Category: Health and Wellness

 

When we hear about drugs, it is either of two things – drugs that are prohibited and drugs that can reduce pain or discomfort. Of the two drugs, the most necessary and of course legal is the latter. If we take drugs every time pain kicks, it is crucial that we know what analgesia to take.

Analgesia refers to medications that have the capacity to render the person insensible to pain without the loss of his/her consciousness. World Health Organization reminds Singaporeans to observe pain ladder when managing analgesia.

Here are the common types of pain and its distinctive drug management:

• Headache: If we experience headache, the typical drug treatment is Paracetamol acetaminophen and NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs). If the headaches are severe accompanied by vomiting or fever, a doctor should be consulted.
• Migraine: Many Singaporeans suffer from migraine. For migraine episodes, we can take Paracetamol or NSAIDs also but if migraines are severe, many consider triptans.

• Menstrual cramps: Many girls have this problem and we take NSAIDs most of the time. The good news is that any NSAID will work.
• Muscle ache: When we suffer muscle ache, Paracetamol or NSAIDs can make a difference. If inflammations are present, NSAIDs will work better.
• Strain: For strains, we can use muscle relaxants and NSAIDs.
• Severe trauma: Severe trauma includes burn, severe sprain and bone fracture. Opioids can help a great deal but if it is more than 2 weeks, it is a different thing.

Before taking drugs, it is crucial that we see our doctors first. The prescription and the advice should come from them.

Stomach aches can happen frequently, though most of them are just minor cases. However, some can be an indication of more serious things, so make sure to be in the know and stay alert when it comes to your child’s health.

1. Abdominal Pain: This is simply a feeling of discomfort in the abdominal area. Most of time tolerable, but sometimes can hamper a child’s day-to-day activities.

See a doctor if: The pain just suddenly came and seems like it’s not going away.

2. Vomiting: In children and infants, vomiting is common. This happens when the child is too full or stomach contents are involuntarily brought up back to the mouth whether or not the child is full. It could also be a gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) if your child complains about a sour or foul tasting substance in the mouth or points the pain in the upper middle part of his abdomen.

See a doctor if: Vomiting has tinges of blood, or if it’s becoming more frequent and is accompanied by abdominal cramps and diarrhea.

3. Constipation: Constipation is among the three most common causes of tummy aches in kids. Adding more fibre to your children’s diet, along with prune juice or apple juice can help a lot in maintaining healthy digestion.

See a doctor if: You see signs of rectal bleeding. It could be a chronic constipation, which can be a sign of celiac diseases or underactive thyroid gland.

4. Dehydration: When a stomach ailment causes your child to vomit more frequently, accompanied by diarrhea, he is at risk of dehydration. This means that the body will lack electrolytes and fluid to function properly.

See a doctor if: Your child shows signs of moderate to heavy dehydration, such as sunken fontanelle (the soft spot on an infant’s head), sunken eyeballs, constant thirst, absence of tears, and dry skin.

5. Diarrhea: This is a condition wherein the child produces loose or watery stool, usually three times in a day. In this condition, the consistency of the stool is much more important than the frequency of the bowel movements. So even if the child makes more than three movements a day, with formed stool, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s diarrhea.

See a doctor if: There’s mucus or blood in the stool and if it’s accompanied by abdominal cramps and fever or follows vomiting after a meal, as this could be a sign of food poisoning.

Tummy aches among children is common, but knowing what this indications could mean—along with other signs—can save your child from serious health condition.