12A
LIFESTYLES / The Charlotte Post
Thursday, May 15, 1997
HEALTHY BODY/ HEALTHY MIND
Bedwetting may be symptom of problem
Aprella
Bridges,
R.N.
Bed wetting is involuntary uri
nation during sleep that occiu-s
more often than once a month in
girl over 5 and in boys over 6
years of age. It is more common
in boys than girls. The occur
rence of bed-wetting in children
is 15 percent at age 5,10 percent
at age 6, 7 percent at age 8, 3
percent at age 12, and 1 percent
at age 18.
Medically, bed wetting is
termed enuresis. In most cases
the cause is unknown. The fol
lowing are the most common
causes or popular theories.
• Underlying illness, such as
diabetes or a urinary tract infec
tion.
• A small or weak bladder that
cannot hold one night’s urine
production.
• Psychological problems
caused by stress or separation
from the mother.
• Child who is a deep sleeper.
The risk for bed wetting
increases with:
• Diabetes
• Urinaiy tract infection
• Family history of bed-wet-
ting (44 percent occurrence if
one parent was a bed-wetter, 77
percent occurrence if both par
ents were bed-wetters).
• First bom child
There are no known preventa
tive methods for bed wetting.
Show your child love, support
and understanding for this prob
lem. Bed wetting may continue
for several years. Medical tests
may be performed to rule out
urinaiy tract infections and dia
betes as causes. If these are
eliminated and your child is nor
mal in other respects, consider
your child’s bed-wetting as a
delay in maturing that will
resolve in time.
Your child’s doctor should
always be notified if:
• You are concerned about
your child’s bed-wetting and
your child is older than 6;
• The child dribbles urine;
• Has a weak urine stream;
has pain when urinating or
must strain to urinate;
• Medication is prescribed for
the child;
• New unexplained symptoms
develop.
Drags used in treatment may
produce side effects.
Psychotherapy may be of value
in treating emotional problems
that may co-exist in the child
and/or family. If undue stress is
present within the family envi-
romnent, counseling should be
considered as a part of the over
all management of the child
with enuresis.
Selwyn LIFE Center
at Mercy
Adult Day Health Services • Saturday Program
- Dementia Program • Caregiver Support Group
(704)379-5005
1921 Vail Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28207
African American men at risk for cancer
By Jennifer Brooks
National Newspaper
Publishers Association
African-American men have
the highest incidence and mor-
tahty rates of prostate cancer in
the world. In addition, “we’re
seeing an earlier onset of
prostate cancer, a two to three
times greater incidence of the
disease, and a two to three times
greater risk of death among
Black men with prostate cancer,
compared to commonly cited
national prostate cancer statis
tics based on studies of
Caucasian men," said Brian
Stone, M.D., assistant professor
of urology at Columbia
Presbyterian Medical Center.
The issue of prostate health
has received increasing atten
tion with the pubhcity surround
ing the diagnosis of prostate can
cer in well-known celebrities
including singer Harry
Bela,fonte, Bishop Desmond
Tutu and golfer Arnold Palmer.
Former NAACP Executive
Director Dr. Benjamin Hooks
and Congres-sional Hispanic
Caucus member Edward Pastor
(D-Ariz.) have promoted
prostate health awareness by
recording radio public service
annoimcements in Spanish and
English urging men to get
prostate screenings.
“Although one in five Amer
ican men will develop prostate
cancer in his lifetime, most are
only vaguely aware of the dis
ease, its treatment and its conse
quences.
Unlike women, who usually
talk freely among themselves
about intimate health problems,
most men shy away from
exchanging information about
any of their physical disorders -
especially problems involving a
gland that produces seminal
fluid and affects urinary flow,”
said Leon Jaroff, M.D. from
Santa Monica, CA in an article
on the Black Health Network.
While genetics are said to play
a major role in prostate cancer —
Afiican Americans, for example,
have a higher risk than whites
of contracting the disease - envi
ronment is obviously involved.
“In such countries as China
and Japan, where low-fat diets
of vegetables and fish are the
norm, the incidence of prostate
cancer is extremely low. But
prostate cancer rates for first-
and second generation Japanese
Americans are considerably
higher than in Japan,” Jaroff
said
One study found that only five
percent of African American
men who screened positive for
risk of prostate cancer sought
additional medical advice or
treatment.
The study cited the lack of
health education, fear of the rec
tal exam, fear of perceived side
effects of prostate cancer treat
ment and distrust of the medical
community as possible reasons
African-American men avoid
medical follow up. Stone said..
Another prostate condition
that is seldom talked about but
is prevalent among many older
men is Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia.
While it is a non-cancerous
enlargement of the prostate,
BPH can adversely affect the
quality of a man's life if left
Pediatric HIV treatments promising
SPECIAL TO THE POST
HOUSTON - New therapies
for HI\ infected children are
showing pmmise.
Chief ainong the growing arse
nal of therapies for pediatric
AIDS patients are protease
inhibitors, which are proving
successful in treatment of HIV-
infected adults.
On May 1, a study began of
combination therapy of two pro
tease inhibitors, saquinavir and
nelfinavir at Baylor College of
Medicine in Houston by Dr.
Mark Kline, an associate profes
sor of pediatrics.
“Protease inhibitors work by
interfering with production of
HIV proteins,” Kline said.
“These defective viral proteins
are the- incapable of infecting
other cells. In adults, the viral
load is reduced, making the
immune system less likely to be
impaired. We are hopeful that
similar results will be seen in
children”
Saquinavir and nelfinavir are
produced by Hoffmann-
LaRoche, Inc., and Agouron
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., respec
tively.
Kline will study 28 patients,
ages six months to 13 years, over
a 24-week period. Participants
will receive antiretroviral nucle
oside agents such as stavudine
(d4T), AZT, or didanosine in
addition to saquinavir, during
the first stage of the study. At
least one of the nucleosides will
have not been received by the
patient previously.
Nucleosides work by shutting
down the virus’ ability to make
DNA Because HTV is an RNA
virus, it must produce DNA to
replicate itself in cells.
During the second part of the
study, participants will again
receive nucleoside therapy in
addition to saquinavir and nelfi
navir.
The study will determine drug
tolerance and safety when given
in various combinations.
The study adds to the selection
of therapies available to the
pediatric population, who often
lag behind adults in being inves
tigated for new treatments.
A recent study also conducted
by Khne, revealed that a combi
nation of two nucleosides, d4T
and ddl, and one protease
inhibitor, indinavir, was well-tol
erated by HIV-infected children.
The drug combination was
foimd safe in a group of 12 chil
dren, ages 4 to 13.
The findings were presented
May 5 at the annual meeting of
the American Pediatric
Society/Society for Pediatric
Research in Washington, D.C.
nejs
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untreated. It can cause frequent
and urgent calls to urinate, trou
ble starting the urine flow, weak
or interrupted stream, and drib
bling after a man thinks his
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