Ravina Sewani

Practically, a child can be allergic towards any fruit but the most common are apples, pears, cherries, peaches, melons, plums, kiwis. 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 fruit 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>Fresh fruit to which the child is allergic.</li><li>Fresh fruit juice.</li><li>Desserts or food dishes which contain the fruit to which your child is allergic.</li><li>Fruit flavoured packed foods.</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 fruit. Every child's immune system reacts differently towards different fruits. The allergic reaction, however, is more or less the same towards any kind of fruit.

Fruit allergies

Samiksha Choithani

Try the following and see which one works out the best for you and your child: Laid back breastfeeding: Laid back breastfeeding is also known as biological nurturing which means that your baby's natural instincts will guide your position.You just need to make yourself comfortable, support your back, shoulder, neck and arms with pillows and bring your baby close to your skin. Rub your nipple on your baby's lips and your baby will open its mouth widely and start to latch. This is a natural instinctive way of nursing and you will be able to do it with ease. ﻿Cradle hold: Hold your baby in one of your arms wherein his/her head rests in the crook of your elbow and support rest of his/her body with the same arm. Cup your breast with your other hand and using your thumb and index finger, place your nipples along with areola into your baby’s mouth and ensure that the baby latches properly. To be specific, position your thumb on top and fingers below the nipple. The entire areola (dark circle around the nipple) should be in the child’s mouth. Football hold (Clutch or underarm hold): This position is especially useful if you have had a C-section, large breasts, premature baby or twins. This is a position where you hold the baby on the same side as the breast you are nursing from, tucking your baby’s legs under your arm just like a football. Hold your baby’s head in your palms and support his/her body with your arm. Cup your breast and latch your baby the same way you would do for the cradle hold. Sleeping or side-lying: Lying position is comfortable for mothers who have had C-section. Use your arm to comfortably position the baby’s head and hold the baby’s buttocks in the palm. Use the other hand to your breast. Use a blanket to cover the little one and your breast to help the child feel warm and safe.

For starters, most mothers find it difficult to stick to one position for breastfeeding. But with time, it gets better.

Breastfeeding positions

Palak Vyas

Baby Bath: Getting ReadyAssemble all the baby bath products you will need at once so that you do not have to run around again and again. Gathering the products at a time results in a smooth bathing process rather than you worrying about baby falling from the bed every time you go to grab a product. You will need:<ul><li>Baby bath sponge or clean washcloth (double-rinsed)</li><li>Clean blanket or bath towel (a hooded one is nice)</li><li>Clean diaper</li><li>Clean clothes</li><li>Warm water (not hot)</li><li>Moisturising baby lotion</li></ul> As a parent, do not panic about whether you are doing it the right way or not. If you are facing challenges in handling the baby during bath, it is always best to take help from your partner or family member. Gradually, the child also gets used to bathing and water and you too will get a hold of the process. Give it time and things shall start feeling normal. Important: Never leave your baby alone in a bath - not even for a moment. If you must get to the phone, the stove, or whatever, take the baby with you. Baby Bath: Time for a Sponge BathGentle sponge baths with warm water are perfect for the first few weeks until the umbilical cord falls off,&nbsp;and the navel heals completely. The basics of bathing a baby:<ul><li>First, undress baby.</li><li>Using a baby bath sponge or washcloth, cleanse one area at a time.</li><li>The hair comes toward the end of bath time so baby doesn't get cold.&nbsp;There's no need for shampoo; just use water.</li><li>Now it's time to remove the diaper and sponge baby's belly, bottom, and genitals.</li><li>Gently pat baby dry. Rubbing the skin will irritate it.</li></ul> Bath time is over, and your fresh little baby is ready for a clean diaper and clothes!

You might find bathing your child a bit tricky initially but it will get easier in no time.

Bathing your baby correctly

The basic thing to follow in any kind of allergy is to keep your child away from the source of allergy. In case of jute allergy, keep him/her away from jute bags, jute clothes, or anything that's made up of jute. In case there is any sort of reaction, then consult a doctor as soon as possible. Allergies are usually accompanied by the following symptoms:<ul><li>Watery or itchy eyes</li><li>Coughing</li><li>Running nose</li><li>Sneezing</li><li>Irritation in throat</li><li>Skin rashes</li><li>Red skin</li><li>In more severe and sensitive cases, there is shortness of breath too.</li><li>If you observe such symptoms every time your child is near jute, it is time to consult your doctor.</li></ul>

Allergies usually require medications prescribed by a doctor. Hence, when you think your child has developed an allergy to something, it is advisable to consult your doctor.

Jute Allergy in children

<ul><li>Pollen, a fine yellow powder discharged from flowers that spreads through winds, birds, insects, is one of the most common environment-based allergens.</li><li>Pollination is mostly seasonal hence the allergy reactions to pollen are higher in the season of pollination.</li><li>The water-soluble proteins in the pollen can trigger the immune system resulting in an allergic reaction when it comes into contact via mucus membrane.</li><li>Allergic reactions to pollen include runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy nose/eyes/ ears/mouth, and can worsen asthma symptoms.</li><li>Your child's paediatrician will diagnose the pollen allergy by examining the symptoms, medical and family history and suggest skin prick test or blood test if necessary.</li><li>The best way to prevent pollen allergies is to avoid exposure to pollen by limiting outdoor activities during pollen season and taking preventive medications like antihistamine (prescribed by your child’s paediatrician) for symptomatic relief.</li><li>Your doctor may recommend steroids for severe reactions or immunotherapy for chronic symptoms.</li><li>It is not always possible to avoid air-borne allergens entirely but certain preventive measures will help you keep your little one safe.</li><li>Airborne allergens like pollen can either trigger immediate reactions like Hay Fever (allergic rhinitis), Oral Allergy Syndrome, Allergic Asthma or delayed reaction like Eczema.</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><li>The symptoms of pollen allergy are similar to common cold like shortness of breath, wheezing, runny nose, sneezing, itching, fatigue, etc., but the trigger is different in both. While allergies are an immune system response to an allergen, cold is caused by a virus.</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>

Pollen allergy is seasonal and so precautionary measures will help a lot.

Pollen allergy

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

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Breastfeed your baby as much as (s)he wants. In the early days and weeks, your baby will wake and feed frequently, day and night.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">When your baby is a newborn, their stomachs are tiny. Babies can physically take only small amounts of milk. They can digest breast milk easily and it soon gets absorbed it into their system. That's why babies might demand constant feeding.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">After the first few days, most young babies feed at least 8 to 10 times in 24 hours. This means your baby could be asking for a feed every 90 minutes to two hours.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It's worth keeping an eye on the number of feeds the child has, and offering them your breast, even if the baby not asking. By breastfeeding often, you're building up your milk supply. The more your baby feeds, the more milk you will produce. This is called responsive feeding. And your baby will love snuggling into you, whether or not they are hungry.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Do check that your baby is latched on well. Otherwise, (s)he may be nipple-feeding, rather than breastfeeding. This can make your nipples sore, and your baby may be unsettled, because they can't get a good amount of milk. Get advice from your elders or paediatrician if you're worried that your baby isn't feeding well.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Your baby needs to open wide and take a good mouthful of your breast. Once they have latched on, the chin should be touching your breast, the nose should be clear and baby's lower lip should be evened.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Your baby may want to feed more often, or for longer, at night. This is normal, because your body produces more prolactin, the hormone that makes milk, at night. By feeding often at night, your baby stimulates your body to make more milk.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Over the next few months, your baby's feeding pattern may become more predictable. This can take a while to establish, though, so try not to be disheartened.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Always keep the weight of the baby in check, to track their physical development. The track of baby’s weight will also help you to understand whether your baby is feeding enough or not.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It is recommended to JUST breastfeed your baby until the age of twelve months and it can be continued till the age of four depending on mother's and child's comfort.</li></ul>Signs that your child is adequately breastfeeding:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Frequent urination up to 6-7 times a day.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Adequate weight gain.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">A sleepy baby post breastfeeding.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Let down reflex (Milk comes out from the other breast while baby feeds from one breast).</li></ol>

Worried about whether you are feeding the child enough? Look for the signs that your child gives.

Breastfeeding Schedule

There is a difference between an overweight child and a child who overeats. Overweight leads to health problems but over eating does not always leads to heath issues if your child is active. If your child is overeating:Accept that children come in all shapes and sizes and their appetites also vary. You should trust your child to be able to feed himself/herself. If your child is extremely active physically, his or her appetite may be larger. This is completely normal. Remember that your kid is constantly growing and (s)he needs food to support their development. But if your feel that your child is an over-eater and is not very active physically, then in this case, overeating may lead to your child being an overweight child. In case of an overweight child:As a parent stop blaming your child for unhealthy eating habits. Shouting and forcing them never works. Instead of stopping it altogether, you can reduce it gradually and simultaneously increase healthy food intake. Parents can also make healthy food interesting by either using colourful utensils, or different shaped plates, dressing food in an interesting way, creating a back story associated with the food. On a standard Body Mass Index (BMI) chart, kids ages 2 to 19 fall into one of four categories:<ul><li>Underweight</li><li>Normal weight</li><li>Overweight</li><li>Obese</li></ul>Depending on your child's BMI and health, the doctor may refer you to a registered dietitian or a weight management program. Here are 5 key ways you can help your child maintain a healthy weight:<ul><li>Be a good role model – A child is going to follow what he/she sees so have healthy eating habit and the child will follow.</li><li>Encourage physical activity. Make time for a little walk or play a small game wherein the child has some physical movements.</li><li>Keep to child-sized portions.</li><li>Eat healthy meals, drinks and snacks.</li><li>Less screen time and more sleep.</li></ul> Overweight children soon cross the mark of obesity hence it is important to keep a check on their eating habits. Obesity leads to several health problems in later life such as:<ul><li>Type 2 diabetes</li><li>High blood pressure</li><li>High cholesterol</li><li>Bone and joint problems</li><li>Shortness of breath that makes exercise, sports, or any physical activity more difficult</li><li>Restless sleep or breathing problems at night</li><li>Liver and gallbladder disease</li></ul> Obese kids might also deal with emotional issues like low self-esteem, and may be teased, bullied, or rejected by peers. Kids who are insecure with their weight can be at risk for:<ul><li>Unhealthy dieting and eating disorders</li><li>Depression</li><li>Substance abuse</li></ul> Reasons behind obesity:<ul><li>Diet habits: high consumption of fat-filled, processed or packaged foods.</li><li>Lack of exercise: older kids and teens should do moderate to vigorous excerise for atleast one hour.</li><li>Genetics: Genes help determine body type and how the body stores and burns fat.</li><li>Some medication</li><li>Endocrine problem</li><li>A combination of the above</li></ul> Preventing Obesity:<ul><li>Make healthy eating and exercise a family affair.</li><li>Take them along when you go grocery shopping.</li><li>Teach them how to make good food choices.</li><li>Cut down on TV, phone, computer, and video game time and discourage eating in front of a screen (TV or otherwise).</li></ul> Encourage healthy eating habits. There’s no great secret to healthy eating. To help your children and family develop healthy eating habits:<ul><li>Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.</li><li>Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products.</li><li>Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.</li><li>Serve reasonably-sized portions.</li><li>Encourage your family to drink lots of water.</li><li>Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.</li><li>Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.</li><li>Remember that small changes every day can lead to a recipe for success!</li></ul>

For overweight children, you cannot just take away interesting food altogether. It needs to happen gradually over the time.

Overweight Child

A balanced diet for a young child means having variety of foods.&nbsp;From the age of two, a child should be moving towards a diet that is similar to the rest of the family.Follow below mentioned measures to increase weight of your underweight child in a healthy manner:<ul><li>Your child should have at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.</li><li>The meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates.</li><li>Some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soy drinks and yogurts). Choose lower-fat and lower-sugar options.</li><li>Some beans and pulses, in case you prefer non-vegetarian food, fish, eggs, meat and other protein. Aim for two portions of fish every week – one of which should be oily, such as salmon or mackerel.</li><li>Plenty of fluids such as water, milk, fresh juice making up to – 6-8 cups/glasses a day. Energy-dense foods such as whole milk, yogurt, cheese and oily fish can also be given.</li><li>By the time your child is five, they should be eating a healthy low-fat diet. There are a few steps you can take to increase your child's calorie intake until they reach a healthy weight, while still providing a healthy diet.</li><li>Bulk up mashed potato by putting milk or cheese in it</li><li>Put grated cheese on beans on toast</li><li>Make milk puddings</li></ul> Try not to give more of:<ul><li>Sugary drinks and foods – It's not recommended to give your child high sugar drinks and foods. The longer and more often sugar touches your child's teeth, the more damage it causes. If your child does have sugary foods or drinks, it's best to give them at mealtimes to minimise damage to their teeth.</li><li>Saturated fats – These are unhealthy fats, such as those contained in burgers, sausages, pies, biscuits, cake and cheese. Try not to give these too often.</li><li>Whole grains – Wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal pasta, bread and brown rice, can be high in fibre and may fill up your child before they've taken in the calories and nutrients they need. After the age of two, you can gradually introduce more wholegrain foods.</li></ul> Note: It’s normal to worry that your child is not getting the food that he or she needs to grow. But kids are more than capable of knowing whether they are hungry or not. Unless your doctor tells you that your child isn’t getting the nutrients that he or she needs, you should not worry about the lack of food intake. As long as your child's weight is fine, (s)he is sleeping well and has normal bowel movements, there is no need to worry that whether your child is eating enough or not.

Underweight children require foods and diet that can provide them with enough nutrition and sufficient calories.

conjunctivitis health concerns

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