-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Unit 14
Growing Pains
Your 8-year-old son wakes up crying in the night complaining that his legs are throbbing1. You rub them, and soothe2 him as much as you can, but are uncertain about whether to give him any medication or take him to the doctor. Sound familiar? Your child is probably experiencing growing pains, a normal occurrence in about 25% of children.
-- Diagnosis3
Growing pains generally strike during tow periods: in early childhood among 3-to 5-year-olds and later on in 8-to 12-year-olds. They are what doctors call a diagnosis of exclusion4. This means that other conditions should be ruled out before a diagnosis of growing pains is made. A thorough history and physical examination by your child's doctor can usually accomplish this.
-- Signs and Symptoms
Although growing pains often strike in late afternoon or early evening before bed, there are occasions when pains can wake a sleeping child. The intensity5 of the pain varies from child to child, and most kids don't experience the pains every day. Growing pains always concentrate in the muscles, rather than the joints7. Most children report pains in the front of their thighs8, in the calves9, or behind the knees. One symptom that doctors find most helpful in making a diagnosis growing pains is how the child responds to touch while in pain. Children who have pain for a serious medical disease do not like to be handled, since movement tends to increase the pain. Children with growing pains respond differently; they feel better when they are held and massaged11.
-- Causes
No firm evidence exists to show that growth of bones causes pain. The most likely causes of growing pains are the aches and discomforts12 resulting from jumping, climbing, and running pursued by active kids. The pains can occur after a child has had a particular athletic13 day.
-- Treatment
Massage10, stretching, and heat may help to relieve the pain. Although the pains poing to no serious illness, they can be upsetting to a child (or a parent). Because a child seems completely cured of his aches in the morning, parents sometimes suspect that the child faked the pains. However, this usually is not the case. Support and reassurance14 that growing pains will pass as children grow up can help them relax.
-- When to call Your Child's Doctor
Your child's doctor should be alerted if any of the following symptoms occur with your child's pain: persistent15 pain, swelling16, or redness in one particular area or joint6; fever; limping; unusual rashes; loss of appetite; weakness; tiredness; or uncharacteristic behavior. These signs do not accompany growing pains and may be an indication of a medical problem that needs attention.
1 throbbing | |
a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 soothe | |
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 diagnosis | |
n.诊断,诊断结果,调查分析,判断 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 exclusion | |
n.拒绝,排除,排斥,远足,远途旅行 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 intensity | |
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 joints | |
接头( joint的名词复数 ); 关节; 公共场所(尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所) (非正式); 一块烤肉 (英式英语) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 thighs | |
n.股,大腿( thigh的名词复数 );食用的鸡(等的)腿 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 calves | |
n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子,腓;腿肚子( calf的名词复数 );牛犊;腓;小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 );(冰川)崩解;生(小牛等),产(犊);使(冰川)崩解 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 massage | |
n.按摩,揉;vt.按摩,揉,美化,奉承,篡改数据 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 massaged | |
按摩,推拿( massage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 discomforts | |
n.不舒适( discomfort的名词复数 );不愉快,苦恼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 athletic | |
adj.擅长运动的,强健的;活跃的,体格健壮的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 reassurance | |
n.使放心,使消除疑虑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 persistent | |
adj.坚持不懈的,执意的;持续的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 swelling | |
n.肿胀 | |
参考例句: |
|
|