Many people use the word depressed very casually. Never assume that your child is depressed if you haven’t got your child assessed by a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist. If your child is functioning fine but remains upset or irritated, this might be some stress. You can talk to your child and understand the reason behind it. If your child, along with being sad or irritated, does not eat and sleep well, (s)he needs evaluation done by a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist. Depression in children is different from their developing emotions. Sadness does not equal depression. If your child’s sadness becomes constant and interferes with his/her daily tasks and routine, family life, schoolwork, or friendship, it may indicate that your child needs professional help. Symptoms:<ul><li>Irritability or anger</li><li>Continuous feelings of sadness and hopelessness</li><li>Social withdrawal</li><li>Increased sensitivity to rejection</li><li>Changes in appetite – increased or decreased</li><li>Changes in sleep – reduced or excessive</li><li>Vocal outbursts or crying</li><li>Difficulty concentrating</li><li>Fatigue and low energy</li><li>Physical complaints (such as stomach aches, headaches) that don't respond to treatment</li><li>Reduced ability to function during events and activities at home or with friends, in school, extracurricular activities, and in other hobbies or interests</li><li>Feelings of worthlessness or guilt</li><li>Thoughts of death or suicide</li></ul>Not every child has the same symptoms. Most children display different symptoms at different times and in different settings. Risk factors:Children with a family history of violence, alcohol abuse, or physical or sexual abuse are at greater risk of experiencing depression. Causes:<ul><li>Physical health issues</li><li>Life events</li><li>Family history of depression</li><li>Family conflicts</li><li>Genetic vulnerability</li><li>Substance abuse</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>A doctor’s visit needs to be scheduled for your child if the symptoms of depression have lasted for at least two weeks. Remember that a visit to a mental healthcare professional – either a psychiatrist or a psychologist – is needed to have a plan of action for your child properly.</li><li>A mental health evaluation usually includes interviews with you (the parent or primary caregiver) and your child. Information from teachers, friends and classmates can help show that these symptoms are consistent during your child's various activities and are different from previous behaviour.</li><li>There are no specific tests that can clearly show depression. Still, tools such as questionnaires (for both the child and parents) combined with personal information can be very useful in helping diagnose depression in children.</li></ul> Treatment:<ul><li>Treatment includes psychotherapy (counselling) and medication. Your child's doctor may suggest psychotherapy first and consider antidepressant medicine an additional option if there is no significant improvement.</li><li>It is difficult for parents to accept the fact that their child might be depressed. Some parents tend to deny this fact and avoid taking help from a mental healthcare professional. Parents need to understand depression and realise the importance of treatment to grow physically and emotionally in a healthy way.</li></ul> Prevention:Most of the time, it is difficult for parents to prevent depression in children, mainly because depression is a type of mental illness and is invisible. Hence most parents don't see it coming. Many have a great deal in accepting that their child might be depressed. But you can always choose an emotionally healthy lifestyle to reduce your child's chances of going under depression. ﻿Following are a few things to keep in mind:Establish a routine in your child's life. Avoid unnecessary moving of houses and schools. Stick to a schedule.Encourage open and honest communication.Keep a check on your behaviour. Do not constantly nag your child or always telling them what not to do. Opt for constructive feedback and try and understand their perspective towards things.Keep arguments among family and arguments between husband and wife away from children.Support your child's self-esteem.

Here are Depression Symptoms, Causes, Risk factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention for children.

All about Childhood Depression

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects your ability to read, spell, write, and speak. Kids who have it are often smart and hardworking, but they have trouble connecting the letters they see to the sounds those letters make. Some people are diagnosed early in life. Others don't realize they have dyslexia until they get older. Kids with dyslexia are just as smart as their peers but they struggle more in school because it takes them longer to read. When children learn to read, they first figure out what sound each letter makes. For example, "B" makes a "buh" sound. "M" makes an "em" sound. Then, they learn how to put those sounds in order to form words. Finally, they have to figure out what words mean.For kids who have dyslexia, the brain has a hard time connecting letters to the sounds they make, and then blending those sounds into words. So to someone with dyslexia, the word "saw" might read as "was." Because of these mix-ups, reading can be a slow and difficult process.Dyslexia is different for everyone. Some people have a mild form and eventually learn how to manage. Others have a little more trouble overcoming it. Even if children cannot fully outgrow dyslexia, they can still go to college and succeed in life. Causes: Dyslexia is caused due to genetic reasons. Symptoms in Preschoolers:<ul><li>Hard to learn or remember the letters of the alphabet.</li><li>Mispronounce familiar words.</li><li>Mixing up letters. For example, mistaking "t" for "d."</li><li>Trouble identifying rhyming patterns.</li></ul> Symptoms in Grade Schoolers:<ul><li>Read more slowly than other kids their age</li><li>Can't tell the difference between certain letters or words</li><li>Don't connect letters with the sounds they make</li><li>Write letters or numbers backwards, such as "b" instead of "d"</li><li>Have trouble sounding out words when they read</li><li>Can't always understand what they've read</li><li>Write slowly</li><li>Misspell words - even easy words like "and" and "dog"</li><li>Say that words on the page appear to blur or jump around</li><li>Struggle to follow a series of instructions</li></ul> Middle and high school students with dyslexia:<ul><li>Have trouble writing clearly (make errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation)</li><li>Take a long time to finish their homework or complete tests</li><li>Have messy handwriting</li><li>Speak slowly</li><li>Avoid reading aloud</li><li>Use the wrong words - like "furnish" instead of "finish" or "lotion" for "ocean"</li></ul> Common symptoms in children with dyslexia:<ul><li>Frustration</li><li>Anger</li><li>Disinterest in studies</li><li>Disobedience</li><li>Lower self-esteem</li></ul> Diagnosis:Dyslexia is usually diagnosed during elementary school. In some cases, it doesn't become apparent until a child is older and is expected to read and comprehend longer and more complex material. Dyslexia is formally diagnosed by a reading specialist or psychologist, through a comprehensive evaluation either at school or in the community. Managing Dyslexia:<ul><li>Once diagnosed, a child usually works with a specially trained teacher, tutor, or reading specialist to help children in learning how to read, spell, and write.</li><li>Once a child starts working with trained academic professionals, (s)he can overcome dyslexia and lead a normal life. Children with dyslexia should be offered the maximum support of their loved ones.</li></ul> Risk factors:<ul><li>A family history of dyslexia or other learning disabilities.</li><li>Premature birth or low birth weight.</li><li>Exposure during pregnancy to nicotine, drugs, alcohol or infection that may alter brain development in the fetus.</li><li>Individual differences in the parts of the brain that enable reading.</li></ul> Prevention: Dyslexia cannot be prevented. FAQs about Dyslexia:What is dyslexia?Dyslexia is now called Specific learning disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that influences the brain's ability to efficiently perceive or process verbal and nonverbal information.It is characterised by persistent difficulty in learning academic skills like reading, written expression, or mathematics. Dyslexia begins in early childhood and is inconsistent with the overall intellectual ability of a child. Children with specific learning disorder often find it difficult to keep up with their peers in certain academic subjects, whereas they may excel in other areas. How can I confirm that my child has dyslexia or not?You may suspect that your child has dyslexia when the IQ of your child is normal yet your child lags behind in some areas of academics or when (s)he does not score well even though (s)he learns very well.&nbsp;What is the treatment of Dyslexia?Treatment for Dyslexia depends on the area in which a child lags behind. Teaching specific learning skills through different behaviour therapies or software-based therapies are helpful. Is there any medicine for Dyslexia?NO. There is no medication for dyslexia; the treatment for this condition is through behaviour-based and software-based therapies. If the child has other co-morbid conditions like ADHD or other psychological problems then medicines can be given accordingly. Can a child with dyslexia study?Yes. A child with dyslexia can study normally if the area of problem is identified and interventions are done timely.

Here are Dyslexia Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Management, Risk factors, Prevention, and FAQs.

All about Dyslexia

Headache is the pain or discomfort in the head. Just like stomach aches, headaches can also be of 2 types: pathological and functional.Headaches can be functional or pathological in nature. Pathological pain can be due to tumour or any other complexities, but this is rare in small children. Children usually do not get headaches. But if they do, these can be the basic reasons behind headaches in children:<ul><li>Inadequate hydration</li><li>Skipping a meal or breakfast</li><li>Not getting enough sleep. Sound sleep for a minimum of 10-12 hours is needed.</li><li>Stress due to studies pressure or any emotional conflict can also cause headaches.</li><li>Vision problems like nearsightedness or farsightedness</li><li>Constant use of screens</li><li>Family history</li></ul> Symptoms: fussiness, crankiness, problem in sleeping Types of headaches: <ul><li>Tension headaches: These are due to emotional stress or tiredness. This is the least serious of all. It can be due to family conflicts or problems in the school</li><li>Congestion headaches: These are due to cold or flu and usually stop when the illness is over.</li><li>Headaches after an injury: Headaches are followed by head injury for a while. With the doctor’s help, it can be cured. If your child has had an injury in the past, headaches might occur even after many years.</li><li>Migraine headaches: It is a more serious kind of headache and requires medication prescribed by a doctor. A child is susceptible to develop migraine headaches if they run in the family. Visit your child’s paediatrician for the same.</li></ul> Diagnosis: Your child’s doctor will look into your child’s headache history; carry out a physical exam and in some cases neurological exam. In very rare cases, your child’s doctor might suggest for a MRI or CT scan.&nbsp; Treatment: For children, doctors usually do not prescribe medications unless the situation is serious. Usually following remedies work for children quite well:<ul><li>Lay your child down on a bed with his/her head slightly raised, in a cool, calm, quiet and darkroom. Put on the curtains.</li><li>Apply a cold compress (a cold wet washcloth or ice wrapped in a washcloth) on the head or nape (backside of the neck). Or ask your child to take a cold-water bath.</li><li>Apply heat. Apply warm (not hot) wet washcloth on the head or nape or ask your child to take a warm-water bath.</li></ul>Note: See what works the best for your child – cold compress or heat.<ul><li>Place a cool, moist cloth across your child’s forehead and eyes. Ask your child to relax and take easy and deep breaths.</li><li>Make sure your child follows a regular sleeping and waking time daily.</li><li>Make sure that your eats on time. Low blood sugar may sometimes cause a headache.</li><li>Make your child drink sufficient water.</li><li>If your child is old enough, you can give over the counter medication after consulting the doctor.</li><li>For pain management without medication, you can ensure your child is stress-free. Make your child do exercises that help him/her relax.&nbsp;</li><li>Avoid any trigger that can cause headaches like extreme heat, insufficient sleep, hunger etc.</li></ul> When to visit the doctor:<ul><li>Daily headaches interfering with a child’s life</li><li>Headaches when coughing, sneezing, running or during a bowel movement.</li><li>Sudden headache for the first time with numbness and vomiting.</li><li>Headaches with a stiff neck and fever</li><li>Headaches after a head injury that keep coming back.</li><li>Headache accompanied by fits, fever or tiredness.</li><li>If the child is drops things from hands</li><li>Sudden deterioration of performance in school</li><li>Headaches along with pain in eyes and ears.</li><li>Headaches similar to any of the family members.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.</li><li>Fixed eating schedule</li><li>Make sure your child hydrated at all times.</li><li>Encourage your child to openly talk to keep stress at bay.</li><li>Observe if your child is allergic to certain foods. If so, visit the paediatrician or you can give those foods at a minimum.</li></ul>

Here are Headache Symptoms, Causes, Types, Treatment, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Remedies.

All about headaches

Ravina Sewani

<ul><li>Allergic Rhinitis is a type of inflammation in the nose following an exposure to the pollen or inhalation of indoor allergens like mould, pet dander, dust mites, dried skin flakes, or smoke.</li><li>As a preventive measure, you may reduce your child's exposure to the outdoor allergens and provide a clean environment free from indoor allergens.</li><li>The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to common cold like runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, nose/eye itching, and teary eyes.</li><li>Allergic Rhinitis can develop in children as early as 18 months.</li><li>In the case of Allergic Rhinitis, your child’s doctor can prescribe either antihistamines or decongestants.</li></ul>

Allergic rhinitis is a severe allergic reaction against allergens.

Allergic Rhinitis

<ul><li>Dust mites are very small bugs which live in humid environments and feed on scales shed by human skin. Dust mites need around 80% humidity and so as soon as the humidity falls, they die.</li><li>A protein present in the wastes of dust mites is usually found in the beds, carpets, furniture and when your child inhales such air, an allergic reaction is triggered.</li><li>Dust mites are the most common culprits behind your child's asthma. So it is very important to clean the furniture in the house properly at regular intervals.</li><li>The growth of dust mites can be prevented by dust-proofing your house using vacuum cleaner and washing pillows and mattresses in hot water time to time.</li><li>The growth of dust mites and hence the allergic reactions can be reduced by installing dehumidifiers to reduce the percentage of humidity indoors. You can also use HEPA filters in the air purifiers of your house.</li><li>Avoid carpeting in your house if your child is allergic to dust mites.</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Itching</li><li>Rashes</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Swelling of the lips or tongue or face</li><li>Throat constriction</li><li>Difficulty in breathing</li><li>Allergies may sometimes also cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis which constricts the airway passage and requires immediate medical attention.</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Always get your child diagnosed by a healthcare expert and never on your own. Never self-assume that your child has peanut allergy. Commercial home test kits for self-diagnosis are not recommended as they may not be of the required standards.</li><li>Your child’s paediatrician may recommend that your child undertake tests like skin prick test, blood test or food/drug challenge. It is important that these tests are performed under medical supervision as these tests might trigger an allergic reaction. Along with these tests, your child’s paediatrician will also examine your child's medical/family history, existing conditions like asthma and eczema.</li></ul>

Allergy to dust mites is usually caused by the carpets used in the house. The best way to make your baby safe is to keep your surroundings clean.

Dust mites allergy

Thrush is a fungal infection that causes severe pain in both nipples and breasts after feeds. If the pain lasts even up to an hour after every feed, it is the sign of thrush. If not taken care of, your baby can also develop this infection in the mouth. This infection is caused when you have cracked nipples that give the fungus an entry into your nipples. If you are on antibiotics for some reason, do not stop taking them fearing the thrush infection. Always do as advised by your doctor. Because your baby breastfeeds, (s)he has chances of developing this infection. Check if your baby has white spots or patches in tongue, gums, roof of the mouth or inside the cheeks. Try wiping them gently and if it does not go away, it indicates thrush. Other indicators of thrush include baby’s unrest when feeding, nappy rash, a white film on lips. It is important to maintain hygiene as the infection can spread to others in the family as well. Properly wash your hands carefully after nappy changes and use separate towels to prevent spreading of infection. You need to also wash and sterilise the toys your baby puts in mouth. Wash your bras at high temperature. Pain in the breast and thrush are two different things. Always seek medical help for the right diagnosis.In case you or your baby both have thrush, both of you will be treated simultaneously. Your doctor will usually prescribe a topical cream for you and an antifungal gel or liquid for your baby. Thrush can be treated, and you will be back to your days of breezy breastfeeding experience.

Thrush is a fungal infection that causes severe pain in both nipples and breasts after feeds.

Thrush infection in breastfeeding mothers

<ul><li>Earaches in children are common. An earache may affect one or both ears, but the majority of the time it’s in one ear. Earaches can be constant or come and go, and the pain may be dull, sharp, or burning.</li><li>Kids below 5 years are at a higher risk for ear infections. Young children with ear infections get fussy and irritable. They may also tug or rub their ears.</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Ear pain (when chewing, sucking, or lying down)</li><li>Redness of the ear</li><li>Swelling of the ear</li><li>Pulling or rubbing the ears</li><li>Leakage from the ear</li><li>Trouble hearing</li><li>Ear fullness&nbsp;</li><li>Ear popping</li><li>Fussiness</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Headache</li><li>Fever</li><li>Loss of balance</li><li>Difficulty sleeping</li></ul> Causes:<ul><li>Ear infections - outer, middle, or inner ear</li><li>Change in pressure, such as when flying on a plane</li><li>Earwax buildup</li><li>A foreign object in the ear</li><li>Sinus infection</li><li>Shampoo or water trapped in the ear</li><li>Use of cotton swabs in the ear</li><li>Referred pain - when the pain is felt somewhere other than the infection or injured site. For example, pain that originates in the jaw or teeth may be felt in the ear.</li></ul> Diagnosis:Your child's doctor will use an otoscope to look at the ears, throat and nasal passage. (S)he will might also listen to your child breathe with a stethoscope. Sometimes, doctors might use a Pneumatic otoscope to diagnose an ear infection. The doctor might perform other tests if there is any doubt about a diagnosis.<ol><li>Tympanometry: This test measures the movement of the eardrum.</li><li>Acoustic reflectometry: This test measures how much sound is reflected back from the eardrum.</li><li>Tympanocentesis: An instrument to drain the fluid from the middle ear. This fluid is then tested for viruses and bacteria.</li></ol> Visiting the doctor:<ul><li>If your child has a persistent fever of 104º F (40º C) or higher, seek medical attention.</li><li>For an infant, seek medical help immediately for a fever higher than 101º F (38º C).</li><li>You should also seek immediate medical attention if your child has severe pain which stops suddenly. This could be a sign of the eardrum rupturing.</li></ul> Treating earaches at home:<ul><li>Place a warm compress carefully over your child's ear for approximately 20 minutes.</li><li>Apply a cold washcloth to the ear.</li><li>Avoid getting the ear wet.</li><li>Sit upright to help relieve ear pressure.</li><li>Feed an infant to help them relieve their pressure.</li></ul> Medical treatment:<ul><li>If your child doesn't have too much discomfort or a high fever, the doctor will likely wait 24 to 48 hours (1 to 2 days) to see if the ear infection gets better on its own.</li><li>Your child's doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics or ear drops if the earache does not resolve on its own. In some cases, (s)he can prescribe both.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Make sure your child gets the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and the flu vaccine, which may reduce their odds of getting middle ear infections.</li><li>Do not clean ears with cotton swabs or sharp objects.</li><li>Dry the ears after swimming or bathing.</li><li>Avoid secondhand smoke.</li><li>Make sure your child has a habit of washing his/her hands.</li><li>Don't give a bottle when your baby is lying down.</li><li>Ask the doctor if earplugs and special ear drops are a good idea if your child swims a lot.</li></ul>

Here are Earache Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Home remedies.

All about earaches

Practically, a child can be allergic towards any vegetable but the most common are asparagus, cabbage, potatoes, carrot, cucumber, spinach, avocado. Causes: Proteins present in the fruit that the child is allergic to. Symptoms: Symptoms usually show up minutes after a child has been exposed to a vegetable that (s)he is allergic to. Sometimes, the symptoms might show up after a few hours.The symptoms include:<ul><li>Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing or dry cough</li><li>Eczema (a dry, itchy rash) or hives (reddish, swollen, itchy areas on the skin)</li><li>Redness of the skin around the mouth or eyes</li><li>Itchy mouth, ear canal or lip swelling, odd taste in the mouth</li><li>Nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea or stomach pain</li><li>Drop in blood pressure</li><li>Severe reactions include loss of consciousness, chest pain, turning pale, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, or anaphylaxis</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>The first thing is to not self-diagnose. Always rely on a healthcare expert's diagnosis.</li><li>A healthcare expert will examine your child's symptoms, his/her health history, and conduct other tests if required, to confirm whether your child has an allergy towards particular foods or not.</li><li>The doctor might get a blood test or a skin prick test done for your child.</li></ul> Foods to avoid:<ul><li>Raw vegetable to which the child is allergic.</li><li>Vegetable soup.</li><li>Food dishes which contain the vegetable to which your child is allergic.</li></ul> Treating allergies:<ul><li>The best way to prevent allergies of any sort in children is to avoid the source of the allergen.</li><li>In allergies, paediatricians usually prescribe antihistamine medicines for mild allergic reactions. Whereas for severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis, your child’s paediatrician will prescribe an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI).</li></ul> Precautions:<ul><li>Develop a habit of reading the food labels for ingredients and allergy information.</li><li>Teach your child to mention about the allergy whenever (s)he goes to visit someone.</li><li>Inform your child’s school about your child’s allergy. You can also give the medicines prescribed by your child’s doctor to the school which they can use in case of sudden allergic reactions.</li><li>Be careful about the possibility of cross-contact; especially when visiting a restaurant.</li><li>Always keep the allergy medication handy for your child.</li></ul>

Not every child will have an allergy towards the same vegetable. Every child's immune system reacts differently towards different vegetables. The allergic reaction, however, is more or less the same towards any kind of vegetable.

Vegetable allergies

Diarrhoea is the body's way of ridding itself of germs, and most episodes last a few days to a week. Diarrhoea can be of sudden onset and lasting for less than two weeks (acute) or persistent (chronic). The main risk is lack of fluid in the body (dehydration). Once any dehydration is treated with drinks, encourage your child to eat as normally as possible. Causes:<ul><li>Bacterial infection</li><li>Viral infection</li><li>Trouble digesting certain things (food intolerance)</li><li>Food allergy</li><li>Parasites that enter the body through food or water</li><li>Reaction to medicines</li><li>An intestinal disease</li><li>Surgery on the stomach or gallbladder</li><li>Traveller's diarrhoea, this is caused by having food or water that is not safe because of bacteria, viruses, or parasites after a visit to a different country.</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Cramping</li><li>Belly (abdominal) pain</li><li>Swelling (bloating)</li><li>Upset stomach (nausea)</li><li>Urgent need to use the bathroom</li><li>Fever</li><li>Bloody stools</li><li>Loss of body fluids (dehydration)</li></ul> Signs of dehydration:<ul><li>Dizziness and light-headedness</li><li>Dry, sticky mouth</li><li>Dark yellow urine, or very little or no urine</li><li>Few or no tears when crying</li><li>Cool, dry skin</li><li>Lack of energy</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Your child’s doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. The doctor might ask for a few tests to be done like:&nbsp;</li><li>A stool check</li><li>Blood test</li><li>Tests to check for food intolerance or allergies</li></ul> When to call a doctor:<ul><li>Is too weak to stand up</li><li>Is confused or dizzy</li><li>Has had diarrhoea more than three days</li><li>Is younger than 6 months old</li><li>Is vomiting bloody green or yellow fluid</li><li>Has a persistent fever</li><li>Has bloody stool</li><li>Has a rash</li></ul> Treatment:<ul><li>In most cases, treatment includes replacing lost fluids. Antibiotics may be prescribed when bacterial infections are the cause.</li><li>Offer electrolyte and glucose drinks. These fluids have the right balance of water, sugar, and salts. Some are available as popsicles.</li><li>Avoid juice or soda as they may make diarrhoea worse.</li><li>Keep breastfeeding your baby. Breastfed babies often have less diarrhoea.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Wash your hands properly before handling your child.</li><li>Timely get your child vaccinated.</li></ul>

Here are Diarrhoea causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

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