A-Z HEALTH

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Impetigo

Impetigo is a very contagious skin condition in which children present with fluid filled blisters around nose and mouth. These can eventually extend to other parts of the body. These blisters sooner or later burst and the underlying skin is healed without leaving scars. It is caused by bacterial infections and can be treated using antibiotics. Children catch impetigo via cold sores, cuts or grazes. As it is contagious, it’s best to cover the site with a loose gauze dressing.

Incontinence

It is a condition in which the person is unable to control urine and involuntary urination occurs. It is commonly encountered during pregnancy. It can vary from mild to frequent urination. Age and body mass index also determine the degree of incontinence. The type of incontinence which occurs during pregnancy is stress induced. Stress increases the pressure inside urinary bladder and it causes uncontrolled urination. Other causes of incontinence in pregnancy include

1. Medical conditions such as diabetes, stroke in past and anxiety medicines.

2. Physical movements that put extra pressure on the bladder such as coughing, sneezing and laughing.

3. The growing baby also puts extra pressure on the bladder.

4. Lining of bladder and urethra is affected by changing hormones.

5. Untreated UTIs before pregnancy.

Incontinence can be treated by bladder management and certain healthy changes that should be incorporated in lifestyle. These include

1. Bladder diary to re-teaching bladder to hold urine by lengthening time among trips.

2. Kegels exercise is safe and effective method to strengthen pelvic floor.

3. Avoiding drinking at night or any carbonated/caffeinated drinks.

4. Maintaining a healthy weight in order to reduce pressure on the bladder

5. Eating a healthy and high-fibre diet in order to avoid constipation.

This problem occurs only during pregnancy but sometimes it occurs after birth of the baby because of damage to the nerves that control urination. In a study it is found that 50 percent of the women continued to have incontinence even after the pregnancy. Woman who don’t have incontinence during pregnancy have a lower risk of postpartum incontinence.

Inguinal Hernia

This often presents as a lump in groin region for girls and may extend into scrotum for boys. Inguinal Hernias are much more common in boys than in girls. Testes develop in the abdomen and are relocated to groin region via a passageway known as the Inguinal Canal. In case of hernia, due to some defects, the canal remains wide and abdominal contents or organs may protrude into the canal. On increased pressure due to crying or coughing the lump becomes more prominent. It is lesser in girls because they have a much narrower Inguinal Canal. It can be surgically treated