“It is now the standard of care in several countries for all pregnant women to be routinely tested for GBS with a vaginal/rectal swab test during the 36th or 37th week during each pregnancy unless their urine already cultured positive in the current pregnancy.  GBS colonization is transient which means that a woman could test negative, but be colonized later in pregnancy and vice versa.  GBS is a fast-acting type of bacteria so it is imperative that everyone who takes care of your baby knows the symptoms of possible GBS infection in babies and how to respond.  GBS is a leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in newborns according to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”.

Group B Strep International (https://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/july_gbs_awareness_month.html)

“Your appendix is a thin tube in your lower right abdomen. It sits where your small intestine meets your large intestine.

Your appendix is a 4-inch-long tube. It’s attached to the first part of your large intestine. Its exact function is unclear. Some people believe that it’s an evolutionary holdover that provides no benefits to your health.

This conventional wisdom has led to the widespread use of appendectomies to prevent and treat disease.”

Healthline

“A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer.

“Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can occur in various locations in your body.

Sarcoma is the general term for a broad group of cancers that begin in the bones and in the soft (also called connective) tissues (soft tissue sarcoma). Soft tissue sarcoma forms in the tissues that connect, support and surround other body structures. This includes muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and the lining of your joints.

There are more than 70 types of sarcoma. Treatment for sarcoma varies depending on sarcoma type, location and other factors.”.

MAYO CLINIC

“Many people who have been burned in fires have also inhaled smoke. Sometimes people inhale smoke without sustaining skin burns.

The smoke released by any type of fire (forest, brush, crop, structure, tires, waste or wood burning) is a mixture of particles and chemicals produced by incomplete burning of carbon-containing materials. All smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter (PM or soot). Smoke can contain many different chemicals, including aldehydes, acid gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, styrene, metals and dioxins. The type and amount of particles and chemicals in smoke varies depending on what is burning, how much oxygen is available, and the burn temperature.

Exposure to high levels of smoke should be avoided. Individuals are advised to limit their physical exertion if exposure to high levels of smoke cannot be avoided. Individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma), fetuses, infants, young children, and the elderly may be more vulnerable to the health effects of smoke exposure.

Inhaling smoke for a short time can cause immediate (acute) effects. Smoke is irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat, and its odor may be nauseating. Studies have shown that some people exposed to heavy smoke have temporary changes in lung function, which makes breathing more difficult. Two of the major agents in smoke that can cause health effects are carbon monoxide gas and very small particles (fine particles, or PM2.5 ). These particles are two and one half (2.5) microns or less in size (25,400 microns equal an inch) and individual particles are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Inhaling carbon monoxide decreases the body’s oxygen supply. This can cause headaches, reduce alertness, and aggravate a heart condition known as angina. Fine particles are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Inhaling fine particles can cause a variety of health effects, including respiratory irritation and shortness of breath, and can worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. During increased physical exertion, cardiovascular effects can be worsened by exposure to carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Once exposure stops, symptoms from inhaling carbon monoxide or fine particles generally diminish, but may last for a couple of days.

More than half of fire-related deaths result from smoke inhalation, according to the Burn Institute. Smoke inhalation occurs when you breathe in harmful smoke particles and gases. Inhaling harmful smoke can inflame your lungs and airway, causing them to swell and block oxygen. This can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure.

Smoke inhalation commonly happens when you get trapped in a contained area, such as a kitchen or home, near a fire. Most fires occur in the home, often from cooking, fireplaces and space heaters, electrical malfunctions, and smoking.

Avoiding smoky situations is the best way to avoid exposure. If your age or health status places you at greater risk from smoke exposure you should speak with your doctor about alternative steps you can take when encountering smoky situations. Anyone with persisting or frequent symptoms that they think are associated with smoke exposure should see their health care provider. Additional information on carbon monoxide and fine particles can be found at the web addresses listed at the end of this fact sheet.

There is also the potential for chronic health effects from exposure to the components of smoke. Long term exposure to ambient air containing fine particles has been associated with increases in cardiovascular disease and mortality in populations living in areas with higher fine particulate air pollution. Frequent exposure to smoke for brief periods may also cause long-term health effects. Firefighters, who are exposed frequently to smoke, have been examined for long-term health effects (for example, cancer, lung disease, and cardiovascular disease) of repeated smoke exposures. The findings from these studies are not consistent or conclusive. Some studies show an increased frequency of these diseases among firefighters compared to similar male reference populations (e.g., male policemen, white males in the general population), while others do not.

When it is necessary to work in heavy smoke, use appropriate respiratory protection to reduce exposure to the particles and gases in smoke.

“We don’t know for sure what causes cleft lip and palate. They may be caused by a combination of things, like genes and things in your environment, like what you eat or drink and medicines you take. Genes are parts of your body’s cells that store instructions for the way your body grows and works. Genes are passed from parents to children.”

March of Dimes (https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/birth/cleft-lip-and-cleft-palate)

“July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month. The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA; https://acpa-cpf.org/) Craniofacial anomalies (CFA) are a diverse group of deformities in the growth of the head and facial bones. Anomaly is a medical term meaning “irregularity” or “different from normal.” These abnormalities are present at birth (congenital) and there are numerous variations. Some are mild and some are severe and need surgery. Some craniofacial anomalies are associated with anomalies elsewhere in the body, which can be serious..”

The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA; https://acpa-cpf.org/)

“When your baby is born, the blood left inside the umbilical cord is very special. It contains powerful hematopoietic stem cells, which have a 30-year history of helping to save lives through transplant medicine. There’s also exciting research using cord blood for regenerative medicine, which aims to harness the powerful cells inside to help the body heal itself. Both cord blood and cord tissue are rich sources of powerful stem cells. Newborn stem cell preservation is the process of saving the blood and tissue from the umbilical cord, after birth, for potential future use. Cord blood stem cells have been used in the treatment of over 80 conditions as part of a stem cell transplant. Today, stem cell research continues to evolve, bringing new hope to patients and their families. In fact, more than 500 CBR families have already used their preserved cord blood in a stem cell transplant or investigational setting.”

CBR Blog (https://blog.cordblood.com/2019/06/cord-blood-awareness-month-help-spread-the-word/)

“There is no single test that doctors can use to diagnose JIA. However, they may suspect that a child has the disease if he or she is younger than age 16 and has unexplained joint pain, stiffness, or swelling that has lasted for at least 6 weeks. Doctors usually diagnose JIA by ruling out other conditions that have similar features.  The goals of treatment are directed on control inflammation, reduce pain and stiffness, prevent joint and organ damage, preserve and improve joint function, promote physical and psychosocial growth and development, and achieve remission.  Most children with JIA need a combination of medicines and a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and exercise, to reach these goals. The specific treatment plan will depend on the child’s age, the type of JIA, and on other factors, such as disease severity. In general, doctors will treat the disease aggressively early on, tapering off medications once remission is reached.”

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin diseases – NIH (https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/juvenile-arthritis/diagnosis-treatment-and-steps-to-take)