What is oropharyngeal candidiasis? Well that is just a fancy word for oral thrush, caused by the Candida Albicans fungus (yup, the same one responsible for vaginal thrush too) Small amounts of this fungus normally are found in your mouth without causing harm, but your body’s good bacteria normally keep the fungus in check. Continue reading Oral Thrush – A Quick Reference Guide
If your child has been through creche or day care, you’ll know what I mean when I say those kids catch everything! Children spend so much time in close proximity to each other that everyday germs which cause diseases such as diarrhoea, colds and flu are easily spread. Continue reading Children, Germs & Handwashing
One would think that in the 21st century, with the number of studies and readily-available information on smoking and it’s ill effects, that we would see a decline in parents smoking in the vicinity of their children. Sadly, this does not seem to be the case.
We’re discussing the effects of smoking on your children in this edition of
Second-hand smoke is harmful to everyone, especially babies and children. It can be the cause of, amongst other things, ear infections, breathing problems and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Often overlooked, third-hand smoke, that which gets trapped in clothing, hair, furniture, and carpets, is just as dangerous. So then “smoking outside” is no longer a fair excuse, is it?
1 They have a faster breathing rate, which means that they breathe in more air relative to their body weight
2 Their immune systems are less developed
3 They are not able to complain about being in a smokey environment and are less able to leave by themselves
1 More susceptible to coughing and wheezing
2 Suffer from more ear infections
3 Have less lung capacity
4 More respiratory tract infections
5 Increased occurrence of asthma and severity of asthma symptoms
6 Lower test scores in reading and maths
7 More likely to take up smoking themselves
New evidence is also suggesting that babies exposed to second-hand smoke may be more at risk of cancer later in life. Our children have a right to be protected from harmful second- and third-hand smoke. It’s time for us to quit lighting up in front of our kids!
Till next time, I leave you with these pearls of wisdom…
Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool ~ Author Unknown
Photo Credit How To Quit Smoking
How crazy are all these heat waves we’re experiencing all over the country at the moment? When the temperature on the coast went up to 40 C last week we all had a mini melt-down. But this week it was our inland friends who are suffering. You guys… I wouldn’t be able to cope. So we’re a little late with our second instalment of Your Child’s Spots Decoded… We’ve been so busy here at Penelope & Bella and we’ve come up with some exciting plans that I know you’re going to be thrilled about, cause it’s just a SWELL idea *nudge, nudge, wink, wink* Anyway, I thought it only fitting that we talk about heat rash in our next instalment of
The onset of spring has brought with it flowers in bloom, smells of summer, and late sunsets… As well as an increase in rashes and spots of various kinds. This time, it was one of our own little people who got those ghastly little blisters that we call chickenpox all over his body. So we’ve decided to dedicate the next few weeks of What Your Pediatrician Wants You To Know to the itchy topic of SPOTS!
Growing pains are crampy, achy muscle pains that some preschoolers and pre-teens feel in both legs. These pains usually occur in the late afternoon or in the evening, and can even cause your child to wake up in the middle of the night. Continue reading Growing Pains In Children