FLOPPY BABY SYNDROME

The  floppy  baby  syndrome  is  a  partial  widespread  muscular  paralysis  in  an  infant.  Babies  fed  honey
contaminated with dust containing Clostridium botulinum are affected by the toxin produced by these bacteria.

FIFTH DISEASE

Fifth disease  (erythema  infectiosum)  is a common childhood viral disease caused by  the Parvovirus  that  last
from  two  to  five days, but occasionally may persist  for weeks.  It occurs  in
epidemics every few years, and virtually every child will eventually develop
the infection before their teenage years.

FEVER

The normal active human has a  temperature of about 37°C. The word  “about”  is used advisedly, because  the
temperature is not an absolute value.  A woman’s temperature rises by up to half a degree after she ovulates in the
middle of her cycle.

FEBRILE CONVULSION

Small children under the age of about four sometimes have convulsions because of a rapid rise in temperature.
The actual  temperature  is not as  important as  the  rate at which  the  temperature  rises. These  febrile convulsions

FEBRILE

Someone who has a fever (raised temperature) is described as febrile or feverish.

FAILURE TO THRIVE

Failure to thrive is a term use to describe babies and young children under two years of age who are lighter than
97% of children their age, and who do not put on weight or develop at the expected rate. 
Obviously the most common cause is neglect and starvation, and sometimes this can be difficult for doctors to
detect, and it is only when the child is hospitalised, or information is given by friends or relatives, that this problem
becomes apparent.

EPIGLOTTITIS

The  epiglottis  is  a  piece  of  cartilage  that  sticks  up  at  the  back  of  the  tongue  to  stop  food  from  entering  the
windpipe  (trachea)  when  swallowing.  Epiglottitis  is  an  uncommon  bacterial  infection  (most  commonly  by
Haemophilus  influenzae B  - HiB) of the epiglottis that is an acute medical emergency requiring urgent