COLOUR BLINDNESS

WHAT IS COLOUR BLINDNESS?

If your clothes don't match, someone might have teased you about being color-blind. But some people really are color-blind. It doesn't mean they can't see any color at all, like a black and white movie. It means that they have trouble seeing the difference between certain colors..

Being color-blind can make it tricky to match your shirt and pants, but it's not a serious problem. People who are color-blind can do normal stuff, even drive. Most color-blind people can't tell the difference between red or green, but they can learn to respond to the way the traffic signal lights up. The red light is generally on top and green is on the bottom.

Cones and Color

To understand what causes color blindness, you need to know about the cones in your eyes. Cones in your eyes? Yes, but they're very small. These cones are cells on your retina, an area the size of a postage stamp that's at the back of your eye.

You have "red," "blue," and "green" cones, which are sensitive to those colors and combinations of them. You need all three types to see colors properly. When your cones don't work properly, or you don't have the right combination, your brain doesn't get the right message about which colors you're seeing. To someone who's color-blind, a green leaf might look tan or gray.

Color Blindness Is Passed Down

Color blindness is almost always an inherited trait, which means you get it from your parents. You get inherited traits through genes which determine everything about your body, including how tall you'll be and whether your hair will be straight or curly.

Eye doctors (and some school nurses) test for color blindness by showing a picture made up of different colored dots, like the one above. If a person can't see the picture or number within the dots, he or she may be color-blind.

Boys are far more likely to be color-blind. In fact, if you know 12 boys, one of them is probably at least a little color-blind. So girls, the next time a boy asks you if something matches, you'd better lend him a hand!

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FLU

INFLUENZA MEANS FLU

What Is the Flu?

Influenza is also called the flu. It is a kind of infection and it causes fever, chills, cough, body aches, headaches, and sometimes earaches or sinus problems. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. A virus is a microorganism which means it's so small that you can't see it without a strong microscope.
For most people, the flu is a drag, but it goes away in a week or two. But for some people, the flu can make them very sick. Those groups include:
babies and kids younger than age 5
people older than 50
adults and kids who have health problems, such as diabetes and asthma
Anyone who's at risk of getting really sick needs to get a flu shot, or vaccine. People such as doctors and nurses also need the shot because they take care of sick people, and it's good for anyone who is around older people and younger kids to get the vaccine.
And now, experts say that all kids between the ages of 6 months and 18 years should get the flu shot. This is especially important for kids who have:
heart or lung disorders, including asthma
chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, certain kinds of anemia, or

immune system problems, including HIV/AIDS
Flu vaccines are usually given in the fall, before flu season starts. Flu season means the months of the year when a lot of people have the flu and it's easy to catch it. It starts in middle of November and usually ends in March.

HOW TO STOP FLU

Lots of people get the flu, but what do you do? These are some tips to get out from FLU:

1.Drink lots of liquids, like water, chicken broth, and other fluids.

2. Get plenty of sleep. If you can't sleep anymore, keep resting. Listen to music, watch a movie, or read a book or magazine.

3.If you're feeling achy, ask your parent for some medicine. But avoid aspirin because it can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.

4.Wear layers. You might be cold one minute and hot the next, so if you wear plenty of layers you can pull your favorite sweatshirt on and off.

5.Wash your hands! You don't want to spread the germs that cause the flu. Also, don't share cups and eating utensils, like forks and spoons, with anyone.

Most of the time you will get better in about a week, but it's important to let your parents know if you have trouble breathing, your muscles really hurt, you feel confused, or if you start feeling worse at any time. These could be signs that you need to see your doctor again.

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TYPES OF A BRAIN TUMOR

There are more than 120 types of brain tumors. Today, most medical institutions use the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system to identify brain tumors. The WHO classifies brain tumors by cell origin and how the cells behave, from the least aggressive (benign) to the most aggressive (malignant). Some tumor types are assigned a grade, ranging from Grade I (least malignant) to Grade IV (most malignant), which signifies the rate of growth. There are variations in grading systems, depending on the tumor type. The classification and grade of an individual tumor help predict its likely behavior.

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SYMPTOMS OF A BRAIN TUMOR

What are the symptoms of a brain tumor?
Brain tumors may have a variety of symptoms ranging from headache to stroke. Different parts of the brain control different functions, so symptoms will vary depending on the tumor's location. Brain tumors are great mimics of other neurological disorders, and many of the common symptoms could indicate other medical conditions. The best way to determine if you or someone you know has a brain tumor is to have a doctor perform a type of brain scan called an MRI or a scan called a CT scan It is sometimes hard to know whether a CT scan or MRI should be done if someone you know has some of the symptoms and signs noted below, but it is important to know that these studies will usually establish whether a brain tumor is behind them. If you are truly concerned, be sure to discuss your concerns with a physician.
Possible symptoms of a brain tumor include:
o A new seizure in an adult
o Gradual loss of movement or sensation in an arm or leg
o Unsteadiness or imbalance, especially if it is associated with headache
o Loss of vision in one or both eyes, especially if the vision loss is more peripheral
o Double vision, especially if it is associated with headache
o Hearing loss with or without dizziness
o Speech difficulty of gradual onset
Other symptoms may also include nausea or vomiting that is most severe in the morning, confusion and disorientation, and memory loss.
The following symptoms are usually not caused by a brain tumor, but may sometimes be:
o Headache: Although headaches are probably the most common symptom of a brain tumor, most people with headaches – even persistent or severe headaches – do not have a tumor. However, some kinds of headaches are particularly worrisome. A steady headache that is worse in the morning than the afternoon, a persistent headache that is associated with nausea or vomiting, or a headache accompanied by double vision, weakness, or numbness all suggest a possible tumor.
o A change in behavior: The development of an "I don't care" attitude, memory loss, loss of concentration, and general confusion may all be subtle signs. In this case, an evaluation by a neurologist may be an important step, but a CT or MRI will also help.
o Infertility or abnormal cessation of menstruation (also known as amenorrhea)
o Troubles that seem to be caused by other diseases or concerns: A seizure that results from a fall or the discovery of what appears to be a subarachnoid hemorrhage (a type of stroke) may actually be caused by tumors.
If you are concerned that you or someone you know might have a brain tumor, call your doctor. If symptoms persist, an MRI or CT scan can facilitate the diagnosis. Early detection and treatment may increase survival.
With grateful acknowledgment of the content provided by Peter McL. Black, M.D., Ph.D., Neurosurgeon-in-Chief at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts

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