We emphasize that the vast majority of children who have epilepsy can take part in all the activities and games that make childhood such fun and an exciting time of life. Unfortunately, many people-including parents, are too afraid and concerned about what may happen if a child has an attack, and because of this become over-protective. Being over-protective is, in some ways, more of a danger to the child than not caring enough; children may never learn to do things for themselves, may never be involved in decisions about their own treatment and may never develop the necessary skills to become independent. This is very important because parents will not be around for ever to care for their children.

Swimming is perfectly safe, providing it is not done alone, but with someone who knows what to do if a seizure does occur in the pool; a swimming-pool attendant must also be told. The child should not swim in deep or very cold water, and if in the sea, should be within wading distance of land. For sailing obviously a life-jacket should be worn.

Cycling and horse riding are popular activities, and safety helmets should be worn by everyone who cycles or rides, whether or not they have epilepsy. Care should be taken when cycling on a busy road or in traffic, and ideally horse riders should not ride alone, in case of an accident.

Most children enjoy climbing—whether it is trees, rocks and cliffs on the beach, or apparatus in the gym at school. Where the child’s epilepsy is fully controlled, then climbing is usually safe. However, it is probably unwise to climb mountains (using ropes) either alone or with friends, as the risk of severe injuries (to others as well as oneself) is greater if there is a fall due to a seizure.

Sports such as badminton, squash, tennis, hockey, and football are likely to be entirely safe. It is reasonable to take part in contact sports such as rugby and wrestling, but boxing is best avoided. A very small proportion of people with epilepsy may have seizures triggered by flashing or flickering lights, particularly if they are tired. Certain precautions should be taken when playing video games or even when watching television. These include the following:

• sitting at least three feet (if playing a video game) or ten feet (if watching television) from the screen;

• when changing TV channels use a remote control unit, or if there is no remote control, one eye should be covered as the channel is changed;

• the video game should not be played in a dark room; a bright light should be on in the room; and the video game should not be played for more than an hour at a time, nor late at night when tired.

The use of computers or word processors for work either at home or school only rarely causes seizures and they may be used safely.

Most parents of children who do not have epilepsy will encourage adventures and taking part in activities, whilst taking sensible precautions to reduce the risk of injury, but there are always certain hazards—and accidents do happen, such as falling off bicycles, off playground equipment, or out of trees. It is important that parents do not become too anxious or worried about these risks, just because their child has epilepsy. Some families live in constant fear of the recurrence of a seizure—in the home, at school, or just outside playing. This fear is very easily detected by children, so that everyone becomes afraid of epilepsy and further seizures. Other parents may be ashamed of their child’s epilepsy and will never talk about it; this is very unfortunate and will frequently cause the child to become isolated, withdrawn, and ashamed of having epilepsy. This may then limit their expectations and opportunities in life.

*76\188\2*

Reactive arthritis is a label that just generally refers to any kind of joint inflammation resulting from sensitivity to some particular disease or substance. Psoriatic arthritis is one of those. People with psoriasis often develop arthritis. As a probable preventive for this type of arthritis, CMO would best be taken at the very first signs of psoriasis. It has even helped control the skin disease itself.

A few university investigations seems to have determined that there is a small segment of the population whose arthritis is caused by food sensitivities – mostly to wheat, corn, or milk products. If cutting one or more of those food products out of a diet tends to relieve arthritis symptoms even a little, then it may possibly be the source of that reactive arthritis. It may be necessary to eliminate the trigger foods permanently. Otherwise, continued use would keep triggering the process anew.

The same may be true for certain substances like dust or pollen or chemicals or vapours.

As for chronic or degenerative diseases (like fibromyalgia, lupus, scleroderma, etc), these often appear in other family members. Anyone with a family history of such ailments may do well to be on the alert for the slightest sign if they care to use CMO as a preventive.

*92\142\2*

Roseola is an acute, infectious disease characterized by a high fever followed by a rash. It is not known which virus causes the disease. Roseola occurs almost exclusively in children between the ages of six months and three years. The incubation period – the time it takes for symptoms to develop once a child has been exposed to the virus – is seven to 17 days. One attack of roseola provides lifelong immunity.

Signs and symptoms

Roseola begins suddenly with a fever of 40°C to 41 °C. It is one of the more common causes of convulsions with fever, which occur at the onset of the disease. It rarely produces any other symptoms, although sometimes roseola can cause a runny nose, mild redness of the throat, and minimal enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck. Generally, the fever persists for three or four days and cannot be kept down consistently with aspirin or acetaminophen. Meanwhile, the child appears to be less ill than the degree of fever suggests. The fever disappears abruptly; at the same time, a splotchy, red rash appears on the trunk and spreads to the child’s arms and neck. The rash disappears in one or two days, and the child is well again. Complications are rare.

Roseola is difficult to identify until the fever drops and the rash appears.

Home care

Give aspirin or paracetamol and use lukewarm baths to help control the fever.

Precautions

• Another common illness that produces a high fever but few other symptoms is infection of the urinary tract. This is more common in girls.

• Coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, discharge from the eyes or ears, and extreme fatigue or collapse are not associated with roseola. If these symptoms occur, consult a doctor.

Medical treatment

The doctor will conduct a careful physical examination to rule out other illnesses which cause a high fever. The doctor may order blood or urine tests if he or she is concerned about other illnesses, but usually a few days’ observation will confirm the diagnosis of roseola.

*178/84/5*

What is Allergy?

Allergy is a sensitivity to allergens. These cause an allergic disease when eaten or inhaled or by direct contact.

Are There Any Dormant Illnesses Awakened by Allergy?

There are a number of nervous ailments that become more obvious when a person has a basic allergic constitution. These are functional disorders, behavior problems, psychoneuroses, anxiety states, depression, headaches, stomachaches, bladder and visual disturbances, low-grade fever, pallor, fatigue, circles under the eyes, and sweating. The treatment of the allergy must precede the treatment of the nervous illness.

How Many Children Develop Allergies?

The prevalence of allergy among the child population of the United States is about 50 percent, if we consider the word allergy to pertain to atopic disease, contact dermatitis, and drug sensitivity. However, statistics show that only 35 million people in this country are actively sick with hay fever, asthma, or eczema, the main diseases treated by allergists.

Is Allergy a Family Disease?

A child may be born with an allergic tendency which he inherits from his father, his mother, or both. If both parents have allergies, his chances of developing an allergy are about 70 percent; if only one of his parents is allergic, his chances are about 30 percent; and if neither one of his parents is allergic, he still has a 10 percent chance of developing an allergy. Intermarriage has made all the inhabitants of the world potential carriers of the allergy gene to some extent; anyone may develop an allergy if exposed long enough to powerful allergens beyond his tolerance level to them. This level varies from person to person and within the same person from time to time. It is called his “allergic threshold,” and it consists of the combined effects of all the allergic reactions taking place within him at any one time. For example, a child who is slightly allergic to cantaloupe and does not have symptoms when he eats it, may have them in the presence of an animal to which he may also be slightly allergic.

Is There a Pattern to the Development of Allergies?

Although there are many exceptions to this rule, an atopic child usually develops eczema during his first year, allergic rhinitis in the second or third year, asthma and its complications later on.

*2/99/5*

One clinic, Reproductive Healthcare in North London, uses a process called a monitored cycle. This involves taking a number of ‘snapshot’ tests over one menstrual cycle to identify the particular point where the cycle is not functioning. Conventionally, tests are all done on different cycles, a 21-day blood test in one month, maybe a laparoscopy another month. But doing it this way makes it hard to get the ‘big picture’ about what is actually happening with your reproductive system. You get more complete information by closely monitoring a single menstrual cycle. The monitored cycle looks at hormonal balance and reproductive function and the way they work together.

Monitored Cycle Using Ultrasound and Blood Tests

At the beginning of the cycle, between days 1 and 3, a blood test is taken to measure oestradiol (from the ovary) and LH and FSH (from the pituitary gland) and to check the egg reserve. This blood test is very useful for older women as it can give an indication of the likelihood of conceiving (ovarian reserve). The blood test also checks the hormone output from the thyroid gland as well as prolactin, both of which are: essential for normal fertility function.

The first ultrasound scan is done between days 6 and 8 of the cycle (day 1 is the first day of the period).

Approximately three serial scans are performed during the cycle. These can show the thickness of the womb lining, and the size, growth and blood flow to the developing follicle in the ovary.

A scan a week after ovulation checks on the functioning of the corpus luteum (which pumps out progesterone, the hormone needed to maintain a pregnancy).The scan at this stage can also determine whether the womb lining is thick enough for a fertilised embryo to be implanted.

A blood test is also performed after ovulation to check on the hormone progesterone.

There is also a test called a hysterosalpingosonogram (HSS) which is usually performed before ovulation to check that there are no blockages in your fallopian tubes. This is an alternative to HSG because it can be done in the first part of the cycle which means that the gynecologist can have a complete set of information by the end of that particular cycle. The HSS does not involve the use of X-rays so there is no radiation risk. A sterile fluid is injected into the uterus and traced with ultrasound as it passes through the fallopian tubes. The scan outlines the uterine cavity and the tubes and shows the spill of fluid around the ovaries.

You can get these monitored cycle investigations done through the NHS. Ask your gynecologist about it. Otherwise you may need to find a private hospital unit or clinic that offers this approach.

*78/73/5*

What is it?

A condition characterized by excessive weight. It is generally accepted that the term obesity applies to people who are 30 per cent or more above their ideal weight-allowing for their frame size. About 15 per cent of 16-19-year-olds, and 54 per cent of men and 50 per cent of women aged 60-65, are thought to be overweight. Forty per cent of adult men overall and 32 per cent of adult women overall are overweight, with 6 per cent of men and 8 per cent of women truly obese.

Recent research has found that even being mildly overweight matters-it is not just the truly obese who are at risk. Weight is especially important to those with a family history of diabetes and heart disease and in those who already have high blood pressure. If you or your family have diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, it is especially important to watch your weight and that of your family.

Smoking is linked to weight too. Smokers tend to be less heavy than non-smokers but they are at greater health risk. Many people give up smoking and promptly put on weight but the hazards of smoking are greater than those of being overweight.

What causes it?

• Eating the wrong foods.

• Bad nutritional habits from the cradle.

• Too little exercise.

• Too much alcohol.

*198/72/5*

Dyspareunia – painful intercourse – is a problem that needs to be dealt with more specifically because of the physical and emotional stresses involved. Here is given some insight into the possible ways that might help you to overcome or cope with this particular problem.

When a woman does not want her partner to know she suffers from dyspareunia, she may try to ‘put up with it’ for a number of reasons. Some women may feel they would be letting their partners down while others fear that their partner may leave them for someone else. For those who try to keep dyspareunia a secret from their partner, there is the possibility that when you try to avoid intercourse because of the pain, he is going to interpret this as rejection. For a woman wanting to become pregnant, avoiding sexual intercourse because of the pain is not going to help so she may pretend that everything is normal.

Equally, there may be problems when your partner is aware of dyspareunia. He may try to avoid sex so that he does not hurt you and this in turn may leave you feeling confused – particularly if your partner does not say why he is avoiding sex.

On an emotional level, it can destroy your self image – if you let it. The combination of a chronic illness and sexual difficulties is a tough hurdle to overcome. Add to this a decrease in libido (sometimes caused by the hormonal treatment) and the problem of infertility and you can appreciate why this condition can cause so much heartache.

Dyspareunia can also be a result of other physical problems. Hormonal treatment can result in a dry vagina because of a lack of oestrogen and it may cause thrush which should be treated by your doctor. Some women may experience vaginismus which is an involuntary painful spasm of the vaginal muscles as a result of anticipated pain.

In order to overcome dyspareunia you must communicate! Talk to your partner and share your feelings. Work together and be honest with each other. Help your partner to understand how the pain affects you. Understand that he has feelings and needs love and attention as well.

Relax and give yourselves time. Intercourse may be less painful if you take the time to become fully aroused beforehand. Deep penetration usually causes the most pain so experiment with different positions until you find one that is more comfortable.

Explore other satisfying sexual activities that do not involve penetration. Show affection to each other in different ways such as kissing, hugging, masturbation and massage.

If you are having difficulty coping with the many emotional and physical problems associated with dyspareunia do not feel too embarrassed to seek professional advice. Your gynecologist or GP should be able to suggest appropriate sources of support.

*68/41/5*

Aspartame

Aspartame, once thought to be the perfect sweetener, is now in serious doubt. People have reported behavioral changes from the use of aspartame and it may pose serious cancer risks. Used as an artificial sweetener in drink mixes, gelatine desserts and other foods.

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

There is cause for concern with BVO. Gives the cloudy appearance to citrus-flavoured soft drinks and also used as an emulsifier.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

BHA retards rancidity in fats, oils and foods that contain oil. While most studies indicate it is safe, it is known to cause cancer in animals. Safer substitutes are available.

Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

BHT retards rancidity in oils. May possibly be cancer causing, avoid where possible. Found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips and oils.

Caffeine

Caffeine occurs naturally in coffee and tea but it is also added to some well-known soft drinks. It may cause miscarriages or birth defects and should be avoided by pregnant women. It also keeps many people from sleeping and may lead to fibrocystic breast disease.

Saccharin

A synthetic sweetener used in diet products. In 1977, the United States FDA proposed that saccharin be banned on evidence that it causes cancer. It was gradually replaced by aspartame.

Sodium Nitrite (Code No. 251) and Potassium Nitrite (Code No. 261)

Sodium and potassium nitrites can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines, particularly in fried bacon. Has also been linked to asthma, headaches, destruction of red blood cells, breathing problems. Found in preserved and manufactured meats, bacon, ham, frankfurters, luncheon meats, smoked fish and corned beef.

Sulphur Dioxide (Code No. 220) and Sodium Bisulphite (Code No. 221)

Sulphating agents prevent discoloration (dried fruit, shrimp, dried, fried and frozen potatoes, beer, gelatine, cordials, wine etc.). They destroy vitamin Bl, vitamin A and may cause headaches, backaches, asthma, hyperactivity, bronchitis, nausea and severe allergic reactions.

*240/34/5*

There was an interesting statistical breakdown of psychotherapeutic treatments used by the clinics.

1. Relaxation; 80 per cent. This includes progressive muscular relaxation from head to foot, hypnosis and sometimes simple meditation techniques.

2. Operant conditioning/biofeedback; 35 per cent. Combining the encouragement of ‘well’ behaviour with relaxation techniques in which electronic techniques help patients learn to control those automatic functions of the body affected by stress.

3. Counselling/group therapy; 30 per cent. Individual counselling, group therapy with couples and family sessions are held to assess problems and offer some solutions.

4. Music therapy; 15 p’er cent. Some patients respond simply to sitting in a room with a therapist and playing music with tapes. Using certain pieces of music to elicit emotions can lead to overall improvement in mood and outlook.

5. Other techniques include electrostimulation 87 per cent, manipulation 73 per cent, massage 66 per cent, electro-analgesia and trigger-point therapy 40 per cent, hydrotherapy 33 per cent, acupuncture 27 per cent, and meditation 6 per cent.

*184\37\8*

Professor Foley says ‘The goal of pain therapy for patients receiving active treatment is to provide them with significant relief to tolerate the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches needed to treat the cancer.

‘For patients with advanced disease, pain control should be significant to allow the patient to function at a level they choose and to die relatively free of pain.’

Professor Foley believes the controversy surrounding the relief of cancer pain is mainly due to the reluctance by patients suffering cancer pain to accept potent drugs — and that of doctors to prescribe them. Doctors often deliberately limit the amount of pain-killers administered because of concern that cancer patients will become addicted.

A physical dependence does sometimes develop to the drugs. But this rarely reaches the level of the physiological dependence of regular drug addicts.

Patients will become physically dependent on a drug. They will develop signs and symptoms of withdrawal. But this isn’t the same as psychological dependence on the drug. We are taught that drugs are bad for people and so doctors are loath to administer them except in very advanced stages of the disease — and even then gradually.

Professor Foley believes the future of pain relief for cancer suffers is brighter. As well as drugs, pain can be effectively interrupted by nerve blocks — placing a needle around the selected nerve and adding a local anaesthetic.

Doctors can also surgically make a lesion at a place in the central nervous system where pain pathways are present and thus disrupt them with a procedure known as a cordotomy.

In the treatment of pain due to cancer, surgery of the nervous system has a relevance not seen in the treatment of benign or non-malignant pain.

*158\37\8*