EYE VISION ERRORS
See an ophthalmologist if your child has trouble over school work or is complaining of aching, smarting or tired eyes. Regularly check your child’s vision every year using figures, pictures or letters. In Myopia (near sightedness), the distance vision is blurred, but the child sees well for reading or other near tasks. The spectacle number will show a minus sign. In Far Sightedness or Hyperopia, there are problems such as crossing of the eyes or blurred vision for near work. The spectacle number will show a plus sign. All these conditions can be treated by prescription spectacles. Ensure that your child uses them. Contact lenses are not suitable for small children as they may not be able to take care of them and clean them properly, leading to eye infections.

GASTROENTERITIS
Dehydration for which signs are dry mouth, no tears, no urine for six hours, inability to retain ever sips of water can be dangerous. Other symptoms are abdominal pain, listlessness, irritability, refusal of food and drink. The inflammation of the digestive symptom can be caused by:
1. Viruses which spread easily from affected children from hand to mouth.
2. Bacterial or salmonella food poisoning from cream cakes, mayonnaise, dairy products, improperly cooked/refrigerated meat, un-clean water.
Electoral helps in the condition. Juices, bananas also help. Consult the doctor.

RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION
See a doctor if your child has trouble breathing, is not drinking and a fever for more than 2 days. Take a chest X-ray of your domestic help before you employ them to rule out TB.

ARTHRITIS
The cause of persistent or recurring inflammation of the joints is unknown, but it can assault a child below 16. The child is stiff on awakening and is reluctant to walk. In particular in arthritis 4 or less joints of the leg are affected, starting with the knee. The diagnosis is mostly on a physical examination and the treatment can be NSAIDs such as naproxen for the pain and inflammation.
Splinting and Flexibility exercises are important to prevent permanent stiffening of the joint.

STRESS
Like adult stress, the children too are stressed out and the causes could be many like separation anxiety, family finances, domestic battles, divorce, a move of school or home, academic failure, parental expectations, illness or death of a loved one, social anxiety. Telltale symptoms are playing up, mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, bed wetting, stomach aches, headaches, trouble with school work, withdrawal, thumb sucking, nail biting, hair twirling, nose picking, defiance, lying, bullying. Ensure that the child eats and sleeps properly. Make the child see that you are always there for him/her as letting your child know that it is all right to feel angry, scared, lonely, anxious. Do not discuss grownup issues in front of the child.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)
Infections in the kidneys or bladder may cause a stormy illness with a high irregular fever. Prompt medical attention involving antibiotics to kill the responsible bacteria is necessary and successful. A urine specimen should be examined any time a child has a fever with an unknown cause. If the infection does not clear up satisfactorily or the child has a second urinary infection, further investigations are necessary to look for structured abnormalities, which require specific treatment. Make them drink plenty of water.