• Fainting

  Fainting What is it? Fainting is a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness, where the person falls to the floor. It is accompanied by muscle weakness.   Causes A faint occurs when oxygen cannot reach the brain effectively. There may be many reasons for this.   Intense stress, fear, pain or anything that suddenly increases pressure inside the body can cause a vasovagal attack. Here overstimulation of a major nerve (the vagus)... read more…

• Fever

  Fever A fever, or pyrexia, is when the body's temperature rises above normal.   What should my temperature be? The average normal body temperature taken in the mouth is 37°C (98.6°F), but anywhere between 36.5°C and 37.2°C (97.7°F and 99°F) may be normal. Normal armpit temperatures are 0.2°C to 0.3°C lower than this.   A temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above is usually considered to be a significant fever -... read more…

• Fits

  Fits FEBRILE CONVULSIONS   Febrile convulsions are seizures (fits) that occur in a child with a high fever of over 39°C (102.2°F). These occur during the early stages of a viral infection such as a respiratory infection, as the temperature rises rapidly.   Causes The convulsions occur because the electrical systems in the brain are immature, and cannot cope with the stress of a high temperature.   Three per cent of... read more…

• Flu

  Flu The common cold and flu (influenza) are very common infections of the upper respiratory tract.   Colds and flu are caused by viruses. The infections are contagious, passed on by tiny droplets and hand contact.   There are hundreds of different types of virus that can cause a cold, which explains why children get repeated colds.   Flu is caused by the influenza virus. There are three major types: A (often the cause of flu epidemics), B... read more…

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