Swine Flu: Do You Have the Symptoms?
Kidney Health Care - David Mangusan Jr., PTRP
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Swine influenza, more commonly known as swine flu, is a respiratory disease of pigs. It is caused by the type A influenza virus that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu. However, swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person.
Swine flu Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu, which include:
If you have these symptoms, you may want to contact your health care provider, especially if you are worried about your symptoms. Your doctor will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is necessary.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Swine flu Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu, which include:
feverSome people with the condition have been reported experiencing diarrhea and vomiting.
chills
cough
sore throat
body aches
fatigue
If you have these symptoms, you may want to contact your health care provider, especially if you are worried about your symptoms. Your doctor will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is necessary.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Nephron
Kidney Health Care - David Mangusan Jr., PTRP
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The body’s filtering machine: Its structures and functions
The nephrons are little structures within the kidney that help filter blood. Each kidney contains about one million of these tiny filtering units.
In filtering the blood, the nephrons help eliminate waste materials and excess water from the body. The wastes and extra water are then excreted from the body in the form of urine.
A tiny structure in the nephron, called glomerulus, acts as a sieve (filtering unit). The glomerulus is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary, which keeps normal proteins and cells in the blood but allows excess fluid, wastes, and other chemical substances to pass through.
The excess fluid, waste products, and other chemicals will eventually pass through the tubule—another part of the nephron. In this tiny passageway, needed chemicals and other substances will be released back to the blood to return to the body. Substances that are returned to the blood include sodium, potassium, amino acids, calcium, and phosphorus, among others. This occurs when the body needs these substances. However, excess substances that are not needed by the body will become part of the urine.
Many conditions or diseases can damage the nephrons. Conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can cause long term damage to these filtering units, which can lead to kidney failure. Kidney disease is a serious health problem. But you can do your part to prevent or delay progression of the condition.
To learn more about kidney disease and things you can do to prevent its development, you may want to read the following:
Reference: U.S. National Kidney Disease Education Program (www.nkdep.nih.gov)
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The nephrons are little structures within the kidney that help filter blood. Each kidney contains about one million of these tiny filtering units.
In filtering the blood, the nephrons help eliminate waste materials and excess water from the body. The wastes and extra water are then excreted from the body in the form of urine.
A tiny structure in the nephron, called glomerulus, acts as a sieve (filtering unit). The glomerulus is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary, which keeps normal proteins and cells in the blood but allows excess fluid, wastes, and other chemical substances to pass through.
The excess fluid, waste products, and other chemicals will eventually pass through the tubule—another part of the nephron. In this tiny passageway, needed chemicals and other substances will be released back to the blood to return to the body. Substances that are returned to the blood include sodium, potassium, amino acids, calcium, and phosphorus, among others. This occurs when the body needs these substances. However, excess substances that are not needed by the body will become part of the urine.
Many conditions or diseases can damage the nephrons. Conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can cause long term damage to these filtering units, which can lead to kidney failure. Kidney disease is a serious health problem. But you can do your part to prevent or delay progression of the condition.
To learn more about kidney disease and things you can do to prevent its development, you may want to read the following:
- Kidney Disease
- Kidney Disease: Are You at Risk?
- Kidney Failure in Children
- Kidney Failure Related Conditions and Their Treatments
- Talking to Your Doctor About Kidney Disease
- Tests and Diagnostic Procedures to Detect Kidney Disease
- Total Kidney Failure: Treatment Options
- Understanding Glomerular Filtration Rate
- Ways to Protect Your Kidneys
Reference: U.S. National Kidney Disease Education Program (www.nkdep.nih.gov)
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Child’s Bedwetting: Should You be Concerned?
Kidney Health Care - David Mangusan Jr., PTRP
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What parents should know about bedwetting
Bedwetting, also called nocturnal (nighttime) enuresis or nighttime incontinence, is common in children. In fact, many normal, healthy children wet the bed until they are 5 years old, or even older.
Causes
In most cases of bedwetting in children, the cause is physical and not the child’s fault. The child’s bladder might be too small to accommodate the urine formed during the night. In some children, lack of ability to recognize bladder filling when asleep may cause them to wet the bed at night.
Bedwetting may also run in the family. If both parents wet their bed during their childhood, it is more likely that the child will also have the same problem. However, some children wet the bed even if both parents did not experience it.
In some cases, bedwetting may be caused by an infection, nerve problems or diabetes. Although rare, anxiety may cause bedwetting.
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When to consult a doctor about your child's bedwetting
Most children outgrow bedwetting. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), many children do not stay dry at night until age seven. A single episode of bedwetting should not cause alarm, even in older children.
A doctor may be able to help if your child is 7 years old or older and wets the bed often during sleep. If wetting occurs both day and night and your child is 5 years old or older, you should have him or her checked by a physician. An underlying problem might be causing the condition.
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Tests and Diagnostic Procedures
To find the cause of frequent bedwetting, the doctor will likely ask about your child’s health and wetting problem. He or she will also perform physical exam. In addition, the doctor may also ask for a urine sample to check for signs of an infection or diabetes.
If the doctor suspects problem in the child’s kidneys or urinary tract, he or she may order imaging studies.
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Treatment
Most children grow out of bedwetting naturally. Scolding and punishment do not help a child stop bedwetting. There are several ways to help your child stop wetting the bed.
Limit the child’s fluid intake before sleeping.
Bladder training can also help your child hold urine longer. Encouraging your child to delay urination during the day will help stretch the bladder to hold more urine.
Moisture Alarms
These devices are battery operated, which has a water-sensitive pad that can be put in the child’s bed or pajamas. When moisture is detected, an alarm goes off. The sound wakes the child, just in time to stop the flow of urine, get up, and use the toilet. Another person may also sleep in the same room to awaken the child when the alarm goes off.
Medications
In some cases, medicines may be prescribed by the doctor to manage bedwetting. A medicine to help slow down urine formation may help. Another medicine helps to relax the bladder so it can hold more urine. These medicines are often effective. However, bedwetting may return when the child stops taking the medicine.
If your child has a urinary tract infection, the doctor can prescribe antibiotics.
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What you can do
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Page Last Revised: February 26, 2011
Bedwetting, also called nocturnal (nighttime) enuresis or nighttime incontinence, is common in children. In fact, many normal, healthy children wet the bed until they are 5 years old, or even older.
Causes
In most cases of bedwetting in children, the cause is physical and not the child’s fault. The child’s bladder might be too small to accommodate the urine formed during the night. In some children, lack of ability to recognize bladder filling when asleep may cause them to wet the bed at night.
Bedwetting may also run in the family. If both parents wet their bed during their childhood, it is more likely that the child will also have the same problem. However, some children wet the bed even if both parents did not experience it.
In some cases, bedwetting may be caused by an infection, nerve problems or diabetes. Although rare, anxiety may cause bedwetting.
[Top of Page]
When to consult a doctor about your child's bedwetting
Most children outgrow bedwetting. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), many children do not stay dry at night until age seven. A single episode of bedwetting should not cause alarm, even in older children.
A doctor may be able to help if your child is 7 years old or older and wets the bed often during sleep. If wetting occurs both day and night and your child is 5 years old or older, you should have him or her checked by a physician. An underlying problem might be causing the condition.
[Top of Page]
Tests and Diagnostic Procedures
To find the cause of frequent bedwetting, the doctor will likely ask about your child’s health and wetting problem. He or she will also perform physical exam. In addition, the doctor may also ask for a urine sample to check for signs of an infection or diabetes.
If the doctor suspects problem in the child’s kidneys or urinary tract, he or she may order imaging studies.
[Top of Page]
Treatment
Most children grow out of bedwetting naturally. Scolding and punishment do not help a child stop bedwetting. There are several ways to help your child stop wetting the bed.
Limit the child’s fluid intake before sleeping.
Bladder training can also help your child hold urine longer. Encouraging your child to delay urination during the day will help stretch the bladder to hold more urine.
Moisture Alarms
These devices are battery operated, which has a water-sensitive pad that can be put in the child’s bed or pajamas. When moisture is detected, an alarm goes off. The sound wakes the child, just in time to stop the flow of urine, get up, and use the toilet. Another person may also sleep in the same room to awaken the child when the alarm goes off.
Medications
In some cases, medicines may be prescribed by the doctor to manage bedwetting. A medicine to help slow down urine formation may help. Another medicine helps to relax the bladder so it can hold more urine. These medicines are often effective. However, bedwetting may return when the child stops taking the medicine.
If your child has a urinary tract infection, the doctor can prescribe antibiotics.
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What you can do
- Do not give your child drinks just before bedtime. Avoid giving drinks with caffeine, like colas or tea because these drinks speed up urine formation.
- Encourage your child to use the bathroom just before going to bed.
- Do not scold or punish your child, it does not help stop the child’s bedwetting.
- Be supportive of your child. Praise your child for dry nights or for his or her effort for following routines at bedtime.
- Be patient. Most children outgrow bedwetting. Some children just take more time than others.
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Page Last Revised: February 26, 2011
