Nader Factor

For those people that have the pink eye, the first thing to do is to apply first aid at their home. But your home isn’t exactly the hospital so what items on hand can be used to treat something so painful?

The first treatment for pink eye is cold running water that is to be run over the infected eye area. The running water should not have strong water pressure but should be enough to push away some of the mucus or sticky fluids.

Another remedy is to soothe the pain of the pink eye by utilizing a hot or cold compress. You can soak any clean cloths in hot water and similarly you can use cold water for those who have allergic conjunctivitis and apply it directly to the eye areas for ten to twenty minutes. This can be done as often as needed so that the pain can be lessened. You have to remember to burn or dispose of the cloths used later on to prevent the pink eye from spreading. If by chance only one eye is infected, cover only that eye for if the cloth was applied to both then both eyes will be infected.

Buying over the counter antibiotics is permissible provided you know the dosage and what meds are safe for you or the infected person. Don’t assume that one medicine works for all.

In the treatment for pink eye, a red eye dropper may work to help relieve the pain but some actually hinder the healing process. Look for over the counter eye drops that have a saline mixed solution. Saline is gentle on the eyes and doesn’t harm the inner tissues. Saline treatments aren’t poisonous so if they are accidentally ingested it would not cause grave harm. Make it a point to avoid eye drops that have vasoconstrictors for they damage the existing eye and increase the infection.

Some meds like aspirin can help subside the swelling and it works wonders on small children who can’t help but scratch their eyes.

One very useful home remedy that hasn’t been documented in medical journals yet is the use of a folk remedy that requires you to soak a piece of cloth in Aloe and then place it on the infected eye. Aloe can also be used as an effective eyewash.

If Aloe is not available, try to look for some baking soda and mix one teaspoon of it with two parts water. It creates a soothing eyewash. Tea, while known for having calming effects when drunk, can be used as a substitute in eyewash. Simply boil some root bark of barberry for half an hour, let cool, then rinse the eye.

When all other treatments for red eye fails, you can try putting one drop of Castor oil in the infected eye three times a day until it vanishes.

While these home remedies may seem unusual, they are a great alternative when medications are not an option or the person may have an allergic reaction to them.

Though infants born with trisomy 21, more commonly known as Down syndrome, may have the same physical and emotional needs as other babies, it cannot be denied that their condition entails specialized care aside from the usual. Down syndrome babies have mental and physical differences from normal infants. Being intellectually disabled—even mildly—means they’ll need more assistance in terms of education and development. But what about their physical differences and deformities?

Inherent Health Risks Associated with Trisomy 21

Among the many effects of Down syndrome, the most noticeable at birth are the physical defects. Fortunately, these differences from normal children won’t prove to be cause for greater concern such as medical complications. There are inherent risks associated with trisomy 21 though, and it’s best to know about them.

Some defects related to having trisomy 21 can give rise to serious health problems. Poor muscle tone is one such common defect. Having weak muscular structures, infants with Down syndrome will find it more difficult to learn and perform baby motor skills from rolling over, sitting, up, standing up, and so forth. This means they’ll develop these skills at a slower rate. Physical therapy can help alleviate poor muscle tone especially in early stages.

What causes Down syndrome and how it leads to such effects is a gap that is yet to be bridged. But what is known is that about half of infants born with trisomy 21 have weak hearts or heart problems. If your child is diagnosed with the disorder, it’s best to have an ultrasound or similar exam of his or her heart structure to see if there are any heart issues you should be aware of.

Another health problem may have to do with the child’s intestines. The intestinal track could have blockages or something similar. Surgery could easily deal with this, and the risk usually disappears after a surgical procedure.

Some Down syndrome babies may have cataracts, crossed eyes. Again, surgery—or lenses—can fix these problems without complications.

Also, children with trisomy 21 are more prone to colds, sinus and ear infections. They are likewise more likely to develop hearing loss, thyroid problems, seizures, and bone and joint problems. Teething may also be a bit delayed.

Since trisomy 21 leaves its victims with low normal to severe or even high intellectual disability, children with the disorder will need more assistance in order to have similar learning curves as other children.

Quintessential Factor: Early Intervention

To avoid further complications of the above inherent risks, it’s best to know what causes down syndrome and have your child undergo early intervention programs that can help foster development of not just his motor, but also his language and social skills. Down syndrome babies will grow up pretty much the same way as normal children, and given the proper care and environment, they can live a normal life and even eventually have their own family.