• Simple: They include only one muscle group

• Eyeblink
• Shoulder shrug
• Head jerk

• Complex: They make use of more than one muscle group, and the body of the face of the affected individual may contort.

• Touching someone
• Jump
• Sniff
• Making an indecent gesture

When does it usually occur and how common is it?

The initial symptoms of Tourette’s generally surface first in one’s childhood, with the average onset is found to be between three and nine years of age. All ethnic groups suffer from this disease and men suffer as much as thrice or four times in comparison with women. It is observed that two hundred thousand Americans suffer from the most severe type of this disorder and one in every hundred persons display less complex and comparatively mild symptoms like vocal or chronic motor tics. In spite of the fact that it is a chronic condition whose symptoms tend to last a lifetime, a vast majority of the patients experience the worst during their early teen years, with improvement happening in their late teen years and succeeding into adulthood.

Causes of Tourette Syndrome

While the researchers are yet to discover what causes Tourette’s, present studies suggest any abnormality in any one or more of the following parts of the human body may be responsible for its manifestation.

• Certain regions in the brain

• Basal ganglia
• Cortex
• Frontal lobes

• The circuits interconnecting the areas mentioned above
• The neurotransmitters that regulate the communication among the nerve cells

• Dopamine
• Norepinephrine
• Serotonin

Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome

It is vital to understand that the primary symptom of Tourette’s is tics, and some of them are so diminutive that they are barely noticeable, while others are evident and occur often; and excitement, sickness, or stress do tend to make them worse. Tics that are more severe can affect one’s work or social life and can be embarrassing. The tics can be classified into the following two types.

Motor Tics that Include Movement

• Head or arm jerking
• Making a face
• Blinking
• Shoulder shrugging
• Mouth twitching

Vocal tics

• Clearing one’s throat
• Yelping or barking
• Grunting
• Coughing
• Shouting
• Repeating anything that is uttered by others
• Swearing
• Sniffing

Diagnosis

No specific tests exist for the diagnosis and it is done after evaluating the history of one’s symptoms and signs. The following factors are taken into account at the time of performing a clinical diagnosis.

• Both the vocal and motor tics are present, but not necessarily at the same point of time
• The tics are occurring several times daily, almost intermittently or every day, and last over a year
• The tics start before the age of eighteen
• No medications, other chemical substances, or any medical conditions are causing the tics to happen
• Tics aren’t caused by medications, other substances or another medical condition

The specialist may ignore the diagnosis of Tourette’s, as the signs can resemble symptoms of other conditions. Sniffling might be associated with allergies in the beginning, or eye blinking could be attributed to vision problems.

Both the vocal and motor tics can be induced by other medical conditions excluding the Tourette syndrome. The health care professional might also recommend the following test to eliminate other probable causes.

• MRI
• Blood tests

Differential Diagnosis

• Dystonias

• Choreas
• Sydenham’s Chorea
• Idiopathic Dystonia
• Huntington’s
• Neuroacanthocytosis
• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
• Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome (HSS)
• Wilson’s
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Down syndrome
• XYY syndrome
• Fragile X syndrome
• Klinefelter syndrome
• Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS)
• Substance induction
• Stroke
• Trauma
• Encephalitis
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning
• Developmental disorders
• Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)
• Stereotypic movement disorders (SMDs)

Treatments

The tics can be found to be mild in many cases, and hence, they do not require any treatment. But if they start posing problems; a medical practitioner may suggest medication, and it can take some time to gauge the right dose, the one that will effectively manage the tics albeit any adverse effects.

The following medications are often prescribed.

Brand name: Generic name

• Haldol: Haloperidol
• Orap: Pimozide
• Prolixin: Fluphenazine

Note: These drugs work on dopamine for regulating the tics.

• Prozac: Fluoxetine
• Zoloft: Sertraline
• Paxil: Paroxetine

Note: These drugs reduce obsessive-compulsive symptoms, sadness, and anxiety.

• Tenex or Intuniv: Guanfacine
• Catapres: Clonidine

Note: High blood pressure medicines like these are also used to treat the tics.

One may also consider talk therapy along with the prescribed medication. A counselor or a psychologist can guide the patient and impart training on managing the social issues that the tics and other associated symptoms may cause. The affected individuals can also get benefitted from behavior therapy. A specific kind, known as the habit-reversal training or habit reprogramming teaches people with Tourette’s how to identify an incoming tic and then proceed in such a manner that stops it.

Prevention of Tourette Syndrome

Though it is not possible to prevent Tourette syndrome, early detection and prompt treatment can help to mitigate the severity of the disease and prevent a number of issues caused by this disorder.

Prognosis

The condition in a large number of people improves in their late teens or early twenties. As a consequence, some of them may no longer require tic-suppressive medication or literally become symptom-free. Although Tourette’s is usually a chronic illness that lasts a lifetime, it is not degenerative. The life expectancy of individuals who are diagnosed with Tourette syndrome is found to be statistically normal.

Also, this disease does not have any role in impairing one’s intelligence. It is worthwhile to note that a person affected with this syndrome can still face issues from other neurobehavioral disorders like ADHD, depression, OCD, panic attacks, generalized anxiety, and mood swings; irrespective of the fact that the symptoms associated with Tourette’s typically decrease with age.

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Other Names of Strømme Syndrome

• Apple peel syndrome
• Apple peel anomalies
• CILD31
• Ciliary dyskinesia
• Jejunal atresia

Ocular anomalies (including varying degrees of)

• Angular dysgenesis
• Corneal leukemia
• Hypoplasia
• Micro cornea
• Cataracts
• Anterior synechiae
• Sclera cornea
• Iris colobomas

The clinical characteristics of this disease are illustrated below in short.

Ocular features

In Strømme syndrome, the core complex incorporates intestinal atresia as well as ocular abnormalities related to the anterior segment. The ocular anomalies involve varying degrees of angle dysgenesis, corneal leukoma, anterior synechiae, iris hypoplasia and colobomas, sclera cornea, cataracts, and micro cornea. Also, microphthalmia, optic nerve hypoplasia, and tortuous retinal vessels may be present. Deep-set eyes and hypertelorism have been reported. No cases of glaucoma have been described. Most of the patients have been pretty young for RAT or reliable acuity testing.

Systemic features

The phenotype is pretty variable. It is observed that the ears are low-set and large most of the time. Microcephaly is present most of the time accompanied by micrognathia and a cleft palate. The intestinal atresia appears involving the jejunum mainly and is typically surgically correctable. Intestinal malrotation has also been noted, and the duodenum may too be involved. Myopathic changes are found in the myocardium along with a small amount of cardiomyocytes. Microcephaly is apparently seen to be progressive. Renal hydronephrosis and hypodysplasia have been stated. Short stature has also been described, and when it comes to the development of affected individuals, the amount of delay is found to be highly variable.

Causes of Strømme Syndrome

Strømme syndrome is a rare hereditary disease caused by a mutation in the Centromere protein F at chromosome 1q41 (CENPF 1q41) gene. This mutation happens in both the persons involved in sexual congress, and as a consequence, it is transferred to the offspring/s. To put things into perspective, one out of four babies will inherit this syndrome, provided each parent has one single mutation. Mutation in this ARD means a complete alteration of the particular gene, and it is the one and only cause of Strømme syndrome.

Symptoms

• Low set ears
• Hypertelorism
• Ear malformation
• Congenital eye anomaly
• Hypoplastic mandible condyle
• Microcephaly
• Abnormality in the skeleton system
• Abnormality in the respiratory system
• Abnormality of the nervous system
• Abnormality of the digestive system
• Ciliary dyskinesia
• Hydrocephalus
• Cerebellar hypoplasia
• Corpus callosum agenesis
• Duodenal atresia
• Short columella
• Hypoplasic mandible condyle
• Cleft palate
• Smaller head than usual
• Longer neck than usual

Diagnosis

The syndrome was first stated by Norwegian pediatrician Peter Strømme et al. in 1993 in biological siblings presenting with microcephaly, apple peel intestinal atresia, and ocular anomalies. The etiology is unknown to date. Strømme syndrome is an ARD caused by a mutated CENPF leading to a wide gamut of phenotypic spectrum. Family-based WES or whole-exome sequencing is employed case-to-case basis to identify the truncating genetic mutations in CENPF, i.e., the centrosome gene.

Differential diagnosis

As there are only a dozen cases of Strømme syndrome in the entire world, the question of performing a differential diagnosis does not arise here.

Treatments

Strømme syndrome cannot be treated because it is an RCD or recessive congenital disorder that happens due to mutated genes. Nonetheless; the associated conditions; such as intestinal abnormalities, head abnormalities, and visual impairment can be managed with medication. Intestinal surgery is sometimes done if the patient is a child.

Medications

Medications that are used for treating this disease include hormone therapy with letrozole, estrogens, dopamine, memantine, etc. Hormonal antagonists are too used. Other agents include the application of analgesics, protein kinase inhibitors, steroid synthesis inhibitors, anti-microbial drugs and anti-viral medicines.

The unique case study of Ruby Ardolf is presented below in brief.

Ruby Ardolf is a lively twelve-year-old girl from Lakeville in Minnesota, who is born with Strømme syndrome.

Ruby’s beginnings were pretty rough, who happened to be an unplanned pregnancy. Her father did not second his spouse Angie’s decision not to terminate the pregnancy medically. Also, Angie’s first ultrasound did trouble the technician, and every new ultrasound translated to the more bad news. Among a multitude of predictions and diagnoses made by the doctors, they announced that the baby might never talk or walk.

However; much to her luck, Ruby had had a devoted fan, and she was none other than the girl’s mother. When presented with the alternative of medical termination of her pregnancy, Angie promptly declined.

Ruby is now thirteen years old and attends formal schooling just like any other regular student does. Throughout the previous twelve years, the specialists kept making several predictions about her future, and this sixth-grader proved those people all wrong. The girl started to walk at the tender age of three and began to talk when she was merely four years old.

Prevention

As Strømme syndrome is an ARD or autosomal recessive disorder, where the responsible gene mutates in both the members of the genetic pair, this disease cannot be prevented.

Prognosis

Infants typically do well after intestinal surgery. The outcomes of corneal transplants are not reported to date. The prognosis for this rare genetic disease is highly variable. Some people develop and continue to function near average, while the ones with more severity may not be alive after infancy or beyond the early childhood years.

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The episodes of rapid heartbeats generally are not regarded as life-threatening. Nonetheless, serious heart issues can develop. Timely treatment can prevent or stop such incidences. A catheter-guided ablation procedure can permanently fix the problems related to one’s heart rhythm.

A vast majority of people having an additional electrical pathway do not experience fast heartbeat at all. This condition, known as the Wolff-Parkinson-White or WPW pattern, is discovered by chance only at the time of a heart examination. While the WPW pattern is deemed harmless most of the time, healthcare professionals might suggest further evaluation in kids with WPW pattern, before they are allowed to take part in physically demanding sports.

Causes of Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome

The human heart is made of one pair of upper and lower chambers, each, which are known as the left and right atrium and the left and right ventricle respectively. The sophisticated bioelectrical circuitry of the heart signals it when to contract and if an additional electrical connection is present inside this vital organ, the entire circuit is shorted, causing the heart to beat irregularly or even too fast.

In any WPWS patient, the atria and the ventricle cannot communicate properly, and the electrical impulses traverse the normal electrical node of that person’s heart, making the ventricle to contract earlier than it should. WPWS affects one to three in every thousand people.

It is still an unsolved medical mystery what makes this additional electrical pathway to form. However, it is observed that a small number of persons suffering from WPWS carry mutated genes, and others are found to be born with heart defects. In WPWS infants, about two in every ten are diagnosed with Ebstein’s anomaly, which can be attributed to the abnormalities of the tricuspid valve located on the right part of the heart.

Symptoms

People corresponding to all age groups, including the infants, can experience WPWS symptoms. Symptoms of WPWS are the outcome of a quickly beating heart, and they usually make a maiden appearance in individuals in their twenties or teens.

Non-severe symptoms

• Experiencing pounding, fluttering, or rapid heartbeats
• Breathing issues (shortness)
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Fatigue
• Fainting
• Anxiety

An incidence of a very rapidly beating heart can begin all of a sudden and could last for as little as few seconds or as much as several hours. Such episodes can happen while at rest or at the time of exercise, and alcohol and any other stimulants including caffeine may act as a trigger for a number of people.

Over time, WPWS symptoms may cease to exist in up to one-fourth of people who had had the syndrome.

More critical symptoms

About one to three in every ten individuals diagnosed with WPWS occasionally experience a kind of irregular heartbeat, i.e., atrial fibrillation; and the following symptoms and signs may occur in such a group of people.

• Chest tightness
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Difficulty breathing

Symptoms (infants)

• Ashen color
• Rapid breathing
• Irritability or restlessness
• Poor eating

Diagnosis

• Electrocardiogram or ECG: Tiny sensors attached on the patient’s arms and chest record the electrical signals that travels through that person’s heart. The medical practitioner looks for patterns that suggest that an additional electrical pathway is present in the heart of the person subjected to an ECG.
• Portable ECG or pECG: The whole procedure is arranged at home, and the Holter monitor registers the activities of the patient’s heart for twenty-four hours. When the subject is experiencing a rapid increase in heart rate, an event monitor records that activity.
• Electrophysiological testing or EPT: Catheters armed with electrodes are made to pass through the blood vessels up to several areas in the patient’s heart. The electrodes can specifically map how the electrical impulses are spreading at the time of every heartbeat, and also identify the existence of any additional electrical pathway.

Differential Diagnosis

Diagnosis of hypertrophy, myocardial infarction or MI, and bundle branch block or BBB in instances of WPW syndrome are all obscured.

• Type A WPWS should be distinguishable from the following heart-related conditions
• Right ventricular hypertrophy or RVH
• Right BBB or RBBB
• Inferior MI
• True posterior MI
• Type B WPWS should be distinguishable from the following heart-related conditions
• Left BBB or LBBB
• Inferior MI
• Anterior MI
• WPW syndrome and atrial flutter
• Paroxysmal VT (ventricular tachycardia) or flutter

Treatments

The treatment is decided by various factors, including the frequency and the severity of the symptoms. If the patient does have the WPW pathway, but not any symptoms, then that person is unlikely to receive any surgical procedures or scheduled medication. In case treatment is required, the objective is to slow down a fast heart as soon as it happens and to prevent any such episodes in future.

The specialist may suggest from the following option for treating WPWS.

• Vagal maneuvers: These simple movements of the human body; such as bearing down in the way one has a bowel movement, coughing, and applying a pack of ice on the face; they all affect vagus nerve that helps to regulate the heartbeat.

• Medications: If the vagal movements do not prove to be beneficial in one’s case, then the doctor may consider injecting the patient with an anti-arrhythmic drug.

• Cardioversion: When the first two alternatives prove to be ineffective; the physician may use patches or paddles on the patient’s chest to send a train of electrical impulses to shock the heart, which in turn, helps to restore the normal rhythm.

• Radiofrequency catheter ablation or RCA: It is considered the last line of treatment for WPWS, where catheters are passed through the blood vessels of the patient’s heart. The electrodes fitted at the tip of a thin, flexible tube are heated to melt and dissolve the additional electrical pathway in question permanently.

Prevention

Though it is not possible to prevent the occurrence of WPWS, a large number of people are typically found to be receptive to appropriate therapies, as prescribed by the consultant electrophysiologist or the consultant cardiologist.

Prognosis

The prognosis for this syndrome is excellent. In general, many individuals diagnosed with WPWS may never require any treatment.

When to visit a doctor?

Many medical conditions can trigger arrhythmia, i.e., irregular heartbeat. It is crucial to seek a prompt and accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Call the doctor immediately if one or some of the following symptoms last beyond a few minutes.

• Irregular or rapid heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing

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CES impacts a nerve root bundle known as cauda equine, which means horse’s tail in Latin. These nerves are situated at the lumbosacral region, i.e., the bottom end of the spinal cord. They receive and transmit signals to and from one’s feet, legs, and pelvic organs.

Symptoms of this syndrome can manifest all on a sudden or may require weeks or even months to develop. The onset of CES is often illustrated using the characteristic distinctions mentioned below:

• Acute onset: Symptoms rapidly develop within twenty-four hours.
• Gradual onset: Symptoms develop progressively, and they may come and disappear over several weeks or even months.

Causes of Cauda Equina Syndrome

• Primary: CES typically stems from a huge herniated disc that is formed in the lumbar area of the affected Individual. A single excessive injury or strain may lead to a herniated disc. Nonetheless, it is pretty standard for the disc material to degenerate naturally as one age and the supportive ligaments start to weaken. Now, as this process of degeneration progresses, a considerably minor twisting movement or strain can cause a ruptured disk.

Other Likely Causes

• Spinal infections or inflammation (SII)
• Spinal lesions and tumors (SLT)
• Violent injuries on the lower back; such as; auto accidents, falls, gunshots
• Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS)
• Birth abnormalities
• Spinal anesthesia
• Spinal hemorrhages; for instance; subdural, subarachnoid, epidural
• Spinal arteriovenous malformations (S-AVMs)
• Postoperative lumbar spine surgery complications (PO-LSSC)

Symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome

Low back pain

• Local pain: An intense, aching pain caused by an irritation in the vertebral body and soft tissue.
• Leg/radicular pain: A deep, stabbing pain triggered by compressed nerve roots; spreading in the specific areas that are controlled by such compromised nerves, and it is called a dermatomal distribution.
• Sciatica: AN unilateral (in one leg) or bilateral (both the legs) pain originating in the buttocks area and continues to the back of one’s legs and thighs.
• Perineal/saddle paresthesia: Loss of sensation in one’s groin or region of contact when someone is sitting or resting vertically on a saddle.
• Bowel disturbances
• Constipation
• Incontinence: Inability to experience or stop a bowel movement
• The absence of anal tone as well as sensation
• Bladder disturbances
• Urinary hesitancy: Difficulty initiating urination
• Urinary retention: Inability to urinate
• Incontinence: Inability to cease or manage urination
• Decreased urethral sensation: Decreased sensation during urination
• Absent or reduced lower extremity reflexes (LER)
• Weakness in the lower extremity muscle (LEM) and numbness
• Any sudden sexual dysfunction

Diagnosis

• Medical history: Information about the symptoms, health, and activity of the patient is obtained and scrutinized.
• Physical examination: The strength, sensation, reflexes, stability, motion, and alignment of the affected person is assessed.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan
• X-ray
• Blood tests
• Myelogram: A contrast chemical is injected into the spinal cord, and its x-ray is taken to pinpoint pressure on one’s spinal cord or nerves.

Differential Diagnosis

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS in physical medicine and rehabilitation (ALS-PMR)
• Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Neoplasms of the spinal cord (NSC)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuromuscular and myopathic complications of HIV (NMC-HIV)
• Spinal cord infections (SCI)
• Neurosarcoidosis
• Traumatic peripheral nerve lesions (TPNL)

Treatments

For a patient suffering from acute CES, surgical intervention is likely an immediate requirement. The objective is to relieve the pressure from the spinal nerves for restoring muscle function and sensation to the bladder, legs, and bowel. One of the surgical procedures mentioned below may be performed, depending upon the cause.

Discectomy

It is done to remove a part of the herniated disk, the portion which is putting pressure on the nerves. A small cut is made in the middle area on the back of the patient. The spinal muscles are relocated to expose the bony vertebra further. Then a window of the bone is cut to reveal the nerve root as well as the disc. The part impacting the spinal nerves of the affected individual is carefully removed from the ruptured disk.

Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression is performed for cases of stenosis, where the ligaments and the bone spurs compressing the nerves are removed. A small hole is drilled in the back of the patient. The bone forming the ceiling of one’s spinal canal is removed. Then bones spurs and soft tissue are removed for creating more room to accommodate the nerves. Tumors, as well as other lesions, can be removed too.

Prevention

Prevention is concentrated on early diagnosis of the symptoms. People should be made aware of the warning signs that could potentially suggest a clinical manifestation of CES, including a change in bladder or bowel functions absence of sensation in one’s groin. However, the cases that are caused by schedule IV drug-induced infections can be prevented, and people should be cautious about not indulging in the usage of illegal schedule IV substances.

Prognosis

Using the ASIA impairment scale

Prognosis can be estimated with the help of the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale.

• ASIA A: Ninety in every hundred patients are deemed unsuitable to undergo functional ambulation, reciprocal gait is two hundred feet or even more.
• ASIA B: Seventy-two in every hundred patients cannot achieve functional ambulation.
• ASIA C/D: Thirteen in every hundred patients fail to accomplish functional ambulation a year after the occurrence of the injury.

Using the AMI

The ambulatory motor index is also used for predicting the ambulatory capability, and an affected individual with a score of eighteen out of thirty or above has an improved likelihood for community ambulation, where the support will be restricted to a single knee-ankle-foot-orthosis (KAFO).

• A patient having a score of 23.7/30 or more may not require an orthosis.
• A patient having a score of 12/30 or less may need two KAFOs during community ambulation.

Cauda Equina Syndrome Images

References

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Other Names for Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

• Drug-Induced Movement Disorder (DMD)
• Hyperthermia
• Neuroleptic-Induced Acute Dystonia (NAD)

Causes

Researchers are yet to discover the inherent cause of NMS. Present theories are limited in their scope to satisfactorily explain all possible clinical manifestations as well as in supporting statistics. An animal model for this syndrome has been conceived, though the construct does not entirely correspond with the one found in humans.

Considering the class of the agents that are involved in cases of NMS, blockade of dopamine receptor is pivotal to a vast majority of the pathogenesis theories. Blockade in the central dopamine receptor (CDR) in the hypothalamus could cause hypothermia as well as other symptoms of dysautonomia. Interference in the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway (NDP) could result in Parkinsonian, type symptoms like tremor and rigidity. Other neurotransmitter systems (NTS), such as epinephrine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), are too involved, either actively or implicitly.

Another theory suggests that muscle damage and rigidity indicate a key impact on one’s peripheral muscle system (PMS), which can perhaps be attributed to direct changes taking place in muscle mitochondrial function (MMF). The alteration in itself could likely point towards a defect in the primary skeletal muscle (PSM) or an explicit toxic effect caused on skeletal muscle by neuroleptic medications.

It is also proposed that a disrupted modulation occurring in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) plays an instrumental role in the onset of NMS. The said interruption leads to increased muscle tone and metabolism as well as unregulated vasomotor and sudomotor activity, which in turn results in ineffective heat dissipation as well as labile heart rate and blood pressure. In this model, the dopamine antagonists precipitate the symptoms by means of inducing a destabilizing effect in normal dopamine regulation by efferent sympathetic activity (ESA).

Familial clusters of this syndrome indicate a hereditary predisposition to the disease. Genetic studies have demonstrated the existence of a particular allele associated with a gene known as the dopamine D2 receptor is dominant in NMS patients. The allele in question is linked with decreased metabolism and dopaminergic activity as well as reduced function and density of dopamine receptors.

Symptoms

Symptoms become pronounced in the first two weeks of treatment in most patients, though may appear earlier or after several years.

The four characteristic symptoms typically develop over a number of days and often following the order illustrated below.

Altered mental status

A change in one’s mental status, such as an agitated delirium in most cases that may lead to reflecting encephalopathy (unresponsiveness) or lethargy, is typically acknowledged as the earliest manifestation.

Motor abnormalities

Patients may experience generalized forms of severe muscle rigidity, sometimes accompanied by tremors, resulting in cogwheel rigidity; or, less frequently, chorea, dystonias, or other abnormalities; and reflex responses are usually decreased

Hyperthermia

The body temperature of the patient is typically found to be higher than 38⁰C and often rises over 40⁰C

Autonomic hyperactivity

The is an increase in autonomic activity in the affected person that tends to cause arrhythmias, tachycardia, labile hypertension, and tachypnea

Diagnosis

The medical practitioner will search for the two primary symptoms, namely, stiff muscles and a high temperature. In addition to these, a number of other warning signs, such as high or low blood pressure, fast heartbeat, and sweating are also taken into account.

As a few other disorders mimic the symptoms that are identical to NMS, the specialist will perform any one or a combination of the following tests.

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Spinal fluid test
• Brain imaging scans
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) to trace electrical disturbances in the brain

Differential diagnosis

Infectious

• Meningitis or encephalitis
• Sepsis
• Brain abscess
• Rabies

Metabolic

• Rhabdomyolysis
• Acute renal failure (ARF)
• Pheochromocytoma
• Thyrotoxicosis

Environmental

• Spider envenomations
• Heat stroke

Drug-induced

• Malignant hyperthermia

Neuroleptic-induced

• Parkinsonism
• Acute akathisia
• Acute dystonia
• Postural tremor
• Tardive dyskinesia

Non-neuroleptic-induced

• Serotonin syndrome
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitor toxicity (MOIT)
• Anticholinergic delirium
• Lithium toxicity
• Strychnine poisoning
• Salicylate poisoning
• Drugs of abuse
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Amphetamine
• Phencyclidine
• 3,4-Methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA)

Drug-withdrawal syndrome

• Alcohol
• Baclofen
• Benzodiazepine
• Sedatives
• Hypnotics

Psychiatric or neurological

• Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NSE)
• Parkinsonism
• Lethal catatonia

Autoimmune

• Polymyositis

Treatments

Initial Care

The general practitioner will first take the patient off the medication that triggered this syndrome. People with NMS receive treatment in an intensive critical care unit (ICCU) and the objective is remission of fever and providing the admitted individual with nutrition and fluids.

Medications

Medications used for treating this syndrome include muscle-relaxing agents like dantrolene and dopamine-boosting Parkinson’s disease drugs like bromocriptine or amantadine.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

If these medicines are found not to be useful, the doctor might go for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is painless and applied when the patient is in slumber. A small amount of electrical impulse is sent to the brain to induce a seizure to relieve the sufferer from the symptoms.

Recovery & Relapse

NMS generally improves in a week to a fortnight, and after recovery, almost all the patients can return to their respective courses of antipsychotic drugs once again. The physician might recommend a different medication post-recovery from NMS.

This syndrome can make a comeback after treatment, and the doctor will carefully examine any warning signs that potentially indicate the recurrence. The longer a person waits to resume the course of antipsychotic medications, the less likely one acquires this syndrome again.

Prevention

Primary

• Administering the lowest effective quantity of antipsychotic medication
• Avoiding sudden increase in the dose of antipsychotic medicines, if possible
• Avoiding abrupt withdrawal of dopaminergic medication, especially in disorders like Parkinson’s disease where patients are compromised
• Treating agitation as early as possible and giving alternatives to antipsychotic drugs, whenever possible
• Avoiding dehydration

Secondary

• The use and amount of antipsychotic drugs should be reduced as much as possible, and agitation should be treated
• The application and dose of antipsychotic medication should be minimized and agitation treated.

Prognosis

Most episodes of this syndrome resolve within a fortnight. The mean recovery period reported is one two one-and-a-half week.  Some cases persist for half-a-year with motor signs and residual catatonia. It is also observed that risk factors are concomitant structural brain disease (CSBD) and depot antipsychotic use (DAPU) for an extended course. Most people are found to recover without developing neurologic sequelae, excluding the cases of severe hypoxia or when the body temperature is grossly elevated for a long time.

One to four in every twenty affected individuals succumb to this syndrome, and the manifestations of medical complications, as well as the severity of the disease, are considered as the most potential indicators of mortality. Patients with renal failure and myoglobinuria are found to have an increased mortality rate, which is estimated at one in every two NMS individuals. Higher mortality rates are also documented for lower-potency agents and typical antipsychotic drugs.

References

The post Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome appeared first on All Health Site - Health Articles and News.

The mutant genes are transferred to the children in a process called the ADI or autosomal dominant inheritance. It indicated that only one copy of a mutated gene from the parent is required for the disease to appear in an individual. One in every two offspring of an affected person has the likelihood of one of them carrying the genetic variation, irrespective of whether one is male or female. At present, Brugada syndrome is estimated to be prevalent in one in every two thousand people.

Other Names of Brugada Syndrome

• Bangungut
• IVA
• Brugada type
• Pokkuri death syndrome (PDS)
• SUNDS
• SUDS

Causes

It is primarily caused by mutations affecting the SCN5A gene situated on chromosome three, and presently, over two hundred and fifty mutations are found to be associated with this syndrome reported in the following eighteen genes.

• SCN5A
• SCN1B
• SCN2B
• SCN3B
• SCN10A
• ABCC9
• GPD1L
• CACNA1C
• CACNB2
• CACNA2D1
• KCND3
• KCNE3
• KCNE1L -KCNE5-
• KCNJ8
• HCN4
• RANGRF
• SLMAP
• TRPM4

Symptoms

• Syncope and also cardiac arrest (happens during sleep or while resting in many patients)
• Nightmares or thrashing during night time
• Asymptomatic: However, a routine electrocardiogram does reveal ST-elevation in V1-V3

• Associated atrial fibrillation (AAF): Occurs in one in every five cases.
• Fever: Often reported to exacerbate or trigger clinical manifestations

The absence of a prodrome is found to be more typical for people with ventricular fibrillation documented, and this very absence is attributed to the onset of syncope in individuals with this syndrome.

Diagnosis

• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): A medicine known as Flecainide or Ajmaline may be delivered intravenously during an electrocardiogram to watch how it affects the patient’s heart, and the attending doctor will look for the Brugada sign. However, not every affected individual exhibits this particular sign and such people may require multiple electrocardiograms at different times.
• Electrophysiology studies (EPS): It is typically done in CCL or cardiac catheterization laboratories.
• Blood tests for MGT or molecular genetic testing: Though DNA testing can be conducted for all genes to detect cases of mutation, only thirty to thirty-five in every hundred affected people carry an identifiable mutation in their genes. About twenty-five patients in every hundred are prescribed a sequential analysis to detect the faulty SCN5A gene in the initial stage of their genetic diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis

• Pulmonary Embolism
• Hypothermia
• Acute Pericarditis

Treatments

The only proven and effective therapy is an ICD or implantable cardioverter that monitors one’s heart rhythm and sends electrical impulses on demand to regulate any abnormality in a heartbeat. Some doctors prescribe Quinidine where such implantations are not viable, for instance, in neonates.

An anti-arrhythmic agent like Isoproterenol is used in cases of UVA or unstable ventricular arrhythmias (bio-electrical storms). Recommendations to treat asymptomatic patients are controversial and possible therapies to evaluate the beneficiary for an ICD placement may include performing an EPS or electrophysiologic study, examining one’s family history, or putting the concerned individual under observation until the symptoms surface, though the first symptom happens to be an SCD or sudden cardiac death in some patients in the last case.

Genetic counseling is suggested for affected persons and their family members. Other treatments are supportive and symptomatic.

Prevention

One should always remember and attempt to avoid the following triggers for reducing the odds of having a fast heartbeat.

• High temperature (38⁰C) or fever: One should take paracetamol and seek professional advice as early as possible
• Consuming alcohol in an excessive amount: Binge drinking should be avoided
• Dehydration: A registered practitioner should be consulted in cases of persistent vomiting and diarrhea, and plenty of fluids, as well as special rehydration drinks, should be taken
• Certain Drugs: Avoiding any such medication that acts as a trigger for this syndrome

Prognosis

This syndrome can result in PVT or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that may further degenerate, and lead to ventricular fibrillation, inducing cardiac arrest eventually. Prolonged hypoxia at the time of cardiac arrest may cause neurologic sequelae in such patients.

It is found that instances of ventricular fibrillation or sudden cardiac death occurred in eighty-two of every hundred patients diagnosed with this syndrome when a mean follow-up for two years is taken into account. A past history of syncope, a spontaneously atypical or abnormal electrocardiogram, and inducibility at the time of PES or programmed electrical stimulation (in one study) considerably increased this risk.

Aside from accidents, this syndrome may be one of the leading causes of death, in men who are less than forty years old. It is not possible to find out the true incidence because of the reporting biases. In spite of having a strong dependence for population, an estimated one in every twenty-five cases of sudden deaths, and also a minimum of one in every five incidents of sudden deaths observed in patients who have structurally normal hearts can be attributed to this syndrome. The mean age for the occurrence of sudden death is found to be twenty-six to fifty-six years for patients diagnosed with Brugada syndrome.

Brugada Syndrome Images

When to visit a doctor?

• If someone is experiencing arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or heart palpitations
• Facing unexplained seizures or blackouts
• Fainting
• If one’s child, parent, or sibling is diagnosed with this syndrome, the requirement for genetic testing for that individual may need to be evaluated thereafter by the general practitioner

If a close member of the family has a sudden death without any plausible cause, as this may potentially suggest the Brugada syndrome.

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Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder affecting the thyroid gland where the thyroid fails to produce sufficient quantities of hormone. The symptoms that are seen in the patients are mainly due to this hormone deficiency. Thyroid in females is more commonly seen compared to their male counterparts. The anatomy of the thyroid gland is important to understand. Where is the thyroid? It is located in the lower part of the neck in the midline.

Pathophysiology of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism pathophysiology will help you understand how the disease comes up. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland are T3 and T4. These hormones have an action on almost all parts of the body. The secretion of these hormones is regulated by TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland. The secretion of thyroid hormone occurs only from this particular gland. The presence of iodine and amino acid tyrosine are a must for the production of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism and low levels of the thyroid hormones can occur if there is a deficiency of iodine for thyroid or thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH).

The hypothalamus of the brain secretes TRH thyroid releasing hormone which acts on the pituitary gland and initiates the release of TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone. TSH then acts directly on the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormones T3 and T4. The normal functioning of the thyroid (healthy thyroid) is regulated by negative feedback mechanism where the levels of thyroid hormones increases or decreases under the influence of TSH.

Causes of Hypothyroidism

• The commonest known cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis which is an autoimmune disorder causing inflammation of the thyroid gland. Thyroiditis can also be a part of a viral infection.
• If the amount of iodine in the diet is less, then the production of the hormones T3 and T4 are affected. The only source of iodine is dietary intake so you must ensure adequate intake. The richest source of iodine is shellfish, eggs, dairy products and iodised salt.
• Hypothyoidism can occur as a complication of radiation therapy given for cancers of the neck as a result of damage to the cells within the thyroid.
• Radioactive iodine treatment is given to patients with hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid. The radiation can damage the normal cells and result in low production of thyroid hormones and hypothyroidism.
• Medications that are used to treat certain psychiatric conditions and cancer can affect the normal production of thyroid hormones.
• Thyroid surgery if performed due to some growth or tumour, can lead to reduction in the quantity of the thyroid hormones and hypothyroidism. The part of the thyroid gland that is left out, will continue to function normally.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The hypothyroid disease symptoms are mainly a result of the reduction in the circulating thyroid hormones. The common symptoms are:

• Constipation
• Dryness of the skin
• Frizzy and dry hair with hairfall
• Easy fatigue, slowness and lethargy
• Changes in the menstrual cycles in females
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Slow heart rate
• Hypothyroidism depression
• Swelling of the thyroid gland also called as goitre
• Hypothyroidism weight gain or difficulty in losing weight. This is most often the first symptom that a female may notice before the disorder is actually detected.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome due to swelling of the tissues around the wrist.
• Babies who have hypothyroidism may show the following symptoms like extreme sleepiness, constipation, poor muscle growth or floppy muscles, bloating of the stomach and poor feeding habits.

Diagnosis of Hypothyroidism

• The presence of the above symptoms can raise the doubt of hypothyroidism. The diagnosis is confirmed by blood tests called as thyroid function tests. It tests the levels of T3, T4 and TSH.
• Hypothyroidism is diagnosed when the levels of T3 and T4 are low and the TSH is raised. In case the TSH levels are normal, it is called as sub clinical hypothyroidism.
• If there are lumps in the thyroid gland, then diagnostic imaging may be required like thyroid ultrasound, MRI or CT scan. Diagnostic needle biopsy may be needed in some cases.
• Antibodies against TPO (thyroid peroxidase) are an indication that the thyroid nodule is a result of autoimmune thyroiditis.
• During pregnancy, the need of the body increases and so a 50% increase in the thyroid production is considered as normal.

Treatment of Hypothyroidism

For a patient with hypothyroidism, the physician or thyroid specialist will prescribe a synthetic T4 hormone preparation. Depending on the severity of the problem, the dose will be adjusted. This pill will be required to be taken everyday early morning on an empty stomach. Whenever you are put on thyroxine medication, it is very important that you tell your doctor what other medications you are taking as they can interfere with the action of thyroxine.

Regular thyroid blood test need to be carried out to check the response of the medication. The most accurate indicators of the efficacy of the treatment are free T4 and TSH thyroid test. If the medication is continued for a long time without monitoring, the patient may go into hyperthyroidism stage.

Homeopathic remedies for hypothyroidism are also fairly effective in treating the symptoms of the disease.

In pregnant ladies who develop hypothyroidism, the levels of TSH need to be closely monitored. In the first trimester, levothyroxine is used in order to keep the TSH levels below 2.5 mIU/L. The levels should be under 3mIU/L in the second and third trimesters.

Complications like myxedema coma where the thyroid hormones are at a life threatening low and decompensated hypothyroidism are serious and require intensive care with proper breathing care, temperature control and blood pressure monitoring. Hypothermia or very low body temperature can also cause death. Intravenous administration of levothyroxine is needed in such severe cases.

Complications of Hypothyroidism

If hypothyroidism is left untreated, it can lead to the following complications:

• Infertility
• Joint pains
• Obesity
• Heart problems
• Myxedema coma
• Pregnancy related complications can occur when the pregnant mother get the disorders in the early weeks. For the first three months, the baby receives all the hormones from the mother. So in hypothyroid mothers, the baby has lower than normal levels which can lead to problems like poor mental development.

Prevention of Hypothyroidism

In countries where the problem is endemic, iodine rich foods consumption can prevent the onset of hypothyroidism. WHO has encouraged the use of iodine in salt to ensure that maximum population of any given place gets sufficient amounts of iodine in their diet. Using iodised salt is one of the best natural remedies for thyroid. The recommended levels for pregnant and breast feeding mothers of iodine is 250 ug per day. Screening of pregnant ladies for thyroid is also a way of prevention of hypothyroidism complications in the unborn baby.

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Growth hormone is also called as somatotropin. GHD or growth hormone deficiency is a condition caused by the problems arising within the pituitary gland due to which the levels of the growth hormone are insufficient. The anatomical location of the pituitary gland is within the base of the skull. The gland is as small as a pea and it secretes eight different hormones each having its unique action on different parts of the body. The main function of growth hormone is to stimulate cell reproduction and growth. As age advances, the amount of growth hormone secretion decreases and there is a change in the pattern of its secretion also.

The incidence of GHD is roughly one in 7000 births. The condition affects both adults and children alike. In children the commonest manifestation of growth hormone deficiency is short height. In adults the hormone is responsible mainly for maintenance of the body structure and regulating the metabolism. So the manifestations of somatotropin deficiency are rare in adults.

Causes of Growth Hormone Deficiency

• Growth hormone deficiency is caused by the deficiency or complete absence of the growth hormone secretion from the pituitary gland. The condition can be congenital or acquired. Congenital deficiency of the growth hormone is due to abnormalities within the pituitary gland itself or as a part of other syndromes.
• Acquired growth hormone deficiency or AGHD can occur as a result of infections, serious head injuries, radiation treatments etc.
• Children who are born with anomalies like cleft lip and cleft palate also are more likely to have GHD as their pituitary glands are poorly developed.
• If GHD is not present since birth, then it can be because of tumours in the brain that are located near the base of the brain or the hypothalamus.

Symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency

1. Children who have growth hormone deficiency will be shorter than their peers and have more rounded faces with normal body proportions. Hormones in children need to be present in the correct proportions to ensure adequate growth. They may also have baby fat deposits around the abdomen. The intelligence levels are normal in these children.
2. If the deficiency of growth hormone occurs later in life as a result of a brain tumour or head injury, then the most important symptom will be delayed sexual development and due to this the onset of puberty and the physical changes associated with it are also delayed.
3. In the growing years, growth hormone deficiency can lead to abnormalities like poor breast development in young girls and absence of voice change in young boys along with a short stature and stunted growth.
4. Low amounts of growth hormone can lead to weakness and lack of stamina. There is increased sensitivity to hot and cold in such children.
5. In acquired growth hormone deficiency, the bones are weak and so there is a risk of repeated fractures. In older individuals, this is seen more prominently along with easy tiredness and poor stamina.
6. Adults who have AGHD (adult ghd), are more prone to getting diabetes and cardiac diseases. They also have high levels of cholesterol which is not due to a faulty diet but more because of the disturbance in the metabolism of the body as a result of growth hormone deficiency.
7. Psychological symptoms like these may also be seen in some adults:
   • Depression
   • Lack of concentration
   • Poor memory
   • Emotional disturbances
   • Mood swings

Diagnosis of Growth Hormone Deficiency

The physical attributes like the height and weight of the child will raise the suspicion of a probable growth hormone deficiency diagnosis. The growth will be stunted and the puberty will be delayed with undeveloped secondary sexual characters like development of breast in girls and hair growth on the face in young boys. The next step is to confirm the diagnosis by means of different tests. These tests can determine whether the anomaly is present since birth or acquired in the later stages of life.

1. Blood test for growth hormone deficiency are the most useful tests to detect the levels of growth hormone. The hormone shows a diurnal variation but the levels of GH if found lower than normal indicate that there is a growth problem.
2. X-rays of long bones can be used to detect the extent of fusion at the ends of long bones and also the presence of growth plates. These X-rays give a clear picture whether the bone growth is normal or not.
3. Kidney and thyroid function tests are used to assess the normal functioning of the body and production of hormones.
4. MRI of the brain is mainly used in cases of GHD in adults which occurs secondary to a pituitary tumor or a head injury. They give a detailed picture of the brain and the structures inside it.

Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency

In the early days, gh treatment was carried out by giving the patient natural growth hormone derived from cadavers (gh therapy). Currently the most popular mode of treatment is use of synthetic hormones that are prepared by recombinant DNA technique. It is also referred to as recombinant growth hormone. The main aim of the treatment is to stimulate the pituitary gland which will help to increase energy and restore the normal functions. The synthetic hormone is injected into the fatty tissues of the body like the arms, hips and buttocks. The side effects of hormone therapy are rare and they include redness of injection site, pain in the hips, curving of the spine and headaches. Long continued treatment can lead to diabetes in some patients especially those with a positive family history. The side effects of growth hormone therapy are:

In children, if the growth is deficient but the hormone levels are found to be normal, no treatment is required but if the levels are low then life time growth hormone replacement or replacement therapy has to be done. These growth shots have to be given under strict medical guidance at regular intervals.

In adults, the treatment has multiple benefits including an enhanced energy and strength, increase in muscle mass and higher bone density.

For tumors of the brain and pititutary gland, radiation therapy may be required especially if the complete tumour is not removed by surgical means.

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From the time a baby is born, a mother is also born. It is only natural for you to be worried and concerned about every little thing about your little one. Whether you baby is eating well or not could be your biggest worry in the initial few months. The information given by friends, relatives and what all you read could be rather confusing. Once your little once is 6 months old, weaning him or introducing food to 6 month old will be an area that you will need advice. This article will help to clear all baby food myths you have as we will discuss in detail the myths that are associated with infant feeding and their actual facts.

Baby Food Myths And Facts

(1) Formula Feeding: One of the most common baby food myths surrounding bottle feeding is that if the baby is constipated due to it, then you ought to switch to a low iron formula.

FACTS: The fact is that the iron content of formula does not affect the bowel habits of the baby. Low iron formulas or introduction of cows milk before the age of one, can lead to iron deficiency anaemia in babies. Breast milk is the best thing for babies and the iron content in it is quite low. Newborn formula feeding may constipate the child at times as it is comparatively difficult to digest. Follow a baby formula feeding chart which will tell you exactly how much formula the baby needs per feed at each month. Older babies can be given prune juice to help relieve the constipation.

(2) Introducing Solids to the Baby: Many believe that when the baby is weaned off and solids are introduced; only jar foods must be fed to the child. Starting baby on solids should be a gradual and systematic process and one should never rush if the child is not ready. You can wait a week or two and try again.

FACTS: Jar foods are a convenient way of feeding and baby food companies make sure the foods served are hygienic, but it is not the only method. You can give healthy homemade baby food by trying out different fruit and vegetable combinations freshly pureed at home on a daily basis. Cooking for baby recipes are easily available online these days.

The best first food that should be introduced is rice cereal. Initially you could prepare it a bit runny and give cereal in baby bottle. After a few weeks, you can thicken up the consistency and feed it with the help of a bowl and spoon.

You can begin by introducing boiled and pureed apples, peaches, pears, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados and peas. Yogurt and fruit purees mixed with yogurt are also other best foods to introduce to baby. The thumb rule is that whenever you introduce a new food, it should be done one at a time for at least three days so that if it does not suit the child or causes an allergy, you are able to identify it.

Gradually as the child gets older, you may not continue feeding a baby. Try baby led weaning and let your baby explore different textures and tastes. Give him the food on his high chair and let him feed on his own. You can also stop making purees and begin to give small chunky foods that are soft and well boiled. This can be followed by larger chunks and finally by the age of one the child should be able to eat what is made for the entire family with less salt, sugar, chilly or oil as per what your baby likes.

(3) Eating Meat and Eggs: Another common baby food myths that a lot of parents follow is that eating eggs and meat regularly is unhealthy for babies.

FACT: The fact is that in the growing years, all the protein that the child takes only helps him grow better. Meat and eggs are a wonderful source of iron, zinc and protein. After 9 months you can introduce meat, chicken, fish and beef that is well cleaned, boiled and cooked. It should be chopped up very finely in the chopper to make small pieces that are soft so that the baby can chew them.

These foods can be served upto few times a week. Some caution that you need to maintain is look out for allergies and try giving only cooked eggs rather than runny ones. Avoid giving canned meats or hamburgers. Prefer only home cooked delicious food for the baby.

(4) Food Rejection: It is a myth that if your child rejects a food at one point, she will never eat it.

FACT: The fact is that children like to eat what they find comfortable over and over again. Trying something new is more a matter of surprise and the unknown rather than actual rejection. If your toddler rejects your home made tortillas, don’t fret as he or she may need to have a new food at least 15 times before actually liking it. So just keep offering them new items and club them with their old favourites. Make a list of homemade toddler food and ask your child to choose from the list, this way they will generate an interest in the new item.

(5) Allergic Foods: It is a myth that the baby should not be fed any kind of allergic food till they are one year old and preferably even after that. This helps to prevent food allergies in them.

It is not advisable to give cow’s milk to babies under the age of one as it is deficient in nutrients and can cause iron deficiency anaemia and allergies in the child. Yogurt and cheese being milk products can be safely given to children as one of the first foods without any problem.

FACT: The fact is that exposing the child to allergic foods does not cause or initiate allergies, but it does help you to identify at an early age what does not suit your child. If there is a history of allergies in the sibling or a previous allergic attack in the form of eczema, then you should talk to your doctor before introducing solids to the baby.

(6) Liking for Sweet: Lastly, the last of all baby food myths that keeps the parents worried is that feeding your baby fruits purees can cause a sweet tooth in the baby.

The fact is that all babies are born with a liking for sweet and that is the reason their first food-breast milk and formula are slightly sweet. Giving babies sweet purees cannot cause a sweet tooth as they already have one.

What you can do is introduce them to a wide variety of food tastes and textures. Give them cereals, pulses, vegetables and meats so that they derive nutrients from each of them. Follow a balanced diet that comprise of all of the above in balanced proportions each day with different food combinations.

Encourage your baby to try out new things and offer them lots of finger foods. It is common for babies to show initial rejection but after a few times, they begin eating everything.

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Once the baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut, the first parameter to be assessed is the cry of the baby followed by the weight. These are considered as important check points by doctors and a matter of great concern for every new mother. If the baby has a very low birth weight which is seen in premature births, then it will be at a risk of failure to survive and will need intensive pediatric care. If the baby is a full term mature baby, then the weight will be checked at the time of birth and again at the time of discharge. A slight drop is expected in the weight check that happens after 24 hours because the baby looses water weight in the first few days after birth. Doctor’s will keep a close watch on the newborn weight gain of the baby as it is an indicator of adequate nutrition and a sign of proper physical and mental development. At every visit to the doctor, the height, weight and the head circumference will be checked. Newborn weight chart by week will be tabulated by the pediatrician in each of these visits. The graph that is formed will give a fair idea of the growth percentile the baby falls in.

Weight Loss After Birth

This is a very normal phenomenon and all full term babies loose 5 to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first one week. This is because babies are born with extra fluids that are eliminated. The weight loss will be more predominant in babies who are overweight as they will lose baby weight. If the weight loss is more than 10% then it is a matter of concern and it could be due to an underlying illness or pathology. Neonatal weight gain is approximately 20 to 30 grams per day depending on their birth weight.

Weight Gain After Birth

After first five to seven days, newborn weight gain is a steady rate. By the time they are two weeks old, the baby gain weight lost in the first week and a little more. This is the normal trend but there are a small percentage of babies who do not gain back the weight so fast. They do so at a slower rate. There is nothing to worry as long as your baby is feeding well and is active.

Factors Affecting the Baby’s Weight After Birth

• Full term baby (born between 38 to 40 weeks) or premature baby
• Gender
• Mothers health during pregnancy and after delivery
• Medical problems in the baby immediately after birth
• Onset of breast feeding
• Feeding effectively or not
• Latching onto the breast
• Formula feeding

Newborn Weight Gain in The First Year

(a) Newborn: Your newborn weight gain begins around the 10th day and do so steadily at the rate of 20 grams per day. This is the average weight gain for breastfed babies. At this stage the baby can eat breastmilk or formula. Baby formula is slightly more difficult to digest and babies who are exclusively formula fed tend to be comparatively heavier. At this stage babies will feed every 2 to 3 hours and this pattern continues till they are 2 months of age.

(b) 6 month old: Gradually as your baby grows, so does the size of his stomach. He is able to retain more milk and so the interval between two feeds begins increasing. By month 6, he is rolling about and also holding his neck straight. The amount of milk per feed will increase by almost one ounce (30 ml) per month. After 6 months, you can add water and wean the baby off by introducing semisolid foods. Baby food and formula should be the main diet at this age. At six months the growth rate is 3 to 5 ounces per week.

(c) 12 month old: By 12 months of age, your baby’s weight should be between 9 to 11 kgs on an average. This will depend on the normal birth weight which is between 2.5 to 3 kgs. By this age the baby should be eating all that is prepared at home. You can make the food less spicy so that the baby can eat it. You can try giving him new food textures and tastes. Searches online for 7 month old baby food ideas are going to be common now.

Is Your Baby Gaining Enough Weight

After the baby is discharged from the hospital, the newborn weight gain cannot be checked each day at home. At each doctor’s visit, the weight is assessed. Between this time, parents get anxious and worried whether their child is growing normally or not. Here are some indications that the child is getting adequate feed and is growing normally.

• Diapers: In the first few weeks, the baby may have few wet diapers. But as the breast milk sets in and the baby begins feeding well, the number of wet diapers will go up. If your baby dirties 5-6 wet diapers a day, it is an indication that he is doing fine. In the early months, babies can poop after each feed. So 3 to 4 poopy diapers are a good enough indication for you.
• Skin tone: If the baby is feeding well, then the skin will be fresh and elastic. If the feeding is poor then the baby’s skin will be dry and shriveled up. Depressed anterior fontanelle is a sign of dehydration in babies and it indicates that you need to give more fluids and milk to the baby.
• Activity: If after a feed, the baby is active and happy it indicates that the feed was sufficient and the resultant will be a normal weight gain and happy child.

The above guidelines are to give you an idea about the normal newborn weight gain pattern. If your baby is losing too much weight or not able to gain weight properly, it could be an indication of an underlying illness or mal assimilation problem. It is advisable to get the child checked up. The doctor may suggest you some foods or nutritional supplements that will help the child to gain weight. Always remember that if your child is happy and active, then a few numbers here and there on the weighing scale should not bother you.

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