Ask Doctor Cory.

Dear Dr. Cory:

I am in the third grade now. I love your magazines. I wish you would write about sore throats and stomachaches because I get stomachaches a lot and sore throats all the time. So I'm asking you to please put some information in your magazine about this stuff.

I do all the activities in the magazine. They are really fun! Do all the kids in America get a copy of U.S. Kids?

Melissa Denton
Crandon, Wisconsin

Dear Melissa:

Thank you for your great letter! The December 2002 issue covered stomachaches, so let's tackle sore throats, which are often caused by viruses--small organisms that can invade your body, including your throat, usually causing trouble for three to five days.

Antibiotic (ant-eye-bi-OTT-ik) medicine won't kill viruses, so try warm drinks, frozen fruit pops, or throat lozenges for the pain. Gargling with half a teaspoon of salt in warm water several times a day can also help. Your parents can give you a non-aspirin pain reliever for the pain and fever.

P.S. U.S. Kids goes to the brightest and nicest kids everywhere.

Strep Right Up For Treatment.

Streptococcal (strep-tuh-KOK-ul) sore throats respond to germ-Killing antibiotics but can cause serious problems if untreated. Get a quick, painless strep test; from your doctor if your sore throat; includes red, swollen, or white-flecked tonsils, stomachache, headache, or fever.

Dear Dr. Cory:

In school we had a scoliosis check. The nurse said I had a nine-degree curve. Then we went to the doctor. She said I have a six-degree curve but not to worry, because they only worry about anything over twenty degrees. I know what scoliosis is, but what causes it?

Angela Isbell
Sylacauga, Alabama

Dear Angela:

Most cases of scoliosis (sko-lee-OH-sis), a sideways curving of the backbone, have no known cause. It tends to be passed down in families.

It occurs about equally in boys and girls as they grow, usually around age ten. Girls sometimes have more severe curves. Poor posture isn't involved.

Regular medical checks of the spine are very important. Early detection and treatment can often halt the curving, or the need for surgery to fix it.

Mild curvature is usually just watched by the doctor until the child completes his growth spurt. Greater curvature may require a back brace.

Scoliosis sometimes hints at hidden problems the doctor should check.

Sincerely,

Cory SerVaas, M.D.

TIP-TOP TIP-OFFS

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says watch for:

* uneven shoulders

* prominent; shoulder blades

* uneven waist;

* elevated hips

* leaning to one side

Any one of these signs should be checked by a doctor.