Family health A-Z - R

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Also known as: Personal Child Health Record

Also known as the red book, the Personal Child Health Record is given to all new parents and is used to chart growth and development and immunisations, as well as offering advice on health and development matters.

In a baby with reflux or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), acid from the baby's stomach is being passed back up his oesophagus (food pipe). This is because the valve at the end of the oesophagus, which allows food to pass into the stomach, is immature and the valve cannot stay shut. Symptoms include possetting more than is usual or vomiting after each feed. Treatment is with medication, such as Gaviscon.

A fungal skin infection which causes reddened and scaly patches on the skin which form irregular ring shapes with raised edges. Contrary to the name, it has nothing to do with worms.

The instinctive response of a baby to search for and latch on to the mother’s breast.

A mild, contagious, viral disease of childhood, also known as three-day fever, characterised by a fever lasting around three days followed by a rash of rose-coloured spots.

The medical term for German measles - a viral infection which was very common among children before the introduction of the MMR vaccine. Characterised by a mild fever followed by a rash, which starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The greatest risk from rubella is to pregnant women in the first trimester, as it can have devastating effects on the development of unborn babies.