Ravina Sewani

In Vitro Fertilisation, commonly known as IVF, is a process that helps to overcome female infertility. In some cases, it can also help with male infertility. In IVF, the egg and sperm are fertilised outside the mother's body in a test tube. Hence the babies born through IVF are sometimes called as test tube babies. The fertilised embryo is them implanted in the mother's womb or another woman's womb. Steps of IVF:<ul><li>Egg production stimulated by hormone therapy</li><li>Egg retrieval from ovary</li><li>Sperm Sample Production - happens on the same day of egg retrieval</li><li>Fertilisation of egg and sperm in a test tube</li><li>Transferring fertilised eggs into the uterus</li></ul> The woman who wants to opt for IVF, is given fertility medications for 10 to 15 days. These medicines stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. For these 10-15 days, the woman is required to visit the doctor regularly for blood tests and ultrasounds. Once the stimulation period is over and sufficient eggs have been produced, the eggs are removed from the woman's body and are infused with the woman's partner's sperms in the laboratory. After three to five days, when the embryo reaches the 180 cells stage, one or more embryos are transferred back into the woman's uterus from the test tube. About two weeks later, you will be required visit your doctor to determine if the IVF was successful or not. Once the embryo is transferred to the womb, it develops inside the mother. The rest of the pregnancy happens in a normal way. Sometimes if the woman's womb is incapable of nursing the embryo, another woman's womb is implanted with the fertilised embryo. This is called surrogacy. Keep in mind that IVF cycle is time consuming and expensive. Things to keep in mind for a successful IVF:<ul><li>Maintain a healthy weight</li><li>Quit smoking</li><li>Limit your alcohol intake</li><li>Keep your blood pressure and diabetes in check</li></ul> Side effects of IVF:<ul><li>Emotional ups and downs during the IVF cycle</li><li>Cramping in the pelvic area</li><li>Breast tenderness.</li><li>Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This is very rare and it occurs when fertility drugs cause a woman to make too many eggs. The symptoms of OHSS are weight gain, swelling in the abdomen, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.</li><li>A minute risk of multiple pregnancies or birth complications. Doctors generally implant more than one embryo during IVF to increase the chance of getting pregnant with multiple babies. This increases the risk of premature labour and underweight babies. To avoid these complications, some people and doctors opt for one embryo implantation.</li></ul> Who can opt for IVF?<ul><li>Unexplained infertility</li><li>Blocked fallopian tubes</li><li>Male factor infertility</li><li>Older patients who desire to have a child</li><li>Low ovarian reserve</li><li>Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)</li><li>Endometriosis</li><li>Premature Ovarian Failure</li></ul>

Couples facing infertility problems can opt for IVF.

Opting for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) or test tube baby

Palak Vyas

<ul><li>Generally there is a notion that a gluten free diet is healthy but it is not true for everyone. Gluten free diet is for those who have either 1) celiac disease (immune reaction against eating wheat) or 2) non celiac gluten sensitivity. Gluten present in wheat, barley, rye and other products can be troublesome for celiac patients and it can make gluten sensitive people sick.</li><li>So if the kid has any of the above conditions you can go gluten free otherwise it isn’t wise to keep your child’s diet gluten free.</li><li>Gluten free diet generally includes food like vegetables, high quality protein, healthy fats (nuts, seeds, avocado), fruits and grains that do not have gluten.</li></ul> Reasons why you should not have gluten free diet for your child:<ul><li>Whole Grains that contain gluten have lots of crucial nutrients including B vitamins, antioxidants, iron, selenium, magnesium etc. Excluding whole grains will lead to nutrition deficiency in children.</li><li>Whole grains have fibre too which is good for digestion.</li><li>Gluten free diet can be too low in calories for growing children. It is hard to get healthy calories from other sources.</li><li>Gluten free diet can be high in arsenic. Those who do not eat wheat prefer rice as a staple food. Now rice and rice products are rich in arsenic which is not good for the baby’s body.</li></ul>

It is very important to maintain a balanced diet for the proper growth and development of the baby. Going gluten free or not is an individual's choice. It is better to look into the pros and cons before taking the decision.

Gluten free diet for children or not

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?

Dr Ajab Primuswala

<ul><li>The first question is whether the child has been diagnosed with dyslexia or not. So without diagnosis, it could be just a lazy lethargic child who doesn’t want to read or write or is “not interested in writing or reading”.</li><li>“Not interested in reading or writing” means the child does not want to read or write at all. On the other hand, dyslexia is a disorder in which the child wants to read or write but does not have the capability of doing so in a perfect manner. If the diagnosis is done, then there are specific measures which have to be taken care of.</li><li>To bring it to your notice, dyslexia is not the only type which is a reading or writing difficulty. There are dyscalculia, dysgraphia and many more.</li><li>In dyslexia, the child cannot comprehend the red blue coordination of linings which becomes difficult for them to keep up with upper case and lower case letters of the English alphabet.</li><li>Here, you can use a broad red blue line notebook to train them to have them follow the concept from red to blue, blue to red and for middle case only blue lines. This can be a great help which any parent can do irrespective of whether you are trained in it or not.</li><li>You can also look through multiple resources available for dyslexia training and practice it yourself and help your child to read and write in that particular manner.</li><li>Dyslexia is not something that comes alone; it comes with a combination of other learning difficulties. The child will have to go to a special educator who is specifically trained in dealing with reading and writing difficulties in children with dyslexia. Trained educators usually design different programs for different children as every child has a different learning methodology. You can work on the special program which your child’s educator has designed.</li><li>You can also ask for support from your child’s school. Whichever material is going to be provided by the school, the child can get it prior and practice it at home. So when they are in school, it can be easier for them to cope.</li><li>As parents, you have to be more open. Being observant is what you can do for your child. You also need to be patient with your child as not get irritated for their slow pace of learning.</li></ul>

Children with dyslexia can be trained with professional help to cope with their reading and writing difficulties.

Caring for children with dyslexia

Vomiting in young babies and small children is not rare. Vomiting is very common during early weeks when you have just introduced solids into their diet. But if your baby looks happy and healthy, you should stay assured that nothing is serious. Vomits can be either of the following three:Spitting up:<ul><li>Young babies tend to spit up milk or solids as soon as they are fed.</li><li>This is normal and there is nothing to worry about if the content that they spit is less.</li><li>As the oesophagus of children is still developing, milk can leak back up after a feed and come out of the baby's mouth or nose.</li></ul> This kind of vomiting resolves on its own as the baby grows and his/her digestive system matures. In case of frequent vomiting, paediatrician’s prescribed oral hydration solutions should be used. Reflux vomiting:This is due to the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Factors like obesity, eating spicy food, excess caffeine intake, overeating also contribute to GERD. Little tips to avoid or reduce reflux:<ul><li>Hold and feed your baby while (s)he is seated or in an upright position. Avoid feeding baby in a lying down position.</li><li>Feed your child in smaller portions.</li><li>Ensure that your baby doesn’t jump or bounce immediately after eating food.</li><li>Give your baby milk or water after feeding to reduce acid or indigestion.</li><li>Avoid giving spicy or fried food to your child.</li></ul> Projectile vomiting:Projectile vomiting is when the entire amount of last feed is forcefully vomited out. This could be due to a blockage caused by thickening of the muscle of the stomach. It could be due to some gastric infection or even the common cold.In any case, do not give over-the-counter medication to your baby. Consult your child’s paediatrician as early as possible. Causes of vomiting:<ul><li>Stress</li><li>Motion sickness</li><li>Gastroentritis (also known as stomach flu; caused by viruses)</li><li>Food poisoning</li><li>Food allergy</li><li>Concussion</li><li>Migraine</li></ul> You should consult the doctor in the following conditions:<ul><li>Vomiting for more than 12 hours.</li><li>Blood or bile in the vomit.</li><li>If your baby is losing weight or not gaining weight.</li><li>If there is persistent indigestion.</li><li>If the baby generally seems unwell.</li><li>If the baby remains fatigued all the time.</li></ul> Diagnosis: Physical examination, medical history, and in some cases blood tests help with the cause of vomiting. Treatment and Remedies:Give doctor's prescribed oral electrolyte solutions (ORS) to prevent dehydration and loss of nutrients in children.Usually medicines are not prescribed unless it's stomach flu.Do not give your child milk or milk products.Give them liquid diet. Example - fruit juices diluted with water, broth of vegetable or pulses (consult your child's paediatrician first). Prevention:<ul><li>Develop regular habit of washing hands in your child.</li><li>Check the food ingredients to see that the food doesn't have anything that might trigger your child's allergy.</li><li>Store and cook food properly to avoid the chances of food poisoning.</li></ul>

Here are Vomiting Causes, Types, Diagnosis, Treatment, Remedies, and Prevention.

All about vomiting

<ul><li>Most chemical head lice treatments aren't suitable for babies under two years old. So the best way to get rid of your little one's head lice is by wet-combing.</li></ul> 1. Make your child comfortable: Comb or brush any knots out of your child’s hair with an ordinary comb. Wet your child’s hair completely with plenty of water to straighten it so that the comb moves smoothly.2. Comb hair still using an ordinary comb.3. Change to a comb with fine teeth: Use a head lice comb and comb sections of your child's hair. Comb from the roots to the ends of the hair. Be careful while using lice comb so that it doesn’t hurt your child.4. After each comb, wipe the conditioner on to a paper towel or tissue. Check the tissue or paper towel for lice and eggs (a magnifying glass may help you to see them more easily).5. Repeat the combing for every part of the head, section by section. Comb each section at least 4 or 5 times before moving on to the next section.6. After you have combed the whole head, rinse out the conditioner.7. If you find lice or eggs, repeat these steps every day if you can manage it, but at least every 2 to 3 days. You can stop when you find no lice or eggs for 3 days in a row.8. Check the hair of everyone in the house twice a week for the next 2 weeks to make sure everyone stays clear. <ul><li>You can also use lice controlling medicated shampoos after concerning your paediatrician.</li></ul>

Children below 3 years usually do not suffer from hair lice. If they do, proper shampooing of their hair and an oil massage is helpful for them.

Treating hair lice

Ali Momin

Experts are still learning about how to protect the body against corona virus.There are far fewer cases of the virus reported in children. Most children catch the infection from someone they live with or from a family member. The virus seems to cause a milder infection in children than in adults or older people. Symptoms : Common symptoms: fever, tiredness, dry coughSome children may experience: aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, rashes. IN severe cases, there is difficulty in breathing as well. On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days. Seek medical attention if your child has a fever, a cough, and difficulty in breathing. PrecautionsBelow practices will help you and your child keep safe from Corona Virus:<ul><li>Avoid contact with people who are known patients of corona virus.</li><li>Wash your and your baby's hands well with soap for at least 20 seconds. Wash them often.</li><li>Avoiding travel and crowded places.</li><li>Teach them not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth, especially if they haven’t washed your hands.</li><li>Use a sanitiser.</li><li>Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough.</li><li>Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.</li><li>Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people touch a lot.</li></ul> FAQs: Can children get infected by coronavirus?Studies suggest that children are equally likely to get infected as adults. However, the severity is less in children. Difference between Coronavirus and Covid-19?Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses of the known to cause respiratory illnesses in animals and humans. Whereas, Covid-19 is the disease caused by coronavirus. How does Covid-19 spread?People can catch this infection from someone who has it. It is primarily by the small droplets expelled from nose or mouth when a person with Covid-19 sneezes, coughs, or speaks. These droplets can stay on surfaces so when someone touches those infected surfaces, they might catch the infection. Is there a vaccine, drug, or treatment available?Some traditional medicines and home remedies might soothe the suffering from the infection but there is no specific vaccine, treatment, or drug available as of now. Difference between quarantine, isolation, and distancing?<ul><li>Quarantine means separating people who are not ill themselves but may have been exposed to Covid-19. Self-quarantine means separating self even if you are not ill but believe that you might have been exposed to the virus.</li><li>Isolation is separating the people who are ill with Covid-19 symptoms.</li><li>Physical distancing is to stay at a distance of at least 1 metre to avoid catching the virus. This needs to be followed by everyone regardless of whether someone has symptoms or not.</li></ul>

Here are Coronavirus Symptoms, Precautions, and FAQs.

All about Corona virus

Thyroid gland is situated almost in the centre of the throat region. It releases thyroid hormone which plays a major role in all metabolic and chemical processes in our body. It is important for the overall growth and development. There can be two conditions related to thyroid hormone:<ol><li>Hyperthyroidism: When the thyroid gland produces an excess of the thyroid hormone. Here, the gland is overactive.</li><li>Hypothyroidism: When the thyroid gland produces too little of the thyroid hormone. Here, the gland is under-active.</li></ol>You will need a paediatric endocrinologist to treat thyroid in children.&nbsp; Congenital Thyroid:Congenital defect is the defect that child has from its birth itself.1 in 4000 live babies can have congenital thyroid. If congenital Hypothyroidism (the situation where less amount of hormone is produced) is not detected on time and if treatment is not given on time, the child can suffer from poor growth and can get developmental defects. (S)he can develop severe mental retardation. Reasons for congenital thyroid:<ol><li>The thyroid gland is not able to develop fully and is unable to produce hormones.</li><li>The thyroid gland is totally absent.</li></ol>&nbsp; Hypothyroidism in children:Causes:<ul><li>Children who are born in a family that has a history of the same disease. If the parents, grandparents or siblings have it, the chances of the child developing this disease are more.</li><li>The amount of iodine is not enough in a child's diet.</li><li>Improper treatment of a mother’s thyroid during pregnancy.</li><li>Abnormal pituitary gland.</li></ul>&nbsp;Symptoms of hypothyroidism in newborns:<ul><li>Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes</li><li>Constipation</li><li>Poor feeding</li><li>Cold skin</li><li>Loud breathing</li><li>Hoarse crying</li><li>Enlarged tongue</li><li>Umbilical hernia</li></ul> Symptoms of hypothyroidism in toddlers:<ul><li>Shorter than average height</li><li>Shorter limbs</li><li>Slow mental development</li><li>Brittle hair</li><li>Tiredness</li><li>Constipation</li><li>Puffy facial features</li></ul> Diagnosis:Physical exam and specific diagnostic tests can be helpful in detecting thyroid in children. Specific diagnostic tests include blood tests. Treatment of hypothyroidism:Thyroid hormone therapy may resolve physical symptoms but permanent brain damage is most likely to have happened. Along with this, medication is also given by the doctor depending on the child’s age. Hyperthyroidism:<ol><li>Hyperthyroidism in newborns (Neonatal Hyperthyroidism): this is rarely seen in newborns.</li><li>Grave’s disease: this is an autoimmune condition where the body produces antibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland uncontrollably produce more than enough hormones.</li></ol>&nbsp;Symptoms of hyperthyroidism:<ul><li>Short attention span</li><li>Weight loss</li><li>Protruding eye</li><li>Goitre (enlarged thyroid gland)</li><li>Infrequent blinking</li><li>Muscle weakness</li></ul>&nbsp;Thyroid disease and endocrine conditions are interlinked as the thyroid is an endocrine gland.&nbsp;Diagnosis:Physical exam and specific diagnostic tests can be helpful in detecting thyroid in children. Specific diagnostic tests include blood tests. Treatment of hyperthyroidism:<ol><li>Anti-thyroid medication</li><li>Radioactive iodine ablation</li><li>Total thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid) or lobectomy (removal of half of the thyroid gland).</li></ol> Prevention: Thyroid cannot be usually prevented.

Here are Thyroid Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Diagnosis.

All about Thyroid

<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.

eye watering health concerns

Following article(s) will help solve your concern.