Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection. It is most common amongst children, but can also affect adolescents and adults. It is spread via direct skin contact with an infected person. The incubation period can be up to 2 months.

Clinical features

Molluscum contagiosum is characterised by clusters of small pinkish lumps with pits in the centre, which contain a hard, cheesy substance. They vary in size, but can reach up to 5 mm in diameter. They are usually found on the face, neck or buttocks.

This infection usually clears up naturally after a year or two but, because of its contagious nature, it is wise to discuss treatment with your doctor. The simplest procedure is freezing the lumps with liquid nitrogen, or simply piercing the centre with a sterile needle and squeezing out the contents. The latter should be done by your doctor. The use of benzoyl peroxide solution can help to prevent spread.

*323\90\8*

The benefits to the child of spending time with his grandparents are enormous. He may learn values and priorities from them that he cannot learn from his parents. They may encourage him to be aware of certain important cultural and family traditions, broadening his outlook, and providing him with a sense of his place in history. Besides all this, grandchildren and grandparents can simply have a lot of fun together!

Sometimes disagreements can occur between parents and grandparents about various aspects of the child’s upbringing. It is best if these issues are resolved early on in order to avoid ongoing tension.

*76\90\8*

One husband said, “I noticed at every hotel we stayed at that the women would be reading books more than the men. Just taking time to read nonfiction was a major step, but to read my novel and hers and discuss the same books was a first for us. I got so I felt I was reading along with her when I read the book she underlined.”

“I found it that way, too,” responded his wife. “The worst part was finding time to read. We had to struggle with that, but as you said, that was part of the sig, to use the reading requirements as a test of whether we would make the time for each other.”

*186\97\8*

You avoid getting dumped by not getting too involved, and always watching for the slightest sign of preparatory dumping. When you see it coming, dump first and fast. It is also wise to tell the dumpees that they are being dumped for their own good. This is called the “therapeutic dump,” and is supposed to feel better than other forms of dump. Some of these are:

The Dirty Dump: You have found someone better, have known about it for some time, but have been staying with the dumpee as insurance against your own dumping. Once you are safe, dump.

The Dumb Dump: This occurs when someone gives you false information, probably in order to move in on your dumpee once you have done the dumping. You dump too soon, and you have been fooled into a dumb dump.

The Dangling Dump: This is a highly skilled dumping involving a built-in safety factor. You provide some hope, usually false, that you will take the person back following the dumping. This is done in case your new partner dumps you or your old partner starts to look much better compared to the new one.

The Delayed Dump: This is done when you know far ahead of time that you are going to dump someone, but delay the actual dumping until after a scheduled family event, dance, or other occasion at which people might ask, “Whatever happened to . . . ?” Dumping is easier than explaining.

The Devious Dump: This is done when you know you are going to dump someone right from the start of the relationship, but are too lazy to look for a better match right now. You pre-plan the dump for a personally convenient time, maybe when your work schedule is easier and you have time to deal with the dumping hassle.

*46\97\8*

It is more common in girls and usually makes its appearance in the 10 to 12 years age group.

Once it develops it may rapidly progress and lead to a severe deformity so that the girl is dwarfed and hunchbacked.

However, it can vary from mild to severe, but, because of the rapid progress, it warrants early diagnosis and energetic treatment.

Regular and frequent examination is necessary. This will include X-rays to determine the degree of curvature and how fast it is progressing. Once spinal growth is complete then the condition is stabilised and will not change.

This deformity may not be obvious when first looking at the child, but may become obvious if she is asked to bend forward to touch her toes.

The S curve of the spine and the hump on one side of the back or the chest will then show up.

*555/71/1*

As soon as the cortisone treatment is reduced or stopped, the rash flares again and is difficult to treat. It appears to be more common in young women, but why is unknown. It responds to the use of small doses of the antibiotic tetracycline given over a long period.

This same treatment has long been used to treat acne. It now appears that the old-fashioned hydrocortisone, which is usually less effective than the newer, more potent, cortisone derivatives, is better to use on the face than potent ones.

However, use all medicines only as prescribed, by the person for whom they were prescribed, and only for the original condition. This may take all the fun out of being your own doctor, but is safer.

*298/71/1*

In 1960, a study showed more than 90 per cent of TSluldren had active dental decay, yet the recent survey showed less than 25 per cent in the same community were now affected.

The researchers attribute this to the better nutrition of the children and the widespread use of, initially, fluoride tablets and then fluoride in the water supply.

The World Health Organisation has stated that fluoride is a naturally occurring substance in many water supplies, and, provided the content of artificially-placed fluoride is carefully monitored, the advantages appear to be overwhelming.

Despite this evidence, the anti-fluoride lobby continues to decry the process and, recently, the propaganda has been that fluoride can cause cancer.

There is no valid scientific evidence to support such a connection, but when the charges are repeated often enough it can worry the layman.

*48/71/1*

A young woman visited her doctor because dryness of the eyes made it uncomfortable for her to wear her contacts. She also complained of a sore tongue and gums, cracking of the skin at the corners of the mouth, and generalized itching and dryness of the skin. She also had a continuous headache, felt nauseated, and had frequently vomited during the previous seven days. Devoted to jogging, she nevertheless had had to give it up because of severe pains in her bones.

On being questioned in the hospital, this lady (a health food store employee) admitted taking 25,000 units of vitamin A daily (five times the “recommended daily allowance”) for several months. Tests showed abnormally high vitamin A blood levels that, among other things, had disturbed her liver. All of these signs and symptoms were typical of toxicity due to excess of vitamin A.

Treatment with intravenous fluids normalized this woman’ s blood levels of vitamin A in about a week. Had she taken vitamin A in excess for much longer, however, early death from liver failure would have become inevitable. The lesson, then, is to take only enough vitamin A to avoid deficiency and bolster resistance against cancer, the recommended daily allowance (RDA), but do not take it in excess.

*212\143\2*