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Child provides parents of children 12 and younger with the newest thinking, information, and advice they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. In a typical issue, readers will find feature articles on child development, behavior, health, nutrition, and education.

Child provides parents of children 12 and younger with the newest thinking, information, and advice they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. In a typical issue, readers will find feature articles on child development, behavior, health, nutrition, and education

Study: Do Opposite-Sex

Siblings Hamper Education?

By Linda Jacobson

Children with siblings of the opposite sex may not reach educational levels as high as they would have had their siblings been of the same sex, a study suggests.

According to the study by Dalton Conley, an associate professor of sociology at New York University, "men are most disadvantaged by the presence of siblings when they have sisters, while women's educational attainment is hurt more by brothers."

Specifically, Mr. Conley found that each additional brother reduces the average woman's attainment by one-tenth of a year of education, while each additional sister hurts a woman's educational attainment by only six- hundredths of a year.

The pattern is similar for men. Each brother reduced educational attainment by about one-tenth of a year, while each sister reduced the educational level by about one-sixth of a year.

Mr. Conley based his research on the University of Michigan's Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a nationally representative sample of 7,573 adults between the ages of 25 and 65. All of them had at least one sibling.

Past research on how siblings affect educational outcomes have produced mixed results. One study found that women raised with brothers did better than those raised with sisters. Another researcher found that for both male and female African-Americans, having more sisters was correlated with higher educational attainment.

Explanations Offered

Mr. Conley offers a few possible explanations for his findings. First, he suggests that having same-sex siblings may create a "competitive, achievement-oriented environment" within the home, while having siblings of the opposite sex may create a "more sociable, less aggressive environment."

Second, children who are in the gender minority may not learn to behave the way they are expected to at school. "In other words," Mr. Conley writes, "there may be a mismatch between the skills that are socialized into a boy or a girl at home and the role expectations placed upon that individual by teachers and peers at school."

He speculates that such children may receive less "gender-specific attention" to their needs than those who are part of the majority in their households.

The author says his study, which appeared in the September issue of the journal Social Science Research, should not be the final word on the topic.

Kids Health: Lyme Disease

You've probably heard of Lyme disease, and that it's often associated with heavily wooded or grassy areas where deer live. It's most common among people who live in the northeastern United States and the Pacific Northwest, as well as the northern midwestern states. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium BORRELIA BURGDORFERI. This type of bacteria is known as a spirochete (pronounced: spy-ruh-keet). Untreated, Lyme disease can cause a wide range of symptoms that may involve many body systems - the nervous system, joints, skin, and heart to name a few.

But before you panic, read on for information that can help you assess your risk of Lyme disease and find out what you can do to prevent getting Lyme disease. And if you're at risk because you've been bitten, early detection and treatment can improve your recovery a lot.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infection that's spread by IXODES (pronounced: ik-sodes) ticks (black-legged or deer ticks in the eastern United States, and western black-legged ticks in the west) that carry the bacterium BORRELIA BURGDORFERI. These ticks acquire the bacteria from mice and then infect humans by biting them and passing the bacteria into a person's bloodstream. Sound gross? Maybe, but you can be sure that you won't witness this process: The ticks themselves are extremely difficult to detect. Immature ticks, or nymphs, are about the size of a poppy seed; adult ticks are about the size of a sesame seed.

Because the ticks are hard to find, it's important to be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease. Ticks are tiny - and it's easy to overlook a tick bite. Many people who get Lyme disease don't remember getting bitten. The good news is, most tick bites don't result in Lyme disease.yme Disease

What Are the Signs and Symptoms and When Do They Appear?

What Are the Signs and Symptoms, and When Do They Appear?

Lyme disease is described as progressing through three stages. Not everyone who has the first stage, though, goes on to have stage two. Even fewer go on to stage three.

Early Lyme disease symptoms, called early localized stage, may include:

a red-ringed bull's-eye rash known as erythema migrans (pronounced: er-uh-thee-muh my-granz), which appears either as a solid red expanding rash or blotch, or as a central red spot surrounded by clear skin that's ringed by an expanding red rash. This rash usually appears 30 days after the disease is transmitted and may persist for 3 weeks or more. It may feel warm but is usually not painful or itchy.

swelling of the lymph glands near the tick bite

fatigue

headache

achiness

joint pain

chills

Except for the rash, many of these signs and symptoms are

common and can be seen with conditions that are not Lyme disease, such as the flu. It's also important to know that not everyone that's been bitten and infected gets the bull's-eye rash; some people only show the other symptoms - or if they do get the rash, it's in a place that makes it hard to see, like on the back. For these reasons, it's important that you pay attention to the other possible symptoms as well.

The second stage of Lyme disease, called early disseminated stage, may appear 4 weeks to 9 months after the tick bite, and may include:

two or more areas of rash not at the site of the bite

severe headache

severe fatigue

enlarged lymph nodes (commonly called "glands")

stiffness, especially in the joints and neck

sore throat

sensitivity to light

facial paralysis (Bell's palsy)

tingling or numbness in the extremities

irregular heart rhythm

fever of 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (37.78 to 38.89 Celsius)

meningitis

The last stage of Lyme disease, called late stage, occurs in some untreated Lyme cases. Symptoms may appear weeks to years after an infectious tick bite. They can include:

numbness in arms, hands, legs, or feet

arthritis, especially in the joints of the arms and legs

memory lapses (rare in kids and teens)

Having such a wide range of symptoms can make the diagnosis of Lyme disease difficult for a doctor. Fortunately, a blood test that looks for evidence of the body's reaction to Lyme disease can help prove that the symptoms are caused by Lyme disease and not something else.

When Should I Call My Doctor?

If you think you may be at risk for Lyme disease or you've been bitten by a tick, tell an adult who can help you determine whether you should contact your doctor. Although many of the symptoms mentioned above can be caused by things other than Lyme disease, it's always a good idea to discuss them with your doctor so he or she can recommend further evaluation if necessary. This is especially true if you develop a red-ringed rash, prolonged flu-like symptoms, joint pain or a swollen joint, or facial paralysis. Remember that early detection is important!

Can I Prevent Lyme Disease?

There's no surefire way to avoid getting Lyme disease, but there are many things you can do to minimize your risk. Be aware of where you live and work and whether they are high-risk areas. If you work as a landscaper or spend time gardening, learn how to dress appropriately. If you enjoy fishing, hunting, or camping, take precautions.

Some things you can do include:

Wear enclosed shoes or boots, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Tuck your pant legs into your shoes or boots to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.

Wear light-colored clothing to help you see ticks more easily.

Keep long hair pulled back or wear a cap for protection.

Don't sit on the ground outside.

Check yourself for ticks regularly - both inside and outside. Wash your clothes and hair after leaving tick-infested areas.

If you use an insect repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethyltoluamide), choose one with no more than a 10% concentration of DEET; a greater concentration may be harmful. Place DEET on shirt collars and sleeves and pant cuffs, not directly on your skin.

Should I Get the Vaccine?

Recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new vaccine for Lyme disease called LYMErix. It's recommended for people ages 15 and older and is intended for those who live, work, or travel in wooded or grassy areas where ticks carrying Lyme disease are prevalent.

The vaccine is administered by injection three times a year: the second is given 1 month after the first, then the third is given at 12 months. It's up to 75% effective after the third shot, but it's still unknown whether booster shots need to be given to continue the effectiveness.

If you're 15 or older and you're at risk for Lyme disease, or if you wonder whether the vaccine is a good idea for you, ask your doctor.

How Is Lyme Disease Treated?

Lyme disease is usually treated with a 30-day course of antibiotics. If you have Lyme disease and begin treatment at an early stage, it's almost always curable. You should be feeling back to normal within 4 weeks after beginning your treatment.

How Long Is It Contagious?

You can't give Lyme disease to another person. You can however, get it more than once from the ticks that live on deer, in the woods, or travel on your pets. So continue to practice caution even if you've already had Lyme disease!

What Can I Do to Help Myself Feel Better?

If you've been bitten by a tick, take it out immediately or have someone help you. The best way to remove it is with a pair of tweezers. Use the tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to your skin. Then swab the area of the bite with alcohol.

It's a good idea to keep the tick to show your doctor if you think it's a carrier of Lyme disease. Don't try to kill the tick with petroleum jelly or a lit match; instead, put it in a jar of alcohol.

Tick bites don't generally hurt - and that's part of the problem because pain usually helps to call attention to these types of problems! Be on the lookout for ticks, bites, and rashes, which are the marks of Lyme disease. This is one time that what you don't know really CAN hurt you.

Allergies

Achoo! Every time you go near your best friend's cat, your eyes start to water and you start sneezing up a storm. And every spring and fall, your dad gets a runny nose when he takes you for hikes in the woods. What's going on? You and your dad may have allergies. Read on to find out more.

Chain Reaction

An allergy (say: al-er-jee) is your body's reaction to plants, animals, food, insect venom, and other things that are harmless to most people. Allergies are caused by your body's immune (say: ih-myoon) system. Your immune system protects you from disease by making antibodies that fight bacteria and viruses, but when you have allergies, it overreacts and tries to protect you from ordinary things like grass pollen or certain foods. Allergens (say: al-er-jenz) are the things (animals, plants, or foods) that cause allergy symptoms. When your body has a reaction to an allergen, you are allergic to it.

What Causes the Sneezing and Wheezing?

You can be allergic to many things, including:

dust mites (tiny insects that live in dust)

a protein found in the dander (scaly, dried skin), saliva (liquid in the mouth), urine, or other parts of animals

grass, flower, and tree pollen (fine dust from plants)

mold and mildew (tiny plants that grow on damp surfaces)

foods, often including milk, wheat, soy, eggs, nuts, legumes (say: luh-goom. These are peas or dried beans. Peanuts are legumes, and many kids are allergic to them.), and seafood

These allergies often cause sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and ears, and sore throats. Food allergies may cause hives (an itchy skin rash), a stuffy nose, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, or even breathing problems, such as wheezing. Hay fever is an allergy that people get when certain plants and grasses bloom in summer or fall.

Why Do Kids Get Allergies?

People may be born with a tendency to allergies, which means they are more likely to get them than other people. Most allergies are hereditary (say: heh-red-ih-tare-ee); you have a better chance of having allergies if your mom or dad or other relatives have them. People can develop allergies when they are babies, children, teens, or adults.

Many people outgrow food allergies. Other allergies can last your whole life, although they may not be as severe throughout a person's life.

Colds vs. Allergies

Because the symptoms are similar, sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy. If your cold symptoms last more than 2 weeks, what you might have is an allergy.

There are differences between colds and allergies you can look for. "With allergies, your nose and eyes itch. Colds don't itch," explains Kathy Trzcinski, a nurse practitioner who works with kids who have allergies in Wilmington, Delaware. The mucus, the stuff that comes from your nose or that you cough up, is different, too. "With allergies it's clear like water; with colds, it's usually yellowish and thick."

How Do I Find out if I Have Allergies?

If you sneeze and itch a lot, wheeze, or if you often get sick after eating a certain food, your doctor may want to check you for allergies. He or she will ask you a lot of questions about your health, about the animals and plants in your home, and about the foods you eat. Your answers will give the doctor ideas about what you might be allergic to, and he or she may ask you to stay away from a pet or stop eating a certain food to see if your symptoms go away.

Your doctor may send you to an allergist (say: al-er-jist), a doctor who specializes in allergies. An allergist may give you a skin test by injecting a tiny bit of an allergen under your skin. This test only hurts a little bit. If you are allergic to the substance, the spot becomes raised, itchy, and red. Some doctors may also test a little bit of your blood to look for allergens.

Taking Control

If your allergies aren't too bad, your doctor will probably suggest ways to avoid the allergen or prescribe a medication for you to try. Allergy medicine can be pills, liquids, or even sprays for your nose.

An allergist may recommend allergy shots if your symptoms don't get better by avoiding contact with allergens and taking medicines. Allergy shots make your immune system less sensitive to the allergens, and can reduce your symptoms.

Unfortunately, shots and medicine don't help with food allergies. People with food allergies have to learn to avoid any foods that contain the ingredients they're allergic to. Your parents and your doctor can help you read the ingredients on food labels.

Fighting on the Allergy Front

Although you may not be able to control your allergies completely, there are some things you can try to keep your exposure as low as possible. Avoid anything that causes your allergy symptoms. For example, if you are allergic to animal dander, keep pets out of your room, and have someone bathe them once a week. Having a pet live outside is a possible solution.

Also, your mom or dad can use special covers for your bedding, and wash your sheets and blankets in hot water to get rid of house dust mites. They may be able to get a special kind of air cleaner for your room. Keeping your room clutter free (with toys and stuffed animals in boxes) and cleaning it often will help, too.

If you have food allergies, always read food labels to check the ingredients. If you're not sure whether a food has something in it that you're allergic to, don't eat it. Ask your mom or dad to provide special safe treats for parties or other activities. For example, if you're allergic to peanuts, you might ask your parents to talk to your school about setting aside a special "peanut-free" table in the lunchroom.

Remember that you don't have to be miserable with allergy symptoms. Your doctor and your mom or dad can help you with treatments and prevention, and soon you'll stop all that sneezing and wheezing.

Source: KidsPost.com

Important Note: All information on Wee Care Child Care is for educational purposes only. The place to get specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment is your doctor.

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