Moles – Mumps
Moles are commonly found in the older child and adolescent. Large
amounts of dark pigment in the cells give moles their color. Moles may
be black, brown, gray, purple, or bluish black. Some may also have hair
in them, especially the larger moles. Sometimes moles are just small
spots or marks, but other times they cover large areas of skin.
Usually, small moles are not harmful and do not change in appearance
over the years. In rare instances, however, they can begin to grow and
become cancerous, especially larger moles that were present at birth. If
a mole enlarges, changes color, bleeds easily, or becomes painful,
consult your doctor. Tell your child not to pick or otherwise irritate a
mole, for the irritation may cause it to start growing. If a mole is in
a place where irrita-
The common soft, hairy, brown mole, such as the one on this child’s
cheek, is harmless.
tion cannot be avoided, such as at the belt or bra line, the doctor may
remove it.
Moles may be removed very easily. Usually, the doctor uses a local
anesthesia and simply cuts out the mole and a small portion of the
surrounding skin, [a m m]
See also Birthmark
IVlononucleosis is a contagious disease that most commonly strikes
older children, adolescents, and young adults. It occurs both
sporadically and in epidemics. Caused by the Epstein-Barr virus,
mononucleosis is also called infectious mononucleosis and glandular
fever.
A typical case of mononucleosis begins with chills, fever, headache,
dizziness, and sore throat. Lymph glands in the neck or in other parts
of the body may swell. The child may feel exhausted and depressed and
lose appetite. In some cases, a reddish rash may spread over the trunk
and other parts of the body. Call the doctor if you suspect that your
child has mononucleosis.
A child who has come down with mononucleosis should rest as needed, but
need not be isolated. While symptoms of the disease may last from two to
six weeks, it may take months for the child to regain energy. [h.i>r..
jr.]
See also Communicable diseases; Hepatitis; Jaundice; Virus
Motion sickness. Some children become nauseated and vomit when they
ride in a car, bus, train, ship, or plane. No one knows why one child
shows more sensitivity to motion than another.
Some children become sick when riding in almost any type of conveyance,
and others are bothered by only one or two. If the motion is very bumpy,
as in a small airplane, almost any child will become sick.
Here are a few steps you can take to reduce chances of your child’s
suffering motion sickness while traveling:
Place the child where he or she can easily see out of the vehicle.
Avoid seats where motion may be especially bumpy, such as the back
of a bus. ■ Do not let the child eat rich or heavy foods before
traveling.If motion sickness becomes extremely bothersome, consult the doctor.
In some cases, drug treatment may help. [m.g.]
See also Vomiting
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the brain and
spinal cord. The myelin (material coating the nerves) breaks down and
becomes spotted with hard scar tissue. The scar tissue hinders the
normal functions of the nerves that carry messages from the brain to all
parts of the body. Multiple sclerosis may strike children, but it
usually affects people between 20 and 40 years old. Doctors do not know
what causes it, and they have not yet found a cure.
First symptoms may be blurred vision in one or both eyes; double vision;
an unsteady walk; or numbness of an arm, a leg, or a part of the trunk.
These symptoms may last only a few days and be followed by a period of
complete recovery. Then other attacks may occur—weeks, months, or even
years later. Symptoms often differ from one attack to another.
Some people never completely recover from the first attack of multiple
sclerosis and become more disabled with each new attack. Others recover
almost completely from a series of widely spaced attacks,
[a.g.s.]
Mumps (infectious parotitis) is a contagious disease caused by a
virus. It occurs most often in children.
Mumps begins with a pain below and in front of the ear. Next, the child
has difficulty chewing and swallowing. Then, the salivary (parotid)
glands just below and in front of the ears swell and become tender. In
most cases, one gland swells first and the gland on the other side of
the neck swells a few days later. Sometimes only one side swells. Other
salivary glands may also be affected, but only the doctor can determine
this. In about 30 to 40 percent of all cases, swelling of the glands
cannot be seen.
A child with mumps may find it painful to swallow sour or highly
seasoned food. Fever and chills may also appear. If you suspect that
your child has mumps, consult your doctor.
Mumps may cause swelling of the salivary glands on one or both sides
of the neck.
When mumps attacks male adults and adolescent boys, the sex glands may
be affected. But this complication rarely causes sterility. Another
complication of mumps affects the meninges (membranes that surround the
brain and the spinal cord). The child may have a high fever and headache
and may vomit and become delirious. But this complication (called mumps
meningitis) rarely produces serious aftereffects.
In some mild cases of mumps, the doctor may not insist on bed rest. If
the case is severe, or if the child is an adolescent boy, the doctor
will probably suggest that you keep the child warm and quiet in bed.
Symptoms of mumps usually appear from 14 to 21 days after exposure.
Mumps is contagious from about 7 days before symptoms appear until from
7 to 10 days after, or until the swelling disappears. The child may
return to school when all swelling has disappeared. A child who has had
mumps in either or both parotid glands usually does not get the disease
again.
The MMR shot (measles, mumps, rubella), given at 15 months of age,
protects against
mumps. Mumps vaccine alone may be given to children, particularly boys,
who have not had the shot or mumps, [h.d.r.. jr.]
See also **Communicable diseases
