Childhood Obesity Part 1 – Has it becomes an Epidemic?

The world-wide prevalence of obesity in childhood varies from 2.6-3.6% in Finland, 15% in the UK, 10.8% in the United States, 11.2-12.5% in Navajo Indian school children, 7.56 in Indian children, 16.1% in Singapore school children, 14.3% in Thailand, and about 7.8% in a local Malaysian study of school children in a rural area.

Continue reading

Pneumonia in children

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs which can be caused by infective organisms such as viruses, bacteria or fungi. There are also non- infective causes of pneumonia caused by smoke inhalation, toxic fumes, gasteroesophageal reflux or foreign bodies.

Continue reading

The Fragile Bone and its Accompanying ‘Package’ of Problems

Elderly over the age of 60 has an increased risk of getting osteoporotic fractures – fractures that occur after a trivial fall that does not normally fracture bones in young and healthy individuals. These fractures frequently affect (starting from the most common) the wrists, the hips and the spine. Fractures involving the spine and hips unfortunately are associated with increased mortality rate of about 10-20 percent, due to immobility after the injury.

Continue reading

Treatment of Frozen Shoulder

As this condition involves inflammation with subsequent thickening and scarring of the shoulder capsule (the tissue which envelopes the joint), the main problem that most patients face is stiffness of the affected shoulder.

Continue reading

Shoulder Pain in a 50-year-old Lady

Madam S is a 50-year-old government servant who came to see me about a year ago with a complaint of right shoulder pain for 3 months’ duration. The pain started as vague discomfort in her shoulder whenever she does overhead activities such as wiping her house windows, combing her hair or hanging clothes at home. She also has pain in the shoulder whenever she lies on the affected shoulder at night.

Continue reading