A-Z HEALTH

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Gastroenteritis

Also known as “stomach influenza,” is a viral disease of the digestive tract particularly the stomach. The virus  also known as  a stomach bug is infectious. The infection is present in the stool and vomitus of contaminated individuals. This is  the likely reason why stomach contaminations spread so  fast among little children. These bugs can also spread when an infected child vomits. Proper hand washing and cleanliness can alleviate the spread of stomach bugs

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a woman without diabetes, develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. It happens if your body is unable to deliver enough insulin – a hormone that enables control to glucose levels – to meet the additional necessities in pregnancy. It mainly occurs during last three months of pregnancy or the second half of the pregnancy. For most women it does not cause any noticeable signs and symptoms. Babies born to mothers with poorly treated gestational diabetes are at increased risk of being too large, having low blood sugar after birth, and jaundice. Gestational diabetes can also cause polyhydramnios, pre-mature birth, and pre-eclampsia.  Its main causes include overweight, maternal age and family history of diabetes and mothers who are at higher risk include the following:

1. Mother’s body mass list (BMI) is over 30

2. Mother already had an infant who weighed 4.5kg (10lbs) or more during childbirth

3. Mother had gestational diabetes in a past pregnancy

4. Diabetes case in other family members

5. Mother’s  family birthplaces is South Asian, Chinese, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern

During the first  antenatal appointment at around weeks 8 to 12 of pregnancy, a midwife or doctor will ask some questions to determine whether the mother is  at an increased risk of gestational diabetes. If any history is found, the doctor will take a screening test called Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). The diabetes can be treated by  a healthy diet, exercise and medication if necessary.  if changes in eating regimen and exercise don’t diminish glucose levels medication can be given, possibly in the form of tablets or insulin infusions. Moreover, it’s ideal to give birth before 41 weeks. Induction of labour or a caesarean section may be recommended if labour doesn’t start naturally by this time. Earlier delivery may be recommended if there are concerns about mother or baby’s health or if the blood sugar levels haven’t been well controlled. Long-term effects include developing gestational diabetes in future pregnancies or developing type-2 diabetes (lifetime).