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

Ravina Sewani

Cavities are tiny openings or holes that develop in the hard surface of the teeth. Cavities are also called tooth decay or caries. The main cause of tooth decay in children is unhealthy food habits. Causes:<ul><li>Excess intake of sugary food</li><li>Retaining sweet food for a long time in the mouth</li><li>Bacteria in the mouth</li><li>Not keeping teeth clean</li></ul> Symptoms of tooth decay or cavities:<ul><li>Toothache, mostly spontaneous</li><li>Tooth sensitivity</li><li>Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold</li><li>Visible holes in the teeth</li><li>Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth</li></ul> Diagnosis: Your child’s dentist can often diagnose tooth decay based on:<ul><li>A complete history of your child</li><li>An exam of your child’s mouth</li><li>Dental X-rays</li></ul> Treatment:Routine dental check-ups are very important because your child might not complain about the pain until the cavity has spread too much. So if your child feels fine about his/her teeth, take them for routine check-ups. In case your child experiences a toothache or mouth pain, see your dentist at the earliest. The dentist will suggest the treatment for your child depending on the intensity of the tooth decay. Your child's dentist may suggest one of the following: <ol><li>Early-stage treatment: If the tooth decay gets detected in its early stage, a fluoride treatment can restore the tooth enamel and prevent further decay.</li><li>Tooth fillings: A dentist uses a drill and removes decayed material from the tooth. The dentist will then fill the tooth with a substance, such as silver, gold, or composite resin depending on what is appropriate.</li><li>Crowns: For more severe decay, the dentist will place a custom-fit cap over your child's tooth to replace its natural crown.</li><li>Root canal: When tooth decay causes the death of your nerves, the dentist will perform a root canal to save the tooth. They remove the nerve tissue, blood vessel tissues, and any decayed areas of the tooth. If there is any infection, the dentist will apply a medication. Finally, they fill the tooth and place a crown on it. Root canals are usually very painful hence it is better to take precautions early on.</li></ol> Precautions:<ul><li>Reduce the frequency of sugary acidic foods, limiting it to mealtimes.</li><li>Opt for fresh fruit instead of dried fruits which are high in sugar.</li><li>Avoid feeding drinks containing sugars, including fruit juices, between meals.</li><li>Choose to give water or milk over sugary drinks.</li><li>Avoid adding sugar to their drinks/food while introducing your baby to solid food.</li><li>Avoid giving sugar-laden processed baby food.</li><li>Cleanse baby's teeth regularly to help prevent cavities.</li><li>Ask them to gargle regularly and drink enough water.</li><li>Develop the habit of brushing the teeth twice a day.</li></ul>

Tooth decay or cavities are very common among kids and teenagers.

Tooth decay - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. The disease is most common in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Causes:<ul><li>Common sources of contamination include:</li><li>Municipal water supplies</li><li>Ice made from municipal water</li><li>Foods and drinks sold by street vendors</li><li>Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes</li><li>Raw or under-cooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage</li></ul> When a person consumes the contaminated food or water, the bacteria release a toxin in the intestines that produces severe diarrhoea. Symptoms:Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection. These include:<ul><li>Rapid heart rate</li><li>Loss of skin elasticity (the ability to return to original position quickly if pinched)</li><li>Dry mucous membranes, including the inside of the mouth, throat, nose, and eyelids</li><li>Low blood pressure</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Thirst</li><li>Muscle cramps</li><li>If not treated, dehydration can lead to shock and death in a matter of few hours.</li></ul> Diagnosis:Doctors usually take a stool sample or vomit sample to check for signs of the cholera causing bacteria. Treatment:<ul><li>Hydration is the treatment for cholera. Depending on how severe the diarrhoea is, treatment will consist of oral or intravenous solutions to replace lost fluids. Antibiotics, which kill the bacteria, are not used for mild cases. But they can reduce the duration of diarrhoea and also reduce the excretion of the bacteria, thus helping to prevent the spread of the disease.</li><li>Cholera vaccines are also available but whether your child needs one or not will be decided by your child’s doctor.&nbsp;</li></ul> Prevention:Use water that is boiled, chemically disinfected, or bottled water for the following purposes:<ul><li>Drinking</li><li>Preparing food or drinks</li><li>Making ice</li><li>Brushing your teeth</li><li>Washing your face and hands</li><li>Washing dishes and utensils that you use to eat or prepare food</li><li>Washing fruits and vegetables</li></ul> Avoid raw foods like:<ul><li>Unpeeled fruits and vegetables</li><li>Unpasteurised milk and milk products</li><li>Raw or under-cooked meat or shellfish</li><li>Fish caught in tropical reefs, which may be contaminated.</li></ul>

Here are Cholera Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

All about Cholera

Samiksha Choithani

Good dental health includes cleaning teeth regularly.<ul><li>For an infant, using a soft cotton cloth is a better option. Wrap the cloth around your finger and clean the teeth and mouth using your finger. Get started with a soft toothbrush when the child turns 2. Use only rice-sized fluoride toothpaste.</li><li>Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, in the morning and before going to bed. For the babies of 6-9 months offering water to drink between the feeding is considered to be a better choice to keep their mouth clean.</li><li>After the age of 3, start using pea-sized toothpaste to clean the teeth. This amount of fluoride toothpaste is considered safe for children and helps to prevent tooth decay.</li></ul> Brushing properly:<ul><li>Get a small, child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush. Soak the brush in warm water for a few minutes before brushing to make the bristles softer.</li><li>Apply a rice sized paste on the brush and get started with proper brushing habit, gradually increase the amount of toothpaste.</li><li>Brush the teeth for 2 minutes; concentrate on space between the teeth and black portion on the tooth. This is an area where cavities often first develop.</li><li>Replace toothbrush after 3 to 4 months and never share it with others.</li></ul>&nbsp;If your child does not like to brush his/her teeth try this:<ol><li>Become a role model and start the practice in early years of childhood. If you want your child to develop good dental care routine start brushing your teeth in front of kids twice a day.</li><li>If toothpaste is the cause of concern, try to eliminate it for a few days. Let the child brush the teeth with a wet brush, this is just to develop the habit of brushing once they get used to it you can get started with a small amount of toothpaste.</li></ol> Never lose your patience, remember this will make things difficult for both you and your child. Narrate stories and try to make it a fun loving activity rather than a daily practice.

Brushing habits should start in early years of childhood.

When and How to get started with brushing?

If your child develops a swelling or a rash or any other allergic symptom due to medications, then it could possibly be an allergic reaction to the drug.A “true drug allergy” and “drug side effects” are both different. Side effects are usually mentioned on the packaging or on the label of the drug.A drug allergy is an immune response to a drug induced by its components which the body perceives as a threat and triggers an allergic reaction. Mild drug allergy symptoms are:<ul><li>Hives</li><li>Rash</li><li>Itchy skin</li></ul> Severe drug allergy warning signs can include:<ul><li>Swollen face</li><li>Throat tightness</li><li>Trouble breathing</li><li>Light-headed</li><li>Blisters</li><li>Reddened skin</li><li>Whole-body shock with life-threatening low blood pressure</li></ul> Side effects of drug are usually:<ul><li>Nausea</li><li>Lack of energy</li><li>Muscle aches</li><li>Hard to sleep</li><li>Coughing</li><li>Headache</li><li>Stuffy nose</li><li>Stomach cramps</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Constipation</li><li>Ringing in the ears</li><li>Easy bruising</li></ul> <ul><li>Your child can develop a drug allergy even without a history of any other allergy.</li><li>It is also possible that your child may develop an allergy to a drug to which (s)he was not allergic before.</li><li>Your child’s paediatrician will diagnose your child's allergy to a drug through clinical diagnosis and allergy tests like SPT (for penicillin) or a Drug Challenge (similar to an Oral Food Challenge) under medical supervision.</li><li>For mild reactions to drug(s), your child may be given an antihistamine or a topical cream prescribed by your child’s paediatrician.</li><li>Severe reactions to a drug could be life-threatening. If you suspect a drug allergy in your child, discontinue it until further advice and seek immediate medical attention.</li><li>Make a note of the drugs your child may be allergic to and keep it handy each time you visit a doctor in the future.</li><li>If the drug your child is allergic to is essential for the child, then your child’s paediatrician may perform a rapid 'drug desensitisation' under medical supervision.</li><li>Vaccine-related drug allergy is rare and largely due to certain components in the vaccine. Alternatives will be recommended by your child’s paediatrician if your child is allergic to a component.</li></ul>

Drug allergies are not very common but it is important to stay aware.

Drug allergy

Dr Ajab Primuswala

<ul><li>The first thing to keep in mind is that you need to identify at which level of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) your child is.</li><li>The second thing is whether it is has been diagnosed and whether you are working on it or not.</li><li>On certain level of ASD scale, media can positively help children with ASD in expressing their feelings, their thoughts and their uneasiness. There are specific apps and specific websites which can help ASD children in their development.</li><li>Children with ASD usually cannot make direct eye contact hence, a few expert recommended applications can help an ASD child with expressing their feelings better.</li><li>At the same time, it is important to keep an eye on which kind of media an ASD child is using. If the child is randomly using phones or TVs from which (s)he is not learning anything positive, such media use needs to be avoided.</li><li>The media which an ASD child consumes should lead to progressive development in their condition. The media should not suppress their already delayed development.</li><li>Consult with a child psychiatrist or child psychologist to know whether the ASD scale of your child needs media usage or not.</li><li>Age of the child also needs to be considered before letting them consume content from media.</li></ul>

Media can be helpful to some children with autism while it might suppress a child's growth as well. It is better to consult an expert (psychologist or psychiatrist) before exposing your child to media.

Media use and Autism Spectrum Disorder

<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

Dr Chintan Solanki

When your child is doing the opposite of what you say most of the times, it indicates the possibility of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). ODD occurs due to social and environmental factors during development. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a childhood behaviour problem. A child with ODD:<ul><li>Won’t do what people ask</li><li>Thinks that what (s)he’s being asked to do is unreasonable</li><li>Gets angry and aggressive when asked to do something</li></ul> Every child gets cranky and disobeys when they’re tired, upset or frustrated. But a child with ODD behaves like this a lot, and the ODD behaviour is so severe that the child would refuse to do ordinary, everyday things just because (s)he required to do so. A child with ODD will defy what an authoritative figure says by arguing, disobeying, or talking back to their parents, teachers, or other adults.&nbsp;When this behaviour lasts longer than six months and is excessive compared to what is usual for the child's age, it may mean that the child has oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). In this case, it is best to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist who can help identify whether the child has ODD or not. Symptoms:<ul><li>Repeated temper tantrums</li><li>Excessively arguing with adults, especially those with authority</li><li>Staying irritated at adults</li><li>Refusing to comply with requests and rules</li><li>Trouble carrying out routine tasks at home and in school</li><li>Blaming others for their mistakes</li><li>Being vindictive towards others</li><li>Swearing or using obscene language</li><li>Saying mean and hateful things when upset</li><li>Low self-esteem</li></ul> Causes:Even though the exact cause of ODD is not known, following are presumed to be the underlying reasons of ODD:<ul><li>Biological: Some studies suggest that injuries to certain areas of the brain can lead to serious behavioural problems in children. ODD has also been linked to abnormal functioning of certain types of brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters.</li><li>Genetics: Children with close family members with mental illnesses probably inherit ODD.</li><li>Environmental: Factors such as a dysfunctional family life, a family history of mental illnesses and/or substance abuse, and inconsistent discipline by parents may contribute to the development of behaviour disorders in children.</li></ul> Diagnosis:After you report your child’s symptoms to a psychiatrist or psychologist, (s)he will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical exam. Although there are no lab tests to specifically diagnose ODD, the doctor may sometimes use tests such as neuroimaging studies or blood tests. Treatment:Treatment for ODD is determined based on many factors, including the child's age, the severity of symptoms, and the child's ability to participate in and tolerate specific therapies. Treatment usually consists of a combination of the following: <ul><li>Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy helps the child develop more effective coping and problem-solving skills, and ways to express and control anger. Psychotherapy includes cognitive-behavioural therapy that reshapes the child's thinking to improve their behaviour.</li><li>Medication: While there is no medication that is scientifically established or formally approved to treat ODD, drugs may sometimes be used to treat symptoms of ODD.</li></ul> Prevention:It is not possible to prevent ODD but recognising and acting on symptoms when they first appear can minimise distress to the child and family.

Here are Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.

All about Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Dr Aliraza Khunt

It is very for children to get acne between the age of 0-6 years. Generally it affects on the onset of puberty (puberty is the age where children reach sexual maturity).But it can occur at any age out of hormonal imbalance or sensitive skin. There is no natural remedy for pimples. Things you can follow to reduce pimples:<ul><li>Make your child drink enough water.</li><li>Wash his/her face a few times during the day with clean water.</li><li>Follow healthy lifestyle.</li><li>Reduce the intake of oily, fried, and spicy food.</li></ul>

It is rare that your child would get pimples or acne at this age. If it does happen, it is always advisable to consult your paediatrician.

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