Samiksha Choithani

Babies sometimes have their favourite side, and only prefer to take feed from one breast. At times it is because that particular side produces more milk or sometimes it is the side that produces less. The baby might avoid the most productive side as (s)he may not want the milk to gush out quickly that forces them to gulp fast.<ul><li>You can try offering one breast first, and then the second. Pump on the side that is not preferred by the baby as the baby might get frustrated if you forcefully offer both sides.</li><li>Keep a track of urine, stool and weight of the baby, if that is on track, let the baby feed on his/her preferred side and you can pump the other side.</li><li>If the baby isn’t gaining weight, try to feed the pumped milk from the other breast or try new positions to make the baby feel comfortable on both sides.</li><li>If the problem is with nipples, the baby may prefer to latch the one that is fully engorged. Try to talk to your gynaec, they will help you to pull the nipple on the other side (it is little painful) but once done, baby and mommy will be comfortable throughout the breastfeeding journey.</li></ul>

Many babies have a favourite side to feed on. However, if you are experiencing a problem with that, the situation can always be improved.

When baby prefers one breast!

Lip tie is a condition where the underside of the upper lip tethers to the top of the gum with a skin tag. The piece of tissue behind your upper lip is called the frenulum. When these membranes are too thick or too stiff, they can keep the upper lip from moving freely. This condition is called a lip tie. Lip tie isn’t dangerous for babies, as long as they’re gaining weight according to their paediatrician’s guidelines. But lip tie, once diagnosed, is easy to correct. A baby with a tongue tie may not necessarily have a lip tie. Babies with lip tie may face challenges to breastfeed or bottle-feed, as it restricts the baby from stretching the lips to open the mouth wide. Causes: The causes of lip tie are still unknown. Lip tie symptoms:<ul><li>Difficulty in breastfeeding is one of the most common indications that your child may have a lip tie or tongue tie.</li><li>Struggling to latch on to the breast</li><li>Difficulty breathing during feeding</li><li>Making a clicking sound while nursing</li><li>Falling asleep often during nursing</li><li>Acting extremely fatigued by nursing</li><li>Slow weight gain or lack of weight gain</li><li>Colic</li></ul> If a child has a lip tie and you’re a breastfeeding mother, you may experience:<ul><li>Pain during or after breastfeeding</li><li>Breasts that feel engorged even right after nursing</li><li>Blocked milk ducts or mastitis</li><li>Fatigue from breastfeeding constantly even though your child never seems to be full</li></ul> Babies who have a severe lip or tongue-tie may go on to have difficulty eating from a spoon or eating finger foods, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Lip ties don’t have as many complications later in life. Some paediatricians believe that an untreated lip tie can lead to a higher likelihood of tooth decay for toddlers. Diagnosis: A lip tie is diagnosed through a physical exam. Most paediatricians can diagnose a lip tie based on its appearance. Treatment:A lip tie can be treated on the basis of the class of lip tie. Whether it is a class 1, class 2, class 3 or class 4. It can also be fibrous, fleshy, thick or thin depending upon the texture of the skin fold. Manual treatment: For class 1 and class 2 lip ties, the baby doesn’t need any formal treatment. Parents have to gently slide the finger underneath the upper lip to stretch frenulum tissue. This type of manual practice can gradually release the tightness of the tissue and the child will have normal mobility of the upper lip. Frenectomy: This is a small surgical procedure where the frenulum is cut through an operation. A frenulum is a small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far. Doctors usually use laser technology to cut the frenulum and so it is called laser frenectomy. General anaesthesia is not used; instead, a local topical numbing agent is applied to the frenulum. In this procedure, a child may or may not require stitches. The procedure hardly takes a few minutes to complete. Babies can experience mild pain post the procedure. Stay vigilant for any signs of swelling or bleeding from the lips and contact the doctor immediately. Prevention: Lip tie cannot be prevented.

Here are Lip Tie Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.

All about Lip tie

Ravina Sewani

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

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.

Diarrhoea in children

Alihusen Momin

Physical Deformity in another words are called physical abnormality; Birth Defect; Congenital Abnormality; Congenital Anomaly; Congenital Disorder; Congenital Defect. A congenital deformity or physical abnormality is a change in the normal size or shape of a body part caused by a condition that a baby is born with. Deformities can be:congenital: present at birthdevelopmental: appearing later in childhoodacquired: caused by injuries or illnesses that were not present at birthCommon congenital deformities include cleft lips and palates, clubfeet, spina bifida, and spinal deformities like scoliosis, kyphosis, and hyperlordosis. Most congenital deformities are caused by abnormal genetic coding, but some can be due to infections or environmental factors — such as alcohol abuse — that affect the mother and fetus during pregnancy. Congenital deformities can range from mild to severe. Mild deformities might not be visible or cause any symptoms. In severe cases, deformities can be readily apparent, cause pain, interfere with the movement and functioning of affected body parts, and negatively affect self-image. Treatment depends on the specific deformity and often includes surgery or the use of corrective devices like back braces and leg casts. Keep in MindMany congenital deformities can't be seen, won't cause any problems, and will never need treatment. Others respond very well to treatment, especially if it begins as soon as a doctor thinks a baby is ready for it. Cleft lips and palates, for example, can be corrected through surgery; and spinal deformities and clubfeet often can be successfully realigned through bracing and casting.

A congenital deformity or physical abnormality is a change in the normal size or shape of a body part caused by a condition that a baby is born with.

Physical Deformity in children

Allergy to soy is developed due to the trigger of immune response against the soy proteins which the body considers as threat.Allergic reactions to soy are usually mild and the anaphylactic reaction from soy is very rare.Studies also show that many children outgrow soy allergy in later life but it is better to stay careful. Symptoms:<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>Severe reactions include loss of consciousness, chest pain, turning pale, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, or anaphylaxis.</li></ul> Diagnosis:Get your child diagnosed by a doctor. The doctor might examine your child’s medical history as well your family history. The doctor might also suggest one of the tests - skin prick test, blood tests or an Oral Food Challenge to confirm whether your child has an allergy to soy or not. Precautions and treatments:<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 he/she goes to visit someone.</li><li>Inform your child’s school about your child’s allergy to soy. You can also give the medicines prescribed by your 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>Your child’s paediatrician might prescribe antihistamine medicines to fight against allergic reactions due to soy. Always give medications for allergy under proper guidance of the doctor.</li><li>Always keep the allergy medication handy for your child.</li></ul> Foods to avoid in case of soy allergy:<ul><li>Cold-pressed, expelled or extruded soy oil, Natto, Soy cheese, Soy milk, Soy yogurt, Soy sauce, Tofu</li><li>Some of the formula milk contains soy or soy derivatives so it is advisable to consult with your child’s paediatrician before deciding any formula milk for your child.</li><li>Some children can tolerate highly refined soy oil.</li><li>Soy is also a hidden ingredient is some of the pet foods and beauty products like soaps and moisturisers.</li></ul>

Soy, like peanut belongs to the legume family but a child who has a peanut allergy will not necessarily be allergic against soy and vice versa.

Soy allergy

Palak Vyas

Infectious diseases that spread from person to person are said to be contagious. Contagious diseases can spread through insect bites or by ingesting contaminated food or water. Contagious or communicable diseases include: Flu, Common cold, Hepatitis A and B, Measles, Cholera, Rubella, Lice, Mumps, Chicken pox, Cough, Meningitis, Strep throat, Conjunctivitis. To avoid communicable diseases:<ul><li>Ask your children to wash their hands often with soap to reduce the risk of catching any infection. Specially before and after taking food and after using toilets. You too should maintain proper hygiene while preparing food. Tell them not to keep touching their eyes, nose or mouth with their hands.</li><li>Get your child vaccinated for rubella, measles, diphtheria, typhoid on due time.</li><li>Keep your child at home when he or she is ill. If they have any of the symptoms like fever, diarrhoea, or vomiting, don’t send them to school. Sending them to school can worsen their own health plus they may cause infection to other&nbsp;healthy children.</li><li>While you prepare food, use disinfectant and cleaners to clean kitchen surfaces.</li><li>Make sure they don't share their personal items like a toothbrush and comb either with friends or siblings. Avoid sharing drinking glasses and dining utensils too.</li><li>If you are travelling out of the country, go see a doctor first. Ask your doctor about any special vaccination such as yellow fever, cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B etc.</li></ul>

It is very important to take proper precautions to stay away from communicable diseases. Children catch diseases faster than adults as their immune system is weaker than adults.

Precautions for contagious disease

A 'tongue-tie' (also known as ankyloglossia) limits the tongue's mobility due to an unusually short/thick frenulum (a piece of skin) that connects the tongue tip to the floor of the mouth. As the mouth parts develop in the fetus during the 1st trimester, a failure of the frenulum to separate completely from the base of mouth results in tongue tie. The severity ranges from being mild to a complete loss of mobility of the tongue. Causes: The causes of tongue tie are still unknown. Symptoms:<ul><li>Baby can’t latch well</li><li>Baby tends to chew more than suck</li><li>Baby doesn’t gain weight</li><li>Baby is fussy when trying to feed</li><li>Baby makes a clicking sound while feeding</li><li>Tongue can’t move far from side to side</li><li>Tongue can’t reach the upper gums or roof of the mouth</li><li>Tongue can’t stick out past the gums</li><li>Tongue has a V shape or heart shape at its tip when it’s sticking out</li><li>Older children may have difficulties pronouncing certain words with 't; 'th; 'd', 'dh', 's', 'Z', 'r', or 'II in it.</li><li>There is a higher possibility of dental problems (tooth decay, gingivitis, space between the bottom front teeth) in older children.</li><li>Gagging or choking on foods as your child starts to eat solids.</li><li>A hard time with basic things, like licking an ice cream cone.</li></ul> Diagnosis:A physical exam is all it takes to see what’s going on. The doctor will:<ul><li>Ask how feeding is going.</li><li>Check your child’s tongue, mouth, and teeth.</li><li>Use a tongue depressor, which is like a big popsicle stick, to look under your child’s tongue and check the range of motion.</li><li>The doctor may ask older kids to move their tongue around and make certain sounds, like of an r or l</li></ul> Treatment:The lingual frenulum generally loosens over time and it can be cured on its own most of the times. But if the problem persists, a lactation consultant can help with breastfeeding and a speech-language therapist can help with speech therapy. If there is any severe complication, then your doctor may suggest some surgical procedures like frenectomy or frenuloplasty. Frenectomy: This is a simple surgical procedure wherein the doctor uses sterile scissors to cut the frenulum free. It is a quick procedure. The baby hardly feels any pain during or after the surgery as there are few blood vessels in the lingual frenulum. The procedure can be done with or without sedation. Frenuloplasty: If the lingual frenulum is too thick, the doctor might need to do some additional repair and this is an extensive procedure known as Frenuloplasty. General anaesthesia is given by the doctor. The wound is usually closed with sutures. Complications are similar to frenectomy - Bleeding, infection, damage to tongue or salivary glands. In this procedure, the doctor will:<ul><li>Give your child drugs so they sleep through the whole thing</li><li>Use special tools to cut the frenulum</li><li>Put in a few stitches that dissolve on their own as the wound heals</li><li>After the surgery, the doctor might suggest a few tongue exercises to increase the movement of the tongue.</li></ul> Prevention: Tongue tie cannot be prevented.

Here are Tongue Tie Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.

All about Tongue tie

<ul><li>When a grownup child of 4 or 5 years does not eat food on their own, it is a matter of concern. Actually, the training of a child eating on their own should begin in early years. When a child in of 6th or 7th month, (s)he tries to put everything in the mouth and that is the age when the child is eager to eat on his/her own.</li><li>At this time, the parent doesn’t allow thinking that the child is too young to eat on his/her own and will create mess like making their clothes dirty or floor and because the child will take longer time. So the child is being spoon fed and later when they get habituated to be fed by the parent, the parent starts complaining.</li><li>So the whole approach towards feeding needs to be changed. Child should be allowed to eat on his/her own even when (s)he creates mess or takes time.</li><li>Finger food which can be put on their fingers like fryums, cucumber or toast sticks, fruits are the kinds of food children like to eat on their own. Make food interesting for them and gradually they will develop the habit.</li><li>Of course developing a new habit is going to take time and you will need to be patient with your child.</li></ul>

When a child is ready to eat food on its own, (s)he will give you signals. Look for the signals and you will know how to help your baby.

eye watering health concerns

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