Archive for the ‘Child Health’ Category

Breast milk jaundice is more of a biochemical problem and occurs mostly in newborn babies which is exclusively breastfed and in whom other causes of jaundice have been ruled out. Breast milk may contain a substance that increases reuse of bilirubin in the intestines.The jaundice appears at the end of the first week of life and can last even up to two months.Usually jaundice in infants is not harmful. For most babies, jaundice usually resolves without treatment in 1 to 2 weeks. Baby should be well hydrated with mother’s milk which encourages frequent bowel movements, which further removes bilirubin through the stools. (Bilirubin is what gives stool a brown color).

If the jaundice level is very high, phototherapy is done in which special blue lights are used to break down bilirubin in the skin. As per American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding should be continued through phototherapy also if possible.In critical cases, baby’s blood is also replaced with fresh blood.

Last but not the least, in newborn, some degree of jaundice is normal and probably not preventable. The risk of significant jaundice can often be reduced by feeding babies at least 8 to 12 times a day for the first several days and by carefully identifying infants at highest risk. Also, all pregnant women should be tested for blood type and unusual antibodies. All babies should be seen by a health care provider in the first 5 days of life to check for jaundice.

During teenage years, children embark on a new journey where not just physical changes but also emotional upheavals take place. Every teenager thinks their parents don’t understand them. Well, that apart, this is a crucial time of life when the foundation is being set for the future. Some of the health essentials that you may follow as a teen are:
• Eat healthy food like lots of green vegetables and fruits and avoid junk food, as bad diet will lead to obesity, diabetes, and heart problems in future.
• Be physically active and not a couch potato.
• Do not use any form of tobacco or drugs.
• Never drink and drive, it may be fatal.
• Unprotected sex can be extremely dangerous.
• Always discuss your problems with a confidante and maintain a friendly relation with parents to overcome stress.
• Always be careful while playing or riding, use headgears.

Enjoy your newfound freedom but never lose touch with your family, remember you guys belong together.

How many times, have you noticed your child grind his teeth or clench them together in anger? Most of the times, parents ignore such acts. Little do they realize that this is just a symptom of bruxism. Most children are known to grind or clench teeth when in sleep or when under stress. As parents, we often overlook such ailments thinking that these are temporary ailments. Research has shown that 9 out of every 10 child suffer from bruxism due to their top and bottom set of teeth not being aligned properly.

If not treated at the right time, regular clenching and grinding of teeth may lead to damage your child’s teeth forever. The enamel coating may get eroded or a tooth may get chipped. It is best to consult a doctor immediately to ensure that no long term damage is caused to your little one’s set of precious teeth.

Gastroenteritis is a medical terminology that is use to refer to acute diarrhea. This condition affects mostly infants and toddlers and you need to know the symptoms of this condition for you to get rid f it effectively. When there is an increase in fluidity of the stool, it is known as diarrhea and its passage is higher than normal. Acute diarrhea is a result of inflammation that is caused by a virus or bacteria which invades the gut cells. When this occurs in children, digestion will be hindered and hence there will be detainment of undigested food in the gut.

If your child is losing more and more fluids, you have to encourage him/her to drink a lot. You are not supposed to give him a lot of water as this might disturb the concentration of salt in the body and this can be dangerous. It is recommended that you give oral-rehydration solutions (ORS).