KIDNEY STONE

Small masses of solid matter that have separated out of urine are fairly common in the Urinary Tract. A renal Calculus (a stone formed in the kidney) is more difficult to get at and remove than other urinary-tract stones. Kidney stones vary in size and shape from tiny particles like grains of sand to large, branched formations filling much of the space in the kidney. Very small particles may be voided without a person's knowing it. Larger stones may cause intense pain and damage if they leave the kidney and pass through the urinary tract. They may also block the ureter and prevent urine from leaving the kidney. Stones too large to enter the ureters may cause serious mechanical damage to the delicate tissues surrounding them.

Any kidney stone that causes trouble may lead to serious complications. It must be removed as soon as possible, usually by surgery. Some persons have a tendency to form stones repeatedly. By making a thorough medical examination including, if possible a chemical voided or removed the doctor can sometimes identify the cause in a particular case.

The doctor may prescribe a special diet or medicine to help prevent stone formation, once the cause has been determined. Frequently, treatment includes drinking larger amounts of water than usual, so that the urine is kept dilute enough to hold all dissolved salts in solution and keep them from forming a hard mass.

COUGH

A forceful, noisy expulsion of breath. A cough is an attempt to clear the air passages of anything that causes irritation, such as mucus. One cause of irritation is Bronchitis; heavy smoking is another. Coughing is a symptom of many different conditions, from the common cold to serious diseases like whooping cough, emphysema, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. If a cough persists for more than a few weeks, or if bloody sputum is coughed up, consult a doctor. A cough in infants should have medical attention without delay.

Coughing may be relieved, but not cured, by a Cough Medicine. Those that are sold without a prescription are seldom very effective. Most of the cough medicines that effectively suppress coughing can be habit-forming, and should be taken only according to your doctor's directions.

EARACHE

A painful sensation in the Ear. Infection is the commonest cause of ear pain. It may involve any part of the ear. In the outer ear, which includes the ear canal, the infection may begin with a boil. A fungus may become established in the ear as a consequence of swimming in a polluted area; the result may be a painful swelling. Or the ear canal may be scratched when the individual attempts to clean out wax with a bobby pin or similar device.

A large number of infections occur in the middle ear. A person with a perforated eardrum is subject to infection of the middle ear through the perforation and must take special precautions. Blow the nose gently, one nostril at a time, to avoid driving mucus up the Eustachian Tubes. Infection of the middle ear can also spread to the inner ear.

You may obtain temporary relief from earache by taking aspirin several times a day. Applying a heating pad over the ear may also help. A doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Ear infections are usually controlled by Antibiotics.

ITCHING

A mild irritation of the many tiny nerve endings in the skin. The medical name for itching is pruritus. Moderate itching may be due to insect bites or allergic reactions. More severe and lasting itching occurs in scabies and in infectious diseases, such as chicken pox, in which a rash occurs. Sometimes itching is the only early symptom of such serious disorders as Diabetes, liver disease, and Hodgkin's disease.

The urge to scratch is instinctive in anyone who itches, but it may injure the skin and the tissues beneath the skin as well as result in infection. The best way to cure persistent itching is to have your doctor find out the cause. Temporary relief may be obtained by applying cold compresses, witch hazel, or calamine lotion.

TOOTHACHE

A toothache may be temporarily relieved by aspirin or any of the other similar mild pain-killers, or by codeine or Demerol if you have a doctor's prescription for either of these. If the toothache is due to a cavity or the loss of a filling, put some oil of clove on a tiny bet of cotton and pack it firmly into the cavity with a toothpick or the sharpened end of a wooden match.

DEPRESSION

The state of feeling dejected or dispirited. Depression is most likely to occur at critical or unsettled times in life: in the adolescent years, during pregnancy, shortly after giving birth to a child, at menopause, or in the later years. It may be triggered by death of a loved one or a profound disappointment.

Symptoms: A depressed person tends to have a bleak, pessimistic outlook on hes future and to be apathetic toward activities he formerly regarded as meaningful. He may complain of constant fatigue or exhibit a variety of physical complaints, usually minor in character or difficult to identify. The individual may lose all interest in sex activity. He may no longer have an appetite for food, with a resulting sharp loss in weight: or he may overeat compulsively. Sleeping difficulties and fits of weeping are common.

Help for the Depressed: Getting a depressed person to talk our his problem is often helpful. Although the listener should lend an understanding ear, it is a mistake to be over sympathetic; encouraging the individual to feel pity for himself may do more harm than good.

It might be pointed out to the depressed person that the situation is best met in a realistic, unemotional way. The individual should be assisted to recognize his own value and make the most of his resources.

A doctor can prescribe medicines to fight depression and to help the depressed person sleep if he has difficulty in doing so. When the condition is very severe, a Psychiatrist should be consulted.

CHILDREN SWALLOWED OBJECT

All small children and babies tend to put things into their mouths and, in some cases, they swallow them accidentally. Little round objects such as marbles, beads, coins, or buttons usually pass harmlessly through the digestive system and are eliminated. Do not give laxatives or insist that the child eat bulky or pasty foods. Of course, if there is stomach pain or if the object seems to be lodged in the esophagus, call a doctor immediately. Sharp foreign bodies, such as bobby pins, opes safety pins, and chicken or fish bones, are dangerous. Summon a doctor or take the child to a hospital, since special instruments may be required to locate and remove the object.

CHILDREN HEAD INJURY

Children often bang their heads against things or bump them in falling. Because the skull of a child is less hard and is thinner than that of an adult, there is sometimes more danger of brain damage. To be on the safe side as far as potentially serious concussions and fractures of the skull are concerned, be sure to observe the following precautions after any head injury:

1. Do not let the child get up and walk around. If he is dazed or unconscious, do not slap or shake him to bring him to complete consciousness.
2. If the child is knocked out, that is, if he has been rendered unconscious for even a moment, call a doctor, or take the child to a hospital.
3. If the child remains conscious and cries promptly, watch him for the next 12 hours. Call a doctor if he vomits, because drowsy, or cannot be aroused easily when sleeping.

HEADACHE

The blood vessels in the brain are interlaced with many nerves, and it is in these nerves that headache pain originates.
The brain tissues itself and most of the brain covering are incapable of feeling pain, but the blood-vessel nerves are especially sensitive to changes of pressure and to abnormal pressure within the skull.
Tension headaches, are the commonest kind of headaches. They occur without any other symptoms, and are due to conscious or unconscious emotional stress. They are usually temporary and disappear if one or two tablets of aspirin are taken. Stronger medication should be avoided except under a doctor's order.
Migraine headaches, Like tension headaches, cannot be traced to any general bodily disorder. They are much more severe and disabling than ordinary tension headaches. There is intense, throbbing pain in the front and top part of the head, usually on one side only. There may also be flickering vision, nausea, and vomiting. It is not known why migraine headaches occur repeatedly in some persons, or why some families to be especially susceptible to them.
Relaxation in a warm bath followed by quiet bed rest may help to relieve a migraine headache. Aspirin is not effective in soothing the pain. It is advisable to consult a doctor, who may prescribe a more potent pain-killer (ANALGESIC). Pentobarbital-a BARBITURATE- and certain other prescription medicines, such as Cafergot, are usually helpful.
Other Types of Headaches, Sometimes the origin of a headache can be traced to other parts of the body. Almost any disease may be accompanied b a headache. Such headaches can only be treated effectively by getting at the cause. A doctor should be consulted without delay for a headache that will not go away or one accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, and disturbed vision.