Faradic Stimulation

It’s a kind of physiotherapy treatment in which electrical modality followed by strengthening. It is used to train muscular actions in case of weak muscles, post-operative rehabilitation to stimulate the muscles. This treatment is useful in treating Brachial plexus injury, Bell’s palsy or any kind of muscle damage after surgery.

          In this kind of treatment low frequency electric currents are used to stimulate the affected muscles. By applying the faradic type of current, there is mild prickling sensation. Faradic current causes muscle contraction similar to the normal muscle. Contraction and relaxation of muscles produce pumping action which increases blood supply to the muscles as a result of increased demand and supply of oxygen and nutrition.

Where can Faradic stimulation be useful?

• All Nerve injuries(like Radial nerve Injury of the arm or hand)
• Muscle weakness(To activate the muscle)
• Facial nerve Injury.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy or seizures or fits are a kind of neurological disorder caused mainly due to brain damage. Fits as it is generally called is due to sudden disturbance in our brain. Our brain, is like a wire mess, which send signals to various body parts for them to function. But when a kid has suffered brain damage, it occasionally causes some disturbances which results in chronic (persistent), repetitive and abnormal electrical discharges from brain cells which cause seizures or fits.

Causes of brain damage may be numerous. It can be caused by fall of mother during pregnancy or fall during delivery, or hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply to brain), or accident or brain injury in later part of life, infections, low or high level of calcium, potassium and/or sodium etc.

Fits are of various kinds. People mainly associated fits as person getting jerks and foaming from mouth. But it’s not necessary that all experience the same. Some kids while playing just go blank with eyes turned upwards, or some suddenly start making strange voices as if gurgling or snoring, some just lay still with no movement but loose body tone, etc. Each kid experiences different kind of seizure symptoms.

What precautions should one take while a child is having fit?

• Remain Calm
• Place the person on soft surface.
• Remove glasses, if worn by kid and loosen any tight clothing.
• Rest the child's head on a pillow and lay them on their side, so that if the child throws up, he/she doesn't choke.
• Don't try to restrain the child.
• Stay with kid until he/she comes to normal.

As soon as child gets 1^st epileptic attack, get the child consulted by your pediatric doctor or preferably by a pediatric neurologist who would suggest either an EEG or an MRI or a CT scan. These tests show and record the main causes of the epileptic episodes and the region from which these are generated. Once the causes are known, these episodes can be controlled by medications prescribed by neurologist.

It’s not necessary that anyone having epilepsy has to be differently abled. Sometimes a healthy child with no condition can also get epileptic attack. Such kids can lead normal life. But if the seizures are associated with different conditions in kid, prognosis (the expected duration, the function, and a description of the course of the disease, such as progressive decline, intermittent crisis, or sudden, unpredictable crisis) is usually slower compared to others.

Being a parent, with epileptic child I would like to advice, don’t panic when a child gets fits. Because getting panicky won’t help the child. It’s better to be calm and take the necessary precautions so that it doesn’t cause further harm or damage to the kid. I know it’s easier said than done. It’s difficult for any parent to see our child in that condition and be helpless. And whenever child gets an epileptic attack try to record a video to show it to your doctor for reference. It will help doctor know which kind of fit the child has got.  

Down's Syndrome

        Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder. It is caused by presence of an additional chromosome 21. Down syndrome occurs because of an abnormality characterized by an extra copy of genetic material on all or part of the 21st chromosome. Every cell in the body contains genes that are grouped along chromosomes in the cell's nucleus or center. There are normally 46 chromosomes in each cell, 23 inherited from your mother and 23 from your father. When some or all of a person's cells have an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21, the result is Down's syndrome.

Karyotype for trisomy Down syndrome: Notice the three copies of chromosome 21

        Usually they can be easily recognized by their distinct facial features like teddy bear like appearance, wide placed, slanted eyes, flat nose, short stature etc.

        Most of chromosomal abnormality occurs in pregnancy where the maternal age is more. Kids with Down’s syndrome may suffer from congenital heart issues, hearing and speech difficulties, thyroid dysfunctions, slow physical growth leading to obesity.

Down’s syndrome can be detected through tests during 4^th or 5^th month of pregnancy or usually at time of birth. But in cases wherein the maternal age is more, doctors now-a-days usually suggest various tests in 1^st 4 months of pregnancy to rule out any kind of abnormalities.

Kids with Down’s syndrome need regular follow-ups with their pediatric doctor and cardiologist to rule out any kind of problems and also therapies to develop their cognitive skills. Kids with Down’s syndrome need special schooling and vocational training. 

Cerebral Palsy (CP)

          Cerebral palsy is neurological disorder which affects kid’s movement, speech and posture due to brain damage. Brain damage may be caused due to various reasons. Brain damage may be either congenital (during pregnancy) or antenatal (before birth) or postnatal (after birth).

·      

•    Congenital damage happens if mother had a fall during her pregnancy or she suffered from high blood pressure or diabetes.
• Antenatal: if the meconium is stained (due to lack of oxygen sometimes the child passes stool, which is called meconium) or due to any other reason when oxygen supply is cut off to brain that causes brain damage.
• Postnatal: post birth when the child suffers from high fever or infection or jaundice, causes brain damage.

These are some of the reasons which cause hypoxia which means lack of oxygen supply leads to brain damage. Depending on the area and extent of brain damage, various body functions of kid gets affected.

Various types of cerebral palsy are:

•  Spastic : movement is stiff and difficult
•  Athetoid: movement is involuntary or uncontrolled
•  Ataxia: balance and depth perception is abnormal
• Mixed: combination of above 3.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy may be obvious either at birth or it takes few months to become apparent. Symptoms may be

•  loose or tight body tone,
•  delayed milestones,
•  delayed speech
•  seizures
• Hearing difficulties.

Whether a child is suffering from cerebral palsy, can be diagnosed by consulting a pediatric neurologist who determines the extent of damage by various tests like MRI, EEG etc. Pediatric neurologist then suggests medicines to improve the body tone and control seizures. Also various kinds of therapies are also suggested to make the child achieve independency as much as possible in his/her condition. Therapies like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy help kids learn to achieve as much control over their body and speech as possible. Pediatric orthopedic can help including braces or splints which act as additional aid to support and prevent further deformities.

Cerebral palsy has no cure, it’s a lifelong condition. But with correct diagnosis, therapy and treatment a child will be able to become independent and do its daily chore by him/herself.

Brachial Plexus Injury (BPI)

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originate in the neck region and branch off to form most of the other nerves that control movement and sensation in the upper limbs, including the shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand. A brachial plexus injury occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed, or in the most serious cases, ripped apart or torn away from the spinal cord.

            Usually when the child is in breech position (i.e. head is not towards opening), or mother is suffering from blood pressure or when mother is not in condition to push the baby or when child is suffering from any genetic disease and its body tone is low and not able to push, forceps or hand or vacuum suction is used to pull the child. At times when pressure applied is more than the required the brachial plexus nerves get damaged leading to injury, which affects movement of that particular side of arm. A brachial plexus injury occurring during birth is called birth related brachial plexus palsy or obstetric brachial plexus palsy.

Sometimes during delivery, the baby's shoulder may become impacted on the mother’s pubic bone causing the brachial plexus nerves to stretch or tear (shoulder dystocia). The prognosis for recovery depends on the pattern, complexity, and severity of injury.

Treatment for BPI is either therapy or surgical intervention depending on the severity of damage. Physiotherapy is always a part of recovery process for BPI. Even after surgery some amount of therapy is required to restore free and pain free movement to the effected part.

ADHD – Attention deficit hyperactive disorder

As the name itself is explanatory, kids with ADHD suffer from lack of attention, are very hyper or restless and are very impulsive which is not appropriate for a kid’s age. They are unable to control their anger, pay attention to one particular task at hand, or sit in one place for even a short duration of time. Now many people say it’s common for kids to be inattentive in class or be hyper or impulsive but when situations become very hard to control that’s when kids need to be intervened through correct diagnosis and therapy and/or medications.

Now next question which arises is what causes ADHD in kids? Reasons may vary.

Environmental factors: Intake of alcohol or smoking by pregnant mother, even exposure to tobacco smoke, high level of stress or tension during pregnancy, intake of junk food or more amount of caffeine etc. effects the foetus brain development. Kids prefer crunchy & processed food like wafers, etc. sugary foods, cocoa, coffee, aerated drinks contains high level of caffeine, which affect their moods, and also affects their attention capacity and trigger hyper-activeness. Also now-a-days kids are addicted playing games on smartphones and laptops. That can also trigger or it may be one of reasons which trigger ADHD.

Genetic factors: Many doctors say if dad had trait of hyperactive or impulsive nature it gets carried to the kid.

Other factors: Premature birth, low birth weight of the kid, or infections during pregnancy or birth or early childhood also can result in ADHD in later stages. Family dysfunction or poor educational system, high academic expectations or emotional abuse can also be some of reasons for ADHD. The youngest child in a class can develop ADHD traits as being youngest and developmentally behind than their older classmates and constant comparison can affect their moods too.

Reasons may be numerous but how to tackle this behavior in kids? The only remedy is once you realize the kid’s behavior is not normal or you feel he/she is getting more restless or is getting difficult to control, get the child diagnosed by your pediatrician. Most of the kids get late treatment mainly because most of parents have difficulty in accepting that their kid needs help. They just treat their kids behavior as normal childhood behavior until something big or untoward happens.

My 1 request to all parents, if you ever find anything different in your kid’s behavior, please speak to your pediatrician and get it ruled out. It’s not only for their betterment but also for ours.

A to Z Challenge - Theme Reveal

Come April and bloggers all over the world will get set for the month long blogging challenge, “The A to Z Challenge”.

This is my 2^nd year of the challenge. Last year I didn’t have a theme, actually I hadn’t thought I would be able to complete the challenge, but the motivation and support of some of my true friends kept me going and I successfully completed the challenge last year, though a tad  bit late.

This year, I thought why not take the challenge a step higher by setting a theme. Since my life revolves mainly with differently abled kids, why not write something about them, which will help me also to understand my kid better.

So this year my theme will be “Kids – God’s Special Gifts”, all about various conditions of kids, therapies, diet etc.

Hope I will be able to fulfill the expectations of people who are looking forward reading my blog and also of those who are expecting me to create and spread more awareness about our kids.

Wish me luck and I wish all fellow participants all the very best for the month long Blogging Challenge. See you on 1^st April with letter “A”.

Book Review - When She Smiled

Synopsis

Mrityunjoy Roy is a fifteen year old Bengali who has spent the last ten years of his life growing up in Shimla. While his family is academically oriented, he wants something more.

Finally he meets Akanksha in school, who turns his world upside down with her gorgeous looks and mind boggling smile.

As fate would have it, she joins his tuition, and thus begins the torrid year of puppy love, romance, heartbreak, tragedy, and self-discovery. Set among the scenic Shivalik hills of Shimla when mobile phones and internet were non-existent, this is a story of how an average young teenager comes to terms with his destiny.

About author

Ritoban Chakrabarti is an entrepreneur, Internet Marketer, Author, Avid Movie Buff and Producer. Ritoban is an entrepreneur who ran an internet marketing company for five years, before trying his hand at writing. His first novel, When She Smiled, is a coming-of-age fiction released in December 2014. He is an avid traveller, and believes in a life without boundaries.

Review

The book starts with the teenager’s description about his current day and few of his past experiences, which few might find it bit slow-paced. His description of the 1^st day of school where he has returned after a gap of 2 years, his giving tough time to his mom, his bonding with his siblings, etc touches a cord, as all have gone through that phase. Like all academically oriented parents, who want their kids to excel in academics like them while kids want to do something different, Mrityunjoy Roy, the protagonist struggles to meet up his parents expectations and also lead life of his own.

Akanksha, the most beautiful girl, he has ever laid eyes on enters his life and he is captivated by her beauty and dimpled smile. His life turns topsy-turvy as he tries all possible ways to impress her.

What I liked most is the simple way the book describes a teenager life, his emotions, his struggles, his grief, his confusion, in other words all the emotions that usually creates turmoil in a regular teenager’s life. This story is set in era where having a car or eating in hotel was a luxury, where internet and mobiles were not existent, where kids from rich and wealthy families were given pocket money and where importance was given to academics rather than extra-curricular activities. The ending of story, especially was what I liked the most, as it is different from all the usual ‘love stories’ and that justifies the title of the book “When she Smiled”.

What I initially didn't like was the first few pages, which appeared to be bit slow-paced. But otherwise the book is a good read, which takes us back to era where life was not that mechanical, where technology has not taken precedence over humans, where family values were important.

Book name: When She Smiled

Author: Ritoban Chakrabarti

Total number of pages: 217

Cost: Rs 215

Binding: Paperback

Genre: Fiction

Language: English

ISBN No 978-93-84878-25-2

Published By: Notion Press

Where we can buy the book from

When She Smiled now available on all major online stores:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9384878251/

Flipkart: http://www.flipkart.com/she-smiled-english/p/itme3kgzmhsrgkjg

Infibeam: http://www.infibeam.com/Books/when-she-smiled-ritoban-chakrabarti/9789384878252.html

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

E-book or Paperback - which one you prefer?

Kindle or Paperbacks?

Last year when I won Tornado book giveaway, my long forgotten passion raised its head & claimed my attention, reading which was my favorite hobby, had somewhat got laid back while attending daily chores of my life. 

My hands were itching to write about this topic as that was the 1^st time I was introduced to e-books and I wanted to share my experience.

I fell in love with books, ever since I can remember. I loved the smell of new books, its crisp printed pages, it's hard bound or colorful cover. Ask any book lover why and what they love and you’ll see a twinkle in their eyes while describing their 1^st love.

Don't we all do it?

In the days when technology was not that advanced, people used to satisfy their thirst for knowledge, their hunger of reading, by reading books – hard backs, paperbacks, journals etc. adorned their bookshelves. They displayed their treasure with pride to their friends and fellow book lovers. They used to take care of their collections as prized possessions.

For a book lover or a voracious reader, a room full of books was like a jackpot; various authors, various genres, various shapes and size, some bought at a throw away price at some sale, some bought by waiting in queue for hours before its release… those were the days and those were the life we lived.

My Treasure 

But now, with the advent of new technologies, slowly people are moving from paperbacks to e-books. Gone were the days when you needed a big room or space to store your 1000 books. In today’s scenario, 1000s of books can be stored in a laptop or kindle. You need not carry all the bulk in your backpack while on move. 1 laptop or kindle is all you need, which is light in weight and can easily fit in your purse or bag.

Easy to carry-Kindle

But I would like to ask all book-lovers 1 question…

Personally which one do you prefer e-book or paperback?

When I asked this question to some of my friends the answer I got was – we like the old fashioned way of reading; Paperback anytime and all-time favorite of everyone.

Though e-books are easy to carry and store, it can't be replaced or compared to the feel 1 gets while reading a book. You don’t get the satisfaction of reading, while sprawling on your bed or sofa, the folding of the right-hand corner of the page to bookmark or getting the various colorful bookmarkers when you don’t want to spoil the crisp pages of your new book, exchange of books with your friends etc. etc. These little moments of joy or satisfaction are missed while reading an e-book.

Even though I have now read few e-books I just don’t get the satisfaction of having read a book. The joy of having read a book or of having completed an e-book is missing.

After having read this some will label me as old fashioned, but I know many will agreed with me.

Though carrying an e-book might be a convenient option for a person on move but I love to carry a book, no matter even if am able to carry only 1 on a month long tour, I love my paperbacks.

So, if given an option - e-books or paper back, which one would, all bookworms choose?

Journey from OR to AND

Often we women are stereotyped in one or other form of labels. She is either just a housewife or a daughter or mother… what about her own identity??? What about her other qualities??? Why should a daughter forego her duties towards her parents after her marriage? A working women is always labeled as a working women, inspite of the fact that she manages her home AND her work. A work from home women is never taken seriously as she works from home, as she never ventures out. A woman can be a daughter AND a mom AND a chocolatier AND a blogger AND lots more of other roles. Why stereotype women in only 1 role???

Gillette along with Blogadda introduced a activity called #UseyourAnd which truly inspires women to break free from the stereotype casting of the labels and proudly showcase their identity using And.

I was always used of being labeled just as my parent’s daughter. After marriage, so-and-so’s wife or daughter-in-law. After my daughter was born, I was labeled as her mom. I was tired being labeled or referred as Prerna’s mom, or Rajesh’s wife or Ravi and Saroj’s daughter. It was like I don’t have my own identity. That’s when I was introduced to the blogging world by my best friend. And I decided to be a blogger, just so that I can express myself as and how I like.

It is always little difficult to take a stand, as in our country after marriage a girl always has to follow the duties of a daughter-in-law and forget all her relations and friends and ties before her marriage. When I started to write, I was always reprimand that I am neglecting my kid and I need to choose either to be a mom OR a blogger. Why is that it's always we women who has to choose from either of the roles? Finally one fine day, I woke from my deep slumber and told myself, to take hold of my life’s steering and don the labels of my life with pride.

So I proudly say I am a daughter AND a Mom AND a blogger AND freelance content writer.

Letting others take control of our life is easy but taking back that control is really tough.

The icing on cake was, few days back when my parents had gone to our native place for some work, one of my college professor chanced to meet them. He was the one who came upto them and asked “Aren’t you Aparna’s parents? I am her chemistry professor. She was one of my best and brightest student”. For next half hour he just enquired about how his once favorite student is faring in life. That really made my day memorable and my parents proud.

This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus“.