Ang Kalatas November 2015 Issue | Page 22

18 APCO joins Food Safety Supervisor Training THE Auburn City Council in partnership with Auburn Small Community Organisation Network Inc (ASCON) organised a free oneday accredited Food Safety Supervisor training at the Auburn Centre for Community last month. Fifteen participants representing various CALD communities benefitted from this training excellently delivered by Julie Mcintosh of South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE – Tourism and Hospitality. The Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO) was represented by Dr Cen Amores, Raphael Amores and Glorina Papaioannou. TAFE Teacher, Julie Macintosh discusses one of the modules The units of competencies covered included: Use hygienic practices for food safety and Participate in safe food handling practices. Eight topics covered are: Keep food safe, Maintain personal hygiene, Handle food hygienically, Keep the workplace clean, Food safety programs. Control and monitor food safety and Maintain food safety. Participants were required to pass two written and one hands-on assessments to receive a Statement of Attainment in Food Safety Supervisor from TAFE. How young is too young for your child’s first dental visit? T aking a child to Your Mouth, Your Body, Your Health the dentist is indeed a challenge. Many parents wonder how young they can start bringing their kids to see a [email protected] dentist. Everyone has different opinions about this matter. Some bring their kids when they start school. Others wait until they start losing their baby teeth or even when they are in pain. Most of the time, treating kids with toothaches will leave a painful scar in their memory. This may result in a bigger oral health issue when they grow up. Unpleasant dental experiences for kids can be minimized or avoided. According to recent studies, it is highly recommended that children have their first dental visit within six months of getting their first tooth. Hence, parents should start scheduling their kid’s first treating kids. This will certainly make a big dental visit at the age of one and every 6 difference in your child’s first dental experimonths after. ence. Contrary to many beliefs, baby teeth also Taking your kids at the recommended age need special attention. Just because baby of 12 months will certainly reinforce the imteeth will fall out anyway does not mean they portance of good oral health but also help redon’t need to be checked by dentists. Kids move the fear of dentists that many older chilteeth play a major role in their growth process, speech development, confidence and not dren have during their first visit. Positive dento mention, nutrition. Taking your child to see tal experiences at a young age can cut down dental anxiety in the long term. If you have a dentist at a young age will also ingrain the any further questions and concerns about your importance of looking after their teeth. kids’ oral health, I highly recommend that Some pointers on how to make your child’s first dental visit a pleasant and enjoyyou seek professional dental advice as soon able one: as possible. 1. Talk to your kids about their teeth. Play and count them. 2. Make tooth brushing as playtime. Show Dr. Rouel Vergara, is a general dentist practitioner focusing on patient-centred them how you brush, floss and rinse your dentistry. He is a member of the Australian teeth. Dental Association and various dental 3. Make sure your child is well rested beorganizations in Australia and overseas, fore they see the dentist. and is also actively involved in providing 4. Schedule your kid’s appointment at a lectures and workshops for dental health time of the day when they are fully awake. professionals in the Asia Pacific region. 5. Reward your child after the dental visit. This will help associate dentist visits with a Dr.Vergara is the principal dentist of New Leaf Dentists in Erina, NSW. positive experience. 6. Look for a dentist with experience in DR. ROUEL VERGARA THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 Number 2 | NOVEMBER 2015 FOOD & HEALTH Viral gastroenteritis outbreaks Rise of cases in childcare centres, aged care facilities “Illness can worsen quickNSW Health is warning the ly in children and the elderly, peak of the viral gastroenteriso if people are concerned they tis season is approaching, with should see their local GP.” recent increases in cases in the During September, 63 outcommunity, childcare centres breaks in institutions (includand aged care facilities. ing childcare centres, nursing Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Direchomes and hospitals) were retor of the Communicable Disported, affecting at least 803 eases Branch, NSW Health, people. However, the number of said recently that outbreaks of outbreaks reported is lower than viral gastroenteritis occur seathe monthly September average past month appear to have been sonally, and this is when rotaviof 73 outbreaks seen in the precaused by viruses that spread rus and norovirus are commonvious five years. ly circulating in the community. easily from person to person,” “The best defence is to Dr Sheppeard said. A second peak of viral gaswash your hands thoroughly “Symptoms can include troenteritis is usually observed with soap at the beand runginning of ning water each year, THE best defence is to wash your hands thoroughly for at least coinciding with soap and running water for at least 10 seconds 10 secwith the before handling and eating food, and always wash your onds beintake of hands after using the toilet or changing nappies… fore hannew childling and dren to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fe- eating food, and always wash early childhood centres. ver, abdominal pain, headache, your hands after using the toilet “Although the cause of and muscle aches and usually or changing nappies,” said Dr most outbreaks in institutions last between one and two days, Sheppeard. [http://www.health. is not diagnosed, all outbreaks nsw.gov.au] occurring in institutions in the sometimes longer,” she said. HERNIA A Hernia is the Healthwise protrusion of organs, such as intestines, through a weakened section of the abdominal wall. Registered Nurse COMMON TYPES OF HERNIAS: l Inguinal – this is the most common l Visible lump or swollen area form accounting for nine out of 10 herl • Heavy or concentrated feeling in nias. Occurs in the groin wherein a loop the gut, particularly when bending over of intestine pushes against the small l Pain or aching (particularly on exerring of muscle in the groin, eventually tion, lifting or carrying heavy objects) splitting the muscle fibres apart. Inguil • Digestive upsets such as constipanal Hernias affect more men than womtion en and are particularly common in midl Lump disappears when the person is lydle age. ing down l Femoral – occurs high on the thigh, l Lump enlarges upon coughing, strainwhere the leg joins the body. Similar to ing or standing up inguinal hernia, intestines force their l Others: acid reflux, chest pain, difficulway through the weak muscle ring at ty swallowing the femoral canal until they protrude. DIAGNOSIS OF HERNIAS: Femoral hernias are more common in The doctor may feel a bulge in the abdowomen. men or groin that gets larger when the person l Umbilical – a portion of the gut pushstands, coughs or strains. He will order a Bares through a muscular weakness near ium X-ray to examine the digestive tract and the navel or belly button. Overweight an endoscopy. women or those who have had several TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR A HERNIA: pregnancies are also at increased risk. Whether or not the person needs treatThis type of hernia is more common in ment depends on the size of the hernia and newborns. the severity of the symptoms. The doctor may l Hiatus – occurs when part of the stomsimply monitor the hernia for possible comach protrudes up through the diaplications. He may order a lifestyle change phragm into the chest. Hiatus Hernia (dietary changes; avoiding foods that cause almost always causes gastroesophageacid reflux; losing weight, giving up cigaal reflux causing a burning sensation. rettes), medication and surgery. This type of hernia is most common in COMPLICATIONS OF AN UNTREATED people over 50, and if a child has this HERNIA: condition, it’s typically caused by a l Inflammation congenital (birth) defect. l Obstruction of a lumen (cavity within a tubular organ), such as bowel obstrucl Incisional – may occur after abdomition in intestinal hernias) nal surgery, where the site of repair will l Strangulation always be structurally weaker. Somel Hydrocele (accumulation of serous flutimes, the intestines can push through id in a body cavity) of the hernia sac the closed incision, causing a hernia. COMMON CAUSES OF HERNIAS: (VARY l Haemorrhage l Autoimmune problems DEPENDING ON EACH INDIVIDUAL) l Failure of the abdominal wall to close l Incarceration – cannot be reduced or in the womb (congenital defect) pushed back into place, at least not l Age without external effort in intestinal herl Mechanical causes: improper heavy nias; this also increases the risk of bowlifting, chronic coughing, sharp blows el obstruction and strangulation to the abdomen, incorrect posture REMEMBER TO ALWAYS CONSULT l Physical: sudden weight gain, straining YOUR DOCTOR AT THE OCCURRENCE during a bowel movement or urination, OF ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS MENpregnancy (due to pressure on the abTIONED ABOVE. domen), chronic lung disease, fluid in Reference: the abdominal cavity (ascites) Better Health Channel – Fact Sheet /Hernias SYMPTOMS OF HERNIAS: (DEPENDS ON Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia/Hernia THE LOCATION AND SEVERITY) Healthline/Hernia FE WATMORE