Birthmark, or nevus, is a blemish on the skin that is present at birth. Birthmarks do not usually cause problems, although there are some abnormal marks, such as a port-wine stain, which may require treatment.
Question: What are the main types of birthmarks?
The most common birthmark is a simple skin discoloration (nevus pigmentosus), which may be any color from light yellow to black. A mole is typical of this type of birthmark. It does not need treatment, unless it is irritated by clothing or is disfiguring.
Rarer types of birthmarks are generally the result of having a cluster of blood vessels just below the surface of the skin. Typical of this type is the strawberry nevus. It is a slightly raised reddish or purplish mark that appears most often on the face, head, neck, or arms. It grows rapidly for the first year after birth and then decreases in size. In most children it disappears by the age of five.
A port-wine stain is a complex birthmark, sometimes flat, sometimes raised and bumpy. It does not disappear but grows in proportion with the rest of the body. Like a strawberry nevus, it is caused by expanded blood vessels below the surface of the skin.
Question: Why should some birthmarks be removed?
If birthmarks of the port-wine stain type are large enough or serious enough to cause danger in case of injury, they may be removed by plastic surgery. In many cases, removal of a birthmark is not medically advised, but cosmetics can be used to reduce any embarrassment that the blemish might cause.
Hospitalization - Admission Procedures
The procedures you follow on admission to a hospital vary from one hospital to another, but basically the process is the same in most institutions in the United States.
Care of the Dying - Role of Friends
The friend can show appreciation of the work being done by the family and offer to stay with the patient if the family needs a little time away from home.
Care of the Dying - Death of an Older Child or an Adolescent
From the age of three years onward, a child begins to understand the concept of death and dying. The dying child feels protective toward his or her parents. Although the child desperately needs to talk about what is going to happen, he or she may never get close to the subject. The child may attach himself or herself to a nurse or physician while still relying on the parents. By doing this, the child is sharing the emotional responsibility. The parents may find this difficult to accept, but must realize that someone else can perhaps give more help by listening dispassionately to the child's fears and anxieties.
