What transpires during a seizure in your child’s brain? Here is a brief description: Neurons, the billions of nerve cells that make up your brain, exchange small electrical impulses with one another. When several cells discharge an electrical charge simultaneously, a seizure occurs.

A seizure is caused by an abnormally large and powerful electrical surge that overwhelms the brain and may result in muscular spasms, loss of consciousness, odd behaviour, or other symptoms.

• Anyone may have a seizure in certain situations. A seizure could be caused by anything like a fever, a lack of oxygen, a brain injury, or an infection. When seizures happen more than once without a clear reason, a person is diagnosed with epilepsy. About seven out of ten times, the cause of the seizures cannot be determined. The term “idiopathic” or “cryptogenic” refers to a seizure type in which the aetiology is unknown. The issue may be with the brain’s neurons firing out of control, which causes seizures.
• Doctors are learning more and more about the many kinds of seizures’ origins thanks to genetic studies. Seizures have historically been classified based on their outward appearance and the EEG (electroencephalogram) pattern. Experts are learning more about the unique ways that various kinds of seizures arise because to study into the genetics of seizures. This may eventually result in specific therapy for every seizure type that causes epilepsy.

Diagnosing Seizure in Children

• A seizure might be difficult to identify. Since seizures end so rapidly, your doctor is unlikely to ever see your kid experiencing one. A doctor must first rule out other illnesses, such as nonepileptic seizures, before making a diagnosis. These may mimic seizures, although their causes are often unrelated, such as changes in heart rhythm, reductions in blood sugar or blood pressure, or mental stress.
• Your doctor will need to know how you described the seizure in order to make a diagnosis. Additionally, think about bringing the whole family to the doctor’s office. Even very young children who have an epileptic sibling may pick up on details about the seizures that the parents may not. You may also want to have a video camera close by so you can record your kid having a seizure. Although it may come out as an unkind suggestion, a video may be a huge asset in helping the doctor make a precise diagnosis.
• Absence seizures, for example, might be misdiagnosed as daydreaming, making them particularly challenging to detect.
• According to William R. Turk, MD, head of the neurology department of the Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, “Nobody misses a grand mal (generalized tonic-clonic) seizure.” “When a person falls on the ground, tremors, and sleeps for three hours, you can’t help but notice.” However, absence or staring seizures may last years without being recognised.
• Turk advises parents not to be alarmed if their kids look out the window in the vehicle or at cartoons on TV with their mouths open. The majority of children who seem to be daydreaming are really simply daydreaming. Instead, keep an eye out for spells that occur at odd times, including when your kid is speaking or acting and then abruptly stops.
• Simple or complicated partial seizures, for example, might be mistaken for other medical illnesses including migraines, psychiatric disorders, or even drug or alcohol intoxication. The diagnosis of seizures often involves doing medical testing. A physical examination and blood tests will undoubtedly be performed by your child’s doctor. A brain scan, such as an MRI with a specialised epilepsy protocol, or an EEG to evaluate the electrical activity in the brain may also be ordered by the doctor.

The Children’s Seizure Risks

• Even though they may seem unpleasant, seizures don’t really hurt. However, they could terrify nearby youngsters and adults. Simple partial seizures are particularly scary for kids because they may cause an abrupt, overpowering sensation of panic. For instance, the inability to regulate one’s activities is an issue with complicated partial seizures. They can end up acting strangely or inappropriately, upsetting others around them. Children may hurt themselves while having a seizure if they fall to the ground or bump against nearby objects. However, seizures themselves are often not dangerous.
• The long-term repercussions of seizures on the brain are a mystery to experts. In the past, the majority of experts believed that seizures did not harm the brain in any way, attributing any damage to a person’s brain to an underlying disease. But now, some scepticism is starting to surface.
• Clinical Neurophysiology and Child Neurology director Solomon L. Moshe, MD, is cautiously exploring the issue at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He argues, “I don’t believe it’s fair to say whether seizures inflict long-term harm or not.” “I believe that each situation is unique.”
• Moshe observes that young children’s minds are incredibly malleable. They may have the lowest risk of epilepsy of experiencing any brain damage after a seizure.

Dangerous Seizures in Children

• The majority of seizures are not harmful and don’t need to be treated right away, but one form does. Status epilepticus is a potentially fatal condition in which a person has extended seizures or many seizures back to back without recovering consciousness.
• Although those who have epilepsy are more likely to have status epilepticus, roughly one-third of those who do not have prior experience of a seizure. You should immediately seek emergency medical assistance if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, since the dangers of status epilepticus rise as the episode continues.
• A condition known as Sudden Unexplained Death, in which a person passes away for no apparent cause, may also be mentioned to you. Anyone may experience it, but someone with epilepsy is more likely to do so. Parents of children with epilepsy should be aware that it’s a very unusual occurrence even if the reasons are unknown. The best strategy for averting this disaster is to control seizures, particularly those that happen while you’re sleeping.

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Unlike the typical “blues” and daily emotions that children experience as they grow, childhood depression is distinct from these feelings. A young person may not always suffer from severe depression just because they look down. But if the melancholy persists or affects daily responsibilities like work, family, or friends, it may be a sign of a depressive disorder. Remember that although depression is a severe condition, it can be treated.

What Symptoms of Depression Can My Child Have?

There are several signs of childhood depression. Due to symptoms being misdiagnosed as typical emotional and psychological changes, the illness often goes unreported and untreated. Early medical research concentrated on “masked” depression, in which a child’s gloomy mood was shown by acting out or irrational conduct. While this may sometimes occur, especially in younger children, many kids also show signs of melancholy or depression, just like depressive adults. Sadness, a sense of helplessness, and mood swings are the main signs of depression.

Children that are depressed often exhibit the following symptoms:

• Irritability or rage
• Feelings of melancholy and hopelessness that never go away
• Social isolation
• being more susceptible to being rejected
• Alterations in appetite, whether they be positive or negative
• Variations in sleep (sleeplessness or excessive sleep)
• Vocal screams or sobs
• Difficulty focusing
• Low energy and weary
• physical issues that don’t improve with therapy (such headaches and stomachaches)
• Having issues with activities and events at home, with friends, at school, at extracurriculars, or with other interests or hobbies
• Feelings of shame or worthlessness
• Impaired focus or thinking
• Suicidal or death-related ideas

Not all kids exhibit all of these symptoms. In actuality, most people exhibit various symptoms at various times and in various environments. While some youngsters with severe depression can still function quite well in organized surroundings, the majority of them will show a notable shift in their social lives, lose interest in school, do poorly academically, or change in appearance. A child may start taking drugs or alcohol as well, particularly if they are older than 12 years old.

Young children sometimes make suicide attempts, albeit they are very uncommon in those under the age of 12, and they can act impulsively when sad or angry. Although guys are more likely to actually commit suicide when they try it, girls are more likely to do so. Children who have depressive symptoms as well as those with a family history of violence, alcoholism, or physical or sexual abuse are more likely to commit suicide.

Which Children Experience Depression?

Up to 3% of children and 8% of teenagers suffer from depression. Boys under the age of 10 are substantially more likely to have the disorder. But at the age of 16, females are more likely to experience despair.

Adolescents are more likely than younger children to suffer from bipolar disorder. However, compared to adolescence, bipolar illness in children might be more severe. Additionally, it might coexist with or be concealed by conduct disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (CD).

What Leads to Childhood Depression?

Like in adults, any number of factors related to physical health, life events, family history, environment, genetic susceptibility, and biochemical disturbances may contribute to depression in children. Depression is a medical disorder that requires treatment and does not just go away on its own.

Childhood Depression May Be Preventable

Children who have a history of depression in the family are also more likely to develop the disorder. Children with depressive parents often experience their first depressive episode sooner than children with healthy parents. Children from chaotic or contentious homes as well as kids and teenagers who misuse drugs and alcohol are more likely to experience depression.

How Depression Diagnosed in Young People

Make an appointment with your kid’s doctor if their depressive symptoms have persisted for more than two weeks to rule out any medical causes and to ensure that your child is receiving the right care. It is also advised that you speak with a child-focused mental health specialist. Remember that the doctor can want a private conversation with your kid.

Interviews with you (the parent or main caregiver) and your kid should be a part of a mental health examination, along with any other necessary psychological testing. When demonstrating that these symptoms occur consistently throughout your child’s activities and represent a significant departure from prior conduct, information from instructors, friends, and classmates might be helpful.

Although there are no particular medical or psychological tests that may detect depression in children, tools like questionnaires (for the kid and parents) together with individualized data can be extremely helpful in making the diagnosis. Aside from depression, issues including ADHD, conduct disorder, and OCD may sometimes be found during treatment sessions and questionnaires.

Some physicians begin administering mental health tests to children during their annual well-child visits beginning in the 11th year.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force advises screening for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescents ages 12 to 18 and for anxiety in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18.

Treatment Options

Similar to adult patients, children with depression may get medication and psychotherapy (counselling) as treatments. In the event that psychotherapy does not provide substantial results, your child’s doctor may next offer antidepressant medication. The most successful method for treating depression, according to the best research to date, is a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

The antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), however, has been shown in tests to be beneficial in treating depression in children and adolescents. The FDA has formally approved the medication for the treatment of depressed youngsters between the ages of 8 and 18.

The majority of drugs used to treat paediatric depression come with a black box warning regarding the potential for escalating suicide ideation. It’s crucial to start and maintain these drugs under the guidance of a qualified physician, with whom you can also discuss your child’s particular risks and advantages.

Childhood Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Treatment for bipolar illness in children often includes psychotherapy as well as a cocktail of medications, typically an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer.

Antidepressants should be used with care since they may make bipolar youngsters appear maniacal or hyperactive for brief periods of time. A comprehensive care plan for a kid must include counselling and regular visits to the primary care provider, as well as medication management.

In children and adolescents with depression and other mental illnesses, the FDA issues a warning that antidepressant drugs may raise the risk of suicide thoughts and actions. Discuss any queries or concerns you may have with your physician. It’s also crucial to keep in constant contact with the doctor and therapist even if your kid is prescribed these meds.

Prognosis

According to studies, youngsters are developing their first cases of depression at earlier ages than in the past. Depression may recur later in life, just as it does in adults. The onset of various medical ailments and depression are often concurrent. Furthermore, early diagnosis, effective treatment, and constant supervision are essential since studies have shown that depression may be a precursor to more severe mental illnesses later in life.

It might be simpler for parents to downplay their child’s sadness than to acknowledge it. The societal stigmas attached to mental illness may drive you to put off getting assistance. In order for your kid to continue to develop physically and emotionally in a healthy manner, it is crucial for you as the parent to understand depression and appreciate the value of therapy. Additionally, it’s critical to educate yourself on the potential consequences depression may have on your kid as they approach puberty and adulthood.

Warning Signs of Childhood Depression

Parents need to be very watchful for any symptoms that might point to a suicide risk in their children.

Children who exhibit suicidal tendencies should be on the lookout for:

• Several signs of depression (changes in eating, sleeping, activities)
• Social exclusion, which also includes exclusion from the family
• Mention suicide, apathy, or helplessness
• Carrying out of unpleasant habits more often (sexual or behavioral)
• Increased propensity towards taking risks
• Recurring mishaps
• Abusing drugs
• Giving away belongings
• Accentuate gloomy and negative themes
• Discuss death and dying
• Decreased emotional expressiveness or increased sobbing

Take the time to hear your child’s worries if you think they may be sad. Even if you don’t consider the issue to be very pressing, keep in mind that it may be. Even though your child seems to want to distance themselves from you, it’s crucial to maintain contact. Avoid giving him or her instructions. Instead, pay careful attention and you could learn more about the problems’ root causes.

Consult a professional if you feel overburdened, unable to communicate with your child, or if your concerns persist.

References

https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-children#1

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Genital warts and other STIs are frequently transferred through anal and vaginal sex, toy sharing, and sporadically through oral sex. Services provided by a sexual health clinic may be advantageous.

Symptoms:

• One or more painless lumps or growths close to your penis, anus, or genital region
• Scratching or bleeding from the genitalia or anus
• a persistent shift in the typical flow of your urine, such as when it starts to flow sideways.
• Even if you don’t have any symptoms, your partner may have genital warts

If you have these symptoms, you might have genital warts. Visit a sexual health clinic to be examined.

Other names for sexual health clinics include genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.

Complications of Genital Warts

The presence of genital warts has been linked to an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. It is strongly recommended that people who have been diagnosed with genital warts undergo routine Pap tests.

In addition to this, it has the potential to produce complications during pregnancy, including issues with urination due to the growth of the warts and an obstruction in the delivery process due to the presence of warts on the vaginal wall (birth canal).

Treatment might help with wart removal and stop the infection from spreading.

The benefits of going to a sexual health clinic:

You can visit a general physician, but if they think you could have genital warts, they’ll probably suggest that you visit a sexual health facility.

Clinics dedicated to sexual health address problems with the genitalia and urinary system.

There are many sexual health clinics that accept walk-in patients without an appointment.

What occurs in a facility for sexual health

A doctor or nurse can frequently detect warts by looking at them.

Once they:

• Ascertain your sexual partners and symptoms.
• Examine the bumps on your genitalia and anus using a magnifying glass, perhaps.
• A physician might need to check your vagina, anus, or urethra depending on where the warts are located (where urine exits the body).
• It might not be possible to establish how long you’ve been ill or where you got your genital warts.

Treatment for Genital Warts

For the treatment of genital warts, a prescription from a doctor is required.

Treatment options include:

• In most cases, you can treat warts by using a cream or liquid once or twice a week for several weeks, but in rare cases, you might need to attend a sexual health clinic so a doctor or nurse can treat you instead. These treatments may be uncomfortable, stinging, or blistering.
• Surgery: A doctor or nurse may cut, burn, or use a laser to remove the warts. Scars, soreness, or itching could arise from this.
• The nurse or doctor freezes warts. Sometimes the therapy may be administered more than once. This might cause pain.
• The warts could come back, and the treatment might not work for several weeks or months. The treatment is ineffective in some patients.
• Although the virus that causes genital warts cannot be treated, your body may eventually be able to do so.

Things You Should Do

• Inform the doctor or nurse if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant because you won’t be a good candidate for several therapies.
• Avoid using scented soap, shower gel, or bath products while undergoing therapy because they could irritate your skin.
• Ask your doctor or nurse if using condoms, diaphragms, or caps could interfere with your medication.

Things You Should Avoid

• Since these medications weren’t created for genital warts, avoid using them.
• Steer clear of smoking; many genital wart remedies work better when you don’t smoke.
• Until the warts have removed, stay away from oral, anal, or vaginal sex, but if you must, always use a condom.

What triggers the spread of genital warts?

The genital warts virus can spread even if there are no visible warts.

Despite the fact that many virus carriers may not show any symptoms, they can nonetheless spread the illness.

If you have genital warts, you should have your current partners checked because they can have them without knowing it.

It could take weeks or months after the infection before symptoms start to appear.

It is possible to get genital warts from:

The type of treatment that is suggested for you depends depend on the size and appearance of the warts. You will talk to the doctor or nurse about this.

• Anal and vaginal contact are examples of skin-to-skin contacts.
• Providing sex toys
• Despite its rarity, oral sex
• After delivery, the mother may also pass the infection to the baby, but this seldom happens.
• It is impossible to get genital warts from:
• Kissing
• Sharing towels, utensils, drinks, and toilet seats

How to stop genital warts from spreading

Genital warts can be prevented from spreading by:

Using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex; but, the virus could still be spread if it is present in any region that is not covered by a condom.

Avoiding sexual activity when receiving genital wart therapy

Don’t share sex equipment, and if you must, wash it or cover it with a brand-new condom before using it on someone else.

Causes of recurrent genital warts

• The virus that causes genital warts is called the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are numerous variations of HPV.
• If the HPV virus stays in your skin, you run the chance of getting warts once more.

Warts may eventually go away without treatment, but it could take months. The warts could come back, and the virus is still contagious.

Genital Warts and Cancer

Cancer is not caused by or caused by genital warts.

In Nigeria and most other countries, the HPV vaccination, which offers protection against genital warts and cervical cancer, is administered to boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 13.

The HPV vaccine is also available to people with HIV, certain transgender individuals, sex workers, and men who have sex with men (MSM) up to the age of 45.

Genital warts and Pregnancy

It’s important to tell your midwife or doctor if:

You believe you have or have genital warts, and you are or think you are pregnant.

Genital warts while pregnant:

• May grow and develop
• They may make their debut or make a comeback after a long time.
• May be treated without risk, although certain treatments should be avoided.
• To avoid problems during delivery, they might be removed if they are rather large.
• Although the infant’s throat or genitalia may get infected with the HPV virus, this is rarely passed on to the child after delivery.
• Genital warts are common in pregnant women who give birth vaginally. You might incredibly rarely be given the choice of a caesarean section depending on your circumstances.

References

https://www.healthxchange.sg/men/prostate-health/genital-warts-symptoms-complication