1 1 MILLION HIV INFECTION IN CHILDREN PREVENTED

An estimated 1.1 million human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among children under the age of 15 have been prevented between 2005 and 2013.

According to data released by the UN Children`s Fund (UNICEF) Friday ahead of World AIDS Day, new HIV infections among children has declined by about 40 percent between 2009 and 2013, Xinhua reported.

However, the global goal of reducing the figure by 90 percent is still out of reach, the data said.

The progress has been made through providing more pregnant women living with HIV with services for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), such as lifelong HIV treatment which can reduce the transmission of virus to babies and keep their mothers alive.

The sharpest declines took place in eight African countries, including Malawi, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, among others.

However, only 67 percent of pregnant women living with HIV in all low- and middle-income countries received the most effective treatment for PMTCT in 2013.

An estimated 190,000 children under the age of 15 died of AIDS-related causes in 2013 due to lack of treatment.

"If we can avert 1.1 million new HIV infections in children, we can protect every child from HIV but only if we reach every child," UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said.

"We must close the gap, and invest more in reaching every mother, every newborn, every child and every adolescent with HIV prevention and treatment programmes that can save and improve their lives," Lake added.

Neuropathy And Navajo Children Yet Another Chemical Scandal!

Today's post from nuclear-news.net (see link below) shows once again that you don't have to look very hard on the internet to find neuropathy victims of chemical pollution. From the veterans in Vietnam with Agent Orange, to the children in Nigeria's oil deltas and older and cheaper HIV medication areas where neuropathy is seen as collateral damage, there are many examples of groups of people and especially children, whose nervous systems have been poisoned or damaged by pollution. Very often, the stories are heavily politicised and rightly or wrongly, that becomes the issue rather than the innocence of the victims. This blog wants simply to highlight the plight of those children who have absolutely no voice in the argument. In this case, it's the Navajo children of Arizona and surrounding states who have unwittingly become victims of the results of chemical pollution. If you have neuropathy, or know of someone with neuropathy, you'll know how much impact that can have on adult lives. Imagine if you have to live with it from childhood onwards...through the rest of your life!! Time to add your voice to the protesters maybe?
 

Neuropathy in Navajo children almost certainly caused by uranium mining pollution
BY SONIA LUOKKALA – MAY 5, 2015 

Fragile communities continue to live amid the poisoned wells and contaminated earth, and the uranium riddled sagebrush flats are home for the next generation of Navajo children.

Abandoned Uranium Mines Plague Navajo Nation, Earth Island Journal Mining companies left behind a legacy of poisoned wells and contaminated earth

We are in Diné Bikéyah, land of the Navajo. “………The incidence of Navajo neuropathy is five times

higher on the western side of the Navajo reservation than on the eastern side. Some researchers believe this discrepancy is linked to the land: On the western side, the mines were mostly tunnels, whereas in the west they were primarily open pits. After the uranium companies left, the unfilled pits started to fill with water. Some, as deep as 130 feet, eventually formed into small lakes. Unsuspecting Navajos and their livestock use the contaminated water for drinking.

A 1990 study of Navajo neuropathy ruled out water contamination as a possible cause of the disease………As the Los Angeles Times also reported, in 1986, Thomas Payne an environmental health officer for Indian Health Services, along with a National Park Service ranger, took water samples at 48 sites surrounding Cameron, AZ, a town in Navajo Nation. These samples revealed uranium levels in wells as high as 139 picocuries per liter. In abandoned pits, the levels were as high as 4,024 pinocuries. The EPA limit for safe drinking water is 20 picocuries per liter. …..

No further studies have been conducted on the possible links between the environment and Navajo neuropathy. The source of the illness remains formally unknown, although similar symptoms were seen in the children of Chernobyl and in the victims of Minamata disease in Japan, both caused by environmental factors.

Conditions in Holiday’s hometown, Oljato, resemble those of a third world country. Residents have limited access to clean water and live in houses constructed of uranium-contaminated gravel.

Six abandoned uranium mines that still emit dangerous gamma rays surround the village. In 2014,the EPA scanned almost 500 mines across Navajo Nation for radiation; the majority measured levels at least 10-times greater than background radiation levels, some as high as 25-times background radiation. Many of the highest radiating mines were found to be located within a quarter-mile of inhabited structure.

Gregory draws a deep breath through an oxygen mask attached to a tank standing beside his couch. A few years ago he also was diagnosed with a now common occurrence in Navajo Nation, lung cancer.

In the 1950’s, cancer rates in the Navajo population were so low that the people were thought to be immune to it. An article titled “Cancer immunity in the Navajo” was published in a medical journal in 1959. A decade into the mining era, cancer rates had more than doubled. According to a report by the Navajo Epidemiology Center, by 2004, cancer had become the leading cause of illness and death for the Navajo, a generally nonsmoking population.

“Everything here makes us and the animals sick,” Gregory said.

In his youth, Gregory was one of thousands of Navajo men lured to work in the uranium mines and mills. For him, as well as many others, employment as a miner or millworker was his first contact with the US wage economy. At the time, the miners were grateful.

But the Navajo saw little of the huge profits from uranium. Copies of miners’ pay stubs show payments of minimum wage or less: wages varied from an hourly $0.81 to $1.00.

Moreover, in 2011, journalist Judy Pasternak reported in her book Yellow Dirt: A Poisoned Land and a People Betrayed that the miners suffered radiation exposure four times that of the Japanese targeted by nuclear bombs during World War II. Navajo language had no word for radiation and few Navajo people spoke English before the mining began. Officials knew uranium exposure posed serious health risks but made no effort to educate their workers. Protective clothing, masks or ventilation were never provided. Miners returned to their families daily with clothes covered in the yellow dust of uranium.

“Others working with me died a long time ago” Gregory says……….

Today, more than 1,200 uranium mines lay abandoned within the borders of Navajo Nation. Some are barred with rubble, but most are left exposed.

The task of cleanup is daunting. EPA coordinator Lillie Lane told me the cost to clean just two mines is estimated to be $131 million. Navajo Nation EPA is currently researching and identifying the mining companies responsible for the waste. The paper trail is long, but under the Superfund Act, these companies can be held accountable for the cost.

“It is going to take 100 years,” said Lillie Lane, referring to the task of tracking down the responsible parties.

Last week, those working to clean up the mining waste received a boost from the federal government: The Justice Department announced that the US will place $13.2 million in a trust to pay for the evaluation of 16 abandoned uranium mines on Navajo land. The contribution is part of a settlement agreement with the Navajo Nation.

In the meantime, fragile communities continue to live amid the poisoned wells and contaminated earth, and the uranium riddled sagebrush flats are home for the next generation of Navajo children. That is, at least until those responsible are held to account and the landscape is restored to what it once was, before profits were prioritized above the land and its people.

Sonia Luokkala

Sonia Luokkala is an environmental journalist from Finland, where during the past ten years she has written about issues such as the civil and land rights violations against the indigenous Sámi people of Finnish and Swedish Lapland. She moved to the States two years ago, and is currently leading a nomadic lifestyle with her baby daughter, dog and husband………. http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/abandoned_uranium_mines_plague_navajo_nation/

https://nuclear-news.net/2015/05/06/neuropathy-in-navajo-children-almost-certainly-caused-by-uranium-mining-pollution/

DOES HAVING CHILDREN MAKE US ANY HAPPIER

The birth of a first and a second child briefly increases the level of their parents' happiness, but a third does not, according to new research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Western University, Canada.

According to the research, published in the journalDemography, parents' happiness increases in the year before and after the birth of a first child, it then quickly decreases and returns to their 'pre-child' level of happiness.

The pattern for second births is similar, although the increase in happiness before and around the birth is roughly half of that for first births. The increase in parental happiness surrounding the birth of a third child is negligible.

Mikko Myrskylä, professor of demography at LSE and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany, said: "Our results show a temporary and transitory gain in parents' happiness around the birth of first and second children.

"The fact that parental happiness increases before these children are born suggests that we are capturing broader issues relating to childbearing such as couples forming partnerships and making plans for the future.

"The arrival of a third child is not associated with an increase in the parents' happiness, but this is not to suggest they are any less loved than their older siblings. Instead, this may reflect that the experience of parenthood is less novel and exciting by the time the third child is born or that a larger family puts extra pressure on the parents' resources. Also, the likelihood of a pregnancy being unplanned may increase with the number of children a woman already has -- and this brings its own stresses."

Compared to men, women gain more in happiness in expectation of, and right after, the birth of a child. Women also have steeper drops in their happiness than men between the year of the birth and the year afterward, possibly because of the larger initial gain. However, in the long run, there are no differences between the happiness levels of men and women before and after children.

Those who have children at an older age or who are more educated have a particularly positive response to a first birth. Older parents, between the ages of 35 -- 49, have the strongest happiness gains around the time of birth and stay at a higher level of happiness after becoming parents.

Those who become parents in their teens have a predominantly declining pattern of happiness that does not increase above the baseline even during the year of birth. Those who become parents between the ages of 23 -34 have increasing happiness before a first birth, however one to two years after the birth, happiness decreases to baseline or below.

Rachel Margolis, assistant professor from Western University's Faculty of Social Science, said: "The fact that among older and better-educated parents, well-being increases with childbearing, but the young and less-educated parents have flat or even downward happiness trajectories, may explain why postponing fertility has become so common."

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR CRYING CHILDREN

All infants and young children cry as a form of communication. It is the only way they have to express a need. Thus, most crying is in response to hunger, discomfort (such as that due to a wet diaper), fear, or separation from parents. Such crying is normal and typically stops when the needs are met—for example, when infants are fed, burped, changed, or cuddled. This crying tends to occur less often and for shorter times after children are 3 months old.

Excessive crying refers to crying that continues after caregivers have attempted to meet routine needs or crying that continues for longer than usual for a given child.

Causes--More than 95% of the time, there is no specific medical disorder responsible for excessive crying. Although such crying is stressful for parents, children eventually settle down and stop crying on their own.

 Fatigue is a common cause of crying in infants. Between 6 months and 3 years of age, crying at night is often due to difficulty falling back to sleep after normal night awakenings. Falling back to sleep on their own is especially difficult for children who are used to falling asleep under certain conditions such as while being rocked or with a pacifier.

Night time fears are common after age 3 years. The particular fears usually depend on the child's age and stage of emotional and physical development. Sometimes children aged 3 to 8 years cry fearfully in the middle of the night and do not seem to be awake or able to be comforted. They also have no memory of a dream or of the crying when they wake in the morning. These episodes of crying are called night terrors and are discussed elsewhere .

MEDICAL DISORDERS

Less than 5% of the time, excessive crying is caused by a medical disorder. Some disorders are uncomfortable but not immediately dangerous. Such less serious causes of crying include gastroesophageal reflux , hair wrapped around a finger or toe (hair tourniquet), a scratch on the surface of the eye (corneal abrasion), an anal fissure, and a middle ear infection.

Less commonly, a serious disorder is the cause. Such disorders include a blocked intestine caused by intussusception (sliding of one segment of intestine into another and volvulus (twisting of the intestine ), as well as heart failure, meningitis, and head injuries that cause bleeding within the skull. Infants with such severe disorders often have other symptoms (such as vomiting or fever), which alert parents to the presence of a more serious problem. However, sometimes excessive crying is the first sign.

Colic  refers to excessive crying that has no identifiable cause and that occurs at least 3 hours a day for more than 3 days a week for more than 3 weeks. Colic typically occurs in infants about 6 weeks to 3 or 4 months old.

Warning signs

Certain symptoms are cause for concern and suggest that a medical disorder is causing the crying:

• Difficulty breathing
• Bruises or swelling over the head or other parts of the body
• Abnormal movements or twitching of any body part
• Extreme irritability (normal handling or movement causes crying or distress)
• Continuous crying, especially if it is accompanied by a fever
• Fever in an infant under 8 weeks old

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

ACONITUM NAPELLUS 30- Aconitum is a very effective remedy for crying infants and children.There is constant crying with anxious looks and great uneasiness, whines and frets, constantly gnawing at his fingers or something else.Child cries during dentition or in brain and chest affection. Another feature is child starts crying as if fright and afraid to go to bed.

BELLADONNA 30—In Belladonna crying is due to any type of pain. It is indicated when the in the infant starts suddenly from sleep and begins to cry violently. Child cries due to sudden and violent pain. The child is restless, crying out, gritting of teeth. Screams out in sleep

CHAMOMILLA 30—Chamomilla is another top remedy for crying in children. Chamomilla child is sensitive, irritable, peevishness and whining restlessness. Piteous moaning because he cannot have what he wants. Child can only be quiet when carried about and petted constants. Child wants many things that he refuses again and start crying . Weeping and wailing during sleep . The child is never still, it is never satisfied with anything it is doing. The child does not want to be touched and is believe irritable , very often screaming with pain. Chid cries due to earache, headache, colic or difficult dentition .

CINA 30-Cina is another excellent remedy for crying. It is mainly due to worms.Child ill humor, very cross.He does not want to be touched, or crossed or carried. Desires many things , but reject everything offered. Abnormal consciousness , as if having committed some evil deed. Child will scream and cry when handled but once the preliminary discomfort of handling is over the child is quite peaceful.Often the Cina child will cry for more food immediately after a meal and the child often suffer  from nightmares and night terrors, cries out, scteams and wakes frightened. Cough in Cina is so violent as to bring tears and sternal pain. After coughing moaning, anxious, gasp for air and turn pale.

CAUSTICUM 30-Caustium  is very effective for crying . Cauticum children are very sensitive. Least thing makes it cry. They are not sensitive to pain  but are particularly sensitive to any emotion disturbances. Often these child will cry because they think you are hurting another child. Intense sympathy for others suffering. It is the idea of pain which affects them, rather than the actual pain to themselves and they often stand pain quite well, but cannot bear nother child.

RHEUM 30-Rheum child is impatient and vehement, ugly and impossible to satisfy. He screams, kicks and makes himself decided unpleasant. He cries and tosses about all night. Desires various kinds of food but cannot eat them, become repugnant. He desires many things and cries. He dislike even favourite playthings. The baby cries due to difficult dentition.

PULSATILLA NIG. 30-Pulsatilla is another effective remedy for crying of children. They are liable to flush up from any emotions very often going pale afterwards. The child is always full of tears. They are mild, gentle, yielding disposition , sad, crying readily , weeps when talking, changeable . They hang about , becomes either tearful or irritable and are `likely to get digestive upset. Pulsatilla baby wants this and that and are never satisfied, they want amusement. When not amused , has a pitiful cry. Pulsatilla child cannot relate her complaints without weeping

COFFEA CRUDA 30-Coffea child crosses about in agony. He is a great subject to ailments arising from sudden emotions and pleasurable surprise. He weeps from delight. Weeping alternate with laughing . There is great sensitiveness to pain.The child screams and cried due to pain and driven to despair.

ARSENICUM ALBUM 30-Arsenicum child cries during or after nursing , as soon as the child begins to take food. Child wants to be carried fast. Child is very restless , changes place continually , despairs drives him from place to place.

ARNICA MONTANA 30—Arnica child cries every time it coughs or even before as if dreading to cough. Child wants to be carried.

COLOCYNTH 30—Colocynth child cries due to colic. Child cries, hard, cannot be pacified , writhes and curls up double with colic better when pressing hand on belly

CUPRUM METALLICUM 30- In Cuprum breathing ceases when crying without being angry , afraid of everyone  who approaches him.

PSORINUM 200-It will help sick babies who will not sleep day or night but worry, fret, cry, or who are good and play all day but restless, troublesome , screaming at night

STANNUM MET .30-Child cries due to colic , better by carrying it on belly, resting on the nurse’s shoulder or pressing firmly against it.

SYPHILINUM 200-Crying infants when they develop this propensity immediately after birth and continue to cry.Cry when washes with cold water, fretful, and peevish, cries when touched.

THUJA OCCIDENTALIS 200-Extreme  obstinacy , child throw itself angrily upon the floor. When in the least opposes screams, cannot get its breathe.

ZINCUM MET 200-Child screams with jerk during sleep, rolls head from side to side and if awakes express fear.

Children In Pain How To Help

Today's post from psychologytoday.com (see link below) talks about a group of chronic pain patients often underestimated when it comes to public attention and that is children. Especially in parts of Africa, children suffer greatly from HIV-related neuropathic pain but because they often find it difficult to put into words, they are not taken seriously, or not treated properly. However, children with chronic pain are also to be found everywhere in the world and if you are a parent or teacher with such children, this article will give you some very useful information about how to help. As an adult, you will be aware how difficult it is sometimes to explain what you're feeling when you're in chronic pain; imagine how much more difficult that is for young children.

Children with Chronic Pain
How parents can help them to help themselves
Published on October 21, 2013 by Deborah Barrett, Ph.D., LCSW in Paintracking

Taryn Oesch, who developed fibromyalgia at age 13, shared, “My mother forced me up and out, which was the last thing I wanted to do at that time! She’d get me to go for walks with her around the neighborhood, even though I complained the whole time.” Taryn, now in graduate school and working full time, credits her mother’s tenacity for her ability to return to high school (after a period of being home-bound) and to persevere. Her mother, who never doubted her daughter’s experience, heeded her doctor’s words that fibromyalgia would bring pain, whether Taryn was lying on the couch or participating actively in life—and made it her mission to empower her daughter. This involved adaptation, such as having her daughter participate in physical therapy rather than gym class when she returned to school.

Taryn was lucky because her mother coached and encouraged her. However, even the best intentioned parents struggle with the stress and uncertainty involved in caring for children who have chronic pain.

Acknowledge the Difficulties

First of all, parents need to give themselves a break. Accepting that one’s child has a chronic health problem of any kind is a difficult process. Witnessing your child suffering from pain, and associated losses, is understandably painful. A recent study shows that parents experience significant distress around the complex and counterintuitive decisions involved in caring for a child with chronic pain. [1]

Parents are often pulled with some immediacy into advocacy roles for their child, while at the same time, facing their own fears, grief, losses, frustration, anger, inadequacy, uncertainty, and powerlessness. Parents who initially misread their child’s behavior, such as not wanting to go to school, as a “phase,” willfulness, evidence of drug use, or other misinterpretation, may experience shame. Parents who have a painful condition themselves may experience guilt for passing along “responsible” genes. Whatever the circumstances, diagnosis is seldom obvious or predictable, and illness is never anyone’s fault. It is important that parents acknowledge the challenge they face, make room for whatever feelings arise, and practice letting go of self-judgment. Parenting a child (including adult children) who suffers from chronic pain is difficult.

While the specifics may differ based on a child’s health condition, symptom severity, and treatment regimen, parents face questions about when to nurture and when to push. It makes sense that parents may want to shield their children from additional suffering, while worrying that too much insulation can interfere with their growth and development. Conflict over these competing desires can lead to inner turmoil, inconsistency, and also family discord when parents hold opposing views.

See your child, not the illness

Figuring out then to coddle and when to foster independence is a central task of parenthood. This becomes additionally challenging when a child is ill. However, studies across a number of pain conditions have found that children fare best and are most adaptive when parents do not focus primarily on their child’s symptoms, allow too frequent avoidance of activities, or exhibit great distress themselves.[2,3,4] In other words, the less that parents emphasize their children’s difficulties the better. Consider how toddlers look expectantly to parents before committing to a reaction themselves. When toddlers stumble, for example, they quickly interpret parents’ verbal and nonverbal cues to assess whether to laugh it off and keep going, or howl until comforted.

Children with chronic illness benefit from parents’ normalizing the situation in an accepting, matter-of-fact way. This is different from ignoring or discounting reports of pain. Parents can acknowledge what a child expresses without escalating or reinforcing distress. Parents’ level of acceptance will come through.

Foster positive self-awareness

The inherent paradoxes of complex pain conditions require the ability to act in counterintuitive ways, such as getting up and moving, despite pain and exhaustion, and also limiting activity, despite pain respites. Parents can help children make sense of their experience. Parent and child both can conduct experiments and develop a corresponding narrative.

For example:

Notice times when your child can engage in activities that positively distract them from pain. Remark on them gently in the moment. Ask questions to understand your child’s experience. Then, use this information to help cultivate self-awareness about the variation of pain:
“I know you hurt right now, and don’t feel up to seeing friends. However, last time you didn’t feel up to it, and then later told me that you had a great time with your buddies.”

You can add in more detail that you collect, such as:
“It may not feel like it right now. But remember that you told me that your pain went down to a “2” (out of 10) when you were with friends? And it had started at an “8,” right?

Rather than giving the choice of whether or not to go, ask questions that foster problem solving:
“What will help you enjoy yourself the most?”

It’s most effective when the child answers this for him or herself. Providing choices when possible can help children feel more responsible and in control.

Parents can plant seeds by sharing observations from comparable situations:
“Didn’t you say that the seats in that movie theater were really comfortable?”


Friendships are important. Help your child connect.

Encourage them to brainstorm about restorative activities they can enjoy when they return home, such as a hot bath, favorite music, or other pleasant experience. Knowing that something comforting awaits them can increase their willingness to take a risk and participate. This works both as an incentive and as positive behavioral shaping for self-care and balance.

Parents with pain conditions can model positive adaption through engagement and adaptation. How parents demonstrate coping, flexibility, and carving out restorative time to rejuvenate sends a powerful message.

Nurture self-expression
Research also shows that the less focused individuals are on symptoms, the better [2,3,4]. Consider ways to help children pursue their interests and passions and explore new ones. Attending to a child's pursuits and achievements reinforces the message that illness does not define them as a person. Practice gently encouraging them to participate, along with any positive adaptations, as needed. Keep it low key: “We can toss a soccer chair in the trunk just in case you need to take a break.”

Validate the difficulties

While encouraging children to forge ahead, it is also essential that family members communicate their belief about the child's experience, including the severity of the pain. Taryn's story illustrates the importance of asking how the child feels and avoiding snap judgments. Given the invisibility of pain and the uniqueness of their situation (compared with peers), children will face disbelief from others.

Carve out moments to sit with your child and offer support. Practice putting words on their experience, without trying to problem-solve or encourage:
“That sounds really hard.”
“How frustrating.” “How sad.” and so on.

Naming emotions shows that you understand and helps them to develop ways to describe and understand their own experience.

Let your child know that you are able to handle hearing about difficulties. Children may or may not readily share, but will value the offer. Parents are in the position to provide unconditional support. Communicating openly and honestly in an age-appropriate way can also build trust and ease fears.

Self-care for parents

Imagining how your child may feel can build empathy; however, dwelling on it is destructive. Parents also need respite from thinking about pain. Research suggests that parental distress not only affects parents, but the child and entire family. [3]

Be deliberate in cultivating the positives in your own life. Engage in activities you find pleasurable, relaxing, and fulfilling. Look to and cultivate supportive relationships. Consider healthful choices that reduce your own vulnerability, such as by getting adequate sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Neglecting your own needs creates a negative feedback loop. In order to keep positive for your child, you, too, need to find ways to create reserves of positivity. Make time to do things you enjoy. Keep in mind that exercise and laughter can release tension and fortify you.

Watch out for the “shoulds,” such as:
“I shouldn’t have fun if my child hurts.”
“I shouldn’t complain about how I feel …”

Instead, look for ways to keep your child’s medical condition from overwhelming your own life, relationships, and family. Sometimes this requires being deliberate about carving out time for intimacy (“date night”), as well as “family time,” in which family members can connect over activities that everyone can enjoy. Spending time with each family member also reduces the risks associated with “well children,” whose needs can be overshadowed by an ill sibling.

It is also vital to know your limits. Take “time outs” as needed. Do your best to figure out what is essential and to reward yourself along the way. Strive to be flexible, gentle, and understanding with yourself too.

The value of support

Despite your best efforts, at times you will likely struggle with feeling ineffective, frustrated, disappointed, angry, or anxious. There is no need to do this alone. Psychotherapy and support groups can offer support and coping skills to help you, your child, your relationship with a partner, or the family as a whole. One mother confided that her biggest regret was not seeking counseling to help family members cope with difficulties. Professionals can help parents and children alike to sort out their feelings and find strategies to navigate their lives.

You can also look to parents and children who are going through the same thing for practical suggestions and support. Knowing that you are not alone is invaluable. At the same time, be careful to limit the extent to which you or your child may identify with an “illness community,” as this can narrow one’s self-image. The goal is to figure out how to live as full and rich a life as possible. Connecting to the wider community (beyond illness) helps separate one’s identity from “illness” (which is just a facet of one’s experience). This is as important for a child as it is for parents and the entire family.

Sources:
Maciver D, Jones D, Nicol M. Parents' experiences of caring for a child with chronic pain. (2010) Qualitative Health Research, 20(9):1272-82.
Barlow JH, Ellard DR. The psychosocial well-being of children with chronic disease, their parents and siblings: an overview of the research evidence base. Child: Care, Health, and Development. 2006; 32:19–31.
Claar RL, Simons LE, Logan DE. (2008). Parental response to children’s pain: The moderating impact of children’s emotional distress on symptoms and disability. Pain, 138(1):172-9.
Palermo TM. (2000). Impact of recurrent and chronic pain on child and family daily functioning: a critical review of the literature. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 21:58–69.

Deborah Barrett, PhD, LCSW is an associate professor of social work at University of North Carolina, a psychotherapist in private practice in Chapel Hill, and author of Paintracking: Your Personal Guide to Living Well with Chronic Pain, and www.paintracking.com

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/paintracking/201310/children-chronic-pain

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR MENTAL ILLNESS IN CHILDREN

Mental illness in children can be hard for parents to identify. As a result, many children who could benefit from treatment don't get the help they need. Understand the warning signs of mental illness in children and how you can help your child cope.

It's typically up to the adults in a child's life to identify whether the child has a mental health concern. Unfortunately, many adults don't know the signs and symptoms of mental illness in children.

Even if you know the red flags, it can be difficult to distinguish signs of a problem from normal childhood behavior. You might reason that every child displays some of these signs at some point. And children often lack the vocabulary or developmental ability to explain their concerns.

Concerns about the stigma associated with mental illness, the use of certain medications, and the cost or logistical challenges of treatment might also prevent parents from seeking care for a child who has a suspected mental illness.

Children can develop all of the same mental health conditions as adults, but sometimes express them differently. For example, depressed children will often show more irritability than depressed adults, who more typically show sadness.

Children can experience a range of mental health conditions, including:

Anxiety disorders. Children who have anxiety disorders — such as obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder — experience anxiety as a persistent problem that interferes with their daily activities.

Some worry is a normal part of every child's experience, often changing from one developmental stage to the next. However, when worry or stress make it hard for a child to function normally, an anxiety disorder should be considered.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This condition typically includes symptoms in three categories: difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Some children with ADHD have symptoms in all of these categories, while others may have symptoms in only one.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism spectrum disorder is a serious developmental disorder that appears in early childhood — usually before age 3. Though symptoms and severity vary, ASD always affects a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.

Eating disorders. Eating disorders — such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder — are serious, even life-threatening, conditions. Children can become so preoccupied with food and weight that they focus on little else.

Mood disorders. Mood disorders — such as depression and bipolar disorder — can cause a child to feel persistent feelings of sadness or extreme mood swings much more severe than the normal mood swings common in many people.

Schizophrenia. This chronic mental illness causes a child to lose touch with reality (psychosis). Schizophrenia most often appears in the late teens through the 20s

Symptoms—

 Mood changes. Look for feelings of sadness or withdrawal that last at least two weeks or severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships at home or school.

Intense feelings. Be aware of feelings of overwhelming fear for no reason — sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing — or worries or fears intense enough to interfere with daily activities.

Behavior changes. These includes drastic changes in behavior or personality, as well as dangerous or out-of-control behavior. Fighting frequently, using weapons and expressing a desire to badly hurt others also are warning signs.

Difficulty concentrating. Look for signs of trouble focusing or sitting still, both of which might lead to poor performance in school.

Unexplained weight loss. A sudden loss of appetite, frequent vomiting or use of laxatives might indicate an eating disorder.

Physical symptoms. Compared with adults, children with a mental health condition may develop headaches and stomachaches rather than sadness or anxiety.

Physical harm. Sometimes a mental health condition leads to self-injury, also called self-harm. This is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. Children with a mental health condition also may develop suicidal thoughts or actually attempt suicide.

Substance abuse. Some kids use drugs or alcohol to try to cope with their feelings.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathic remedies are found to be very effective for curing the mental illness of children, without any side effects. Some of the important remedies are given below

ANTIM. CRUDE 200- Antim crud is  a very well indicated medicine in children who are unusually abusive. The child is excessively irritable and crossed. Any attempt to please the child fails. Nothing seems to satisfy the child. There is much brooding and the child doesn’t want to speak. The child gets angry when someone looks at him. Antim crud may be prescribed in children who are extremely short tempered without any relevant cause.

ARSENICUM ABLB 200- Intense anxiety with great restlessness. Fears something terrible will happen.He is worse during night. Very chilly , exact and fault finding. He is meticulously tidy

CHAMOMILLA 200-Chamomilla  is an excellent medicine  in cases of extreme abusiveness in children. The child may be extremely restless and may cry continuously. The child keeps demanding one thing after the other and refuses when given. There may be temper tantrum on every little thing. The child cannot tolerate if anyone tries to speak to him. The child may be extremely abusive and complaining. The child cannot take no for an answer and may keep moaning continuously because he is being refused things that he demands.  Chamomilla may be given in children who get extremely abusive and violent when anyone interrupts him.

ARGENTUM NITRICUM 30- This is one of the most important medicines for anxiety related disorders
The patient is very nervous and impulsive by nature; extremely hurried in whatever he does. He dreads situations that may cause him anxiety and tries to avoid getting into such situations. Multiple phobias such as fear of darkness, evil, fear of heights, tall buildings, of passing certain places, etc. anticipatory anxiety which causes diarrhea before any important event or function. Intense apprehension and worry about trifling matters. All this anxiety causes much brain fag and the patient feels as if time passes too slowly. Physical symptoms of anxiety very marked such as trembling of hands and feet, palpitations in the chest, shortness of breath, dizziness and fainting, dryness of mouth, stammering, excessive sweating, etc.

CINA 200-Cina is another  indicated remedy in children who are abusiveness. The child may be very cross and irritable and hates when touched. Children who don’t want to be carried, talked to or touched. They may turn away from strangers. The child bores his face in his mother’s lap and cries incessantly. Here again, the child desires many things but rejects everything when offered. Cina may be prescribed in children who suffer from worm infestations.

HYOSCYAMUS 200--Hyoscyamus is a very well indicated remedy in abusiveness in children. The child may be very quarrelsome and abusive. He may hurl verbal abuses at everyone around him. There may be constant grumbling and muttering due to irritation. The child may be extremely impatient and talkative. Hyocyamus may be prescribed when the child make fun of other children and is extremely insulting. There may be an unusual tendency to find fault. There is much dejection and despair. The child may be insensitive to others feelings.

NATRUM MUR 200-Natrum Mur is useful  in cases of abusive children who are extremely weepy and cross. They refuse to be consoled and weep more on consolation. The child is generally well behaved and may be suppressed for a long time. Due to prolonged suppression, there may piling up of the emotions. Suddenly, the child just explodes with angry bouts.  The child prefers to be left alone to cry. There is much awkwardness and hasty behaviour. Natrum  mur is effective  when the child gets irritated with trifle things.

CALCAREA CARB 200- It is another effective remedy. The patient  thinks that he has done something wrong. He feels uneasy and anxious with palpitations . Fears loss of reason. Desperate of life. Fears insanity. Bores others by repeatedly describing his ailments

GELSEMIUM 200- Another important remedy for this condition. Anxiety due to fright, fear, emotions, exciting news , or forth coming examinations and interview .Stage fright

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM 200--Intense fear of going in public places and performing in public. The patient dreads public appearance even if his profession demands it. Intense fear of not being able to perform well and fear of negative evaluation by others. Anticipatory anxiety is marked and there is total loss of self confidence. Constant apprehension and fear of breaking down under stress. The patient is unable  to sleep due to the happenings during the day. Anxiety about forth coming events

PHOSPHORUS 200- Very restless patients who are sensitive. They need security and constant reassurance. Anxious, restless and nervous due to the fear of darkness, thunder, alone or dying

PULSATILLA NIG. 30- Anxiety after bad news or an emotional upset. The patient is weepy , touchy and needs company

SEPIA 20- Anxious towards evening. Dreads to be alone. Indifferent to those loved best. Averse to occupation , to family. Very sad. Weeps when telling symptoms

SILICEA 200--It's frequently used for generalized anxiety disorders, social phobias and specific phobias. Generally very nervous and timid patients who are afraid of stressful situations like public performances and exams, etc. They startle from the slightest noise due to nervousness. Marked anticipatory anxiety is an important feature of this drug

TUBERCULINUM 200- Tuberculinum  is suitable when the child is restless  who seek constant stimulation or change. It helps in reducing destructive behavior, irritability, and feeling of dissatisfaction.

THUJA OCCIDENTALIS 200- Thuja is one of the very good remedies for generalized anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive neurosis. The patient generally gets anxious over trifles and cannot concentrate on whatever he does. He has many fixed ideas and he finds it difficult to get rid of them. Social phobia is also commonly seen in these patients who begin to get nervous and get twitching on being approached by strangers. Overall a very good drug for controlling anxiety states.

SYPHILINUM 200-- An important feature of Syphilinum  patients is that they repeatedly wash their hands and they feel compelled to do so in order to relieve their anxiety. Marked fear of night time, the patient dreads the approach of night. There is intense anxiety and a constant feeling that he  may go insane

VERATRUM ALBUM 200-Veartrum Album  is an indicated remedy in children who throw temper tantrums. There may be extreme mood swings and crankiness may alternate with a submissive behavior. The child may scream and curse when angry. Veratrum alb may be prescribed in children who get physically violent when angry. There may be an unusual tendency to tear or cut things during bouts of anger.  The child may sit in an awkward position and become totally incommunicable.