kidney infection and diseases, a fast growing medical issues in Nigeria

Kidney infection, also known as renal infection or pyelonephritis, is a type of urinarytract infection (UTI) that is usually caused by E. coli bacteria. The bacteria may have spread from the bladder or the urethra to one of the kidneys, infecting it. The urethra is a tube which transports urine from the bladder outside the body.
If kidney infection is not treated promptly, there is a risk of serious complications, including kidney damage and blood poisoning (sepsis). It is usually treated with antibiotics. In many cases, patients with kidney infection are hospitalized.

Possible Causes of Kidney Infection and Diseases

1) Weakened immune systems - some patients with weakened immune systems may have a bacterial or fungal infection on their skin which eventually gets into the bloodstream and attacks the kidneys, causing an infection there.

2) The urethra - Alternatively, the pathogen (e.g bacteria) may get into the urethra and reproduce in the bladder, infecting it. The infection may then spread into the kidneys.

3) Toilet hygiene - after going to the toilet and using toilet paper to wipe one's anus, there may be contact with the genitals, resulting in an infection getting through and working its way up to the kidneys. The infection could also enter via the anus - E. coli , a type of bacteria, can exist in the colon and eventually cause a kidney infection.

4) Female physiology - women are more vulnerable bladder infections and ultimately kidney infections
than men, because their urethra is shorter, making it easier for infections to reach parts of the urinary tract
more quickly.

5) Urinary catheter - a urinary catheter is a tube that is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to drain our urine. Having a urinary catheter raises the risk of developing a urinary tract infection, including kidney infection.

6) Kidney stones - individuals with kidney stones have a higher risk of developing kidney infection. Kidney
stones are the result of a build-up of dissolved minerals on the inner lining of the kidneys.

7) Enlarged prostate - males with an enlarged prostate have a higher risk of developing kidney infections.
8) Sexually active females - if sexual intercourse irritates the urethra there may be a higher risk of bacteria
getting inside the urinary tract, and eventually reaching the kidneys.

8) Stressing your bladder- not urinating whenever you have the urge.

9) Drinking too much alcohol and abuse of drugs

10) Not drinking enough water everyday..

what you should know about malaria...

 Malaria according to WHO is an infectious parasitic disease that in 2010 was found in 99 countries and territories throughout the world. It is caught by being bitten by a mosquito

carrying the malaria parasite.

Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium , which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito.

Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been infected through a previous blood meal taken on an infected person. When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood is taken in which contains microscopic malaria parasites. About 1 week later, when the mosquito takes its next blood meal, these parasites mix with the mosquito’s saliva and are injected into the person being bitten. Because the malaria parasite is found in red blood cells of an infected person, malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplant, or the shared use of needles or syringes contaminated with blood. Malaria may also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn infant before or during delivery (“congenital” malaria).

In the early stages, malaria symptoms are sometimes similar to those of many other infections caused by
bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Symptoms may include:
Fever.
Chills.
Headache.
Sweats.
Fatigue.
Nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms may appear in cycles and may come and go at different intensities and for different lengths of time. But, especially at the beginning of the illness, the symptoms may not follow this typical pattern. The cyclic pattern of malaria symptoms is due to the life cycle of malaria parasites as they develop, reproduce, and are released from the red blood cells and liver cells in the human body. This cycle of symptoms is also one of the
major indicators that you are infected with malaria.
Other common symptoms of malaria include:
Dry (nonproductive) cough.
Muscle and/or back pain.
Enlarged spleen.
In rare cases, malaria can lead to impaired function of the brain or spinal cord, seizures , or loss of consciousness. Infection with the P.falciparum parasite is usually more
serious and may become life threatening.

There are other conditions with symptoms similar to a malaria infection. It is important that you see your doctor to find out the cause of your symptoms.

Prevention and Cure
Malaria prevention needs to be approached from two fronts:

protecting against infection and reducing the development of the disease in infected people. Studies in Ghana, Kenya, and other African nations show that about 30 percent of child deaths could be avoided if children slept under bed nets regularly treated with insecticides.
In the 1950s and 1960s, DDT
lowered malaria rates in many parts of the world. However, due to environmental toxicity, it was abandoned.
Predictably, malaria rates increased. DDT has been replaced by newer insecticides, which have fewer health
risks.
Disease management through early diagnosis and prompt treatment is fundamental to malaria control. Even with the emergence of drug resistance, malaria is largely a curable disease.

BLISSFUL KIDS : Is your child GIFTED?..

BLISSFUL KIDS : Is your child GIFTED?..: It is generally agreed that gifted children differ from their peers in ways other than intellectual ability alone. A gifted child is a chil...

Is your child GIFTED?..

It is generally agreed that gifted children differ from their peers in ways other than intellectual ability alone. A gifted child is a child who is naturally endowed with a high degree of general mental ability or an extraordinary ability in a specific sphere of activity or knowledge.

Some traits of giftedness in children
Though most children aren't identified until they begin school, some show signs of giftedness at an early age. Some traits include;

1. Need less sleep, even as infants.
2. As infants, may get fussy if set facing one direction for too long
3. Frequently reach 'milestones' such as walking and first speech earlier than average
4. May speak late, but then speak in complete sentences
5. Strong desire to explore, investigate, and master the environment (opens up cabinets, takes things apart)
6. Toys and games mastered early, then discarded
7. Very active (but activity with a purpose, not to be confused
with ADHD)
8. Can distinguish between reality and fantasy (questions
about Santa or the tooth fairy come very early!

Characteristics of giftedness in children
In the late 20th century, the term asynchrony was used to describe the developmental characteristics of gifted children; that is, their mental, physical, emotional, and social abilities may all develop at different paces.


1. Very observant , noticing details other children of the same age would miss, including non-verbal cues
2. Great intellectual curiosity, wanting to know everything about everything -- objects, ideas, situations, or events.
3. Absorb information rapidly - often described as being like sponges
4. Excellent memory - often have a large storehouse of information about a variety of topics, which they can recall quickly
5. Long attention span compared to other same-age children
6. Excellent reasoning and problem solving skills
7. Intense interests
8. Unusual and/or vivid imagination
9. Learn quickly and with less practice and repetition
10. Usually intrinsically motivated to learn (star charts and stickers don't work well to motivate them)
11. Enjoy learning new things, seeking information for its own sake as much as for its usefulness
12. Enjoy intellectual activity, thriving on intellectual challenge (can get bored with slow instructional pace and repetition)
13. Interested in philosophical and social issues -- for example, the nature of the universe, the problem of suffering in the world, environmental issues
14. Very sensitive, emotionally and even physically -- can become upset easily, even over seemingly minor issues (like the feeling of seams in socks), but can be moved almost to tears by the beauty of a sunset or a song. They may also want to quit eating meat out of sympathy for animals.
15. Concerned about fairness and injustice -- very aware of rights and wrongs
16. Energetic , sometimes needing less sleep than other same-age children (sometimes high energy level is confused with ADHD)
17. Asynchronous development (physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development are very uneven -- i.e. a 6 year old child may be like a 10 year old intellectually, an 8 year old socially, and a 6 year old emotionally.)
18. Well-developed sense of humor
19. Perfectionistic

BLISSFUL KIDS : Tips for parents on the care of common colds in ki...

BLISSFUL KIDS : Tips for parents on the care of common colds in ki...: The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract which primarily affects the nose.  upper respiratory tract inf...

Tips for parents on the care of common colds in kids

The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract which primarily affects the nose.  upper respiratory tract infections are mainly divided by the areas they affect,with the common cold primarily affecting the nose,the throat and the sinuses,occasionally affecting the eyes(conjunctivitis). common cold can also lead to pneumonia mostly in children.

Symptoms of cold:

 the symptoms of cold usually appear a day to three days after exposure or in contact with a cold causing virus. The signs or symptoms to look out for are;

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy or sore throat
• Nasal congestion
• Cough
• A slight fever mostly in children
• Muscle ache
• Fatigue
• loss of appetite
• Mild headache

when should I be worried or go to a Doctor?

On the average, children are mostly affected by cold than adult. your child does not necessary need to see a doctor for routine common cold, but you must seek for a medical help right away when you notice any of this sign or symptom;

• a fever of 38°C or higher in newborn(0-3 month old)
• a child of any age develops fever that rises repeatedly above 40°C.
• fever that lasts more than 24 hrs in a child below 2 yrs.
• common cold that last more than 10 days and whereby your child coughs up green, yellow or brown sputum. This could be a sign of bacteria infection.
• your child complaining of some difficulty in breathing.
• persistent crying 
• signs of ear infection which can be obvious by ear ache or your baby rubbing her ear, feeling irritable.
• vomiting or  abdominal pains
• persistent cough
• your child seems to be complaining of throat ache or difficulty in swallowing.
• if there seems to be no improvement rather your child seems to be getting worse.

Helping your child cope with the symptoms of cold;

• encourage your child to take lots of fluid. water is fine but a warm drink might be preferable.
• paracetamol liquid or ibuprofen can help ease the ache or fever 
• you can raise the pillow end slightly if he complains of a blocked nose.
• encourage your child to get enough rest.
• keep the room warm.
• to help relieve nasal congestion, you can use a saline nasal drop. this you can get from  over-the-counter. it is safe, non irritating and very effective. they can be dropped before feeding to improve nursing or bottle taking and before bedtime to help improve sleep.