Health and Medicine: August 2015

Sticky Situations for Teen Girls

Mean Girl

She's pretty, popular, and harsh, spreading rumors, calling names, and being mean.

What to do: Talk to a principal, teacher, or parent. Avoid her and hang out with real friends. Never take a putdown seriously.

Busting Out

Every girl gets breasts, just not at the same time or in the same size. Developing early can bring attention that you might not want.

What to do: You need support from a bra that fits. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, tell a responsible adult (like a parent, counselor, or trusted teacher).

What Is Pinkeye?

Pinkeye -- also called conjunctivitis -- is redness and inflammation of the clear membranes covering the whites of the eyes and the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids. Pinkeye is most often caused by a virus or by a bacterial infection, although allergies, chemical agents, and underlying diseases can also play a role.

Healthy Baby Skin

Wrinkles, redness, dryness, and fuzz. Newborn skin is far from flawless but it usually doesn't mean something is wrong. Baby's skin is adjusting to life outside the womb. Most skin imperfections disappear over time. For example, premature babies sometimes have soft hair on their face and back. Late babies often have dry, peeling skin. Both should go away within a few weeks.

Baby Skin Is Sensitive

You likely don't need lotions or creams during baby's first month. When you do begin using skin care products, be sure to use only baby products. Baby skin is sensitive. Products formulated for adults may have dyes, fragrances, and cleansers that are too harsh for infant skin. In general, avoid using baby powders -- talc may cause lung problems, while cornstarch may aggravate a yeast diaper rash.

How can you soothe and treat your child's cold?

Use this quick pictorial Q&A guide to see how to soothe your sick child at home. Learn how to safely give over-the-counter (OTC) medicines if needed to ease a fever, runny nose, sore throat, or other common cold symptoms.

What should I do if my child has a fever?

Pediatricians say a fever is significant when it's 100.4 degrees or more. If your child has a fever, call the doctor if she's younger than 6 months; has other symptoms; has had a fever for more than two days; or has not been vaccinated. In other cases, it's usually safe to use children's ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Never give a child aspirin. It poses a risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness that affects the liver and brain.

Diaper Changing, Step by Step

Whether you've never changed a diaper before or you're an old hand, you'll get plenty of practice with your new baby. Most parents have made common mistakes, like putting a diaper on backward or lopsided, or even getting an unexpected spray of urine from their baby boy. These step-by-step tips will help you master the art of diaper changing and fix any first-time mistakes fast.

Get Your Supplies Together

Have everything at hand, because you never want to leave your baby unattended. You'll need a clean diaper or two, something to wipe your baby with, and a flat surface. If your baby has diaper rash or is less than a month old, have cotton balls or squares, warm water, a towel, and diaper rash cream handy.

Head Lice: What Parents Should Know

Spotting a tiny, white speck in your child's hair is enough to make many parents panic. Sure, head lice score high on the yuck factor, but they usually don't cause serious disease. Here you'll find all the information you need to get a lice infestation under control.

What Are Head Lice?

Head lice are tiny six-legged insects that cling to the scalp and neck and feed on human blood. Each louse is about the size of a sesame seed and can be hard to spot. Lice eggs, called nits, are glued onto hairs near the scalp and can be even harder to see.

What's That?

Wondering about that rash, welt, or bump on your child's skin? Sickness, allergies, and heat or cold are often behind kids' skin changes. Most aren't a big deal and are easy to treat. You can learn to tell what many of them look like. Of course, always check with your child's doctor to know for sure and get the right treatment.

Ringworm

Worms don't cause ringworm. It's caused by a fungus that lives off dead skin, hair, and nail tissue. It starts as a red, scaly patch or bump. Then comes the telltale itchy red ring. The ring has raised, blistery, or scaly borders. Ringworm is passed on by skin-to-skin contact with a person or animal. Kids can also get it by sharing things like towels or sports gear. Your doctor may treat it with antifungal creams.

Childhood Illnesses: The Facts

While vaccines have made some childhood illnesses rare, many others remain a fact of life. They range from common infections like croup to mysterious ailments like Kawasaki disease. In the following slides, you'll learn the facts about two dozen childhood illnesses. But be sure to consult your pediatrician for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Birthmark Basics

Birthmarks gain attention when there's a media blitz about someone with a visible mark, such as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. News reports suggest that he was born with this birthmark on his right cheek, which doctors checked early on and found to be harmless. Folk wisdom calls such babies "touched by an angel," but a doctor's advice is best.

ADHD: What Is It?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that robs children of their ability to focus and pay attention. Kids with ADHD are fidgety and easily distracted. This makes it difficult to stay "on task," whether it's listening to a teacher or finishing a chore. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates 3% to 5% of kids have ADHD, but the most recent survey from the CDC showed that 11% of children have it.

Sunscreen and Skin Irritation

Sunscreen offers valuable protection, but some formulations may cause problems if your child has sensitive skin. Look for sunscreens without para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an ingredient that may be irritating. For children over 6 months old, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen -- blocking UVA and UVB rays -- of SPF 30 or higher. For babies under 6 months, ask your doctor for advice.

Antibacterial Soap Safety

Good in theory, antibacterial liquid soaps may pose some risks. The common ingredient triclosan may be irritating for kids with sensitive skin. The FDA also has the chemical under review due to studies that show it may affect growth and development. For getting rid of germs, regular soap and water works just as well.

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer develops in a man's prostate, the walnut-sized gland just below the bladder that produces some of the fluid in semen. It's the most common cancer in men after skin cancer. Prostate cancer often grows very slowly and may not cause significant harm. But some types are more aggressive and can spread quickly without treatment.

What Is Ovarian Cancer?

Current research suggests this cancer begins in the fallopian tubes and moves to the ovaries, the twin organs that produce a woman's eggs and the main source of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Treatments for ovarian cancer have become more effective in recent years, with the best results seen when the disease is found early.

Lung Cancer: The Big Picture

Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. But this wasn't always the case. Before the widespread use of mechanical cigarette rollers, lung cancer was rare. Today, smoking causes nearly 9 out of 10 lung cancer deaths, while radon gas, pollution, and other chemicals play a smaller role. Newly developed drugs can offer hope for people diagnosed today.

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop and spread in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. More than 12,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. A unique fact about cervical cancer is that most cases are triggered by a type of virus. When found early, cervical cancer is highly curable.

Breast Cancer Today

Breast cancer today is not what it was 20 years ago. Survival rates are climbing thanks to greater awareness, more early detection, and advances in treatment. For roughly 200,000 Americans who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

There are often no symptoms, but sometimes you may notice something you want to get checked out by a doctor. Those include:

A painless lump in the breast
Changes in breast size, shape, contour, or the skin of the breast
Swelling in the armpit
Nipple changes or discharge

Breast pain can also be a symptom of cancer, but this isn’t common.

What Is Bladder Cancer?

Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the body. Bladder cancer typically begins in the inner lining of the bladder, the organ that stores urine after it passes from the kidneys. Most bladder cancers are caught early, when treatments are highly successful and the disease has not spread beyond the bladder. But bladder cancer tends to come back, so regular check-ups are important.

Pancreatic Cancer in the Limelight

Pancreatic cancer has gained attention from the diagnoses of several prominent figures, including Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who was diagnosed in 2003 and died Oct. 5, 2011. Jobs had an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, a rare form of the disease. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and actor Patrick Swayze have also faced pancreatic cancer. Swayze died in 2009. The lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 78.

Colorectal Cancer: What Is It?

When doctors find colorectal cancer early, it’s highly curable. It happens when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the large intestine (also called the colon) or rectum. This is a common cancer in both men and women. It has the second highest rate of cancer deaths in the U.S.

What Are Polyps?

Colorectal cancers often start out as polyps -- harmless growths on the inside of the intestines. The two most common types of intestinal polyps are adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. They form when there are problems with the way cells grow and repair the lining of the colon. Most polyps stay harmless, but some can turn cancerous. Removing them early prevents the disease.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects about 5 million Americans. Doctors diagnose fibromyalgia based on a patient's symptoms and physical exam. Patients experience pain and stiffness in the muscles, but there are no measurable findings on X-rays or most lab tests. While fibromyalgia does not damage the joints or organs, the constant aches and fatigue can have a significant impact on daily life.

What Is Lupus?

Lupus is a lifelong disorder of the immune system. Immune cells attack the body's own healthy tissues, leading to inflammation and tissue damage. Symptoms may be limited to the skin, but more often lupus also causes internal problems such as joint pain. In severe cases, it can damage the heart, kidneys, and other vital organs. Although there's no cure, there are treatments that can minimize the damage.

Culprit: Ultra-High Heels

"Heels are getting higher and higher," says Hillary Brenner, DPM. "We podiatrists like to call it shoe-icide." Brenner, a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association, says ultra-high heels can lead to everything from ankle sprains to chronic pain. Let's take a closer look at the heights, styles, and woes of today's footwear.