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Sugar Pregnancy Test - How Does It Work?
Many home tricks and techniques exist that can help you know whether you are pregnant or not. There’s one using a shampoo, and then there’s one more that employs a sugar urine pregnancy test. These tests can be conducted at home with minimal preparation. Most of the time, such tests are meant to have only a preliminary idea of the condition, based on your own judgement and understanding of whether there is a chance of you being pregnant or not.
What is Pregnancy Test with Sugar?
Testing for pregnancy using sugar is by making use of simple sugar crystals and your urine. As with many other tests, it relies on the presence of the hCG hormone, known as human chorionic gonadotropin. It is generated by the placenta and the presence of it is known as a conclusive sign of being pregnant.
What Will You Need for a Home Pregnancy Test with Sugar?
To perform the test, you need only three items.
Simple white sugar that does not have any impurities
A clean bowl that is sterilized and dry
Your first urine of the day
How to Perform This Test?
The test works best with the first early morning urine since it has the most chances of having a higher proportion of hCG hormone in it. To perform the test –
Add a few spoons of sugar to a sterilized bowl.
Take another bowl and collect your first-morning urine in it.
Pour some urine into the bowl with the sugar.
Observe the sugar crystals and see how they react with your urine.
Let it stay for a few minutes before jumping to a conclusion.
How does Home Pregnancy Test using Sugar Work?
The most important property that sugar has is its solubility. And that’s the principle based on which the pregnancy test works as well. When a woman is pregnant, her urine contains a good amount of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone or hCG. When such urine comes in contact with the sugar, the hCG hormone reacts with the sugar, preventing it from being assimilated into the fluid of the urine. Therefore, the sugar will fail to dissolve and will form clumps instead. It is highly necessary to use fresh sugar for the test, and not old sugar.
How to Interpret the Results of the Test?
The results of the sugar pregnancy tests depend on the reaction the sugar has with the urine and whether or not the sugar is visible in the bowl after the reaction. The test can either be positive or negative.
1. Positive Sugar Pregnancy Test
On adding urine to the sugar in the bowl, if at the end of the sugar pregnancy test, the sugar stays at the bottom, in the form of clumps, then there is a good chance that you are pregnant. This scenario is termed as a positive sugar pregnancy test. Often the clumps form within five minutes of coming into contact with the urine.
2. Negative Sugar Pregnancy Test
If, on coming in contact with your urine, the sugar dissolves within no time, which indicates that your urine does not contain the hCG hormone to prevent the sugar from dissolving. Hence, it is a sign that you are not pregnant and such a scenario is termed as a negative sugar pregnancy test.
What is the Best Time to Do Sugar Test for Pregnancy Confirmation?
When it comes to a pregnancy test, be it homemade or by using a pregnancy test kit, everything depends on the possibility of detecting the presence of hCG in your urine. hCG is the first and foremost sign that can confirm the pregnancy in a woman and that’s all that matters in the initial stages.
Throughout the day, the urine can get contaminated or diluted with many other constituents, leading to a quantity of hCG in it, that may not be detected easily. Therefore, the best time to carry out the test is early in the morning, with a fresh sample of the first urine of the day. This has the highest chance of having hCG hormones in it, which can then be detected by the sugar. This would lead to the creation of sugar lumps and a clear result would be right in front of you, confirming your pregnancy.
How Accurate is the Pregnancy Test with Sugar?
As with any homemade pregnancy tests, there is no benchmark or rulebook that states the generalized accuracy level for it. Most tests are quite dependent on the environmental factors, the constituents used, the hygiene levels, the presence of impurities, the time of tests, and so on.
There might be chances of the bowl not being completely clean and sterile, with impurities in it, that could drastically affect the test. If the urine is not the first fresh urine of the day, the result could vary by a large degree, causing the sugar to dissolve easily, giving you a false negative pregnancy test result. The sugar that is being used needs to be fresh and should have been stored properly in an airtight container. Any sugar that is not stored properly or is quite old, can be extra sensitive and hygroscopic in nature. This would cause it to form lumps even before it has a chance to interact with the urine. In such a case, the visibility of lumps might prevent it from dissolving in the urine, causing you to believe that you are pregnant when, in fact, it is a false positive pregnancy test result.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that a homemade pregnancy test is reconfirmed using a professional kit after a few days, irrespective of whether you are expecting the same result or a different one.
Homemade pregnancy tests are a quick and inexpensive way to address the question in your mind related to your pregnancy. Most of the tests are fine since they do not make use of any toxic substances. However, they do not have a medical approval since they depend on multiple factors. Therefore, complementing these tests with a clinically-proven pregnancy test kit is your best bet.
Another factor to keep in mind is the understanding of your own body and whether or not you are expecting to get pregnant. Mostly, homemade pregnancy tests are conducted when you end up missing your period. However, there might be a chance that your periods are simply delayed due to stress and other factors in your life. On the other hand, if you are consciously trying your best to get pregnant and would like to keep checking for the results every couple of days, you can opt for these homemade pregnancy tests or instead go for affordable hCG strips. These are quite inexpensive compared to the usual pregnancy kits and have quite a good accuracy rate, too.
In any respect, the possibility of sugar clumping cannot be contested with the results of a pregnancy kit. Therefore, it is best to keep them only as a preliminary orientation and go for a conclusive one after a few days.
Also Read: DIY Pregnancy Tests
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Altitude Sickness in Babies & Kids
Kids and altitude sickness have known to coexist for a long time but the connection might have been observed in recent times. You might have heard incidents of children having a tough time when they go to a hill station, or your own child might be suffering from it, too. While a nice trip to a high altitude place might seem like the best vacation plan ever, a condition of altitude sickness in your child could cause you to put the plans on hold or change them altogether. Thankfully, altitude sickness can be prevented and treated effectively, with a few tips and tricks.
What is Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness is a proper medical condition that plagues people and children when present significantly above the sea level. There is an entire range of symptoms that can indicate the presence of discomfort ranging from nausea, headaches, vomiting, or even mild ones such as loss of appetite. This usually occurs when the height is more than 2.4 kilometres above the sea level. While some instances can only be mildly discomforting, there are possibilities of some reactions being extremely fatal to the person.
Types of Altitude Sickness
Amongst the various symptoms that can emerge at a high altitude, the phenomena of altitude sickness are usually divided into three major categories.
1. Acute Mountain Sickness
Generally abbreviated as AMS, acute mountain sickness is strongly categorised by the presence of nausea and vomiting, combined with strong headaches and a loss of appetite. Most people also complain of fatigue as a result of this condition. This is the most common sickness experienced at high altitudes.
2.High Altitude Cerebral Edema
Abbreviated as HACE, this condition usually has all the symptoms of acute mountain sickness, along with a sudden onset of lethargy, an inability to have proper gait, and a complete sense of utter confusion about the situation. HACE, if left untreated, can be quite fatal.
3.High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
Just like HACE, this condition termed as HAPE, also contains all symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, as well as a focus on the respiratory activity, leading to constant breathlessness, cough and extreme weakness. Though HAPE is quite rare, it is just as fatal as HACE, if left untreated.
What Causes Altitude Sickness in Children?
There are no specific reasons to understand why altitude sickness might be triggered in some children while not in others. One of the strongest reasons behind that seems to be the presence of lower oxygen levels as compared to that at ground level. This usually causes the body to exert more effort in carrying out the same functions, which also ends up using more oxygen than before. Furthermore, any activity causing exertion, such as hiking or trekking, can lead to an increased demand for oxygen, worsening the sickness.
Possible Symptoms of Altitude Sickness In A Child
The symptoms of altitude sickness in babies or children are pretty straightforward and can be spotted by any person easily. These usually are:
Erratic moods ranging from crankiness to sudden periods of silence
An onset of depression resulting in an absence of activity and energy
A strong sense of fatigue and exhaustion
A sudden drowsiness that can be uncontrollable
The sensation of being dizzy, similar to vertigo
Signs of indigestion and a complete loss of appetite
Extreme nausea combined with bouts of vomiting
How To Treat a Child's Altitude Sickness
In most children, altitude sickness is rarely quite severe and can be treated or reduced with some quick methods. Most of them work towards making the body feel better and instilling a sense of mental peace and calm.
Give your child a sweater or gloves to protect from the cold mountain air. Cuddle up against your baby in multiple layers if you can.
Stay hydrated. Let your child drink as much water as possible to feel better. Allow your baby to breastfeed as well since that could make him feel better.
In case the symptoms get severe, get your kids to the hospital as soon as you can.
How to Prevent High Altitude Sickness in Kids
Preventing altitude sickness in toddlers and kids can be achieved by adhering to some simple basic precautions.
Avoid going to places located at high altitudes if your baby is younger than 3 months or your child has had unresolved issues earlier.
Make sure your kid rests extensively once you reach your destination and not indulge in any activity right away.
When in a vehicle, try to drive slower while crossing hills and avoid taking sharp turns.
If on a long journey, take enough breaks in between to allow periods of rest and refreshments.
Let your kid sip water throughout or even some juices if possible.
Be aware of any symptoms and take corrective action immediately.
Babies and high altitude locations do not always go hand-in-hand, especially when they are too young. Most altitude sickness symptoms fade away once children grow up. Any other instances can be checked by the doctor to diagnose any rare conditions.
Also Read: Breathing Problems in Kids Read more
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This Common Household Item Can Make The Inside of your Baby's Nose Black
As parents, you leave no stone unturned to make sure your baby is safe, healthy and growing up in comfortable surroundings. This is why you don’t let anything harmful come in contact with your baby and keep anything even remotely dangerous miles away. But despite your caution, there could be one household item you have always thought harmless that could actually be doing irreversible damage to your baby! What happened with this mom and her little infant is a warning you must heed and share with everyone you know!
Her baby was still very little . She was working around the house, doing the many chores that mothers have to complete. Several hours passed by without event. When night came, both mother and her baby drifted off to sleep, oblivious to what had transpired silently. The next morning, Meghan went to feed her baby and held him close to her. She was in for the shock of a lifetime. Her baby’s nose had developed horrific black spots - overnight! For the life of her, she could not understand what had triggered these spots and it did not seem like a skin problem. Her doctor then diagnosed the real problem. The culprit was a household item she hadn’t even realized could be dangerous.
Scented Candles
The day before, when she was working around the nose, Meghan had lit two scented candles. She simply thought they would make the air fragrant and didn't think anything more of it. What possible harm could scented candles do, right? She had them burning for six or seven hours. With time, the black soot given off by the candles accumulated inside her baby’s nose. This led to the formation of black specks, very much like the soot associated with chimneys and factories, all near the infant’s still underdeveloped nasal tract! Not only could this have interfered with his breathing but some studies have revealed something even more disturbing: if you burn these candles for more than three hours, they begin to react with elements in the air and emit a cancer causing substance!
[caption id="attachment_170810" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Source: https://www.littlethings.com/[/caption]
Seems odd, doesn’t it, that common household candles could be so dangerous? Some studies have confirmed that limonene, an ingredient commonly used to give candles their aroma, changes into formaldehyde when burned. And formaldehyde has been listed as an official cancer causing substance. The candles that you thought were keeping the air fresh could be posing a life-threatening cancer risk to the one dearest to you.
Meghan and her baby were fortunate that she noted the problem well in time. She has shared her experience via the internet to warn other mothers and we can't help but be thankful. If her baby’s exposure to this smoke had continued, who knows how his gentle body and respiratory system might have reacted!
Here’s How You Can Ensure Your Baby is Safe
While this incident happened in New Jersey, it could happen to any of us, anywhere. Scented candles are very popular in many households as they make the air fresh and resplendent. They can also be very relaxing to look at. But does this shocking incident mean you should stop using them completely? No. The National Candle Association in the US has commented on the incident stating that the soot in household candles isn't dangerous for adults. What you have to do is keep these considerations in mind and your baby will be safe from potential danger:
Extensive and prolonged use of these candles around infants should be restricted. You must limit their usage to a couple of hours at most.
Ensure that your house is well ventilated and open the windows and doors for a number of hours each day.
Make sure your baby’s room (nursery, bedroom, etc.) is airy and free from dust or smoke particles in the air. Use an air freshener if required but prefer only natural and baby-safe formulations.
Inspect your baby’s nasal and ear tract everyday to check for accumulation of foreign particles. You should keep these tracts clean with gentle buds and cleansers.
Keep air-purifying houseplants at home that have been proven to absorb formaldehyde. Lavender and spider fern are good options to consider and pose no risk to your child.
Babies are little humans who are still learning to cope with the big world. Their bodies and immune systems are not yet fully equipped to fight dangers that adults can easily deal with. Being warned of potential risk factors and learning from others’ experiences is the best way to guarantee a happy childhood for your darling! Read more
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Swine Flu (H1N1) in Babies
Swine Flu is a seasonal infection caused by the H1N1 virus, which was initially found in pigs. Children, pregnant women, and elderly people are usually more prone to this virus. This article aims to equip you with all the necessary information about the virus, enabling you to take the right precaution at the right time.
Video: Swine Flu H1N1 in Babies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1IWOrfTn9M
What is Swine Flu (H1N1)?
Swine Flu (H1N1) is a type of virus which is similar to the flu virus that affects pigs. There was a swine flu pandemic in 2009 with the H1N1 virus spreading like wild fire from one person to another across many countries around the world.
The World Health Organisation had then announced that the virus would be under control by 2010, but this did not stay true for too long, at least in India. There was another serious outbreak of this virus in India in 2015. Thereafter, H1N1 virus circulates every year as a flu virus, usually before the monsoons.
Common Symptoms of H1N1 in Babies
Swine flu is caused by the H1N1 virus and can have adverse effects in babies. This virus affects the respiratory tract and causes serious health complexities. Hence, recognising the right swine flu symptoms in children and adults alike, at the right time, is important. If your baby is suffering from prolonged fever and experiencing chills, then you need to take precautionary steps. This could be an early symptom of swine flu, and you must consult a doctor immediately.
The most common symptoms of H1N1 are:
Very high fever
Tiredness
Cough
Runny nose
Sore throat
Headache
Muscle and joint pain
In some cases, especially in cases of young babies, the symptoms include the following:
Dehydration
Sinus or ear infection
Bronchiolitis
Febrile seizures
Pneumonia
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Swine flu is a potentially fatal virus. If you observe the above-mentioned swine flu symptoms in babies, make sure you consult a paediatrician without delay.
What are the Causes of Swine Flu in Babies and Toddlers?
The causes of swine flu are the same as any other flu. It gets transmitted when you come in contact with someone who is already infected by the virus. Since babies and children are not very mindful of their surroundings, they are more prone to contract the disease than adults.
When an H1N1 infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus gets suspended in the air. This way the virus can infect anyone who is close by
The virus, once suspended in the air, can also settle down on any object and can stay alive for 24 hours. If children touch these contaminated objects and place them near their mouth or nose, then they will get infected by H1N1
Also, if a person suffering from swine flu coughs or sneezes in his hands and touches others around him without washing his hands, then he infects others with the virus too
Recent reports indicate that the H1N1 virus does not spread by eating pork or preparing pork. However, coming in direct contact with an infected pig may increase chances of catching the virus.
When Should You Call for Immediate Care?
Children with a weak immune system and chronic health issues like diabetes, asthma and obesity catch this flu virus more easily than others. If your baby has a high fever and is sleepy, or does not want to interact and has stopped drinking any fluid, it is advisable to get him medically screened for swine flu.
If the baby displays any of the following symptoms, immediate attention may be needed:
Has seizures
Can’t wake up
Is short of breath
Skin is turning bluish
Is complaining of chest pain
How H1N1 flu is diagnosed
You may be wondering now, ‘What are the tests to diagnose swine flu?’ Well, diagnosis of H1N1 flu is usually made by sampling fluid from the patient’s body. To take the sample, your doctor may swab your nose or throat and send the sample to the lab for genetic analysis to help identify the exact type of virus.
Treatment for H1N1 Swine Flu
There is no definite cure for swine flu. Swine flu treatment for babies starts like any other cold or flu treatment where the focus is on easing the symptoms. Hence, medication is given to bring the fever down and to ease the symptoms. Antivirals are only given if the symptoms don’t go away even after 5 days of medication and also if the symptoms become severe or the child is admitted to the hospital.
Children suffering from H1N1 flu should be kept at home for seven days and require a lot of rest. They need to take in a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration. They should be encouraged to eat small meals whenever they feel like and should drink only cooled, boiled water.
Infant Paracetamol can be given on the doctor’s advice to bring down fever. Keeping the child cool by sponging the head and arms can also help in bringing down the temperature. It helps to be in constant touch with the doctor to report your child’s progress.
Swine Flu Vaccine
There are different types of swine flu vaccine for babies available in the market. However, the flu vaccine cannot be given to babies younger than six months. It is recommended to have a discussion with your doctor on getting vaccinated for swine flu during pregnancy in order to protect your baby for the first six months after birth.
Vaccines like Vaxigrip and Influvac are prescribed for children below five years. Fluvax is another vaccine available in the market which is only prescribed for children above 9 years old as it has severe side effects in younger children. It is important to consult a doctor before vaccinating your child against swine flu.
A seasonal flu vaccination is also available in the market which is recommended for people with weak immunity, chronic respiratory conditions, and pregnant women.
The government of India does not provide the flu jab as a part of scheduled childhood immunisation. Hence, it is a paid immunisation.
How to Prevent Swine Flu in Babies?
Swine flu in babies can be prevented by following a few measures religiously.
Since H1N1 virus easily spreads from one person to another, it is important that you keep your baby away from an infected person
Always wash your hands before holding your baby, especially if you have just returned from work or the market. The germs carrying H1N1 get easily transmitted through contact
Whenever you cough or sneeze, always cover your mouth. It prevents any flu virus from spreading
If your baby is diagnosed with H1N1, make sure that you keep them indoors and administer the prescribed medicines on time. This will prevent the virus from spreading to other children.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is swine flu transmitted and is it contagious?
Yes, swine flu is contagious and spreads from one person to another either by inhaling the infected droplets suspended in the air while coughing or sneezing or by touching an object contaminated by the virus.
2. How long would swine flu last in babies?
Swine flu works like any other flu and takes the same time to get cured. Swine flu fever lasts for 2 to 3 days with symptoms like a runny nose for 1 to 2 weeks and cough for 2 to 3 weeks. In some cases, swine flu fever may stay for almost 4 to 5 days.
3. Are there specific doctors who treat swine flu?
For babies, you need to consult their paediatrician in case of any flu. All general physicians can treat swine flu. There are no specific doctors for treating this condition unless a comprehensive probing is required to treat different symptoms. In such cases, your child’s doctor will refer you to the right specialist.
4. What are the risk factors associated with swine flu?
The risk factors of getting swine flu are like any other flu. Anyone who comes in contact with an infected person or spends time in an area with a good number of infected people may easily get the virus. The following people are at a higher risk factor than others:
Adults over 65 years
Children below 5 years
People with weak immune system
People with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
5. Are there home remedies to cure swine flu in my baby?
Yes, there are a few home remedies that can help you to treat or prevent any flu virus in your baby including swine flu. These measures can be adopted just before and during the rainy season to prevent or treat flu viruses.
Eating 5 tulsi or basil leaves every day in the morning keeps throat and lungs clear and improves immunity
Boil 1-foot long giloi (Tinospora cordifolia) with tulsi leaves, strain the juice, add some rock sugar (misri) and pepper and drink this to treat any flu
Make your baby drink a cup of warm milk with turmeric (haldi) to prevent any sort of flu
If your baby can eat garlic, then chewing 2 pods of garlic every morning on an empty stomach is a good idea for better immunity from the flu
To get rid of body ache during the flu, mix a teaspoon of aloe vera gel with water and give it to your baby every day
Please consult your doctor before opting for any home remedies as it may not be suitable for all body types.
Swine flu is a highly contagious infection that can affect your baby and cause a lot of distress. Keep the above signs, precautions and remedies in mind to protect your baby. Read more
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Father of a 4 yr old child
20 hours ago
Q. my 2 years boy using left hand for picking any thing.how can I avoid this
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
20 hours ago
A. Kids mostly prefer using the left hand only as a very comfortable and that’s a very natural thing for them to use so if you want to change this habit you just have to constantly remind or tell your child to use the right hand that is what you can do as in India we believe that only right hand should be used for everything but actually if you see the kids using the left hand is very comfortable and there is no problem in that
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
18 hours ago
Q. how to protect baby from mosquito bites as we are using all out in our room but still mosquitoes are biting my baby and the area is swelled and baby is feeling itchy. please suggest something to avoid bites. some home remedies also.
Read moreDr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
17 hours ago
A. you can use mosquito control measures make the child were full watch and make the area sanitize and specially the corner should be cleaned regularly consult your doctor for more guidance
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
12 hours ago
Q. helo sir...i m 31 weeks pregnancy...mujd rat s na stomach tighting ho rha hain...or movements bhut kam jo rhi hain....to m kya kru...
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
12 hours ago
A. आपको डॉक्टर से मिलना पड़ेगा क्योंकि बिना डॉक्टर से मिले तकलीफ के बारे में ठीक से पताt नहीं चलेगा क्योंकि ऐसी तकलीफों के लिए पूरे शरीर का एग्जामिनेशन करना पड़ता है। दवा भी डॉक्टर से मिलने के बाद ही दी जा सकती है।
डॉक्टर बताएंगे कि आगे की ट्रीटमेंट पद्धति कैसी होगी। f
Mita nileshkumar dhimmar has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
6 hours ago
Q. hello... when my daughter born she is fair in color but now her color become dark. she is 8 days old
Mita nileshkumar dhimmar
Guardian of a 2 yr 8 m old girl
4 hours ago
A. regularly massage your baby with baby oil and use red lentils flour with milk and turmeric to massage
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. Hii, my baby is 26 days old. Is body massage good for him?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. yes
baby massage is very important because it will help in strengthening the muscles of the body.
you can go for any type of oil which is not causing allergy on the skin for massage.
it can be carried out 3 or 4 times per day if required. you have to to prevent temperature variations when you uncloth and cloth the child.
it can be done during anyd time of the day according to the comfort level of the child and the mother
good massage will help in decreasing the colic pain as well as will improve the digestion of the food and also will help in giving proper sleep to the child
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
1 hour ago
Q. I am trying to conceive can i take zandu lean to maintain weight..
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
34 mins ago
A. follow your doctors advice since your planning to conceive. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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