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Tips for Healthy Children and Families

The information was made possible by a grant from PepsiCo and was published as part of the AAFP's Americans In Motion (AIM) initiative.

Eating Better

For Children and Families

* Start the day with a healthy breakfast. It refuels your body and gives you energy for the day.
* Let kids help plan one meal each week and eat together as often as possible.
* Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full.
* Eat more vegetables and fresh fruits. Aim for a total of 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables every day.
* Eat more whole grains (e.g., oats, brown rice, rye, crackers, whole-wheat pasta). Try to eat at least 3 ounces of whole grains every day.
* Drink plenty of fluids. Choose water, low-fat or nonfat milk and low calorie or diet beverages.
* Serve a variety of foods.

For Parents

* Reward children with praise rather than with food.
* Serve food in smaller portions. Do not demand or reward “a clean plate.” Let your child ask for more if he or she is still hungry.
* Read nutrition labels for serving size and calorie information. The information on the labels can help you select foods that best fit into your family’s meals and snacks plans.
* Bake, broil or grill foods to reduce fat. Rather than cooking with butter or vegetable oil, try healthier versions like olive, canola or sunflower oil.
* Snacks should provide nutrients and energy, which are essential for active, growing children.
* Children imitate their parents, so set a good example by eating healthy.
* Keep a variety of snacks in the house, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, whole-grain cereals and crackers. Try lower calorie or lower fat foods, like baked chips, reduced-sugar cereals or low-fat dressings.

Being More Active

For Children and Families

* Move more. Try to get between 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Several 10 to 15 minute sessions of moderate activity each day add up.
* Include regular physical activity into your daily routine. Walk as a family before or after meals.
* Limit TV, computer and video game time to a total of one to two hours per day. Encourage physical activity instead.
* Balance energy calories with activity calories. The energy you get from the foods and beverages should equal the calories you burn in activity every day. Read our handout on daily calorie needs for more information.
* Increase household activities (e.g., walking the dog, dusting, vacuuming, gardening). These activities are good ways to burn calories.
* Include an activity like hiking or bike riding when you go on vacation.
* Make playtime with your family more active by shooting hoops or walking to the park.

For Parents

* Move more. Walking is an easy way to be more active every day.
* Park the car in a spot farther away from the store or your office and walk.
* Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
* Get off the bus one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way.
* Use an exercise machine or lift weights while watching television.
* Walk to do errands.
* Be a role model for your children. Do something active every day.

Healthy Habits for Life

* Write down what you eat: how much, when and why. For example, what do you eat when you're stressed out? Learn more about keeping a food diary here.
* Record your physical activity: how long, how often and how hard do you work out?
* Eat only at the kitchen table. Don't drive, watch television or talk on the phone while you eat. This helps you focus on how much you are eating, which can prevent overeating.
* Put out your exercise clothes the night before as a reminder to walk or work out in the morning.
* Set goals you can achieve. For example, aim for eating more vegetables and fewer high-calorie foods.
* Don't "up size" your favorite drink — 32 oz. of regular soda has up to 400 calories! Choose a diet drink instead.
* Eat only until you're not hungry and push the plate away. Don't stuff yourself.
* Eat only because you're hungry, not because you're bored, tired or stressed. Use alternatives to eating when you're not hungry: take a walk, play a game, read a book or call a friend.
* Do your grocery shopping on a full stomach. This will help you make healthier food choices, rather than grabbing over-processed high-calorie foods, which can be hard to resist when your stomach is empty.

Safe Sleep for Your Baby

Ten Ways to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

What is SIDS?

SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. This term describes the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age.

Some people call SIDS "crib death" because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs. But, cribs don't cause SIDS.

What should I know about SIDS?

Health care providers don't know exactly what causes SIDS, but they do know:

* Babies sleep safer on their backs. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their backs.

* Sleep surface matters. Babies who sleep on or under soft bedding are more likely to die of SIDS.

* Every sleep time counts. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs, like for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS. So it's important for everyone who cares for your baby to use the back sleep position for naps and at night.

Fast Facts About SIDS

* SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age.

* Most SIDS deaths happen when babies are between 2 months and 4 months of age.

* African American babies are more than 2 times as likely to die of SIDS as white babies.

* American Indian/Alaskan Native babies are nearly 3 times as likely to die of SIDS as white babies.

What can I do to lower my baby's risk of SIDS?

Here are 10 ways that you and others who care for your baby can reduce the risk of SIDS.

Safe Sleep Top 10

1. Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.

2. Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet. Never place your baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces.

3. If you use a blanket, place the baby with feet at the end of the crib. The blanket should reach no higher than the baby's chest. Tuck the ends of the blanket under the crib mattress to ensure safety.Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area. Don't use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, and pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby's sleep area, and keep any other items away from your baby's face.

4. Do not allow smoking around your baby. Don't smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and don't let others smoke around your baby.

5. Keep your baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep. Your baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room as you. If you bring the baby into bed with you to breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside cosleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed) when finished.

6. Always place your baby on his or her Back to Sleep.Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep,
but don't force the baby to take it. (If you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.)

7. Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.

8. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.

9. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk to your health care provider.

10. Your baby needs Tummy Time! Place babies on their stomachs when they are awake and someone is watching. Tummy time helps your baby's head and neck muscles get stronger and helps to prevent flat spots on the head.
Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby's head: provide "Tummy Time" when your baby is awake and someone is watching; change the direction that your baby lies in the crib from one week to the next; and avoid too much time in car seats, carriers, and bouncers.

Babies sleep safest on their backs.

One of the easiest ways to lower your baby's risk of SIDS is to put him or her on the back to sleep, for naps and at night. Health care providers used to think that babies should sleep on their stomachs, but research now shows that babies are less likely to die of SIDS when they sleep on their backs. Placing your baby on his or her back to sleep is the number one way to reduce the risk of SIDS.

But won't my baby choke if he or she sleeps on his or her back?
No. Healthy babies automatically swallow or cough up fluids. There has been no increase in choking or other problems for babies who sleep on their backs.

Spread the word!

Make sure everyone who cares for your baby knows the Safe Sleep Top 10! Tell grandparents, babysitters, childcare providers, and other caregivers to always place your baby on his or her back to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs, even for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS—so every sleep time counts!

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant and there also does not appear to be a safe time to drink during pregnancy either. Therefore, it is recommended that women abstain from drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy. Women who are sexually active and do not use effective birth control should also refrain from drinking because they could become pregnant and not know for several weeks or more.

What are FAS and FASDs?

Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause a range of disorders, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). One of the most severe effects of drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects. If a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, her baby can be born with FAS, a lifelong condition that causes physical and mental disabilities. FAS is characterized by abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system (CNS) problems. People with FAS might have problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, hearing, or a combination of these. These problems often lead to difficulties in school and problems getting along with others. FAS is a permanent condition. It affects every aspect of an individual’s life and the lives of his or her family.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. The term FASDs is not intended for use as a clinical diagnosis.

FASDs include FAS as well as other conditions in which individuals have some, but not all, of the clinical signs of FAS. Three terms often used are fetal alcohol effects (FAE), alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). The term FAE has been used to describe behavioral and cognitive problems in children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol, but who do not have all of the typical diagnostic features of FAS. In 1996, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) replaced FAE with the terms ARND and ARBD. Children with ARND might have functional or mental problems linked to prenatal alcohol exposure. These include behavioral or cognitive abnormalities or a combination of both. Children with ARBD might have problems with the heart, kidneys, bones, and/or hearing.

All FASDs are 100% preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant.

How common are FAS and FASDs?

The reported rates of FAS vary widely. These different rates depend on the population studied and the surveillance methods used. CDC studies show FAS rates ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births in different areas of the United States. Other FASDs are believed to occur approximately three times as often as FAS.

What are the characteristics of children with FAS and other FASDs?

FAS is the severe end of a spectrum of effects that can occur when a woman drinks during pregnancy. Fetal death is the most extreme outcome. FAS is a disorder characterized by abnormal facial features and growth and central nervous system (CNS) problems. If a pregnant woman drinks alcohol but her child does not have all of the symptoms of FAS, it is possible that her child has another FASD, such as alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Children with ARND do not have full FAS but might demonstrate learning and behavioral problems caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Examples of these problems are difficulties with mathematical skills, difficulties with memory or attention, poor school performance, and poor impulse control and/or judgment.

Children with FASDs might have the following characteristics or exhibit the following behaviors:

* Small size for gestational age or small stature in relation to peers
* Facial abnormalities such as small eye openings
* Poor coordination
* Hyperactive behavior
* Learning disabilities
* Developmental disabilities (e.g., speech and language delays)
* Mental retardation or low IQ
* Problems with daily living
* Poor reasoning and judgment skills
* Sleep and sucking disturbances in infancy

Children with FASDs are at risk for psychiatric problems, criminal behavior, unemployment, and incomplete education. These are secondary conditions that an individual is not born with but might acquire as a result of FAS or a related disorder. These conditions can be very serious, but there are protective factors that have been found to help individuals with FASDs. For example, a child who is diagnosed early in life can be placed in appropriate educational classes and given access to social services that can help the child and his or her family. Children with FASDs who receive special education are more likely to achieve their developmental and educational potential. In addition, children with FASDs need a loving, nurturing, and stable home life to avoid disruptions, transient lifestyles, or harmful relationships. Children with FASDs who live in abusive or unstable homes or who become involved in youth violence are much more likely than those who do not have such negative experiences to develop secondary conditions.

If you think your child might have an FASD, contact your doctor who might be able to refer you to a specialist who can assess your child.

How can we prevent FASDs?

FASDs are completely preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant or could become pregnant. If a woman is drinking during pregnancy, it is never too late for her to stop. The sooner a woman stops drinking, the better it will be for both her baby and herself. If a woman is not able to stop drinking, she should contact her doctor, local Alcoholics Anonymous, or local alcohol treatment center. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility locator. This locator helps people find drug and alcohol treatment programs in their area. If a woman is sexually active and is not using an effective form of birth control, she should not drink alcohol. She could become pregnant and not know it for several weeks or more.

Mothers are not the only ones who can prevent FASDs. The father’s role is also important in helping the mother abstain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy. He can encourage her not drinking alcohol by avoiding social situations that involve drinking and by not drinking alcohol himself. Significant others, family members, schools, health and social service organizations, and communities can also help prevent FASDs through education and intervention.

In February 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy to raise public awareness about this important health concern. To reduce prenatal alcohol exposure, prevention efforts should target not only pregnant women who are currently drinking, but also women who could become pregnant, are drinking at high-risk levels, and are having unprotected sex.

Simple Steps for Kids’ Smiles

Brush Up on Healthy Teeth

1.Start cleaning teeth early

As soon as the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is 2 years old. Use toothpaste with fluoride earlier if your child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

2.Use the right amount of fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride is important for fighting cavities. But if children younger than 6 years old swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. To keep this from happening, use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea). Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and to rinse well after brushing.

3.Supervise brushing

Brush your child’s teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone. Then continue to closely watch brushing to make sure the child is doing a thorough job and using only a small amount of toothpaste.

4.Talk to your child’s doctor or dentist

Check with the doctor or dentist about your child’s specific fluoride needs. After age 2, most children get the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day.

Parents of children older than 6 months should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement if drinking water does not have enough fluoride.
Do not let a child younger than 6 years old use a fluoride mouth rinse unless the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

A Quiz for Parents About Simple Steps for Kids’ Smiles

Learn more about keeping your child’s teeth healthy with this true or false quiz.

1. All children older than 6 months should receive a fluoride supplement every day.
False. Check with your child’s doctor or dentist about your child’s specific fluoride needs. Parents of a child older than 6 months should discuss the need for a fluoride supplement with the doctor or dentist if drinking water does not have enough fluoride to help prevent cavities.

2. Parents should start cleaning their child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.
True. Start cleaning as soon as the first tooth appears. Wipe teeth every day with a clean, damp cloth. Switch to a small, soft toothbrush as more teeth come in.

3. Parents should start brushing their child’s teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride at age 3.
False. Parents should start using toothpaste with fluoride to brush their child’s teeth at age 2. Toothpaste with fluoride may be used earlier if the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

4. Children younger than 6 years should use enough toothpaste with fluoride to cover the toothbrush.
False. Young children should use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is important for fighting cavities, but if children younger than 6 years swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. Using no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride can help keep this from happening.

5. Parents should brush their child’s teeth twice a day until the child can handle the toothbrush alone.
True. Children usually do not have the skill to brush their teeth well until around age 4 or 5. Parents should brush their young child’s teeth thoroughly twice a day until the child can handle the toothbrush alone.

6. Young children should always use fluoride mouth rinses after brushing.
False. Fluoride mouth rinses have a high concentration of fluoride. Children younger than 6 years should not use fluoride mouth rinses unless the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it. Young children tend to swallow rather than spit, and swallowing too much fluoride before age 6 may cause the permanent teeth to have white spots.

Child Whooping Cough

Whooping Cough

Highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that lasts for many weeks and is typically manifested in children with ... more about Whooping Cough.

An infectious condition caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Whooping Cough is available below.

Symptoms of Whooping Cough

o Cold-like symptoms
o Cough
o Mild fever - or no fever at all in early stages
o Running nose

Child Rash

Rash

Further information about Rash is below, or review more specific information about these types of Rash: itchy rash, eczema, hives, hemorrhagic rash, leg rash, face rash, underarm rash, red spots or other types.

There are many possible causes of a rash and any rash needs prompt investigation by a doctor or a dermatologist. Rashes can be caused by illnesses such as viruses (e.g chicken pox) or systemic conditions (e.g. lupus), by allergies such as hives or eczema, parasites like lice in scabies, by reactions to chemicals, and by numerous other causes. One of the most feared but less common rashes is that caused by meningococcal disease, which is a characteristic hemorrhagic rash, caused by bleeding of capillaries just under the skin (see hemorrhagic rash for more details). Any type of hemorrhagic rash is a medical emergency.

Causes of Rash:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Rash. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

* Blisters - see the causes of a blistering rash
* Scaling - see the causes of a scaly rash
* Scabbing - see the causes of a scabbing blister rash
* Hemorrhagic rash - see the causes of a hemorrhagic rash
* Allergic conditions
o Allergies
o Hives
o Eczema
o Contact dermatitis
o Food allergies
o Egg allergy
o Peanut allergy
o Wheat allergy
o Milk allergy (type of Food allergies)
o Soybean allergy
o Fish allergy (type of Food allergies)
o Poison ivy
o Latex allergy
* Infections
o Impetigo
o Chicken pox
o Measles
o Fungal infections
o Athlete's foot
o Meningococcal disease - causes a characteristic hemorrhagic rash
* Parasitic conditions
o Scabies
o Lice conditions
* Systemic conditions
o Lupus

Child Meningitis

Meningitis

Meningitis is a serious infection of one of the membranes that surrounds the brain. This section addresses what conditions meningitis can be a symptom ... more about Meningitis.

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes (called meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Encephalitis and Meningitis Information Page: NINDS) ... more about Meningitis.

Dangerous infection of the membranes surrounding the brain. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Meningitis is available below.

Symptoms of Meningitis

o High fever
o Severe headache
o Nausea
o Vomiting

Child Measles

Measles

Measles, mumps, and rubella were once very common diseases in the United States, but they have become rare because of the use of vaccines to ... more about Measles.

Once common viral infection now rare due to vaccination. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Measles is available below.

Symptoms of Measles

* Cold-like symptoms
* Cough
* Runny nose
* Sneezing
* Conjunctivitis

Child Fever

Fever

A fever usually means the body has raised its temperature to fight an infection or condition. The most common causes are infectious viruses such as cold or flu. Also possibilities include gastroenteritis, hepatitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, urinary tract infections, measles, roseola, prostratitis, mononucleosis, dental abcess, TB, and drug reactions. The most common causes of fever in children include cold, flu, otitis media, throat infection, UTI, or roseola, but there are numerous other possibilities. Less commonly, fever can be caused by extremely serious conditions such as meningitis, meningococcal disease, and others.

Chronic cases of mild fever can indicate various conditions. Some possibilities are hepatitis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, and reactions to drugs (so-called drug fever). But there are many other possibilities and there is a long list of conditions with fever as a symptom. For comparison, see the list of conditions with cold-like symptoms or flu-like symptoms.

Causes of Fever:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Fever. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

* Numerous conditions can cause fever including infections or afflictions of the entire body or almost any organ or body location
* Infections
o Common cold
o Flu
o Viruses
o Upper respiratory tract infection
o Chest infection
o Ear infection
o Mononucleosis
o Meningitis
o Acute bronchitis
o Tuberculosis
o Urinary tract infection
o Mastitis
o Tonsilitis
o Roseola
o Pneumonia
o Chicken pox
o Measles
o Rubella
o Mumps
o Scarlet fever
o Acute appendicitis
o Typhus
o Tropical disease - especially if recent travel to a tropical country.
o Viral infection
o Malaria
o Typhoid
o Chronic infections - some can cause recurring fevers.
o Acute kidney infection - see kidney infection

Child Common Cold

Common cold

Almost everyone is familiar with the feeling you get when you start a common cold, such as a sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, or tearing. Colds are very common but are more common in children and decline with age. They are rarely dangerous to healthy adults or children, but may occasionally be dangerous to infants, the elderly or other at-risk groups.

Correct diagnosis of a cold usually means distinguishing between cold and the more serious flu, which is not always easy, but is important because of newer antiviral medications for the flu. There are also other conditions that start like a cold (e.g. rare but serious whooping cough) and numerous conditions that have cold-like symptoms or flu-like symptoms. Although there are numerous different subtypes of colds, diagnosis of the specific subtype of cold is rarely performed and not usually important for treatment.

Symptoms of Common cold

* Runny nose
* Sneezing
* Tearing
* Blocked nose
* Sore throat

Child Chickenpox

Chickenpox

Common viral infection.

Symptoms of Chickenpox

* Early symptoms - often preceding the rash symptoms
o Aching
o Tiredness
o Headache
o Fever

Child Autism

Autism

Autism is not a disease, but a developmental disorder of brain function. People with classical autism show three types of symptoms: ... more about Autism.

Childhood mental condition with social and communication difficulties.

Symptoms of Autism

* Impaired social interaction
o Not responding to name
o Not look at people
o Not smiling - note that normal newborns do not smile for several weeks
o Avoid eye contact

Child Asthma

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition with ongoing airway inflammation that results in recurring acute episodes (attacks) of breathing problems such as coughing, wheezing, ... more about Asthma.

Asthma: Repeated attacks of breathing difficulty.

Symptoms of Asthma

* Symptoms of an asthma attack:
o Coughing
o Wheezing
o Shortness of breath
o Chest tightness

Child Allergies

Allergies

An allergy is an over-reaction by the immune system to a particular substance. Although the term is often used to refer to dust allergies or airborne allergies (pollen allergies/hay fever), any possible substance can cause allergic reactions in different people. Thus there are also animal allergies, dust allergies, food allergies (e.g. peanut allergies, shellfish allergies), drug allergies (e.g. penicillin allergy), insect sting allergies, mold allergies, and many others. Allergies causing skin conditions may result in eczema or dermatitis. The effect of an allergy ranges from mild to very severe, and prompt profesional medical advice is required. Many types of allergy are difficult to diagnose and thus may be both over-diagnosed and under-diagnosed at different times.

Symptoms of Allergies

* General symptoms possible from allergies:
o Allergic dermatitis
o Itchy rash
o Eczema
o Hay fever

Child Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also previously called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), is a behavior disorder that can manifest as hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, inattention, or a combination. There is a well-known controversy about the frequency of the use of the drug Ritalin for treatment of behavior disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and hyperactivity. There is a strong tendency for doctors to diagnose a child as having ADHD, when in fact there may be other behavioral problems, or even nothing wrong with the child beyond merely normal childhood or teenage behavior. Because it is a behavioral disorder, ADHD is inherently difficult to diagnose. Part of the problem is that parents and teachers have been pressing for the particular drug, even before any attempt at medical diagnosis is made.

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

* Inattention
o Poor attention span
o Easily distracted
o Failure to listen to instructions
o Getting bored too easily

Child Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain

Further information about Abdominal pain is below, or review more specific information about these types of Abdominal pain: stomach cramps, stomach ache, abdominal discomfort, heartburn, upper abdominal pain, kidney pain, liver pain, biliary colic or other types.

Abdominal pain causes can range from extremely severe life-threatening conditions (e.g. acute appendicitis, abdominal aneurysm), to various less serious conditions (e.g., heartburn, reflux, gastroenteritis, etc.) Any symptom of abdominal pain needs prompt professional medical advice. Sudden and/or very severe abdominal pain should be treated as a medical emergency.

It is often helpful to categorize abdominal pain into more specific types such as lower abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, left abdominal pain, right abdominal pain, epigastric pain (pain behind the breastbone, such as in heartburn, reflux, or GERD), side pain, and other types of abdominal pain.

Abdominal pain is a very common symptom, and also common in children. Unfortunately, because there are so many possible causes of abdominal pain, and many cases are not serious, many cases of acute appendicitis are misdiagnosed each year as gastroenteritis or some other similar condition, especially in children and infants. Although appendicitis is an uncommon condition, it can be fatal. And there are many other serious conditions that may cause abdominal pain.

Causes of Abdominal pain:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Abdominal pain. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

* Gas
* Gallbladder disease
* Colon cancer
* Diverticulitis
* Diverticulosis
* Appendicitis
* Gastroenteritis