A-Z HEALTH

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Gastroenteritis

Also known as “stomach influenza,” is a viral disease of the digestive tract particularly the stomach. The virus also known as stomach bugs are infectious. The infections that cause stomach upset are presented in the stool and vomitus of contaminated individuals. That is likely why stomach contaminations spread so effectively among little children. Stomach bugs can also spread when an infected child vomits. Proper hand washing and cleanliness can alleviate the spread of stomach bugs

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a woman without diabetes develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. It happens if your body can’t deliver enough insulin – a hormone that enables control to glucose levels – to meet the additional necessities in pregnancy. It mainly occurs during last three months of pregnancy or the second half of the pregnancy. For most women it does not cause any noticeable signs and symptoms. Babies born to mothers with poorly treated gestational diabetes are at increased risk of being too large, having low blood sugar after birth, and jaundice. Gestational diabetes can also cause polyhydramnios, pre-mature birth, and pre-eclampsia.  Its main causes include overweight, maternal age and family history of diabetes and mothers who are at higher risk include the following:

1. Mother’s body mass list (BMI) is over 30

2. Mother already had an infant who weighed 4.5kg (10lbs) or more during childbirth

3. Mother had gestational diabetes in a past pregnancy

4. Diabetes case in other family members

5. Mother’s  family birthplaces is South Asian, Chinese, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern

During first antenatal appointment at around weeks 8 to 12 of pregnancy, midwife or doctor asks some questions to determine whether if mother is  at an increased risk of gestational diabetes or not. If any history is found, then doctor will take the screening test called Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) to control the diabetes level. It can be treated by healthy diet, exercise and medication if necessary. Glucose levels can be decreased by changes in eating routine and exercise. Yet, the larger part of women will require medicine also if changes in eating regimen and exercise don’t diminish glucose enough. This might be tablets or insulin infusions. Moreover, it’s best to give birth before 41 weeks. Induction of labour or a caesarean section may be recommended if labour doesn’t start naturally by this time. Earlier delivery may be recommended if there are concerns about mother or baby’s health or if the blood sugar levels haven’t been well controlled. Long-term effects include developing gestational diabetes in future pregnancies or developing type-2 diabetes (lifetime).