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Functional somatic symptoms (FSS) in pediatric hematology and oncology significantly limit health-related quality of life and functional abilities, thus requiring regular assessment and treatment. This chapter focuses on FSS in pediatric sickle cell disease and pediatric cancer, diseases for which there is an established literature describing and explaining functional abilities, health-related quality of life, and other adaptive outcomes. Pain and fatigue in pediatric sickle cell disease and pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue in pediatric cancer are among the most common and distressing disease and treatment complications. Although physical in etiology, psychosocial risks and resources across multiple levels of pediatric patients' social ecology influence the frequency, intensity, and course of these FSS. The literature regarding common approaches to assessment of pain, anticipatory nausea and vomiting, and fatigue as well as associated risk factors is summarized. Use of self- and parent proxy report measures of FSS, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and psychosocial risk screening are recommended. Case studies demonstrate differential diagnosis and application of medical- and evidence-based psychological interventions for FSS. Importantly, multidisciplinary care models for pediatric sickle cell disease and pediatric cancer are consistent with the recommended approach to FSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practitioners in long-term care medicine are seeing an ever-increasing number of persons with chronic progressive illness who reside either at home or in a LTC setting (nursing facility, SNF, assisted living or residential care). As of 2001, 46% of all deaths in the United States occur in these settings. Accordingly, clinicians have advocated that palliative care practice can be generalized and applied to such patient populations [1]. A multidimensional model of successful aging despite chronic illness where disease and its physiological and functional limitations are offset by compensatory psycho-emotional and social interventions that result in emotional vitality, well-being, and engagement with life and spirituality has been set forth by some [2]. Such an approach to care embodies the true philosophy of palliative care. Palliative care can and should be integrated alongside the traditional treatment of disease, where disease-modifying treatments are not necessarily avoided if appropriate and congruent with patients΄ goals of care. Such ˵total care″ should be safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable, all consistent with the six aims of the Institute of Medicine 2001 report to improve health care in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer may be due to the patient΄s specific disease state or may be due to cancer treatment interventions such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, opioids, or other medications. The main approach to the treatment of nausea and vomiting has been the use of antiemetic agents developed primarily for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Agents that were considered useful in the prevention of CINV have then been used for the treatment of established nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Although there have been many clinical trials in the development of agents for the prevention of CINV [62, 64, 70], there have been very few clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of antiemetics in cancer patients with established nausea and vomiting [49, 82]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapter 11 of the book "Medical Care of Cancer Patients" is presented. It examines the pathophysiology of nausea and vomiting and their cause particularly those related to cancer patients and their treatment. It provides information on the diagnosis and treatment of acute emesis in patients who received chemotherapy or radiotherapy. An elaboration on special emetic problems is also presented.

The article focuses on ways to find out whether one is pregnant. If one wants to have a baby they can take extra good care of themselves. If they decide not to continue the pregnancy, they can get an early abortion, the easiest and safest kind. Usual signs of early pregnancy (one to two weeks after conception) are missing a period, a period with less bleeding or fewer days than usual, swelling, tenderness or tingling in one's breasts, frequent urination, fatigue, nausea or vomiting (morning sickness), feeling bloated or crampy, increased or decreased appetite, changes in digestion (constipation or heartburn) and mood changes. Some women become pregnant and are not aware of it for the first few months. Signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy. Pregnancy tests are available through many clinics and medical practitioners. In many places family-planning organizations, women's health centers and abortion clinics offer the most frequently used pregnancy testing services.

An encyclopedia entry for "phenytoin (PHT, diphenylhydantoin, Dilantin)" is presented. It refers to an efficacious drug for partial-onset and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The most widely used antiepileptic (AED) drug in the U.S., phenytoin is ineffective in absence and myoclonic seizures and may lead to exacerbation of such seizure types. The side effects of the AED include anorexia, nausea, dysarthria and ataxia.

An encyclopedia entry for "wolfsbane" as used in the context of crime is presented. With the scientific name Aconitum napellus, the plant is the source of the vegetable poison aconitine. It looks like a parsley but is able to kill an individual with just 1 to 2 milligrams (mg). It affects the central nervous system, causing a person to experience nausea, vomiting and loss of muscle power. It was used by Dr. George Henry Lamson to kill his brother-in-law, Percy.

Chapter 12.7 of the book "Vitamin & Mineral Requirements in Human Nutrition" is presented. It stated that there are only a few reported cases of acute zinc poisoning. Signs of zinc poisoning include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The upper limit of zinc intake for an adult is 45 milligrams per day while it is 23 to 28 milligrams per day for children.

An encyclopedia entry for "panic disorders" is presented. Panic and anxiety disorders occur in 19 to 45% of patients with epilepsy (PWE) compared to an estimated 2.5 to 6.5% occurrence in general population-based studies. Symptoms associated with a panic disorder include palpitations, sweating, tremor, shortness of breath, chest pain and nausea.

An encyclopedia entry for "amygdala" is presented. It refers to a large complex of gray matter nuclei located in the dorsal anterior-medial temporal lobe classified as part of the limbic system and the olfactory system. Seizures that originate from the amygdala are characterized by a sensation of rising epigastric discomfort, nausea, oral automatisms, chewing, fear, and panic.

An encyclopedia entry for "red kidney bean poisoning" is presented. It refers to a condition characterized by vomiting, nausea and other symptoms within approximately six hours of consumption of Red kidney beans, which contain a toxic substance, phytohaemagglutin or lectin. The toxin can be destroyed by rapid boiling for ten to 12 minutes. It is recommended that beans be soaked for two to three hours before prior to rapid boiling.

An encyclopedia entry for "hepatitis B" is presented. It refers to a liver disease associated with members of the medical and allied professions, particularly those who handle blood and blood products and who work in renal dialysis units. The symptoms of the disease are cited, which include malaise, muscle pain (myalgia), headache, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. The patient suffers from jaundice and, in some cases, enlarged liver.

A definition of the term "vomiting" is presented. It refers to a complex process accompanied by several events apart from activation of the motor nerves and various voluntary muscles involved in the increase of intragastric pressure and evacuation of the stomach contents. Vomiting is preceded by a deep inspiration, closure of the glottis and raising of the soft palate to prevent vomitus entering the trachea and nasopharynx, respectively.