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Medical Myths
Kids' Stuff - The Facts Behind Them
Fat children are cute..... "after all, it's only 'puppy fat' which will go away and won't affect the child in any way!"
Studies have shown that obesity alone can cause a risk of severe narrowing of arteries in very young children. This impairment was similar to that found in the elderly and heavy smokers! This is due to the fact that the function of the inner lining of the blood vessel is affected in obese children, and this predisposes to the artery narrowing and its attendant complications of heart attacks and strokes later on.
However, regular exercise and proper diet can indeed reduce this risk which can be seen within six weeks of adopting the healthy lifestyle.
Hence, one is never too young to be on a healthy diet and to maintain ideal body weight. As parents, a lot depends on us to ensure our children's future health.
"Diabetes, Arthritis, Kidney problems..... these are diseases of the aged, kids don't get it!"
"How could my 6-year old daughter be suffering from diabetes?"
Though the above conditions are indeed more common in the adult and elderly, children are not exempt from these diseases, though they may present in different forms.
Diabetes in children tend to have a more acute onset with the child being rather ill, drowsy and even comatose at times. Diabetic children usually require life-long insulin treatment, with proper education and care, these children can live a near normal life.
Joint and bone pains can occur in children and are not all due to an overactive child with frequent 'bumps' and falls nor are they just 'growing pains'.
Other more serious causes, like Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bone Tumors and even Leukemias need to be excluded.
"My 7-month old baby is having fever..... he must just be teething."
Though teething infants may have slight fever, it is never very high. Furthermore, other causes of the fever should first be excluded by your Family Doctor.
Infants who are teething tend to have sore gums which causes them to be more fretful and occasionally refuse feeds. Using chilled teething rings often helps relieve their discomfort.
"My child is having high fever..... if I swaddle and cover him with sweaters and blankets, it will make him sweat it out and bring the fever down faster!"
On the contrary, when your child is having fever, it is best for him to wear cool light clothing and be in a room with cool ambient temperature. Further sponging him with tap water (not ice-water, which, if it causes shivering, can increase the body temperature further) and the anti-fever medication will help.
It is important to control the fever in children, especially between the ages of six months to six years, as children in this age-group run the risk of febrile fits.
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