Provided by MedicineNet

Active Kids

When kids are active, their bodies can do the things they want and need them to do. Why? Because regular exercise provides these benefits:

*Strong muscles and bones
*Weight control
*Decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes
*Better sleep
*A better outlook on life

Healthy, physically active kids also are more likely to be academically motivated, alert, and successful. And physical competence builds self-esteem at every age.

We have chosen to highlight only two of many issues affecting our chldren, our site is here to help you make informed choices

Motion sickness is one aspect of holidays that you can do without, especially for younger travellers. But there are some things you can do to make your journey more pleasant.

"I'm bored, are we there yet?"

Backseat whingeing is just one of the hazards you'll encounter on long car journeys during the holidays. But if you've packed DVDs and handheld computer games to distract the kids, you may find yourself dealing with another problem:travel sickness.That's because reading or looking at a screen makes travel sickness worse.

On the road

There are many treatments for motion sickness, but before racing out to the local pharmacy, try non-medical interventions, such as:

*encouraging children to look out the window or toward the horizon
*not allowing reading or focusing on DVDs or games while travelling
*using a pillow or headrest to keep the head still seating children in the middle car seat, if possible, or in the front passenger seat (children under 12 should not sit in this seat if the vehicle has an airbag)
*seating the child in the middle row of a vehicle that has three rows
*requesting a seat over the wing if travelling by plane
*reclining the child's seat if possible
*encouraging light snacks – crackers, fruit, salad – rather than greasy food
*opening windows if possible
*keeping calm – motion sickness is more likely to happen if the child is scared about getting sick.

DERMATITIS

Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is common in babies and young children. They get a pinkish-red, scaly rash (which is very itchy) on their faces, scalp, behind the ears, over the body and on the arms and legs. The rash can get lumpy, weepy and crusty.

As kids get older, atopic dermatitis tends to clear from the face and is found instead mostly in the elbows, behind the knees, and/or on wrists and hands. If the child scratches the affected area, which they often do because it's so itchy, the skin may become infected.

Atopic dermatitis is more common in children who have other allergies, like asthma and hay fever. It tends to run in families, and it may be triggered by allergens in the environment such as house dust mites, animal dander, grass pollens and moulds. It can flare up and then settle down for no apparent reason.

It usually clears up as the child grows older and is usually gone by adulthood.

Atopic dermatitis can't be cured, but it can be managed. Children with atopic dermatitis have unusually dry, itchy and sensitive skin. They can be helped with:

*bathing in warm (not hot) water
*avoiding soap (it dries the skin
*using sorbolene cream or some other moisturiser
*wearing soft clothes made of cotton or cotton/polyester mix (not wool or acrylics, which are prickly
*keeping the child cool, avoiding hot rooms and over-dressing.

The rashes can be helped with a corticosteroid cream or ointment. Antihistamines may control the itching and help the child sleep at night. If the skin becomes infected antibiotics may be needed.

Other types of dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a red, itchy, scaly rash on the scalp, face and other areas of the body like the eyebrows, beard, under the breasts, and in the folds of skin in the genital area (these are all areas where there are high numbers of oil glands in the skin).

In adults it affects people aged 20 to 40, men more often than women. Dandruff on the scalp is a mild form of it. In infants when it occurs on the scalp it's known as cradle cap.

Seborrheic dermatitis is thought be caused by a yeast in the skin that breaks down the oil and inflames the skin. It can be hard to treat and it tends to recur, flaring up with stress and with other illnesses. The treatment is to use shampoos containing selenium sulfide or tar products. In severe cases, steroid creams and ointments are used to reduce the inflammation.

Varicose dermatitis. This is a blue/brown discolouration of the skin caused by poor venous circulation, usually because of varicose veins. It's most common in the lower legs and ankles, and is also known as stasis dermatitis.

At first, the skin becomes itchy, reddened and mildly scaly. Over several weeks or months, the skin turns dark brown (cased by staining from blood that's seeped out of veins). The skin may break down and form a painful open sore (ulcer), typically near the ankle. It improves with wearing of compression stockings and treatment of the varicose veins.

Nummular dermatitis. Also known as discoid eczema, this condition usually affects middle-aged people. Small round or oval patches with tiny blisters, scabs, and scales can affect any part of the body, especially the lower leg. They may be itchy but not always. The normal unaffected skin may be dry.

The patches last for weeks or months but clear up, leaving dark (or sometimes pale) marks. The cause isn't known. They're difficult to treat, but skin moisturisers may help. Other treatments include antibiotics taken by mouth, corticosteroid creams and injections, and phototherapy (exposure to ultraviolet light).