pill, a liquid, or a shot.

To make sure the bacteria go away completely and don't spread to other parts of your body, you must finish all of the medicine. Your doctor will have you take the pills or liquid for about a week.

Your mom or dad may give you acetaminophen (say: uh-see-tuh-mih-nuh-fun) to get rid of aches, pains, and fever. You'll want to have soothing drinks, like tea and warm chicken soup. It's best to avoid spicy and acidic foods, such as orange juice, because they could irritate your tender throat.

Your doctor will tell you to stay home from school until you have been taking the antibiotic for at least 24 hours. This way, you won't spread the bacteria to others.
How Can I Prevent Strep Throat?

If someone in your house has strep throat, you might get it. But you can take these steps to prevent it:

* Make sure the person with strep throat covers his or her mouth when sneezing and coughing.
* Don't handle used tissues or other germy items.
* Wash your hands regularly, especially before cooking and eating.
* Wash dishes, drinking glasses, knives, forks, and spoons in hot, soapy water.
* Keep sores and cuts clean because strep can get in there and cause problems, too.

Strep throat is no fun, but after feeling sick for 2 or 3 days, most kids start feeling better. In other words, they feel less streppy and more peppy!