Swavalamban: It's All About Health And Wellness!

Love, Support and Understand Autism world autism awareness day The month of April has been observed as Autism Awareness Month across the globe. Autism is a severe developmental disability that generally begins at birth or within the first three years of life. It is the result of a neurological disorder that changes the way the brain functions -- causing delays or problems in many different skills from infancy to adulthood. the spectrum of autism Autism belongs to a collection of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). A spectrum disorder is a group of disorders with similar features. While one person may have mild symptoms, another might have more severe ones. There also are differences in the nature of the symptoms themselves and when they are likely to first appear. It is very important to understand the early signs and symptoms of Autism for better prognosis.  Early Warning signs of Autism in Babies are: 1.  not ba...

Find, Treat and Cure TB... World TB day World TB Day 24 March is observed to create public awareness about tuberculosis which is one of major  epidemic in  the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries. Tuberculosis (popularly known as "TB") is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly infects the lungs, although it also can affect other organs. It has been estimated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that worldwide there are 490,000 cases of active TB and sickness in children, and 64,000 deaths of children from TB each year. statistics of TB in India India has the highest burden of TB in the world, an estimated 2 million cases annually, accounting for approximately one fifth of the global incidence. about 40% of the Indian population is infected with TB bacteria This year's theme is "Reach, Treat, Cure Everyone" A child g...

World Water Day 22 March getting clean drinking water is still a major problem in many parts of the world Save Water, Save Life World Water Day is celebrated on 22 March every year. It’s a day to celebrate the very essence of our life i.e.water. It’s a day to make a difference for the members of the global population who suffer from water related issues. It’s a day to prepare for how we manage water in the future. Water is at the core of sustainable development. Water resources, and the range of services they provide, underpin poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability. From food and energy security to human and environmental health, water contributes to improvements in social well-being and inclusive growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions. According to the World Water Development Report, demand for water around the world will increase by 55% over the next 15 years. With current supplies, that means only 60% of the world’s water needs...

World Down Syndrome Day 21 March World Down Syndrome Day  This day is observed  to raise public awareness of Down syndrome, a congenital disorder caused by having an extra 21st chromosome.Through different activities and events, the  abilities and accomplishments of people with Down syndrome have been showcased globally.  The purpose of such events is to focus on encouraging independence, self-advocacy and freedom of choices for people with Down syndrome. This year, World Down's Syndrome Day will focus on equality and how people with the genetic condition can contribute to their community while living a life of choice and opportunity. Down syndrome is the most common chromosome abnormality in humans, occurring in about one per 1000 babies born each year. clinical features It is also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is typically associated with physical growth de...

Dental Problems in children with developmental disabilities regular dental check-up  Even babies can develop tooth decay if good feeding habits aren't practiced. Putting a baby to sleep with a bottle might be convenient, but can harm the baby's teeth. When the sugars from juice or milk remain on a baby's teeth for hours, they can eat away at the enamel, creating a condition known as bottle mouth. Pocked, pitted, or discolored front teeth are signs of bottle mouth. Severe cases result in cavities and the need to pull all of the front teeth until the permanent ones grow in. anatomy of a normal tooth Children with disabilities are at increased risk for dental malformation and oral diseases. A number of factors put these children at greater risk 1. Physical limitations and behavioral problems Children with disabilities that affect their motor coordination may have difficulties with chewing and swallowing. In addition, they may not have proper movement of ...

Preserving Smile for Life!!! World Oral Health Day on 20th March 2015   make brushing a regular habit for perfect smile This day is observed to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth, to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of looking after oral hygiene to everyone old and young. The theme for this year is “World Oral Health Day 2015, Smile for life”! This implies: ‘lifelong smile’ and ‘celebrating life’. In addition, it also means ‘positivity’ and ‘having fun’ as people only smile if they are happy and have a healthy life. Oral Health care of children encourage child for brushing Good oral care starts before teeth appear. After a feeding, parents wipe a baby’s gums with a soft washcloth or a baby toothbrush using water (no toothpaste) or  a dentist-recommended Tooth & Gum Cleanser. Once a child reaches 12 months of age, start brushing any existing teeth twice each day. Some dentists recommend using a non-flu...

Protecting Children from Menace of Measles : Measles Immunization Day 16 March make sure to get your child vaccinated  Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family and it is normally passed through direct contact and through the air. The virus infects the mucous membranes, then spreads throughout the body. Measles is a leading cause of childhood deaths. Every year around 3 million cases of Measles are seen and about 900,000 children die because of Measles around the world. In India everyday, 500 children die because of it. Measles is a highly contagious disease, which spreads through air. Mere sneezing by an infected child in a group of children can easily spread this virus. It spreads so easily that any child who is exposed to it and is not immune will probably get it. One can get measles from an infected person who coughs or sneezes around you or even talks to you. measles rash Measles signs and symptoms appear 10...

Protect  Kidneys, Save Heart drink plenty of water to make your kidneys fit World Kidney Day 12 March is celebrated every year all across the world on second of Thursday in the month of March. It is celebrated to make the common public aware about the diseases and problems of the kidneys in order to reduce the occurrence of kidney diseases as well as all the associated health problems of the kidneys. The World Health Organisation has predicted that India would be the diabetes capital of the world by 2025; thus our country would have the maximum number of diabetics, and since a significant number of them would develop kidney disease, we can expect that those with chronic kidney disease would rise exponentially. The common causes of chronic kidney disease: - diabetes mellitus  - hypertension -  kidney stones  - urinary tract infections  - a group of diseases known as glomerulonephritis  - certain medications (pain killers, certain antibiot...

                                      Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity International Women’s Day  is observed every year on 8th of March across all over the world in order to focus the achievements and contributions of the women in the society.    " A Strong Women is both Soft and Powerful, She is both Practical and Spiritual...               .. a Strong Women in Her Essence is a Gift to the World" ... women are perfect at multitasking work This day  is celebrated to provide respect to whole women fraternity,  as women are the major part of the society and plays a great role in the economic, political, and social activities, international women’s day is commemorated to remember, appreciate and love women’s all over achievements.  "There is No Force Equal to a Woman Determined to Rise" This year’s theme is...

Understanding Childhood Glaucoma : Sign and Symptoms Glaucoma is a condition in which the normal intraocular pressure i.e. fluid pressure inside the eyes rises slowly.Glaucoma occurs when the fluid drainage from the eye is blocked by abnormal development or injury to the drainage tissues, thus, resulting in an increase in the intraocular pressure, damage to the optic nerve, and loss of vision. Symptoms : 1.light sensitivity (photophobia) 2.corneal opacification (hazy gray cornea) 3.enlarged eye and cornea 4.epiphora (overflow of tears) 5.vision loss 6.cloudy cornea is the earliest and most common sign of childhood glaucoma. The healthy cornea is transparent and the loss of this transparency is caused by edema, or swelling of tissue from excess fluid. This occurs in the corneal epithelium (outermost layer of the cornea) and in the corneal stroma (middle layer of the corneal tissue). 7.In most cases of glaucoma affecting children under three years of age, the cornea...

Understanding Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in children spinal muscular atrophy SMA is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease characterized by progressive hypotonia and muscular weakness.The characteristic muscular weakness occur due  to progressive degeneration of alpha motor neuron  from anterior  horn cells of spinal cord.  The weaknesses is  more severe in proximal muscles than in distal segments.In some patients motor neuron of cranial nerves can also be involved.Several muscles are spared  including diaphragm,  involuntary muscles of GIT system,  heart and sphincters.  SMA is most common diagnosis in girls with progressive weakness and  it is one of the most common genetic cause of death in children. Causes : SMA is usually inherited i.e both parents must have an altered gene or a missing copy of the gene involved in disorder. Most cases are caused by deficiency of a specific protein called SMN that is 'survival of mo...