summerHealth

The pelvic floor
Mums know to expect a lack of sleep after having children, but the lack of bladder control is not so commonly talked about. Research shows that over 90% of women who have stress incontinence three months after giving birth will still have the problem 5 years later unless they strengthen their pelvic floor.
The pelvic floor is a large hammock of muscles attached from the front of the pubic bone to the tail end of the spine. Openings from the bladder, bowels and uterus all pass through the pelvic floor, which supports the pelvic organs.

www.pelvicfloorexercise.com.au is a specialist pelvic floor exercise website and online store. The site provides extensive research-based information and resources on effective pelvic floor exercises.

The Total Control Pelvic Pyramid Workout DVD is one of the many products exclusively available. It contains a medically-based fitness program developed by doctors, physiotherapists and fitness experts. The program teaches women how to isolate, engage and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and includes an effective full-body resistance workout. The Total Control Pelvic exercises are all floor-based, can be done anywhere, and are suitable for women before and during pregnancy, and after giving birth.

Bed wetting checklist
If your child is aged over 6 and still regularly bed wetting, then it is important to visit your doctor. This checklist is designed to help you to assess your child's condition before the visit.

• My child wets the bed at night more than 4 to 6 times per month.
  
• My child is over 6 years of age and is unhappy and uncomfortable about wetting the bed at night.
  
• There is a family history of bedwetting (parents, uncles, aunts, siblings, or grandparents had bedwetting as children).
  
• My child has great difficulty rousing from sleep and does not wake to loud noises.
  
• My child goes to the toilet more frequently than other children and/or goes in a hurry and/or has wetting episodes during the day.
  
• My child has suffered an infection in the kidneys or bladder in the past.
  
• My child has to miss activities such as sleepovers, school camps or family holidays because of bedwetting.

Your doctor will be assessing your child’s:

• diet and drinking habits
  
• toileting habits
  
• quantity of urine passed and whether they have constipation
  
• whether there may be a medical condition that might be causing the bedwetting.

Source: http://www.treatbedwetting.info/checklist.php

Treadmill safety
In the last four years, 52 children have been treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane for injuries caused by treadmills, with 25 children admitted for treadmill friction burns in the 12 months to June 2008.

Children under the age of four were found to be particularly vulnerable, injuring themselves by reaching under the treadmill’s rotating belt while being operated by someone else. Other injuries occurred when children put their hands into working parts. Treadmill injuries in children often result in deep friction burns to the hand or fingers.

Over one third of children who sustained treadmill injuries required skin grafts. Over two thirds of children became entrapped or wedged under the treadmill, worsening the damage.

When a home treadmill is in use:

• Be vigilant when supervising children near a treadmill.
  
• In many cases, treadmill injuries occur while a parent is using the treadmill.
  
• Ideally place a treadmill in a dedicated room where children do not play.
  
• Ensure the treadmill is unplugged and stored away from children when not in use.
  

Otitis media
A recent report has revealed that more than 7 out of 10 children will have at least one case of middle ear disease (otitis media) by their first birthday. Clinical Professor Harvey Coates, University of Western Australia and ear, nose and throat surgeon at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children said that the findings were real cause for concern due to the sheer number of children affected by otitis media.

Otitis media is the general term for a range of middle ear diseases. Many parents whose children have otitis media may just call it ‘glue ear’ or an ‘ear infection’. Acute otitis media is commonly associated with the rapid onset of symptoms, such as fever and ear pain.

Professor Coates says, ‘Ways to improve this situation is to focus on earlier diagnosis of otitis media and referral to a specialist. Doctors and parents alike should consider referral to a specialist if a child has experienced more than three middle ear infections within six months. This report has shown that it doesn’t pay to delay attention to this condition.

‘I think we’re also seeing a mini-epidemic of otitis media among children in day care facilities, where there is more opportunity for otitis media to spread. It’s important that parents are vigilant about the possibility of middle ear disease in their child with the rapid onset of symptoms, such as fever and ear pain.’

Top 10 travel safety tips for kids
It’s a sign of the times that children from this generation are travelling overseas more than ever before – with parents, schools or sporting clubs. Dr Deborah Mills, travel medicine specialist and author of The Travel Doctor, sees one in twenty patients under 14 and has devised a list of the 10 most important travel health care tips for children.

1. Undertake a paediatric first aid course so you know how to deal with emergencies through either St John ambulance or Red Cross.
   
2. Make sure your travel insurance includes an emergency hotline.
   
3. Plan the trip so you are not too rushed and there is time for rest and play (and even getting sick!).
   
4. If possible, avoid areas with malaria if travelling with children under five.
   
5. See a travel medicine clinic to ensure you and the children have all the necessary vaccines (particularly Hepatitis A as this is not part of the childhood vaccine schedule) and other health precautions – do this at least 6-8 weeks before departure.
   
6. Parents should consider getting a flu vaccine as one percent of all travelers get influenza – while children will still need care.
   
7. Take appropriate child car restraints if travelling by car.
   
8. Practice safe travel techniques before departure:
   • use hand sanitisers
   • do not drink or put bathwater in the mouth
   • avoid patting dogs
   • don’t lean on balconies
   • take extra care when crossing roads if visiting countries where the cars are on the ‘other side’ of the road.
9. Avoid mosquitoes – to do this use insect repellent with 30% DEET during the day and wash it off at night before bed. For additional protection, soak clothes with permethrin insecticide before departure.
   
10. Take a well stocked medical kit – include such things as paracetamol, rehydration solution, special antibiotics for diarrhea, sting and sunburn salve, antiseptic wash and cream, sore throat lozenges.
    NB - don’t give kids imodium unless advised by a doctor and never give them stemetil.

For more great travel information and resources - www.thetraveldoctor.com.au.
To find an independent travel medicine clinic near you - http://www.travelmedicine.com.au/