<ul><li>Children never directly get fungal infection.</li><li>Your child can get fungal infection from any member of the family who has been infected already.</li><li>Generally parents apply ointment for fungal infection on the skin surface and it gets healed in a few days but the infection under the skin is left untreated.</li><li>It is better to always consult a doctor for complete recovery from fungal infection. Doctors usually recommend oral medication plus ointment.</li><li>Fungal infections easily spread from one person to another so it is advisable that the other members in the family should also get checked and treated if needed.</li><li>The best way to avoid fungal infections is to keep your surroundings clean. Fungus usually grows where there is a source of water and humid conditions. Make sure there is no such corner in your place which provides environment for fungal growth.</li></ul>

Fungal infections are very rare among children but you can always prevent it from happening by following proper measures.

Fungal infections in children

Eating excess junk food like pizza and pasta can cause constipation as they are made of refined flour. The child, who is already suffering from constipation avoids going to the toilet because it is painful. Because of this, the stool stays in the stomach and gets harder and it gets more painful when the child goes to the toilet next time. This cycle continues. Make sure the child eats enough fibrous foods like fruits and vegetables so the stool gets softer and passes out easily. . For 0-1 year:Constipation among infants is not a serious problem. The child is constipated when (s)he misses passing the stool for less than thrice a week or when they pass thick/hard stool. Babies who are exclusively breastfed may not pass bowel movements every day. So, do not worry much. If your child is happy, does not cry much and does not have a gas problem, be rest assured about constipation. If you feel that your child's belly is very firm than usual, it could be a sign of constipation. In that case, you can try the following:<ul><li>Adjust your diet so that the baby gets healthier breast milk.</li><li>If your baby is below 6 months, gently massage the his/her stomach and gently move his/her legs in the bicycle movement.</li><li>If your baby is older than 6 months, you can try giving him/her semi-solid foods and fruit juices to improve bowel movements.</li></ul> Also, do not worry about the variance in the colour of the potty. The colour of the potty changes during the first year due to diet and the introduction of new foods to babies. The colours of potty may vary from black, mustard yellow, green, orange. If the colour is white or grey or chalky, it indicates the baby is suffering from liver problems and in this case, you should consult a paediatrician. For 2-6 years:If you are a parent of a toddler, keep a check on potty routine. At times children skip potty as they are more interested in playing or watching their favourite cartoon and hence avoid going for potty. Even change in routine makes them uncomfortable about going to potty. If constipation persists, you can try the following:<ul><li>Give them a glass of warm water once or twice a day if they regularly skip potty.</li><li>Give them carrot and green leafy vegetable soup.</li></ul>Also, give your child proper potty training. Set a fixed time of the day when they are supposed to go for potty. This will help maintain a regular bowel cycle. If constipation persists for more than a week, it is better to consult your child's paediatrician.

The problem of constipation in children worries a lot of parents. There are a few ways in which you can address this problem.

Constipation among infants and toddlers

Ravina Sewani

Blood pressure is the force of blood as it flows through the body's vessels. The vessels widen and contract as needed to keep blood flowing well. In a child with hypertension (high blood pressure), however, the blood pushes too hard against the blood vessels, which can cause damage to blood vessels, the heart, and other organs. Causes:<ul><li>Kidney problems</li><li>Blood vessel abnormalities</li><li>Heart disease</li><li>Endocrinological disorder</li></ul> Risk Factors:<ul><li>Obesity: Obese children have a higher chance of developing hypertension</li><li>Hypertension history in family</li><li>Sleep disorders</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Headaches</li><li>Loss of vision</li><li>Double-vision</li><li>Chest pain</li><li>Abdominal pain</li><li>Breathing problems</li></ul> Diagnosis:Your child's doctor will use charts based on your child's sex, height, and blood pressure numbers to determine whether or not your child has high blood pressure. Treatment:If your child's high blood pressure is severe and doesn't respond to lifestyle changes, the doctor may prescribe medication for the same. How High Blood Pressure Affects Children:<ul><li>Heart disease</li><li>Kidney disease</li><li>Stroke</li></ul> Helping child with hypertension:<ul><li>Keep your child away from tobacco smoke.</li><li>Limit the amount of time your child spends playing video games and watching TV.</li><li>Make changes to diet and exercise a family affair.</li><li>Make sure your child has his or her blood pressure checked as often as recommended by your child's doctor.</li></ul>

Here are Hypertension causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.

Hypertension in children

Few allergic reactions are known to worsen existing conditions like asthma and a few are known to cause asthma problems.Not all children develop asthma due to allergies. Children with a family history of asthma or children with eczema are at a higher risk of developing asthma.Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the smaller air passages in the lungs. The common triggers of asthma:<ul><li>Cold or flu</li><li>Allergens like dust or pollen</li><li>Cigarette smoke or other irritants</li><li>Gastrointestinal reflux</li><li>Stress, continuous crying or laughing, physical activities are also known to trigger an asthma attack.</li></ul> Diagnosis of asthma is based on symptoms, family history and medical history of your child, previously known allergies, etc. followed by medical asthma tests which may include x- ray, blood tests or allergy tests. Please note, it is important to get your child diagnosed of asthma problem only by a healthcare expert. Symptoms of Asthma include:<ul><li>Coughing</li><li>Wheezing</li><li>Shortness of breath</li><li>Uncomfortable tightness in the chest</li></ul> Seek medical attention immediately if you notice these symptoms in your child:<ul><li>Gasping for breath or trouble speaking</li><li>Deep breath/inhalation that shows the abdomen sucked in</li><li>Increased rate of breathing</li><li>Given the close link between allergies and asthma, it is important to identify the source of allergy and manage it effectively.</li><li>Allergy shots (Immunotherapy) may be advised if your child's asthma is due to allergens like pollen or pet dander.</li><li>Asthma treatment is based on the severity and frequency. An inhaler with a holding chamber/spacer may be prescribed by your child’s paediatrician for a quick relief during an asthma attack. Always seek medical help if you think your child might have asthma.</li><li>According to studies, omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil are known to reduce inflammatory conditions like asthma in children. For children with fish allergies, an alternative source for omega 3 fatty acids is algae.</li></ul>

Asthma and allergy are closely related hence it is important to take proper precautions.

Asthma and Allergy

Palak Vyas

<ul><li>Yes! There is a difference in potty training boys and girls. Most parents start potty training their child when they are between 2-3 years old. Usually, a girl child is ready to start potty training when she is 18 months old or it can vary up to 4 years in some cases.</li><li>Girls tend to get started with potty training about 3 months earlier than boys. Boys take more time to get ready; at around 2 years they start and can be fully potty trained between 4 to 6 years of age. So they start later and take longer to train.</li><li>Boys have to learn two different ways and they easily accept this. To start with, teach them to use the potty while sitting and gradually they learn to use the toilet in standing position for peeing and in sitting position for potty.</li><li>Girls mature faster both physiologically and intellectually. They are quick with the concepts of language and understand better so their potty training is faster. They learn how to dress and undress and they have better control than boys.</li><li>Every child is unique. Regardless of gender, potty training will be different for everyone. Each child will be potty trained in his/her own time and in his/her own way.</li><li>It is important to reward your child for achieving this milestone of being potty trained.</li></ul>

You might have to adapt different approaches to potty train your girl child and boy child.

Difference in potty training for boys and girls

If you notice that your baby is not gaining weight according to standard figures or peeing quite often, it could be&nbsp;that the child is not getting enough breast milk. The good news is that most women produce one-third more breast milk than their babies will drink, so there’s nothing to worry about it. In case your milk supply is running low. There are ways to increase your milk supply:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Use a breast pump regularly.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Breastfeed often</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make sure the child is latching on properly.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Feed from both breasts (one by one after completing from one side)</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Don't skip feeding times</li></ul>

The beginning is always tough, but it does get easier with time. Find out more in the full article.

How can I improve my lactation?

Potty training can usually start between 18 to 24 months of age. But, do not take stress if the child doesn’t learn, it may take time and there is no perfect age to start potty training. Just mark these indications that shows your child is ready for potty training:<ul><li>Child is asking questions about toilet</li><li>Child talking about potty seats</li><li>The child may be talking about underwear</li></ul>Ask these questions to yourself before you start potty training:<ul><li>Can my child sit on a potty seat and get back up without my help?</li><li>Can my child follow basic instructions?</li><li>Can my child tell me when it's time to go for potty?</li><li>Can my child pull down diapers or underwear without my help?</li><li>Is the diaper dry for at least 2 hours?</li></ul>If the answer to the above questions is yes, then your child is ready for potty training.These suggestions may help to identify when the child indicates to go to the washroom:<ul><li>Start noticing the face when the child wants to pee or poop, check the red face and grunting sounds or if the child indicated by touching their pants.</li><li>Notice the time when the child goes for potty and pee. This will help to establish routine for potty.</li><li>Praise your child when they indicate it correctly and do not wet the pants.</li><li>Potty time should be want-to instead of have-to, do not push your child even when they do not feel the urge of going to the washroom.</li></ul>

Potty training can usually start between 18 to 24 months of age. Look for the indications which your child gives, it will help you identify when the child is ready for potty training.

Potty training a child

If your baby has green, foamy or frothy, explosive stools and pain, it might be a case of lactose overload. Lactose overload can happen when your baby gulps a very large quantity of breastmilk either due to a long gap between the feedings or due to an oversupply of milk. Healthy babies are able to break down the lactose in normal volumes of milk. The presence of fat in the milk ensures the slow movement of milk through the gut. But if your baby consumes a lot of milk that is relatively low in fat, it can rush through the digestive system without being digested. This can cause the problem of gas causing pain and frothy stools. If you suspect lactose overload, try to check your baby's latch. Try different positions to feed your baby if you have a problem of oversupply of milk. Try frequent feeds as your baby to avoid build up of watery low fat milk. If the problem persists, you know what to do, head straight to your doctor.

Lactose overload happens when the milk is not digested properly.

Lactose Overload

Samiksha Choithani

Usually the reactions stay for a few days after the vaccination. If your child has taken a vaccination in the past few days you can expect these reactions:<ul><li>Low-grade fever</li><li>Redness and Pain around the leg or arm where the vaccination was given</li><li>Slight swelling</li><li>Trouble in sleeping</li></ul> Here are some tips to ease the pain:<ul><li>Feeding works wonders when babies are in pain, breastfeeding more often after vaccination can help the baby keep hydrated and take the mind off from the pain.</li><li>Apply ice pack in the injected area, you can also soak a soft cotton cloth in cold water and place it on the injected area.</li><li>Swaddle the baby immediately after vaccination.</li><li>Swing them in arms.</li><li>Do not massage in the injected area for a few days.</li></ul> If the reactions persist for more than 2-3 days, it is better to consult your child's paediatrician.

Almost all vaccinations have mild reactions post vaccination; this means the vaccine is working.

eye watering health concerns

Following article(s) will help solve your concern.