Samiksha Choithani

Dr Aliraza Khunt

Palak Vyas

Fever in itself is not a disease. Instead, fever is the body’s immunity fighting against a virus or bacteria which has invaded the human body. So when a pathogen attacks our body, our immune system activates and increases blood circulation in the body. The activation of the immune system and increased blood circulation leads to a rise in the body’s temperature. This is how our bodies are naturally designed to fight against diseases whenever there is any external attack on the body. Fever is not our enemy, it is our friend. Toddlers and infants easily catch fever because they are always in contact with germs. If your child is eating fine, sleeping for appropriate hours, and urinating 7-8 times a day, then there is nothing to worry about. The fever will come down easily after 2-3 days. If the fever lasts for more than a week, and your child does not eat, sleep, and urinate properly, it is advisable to visit your child’s paediatrician. Sometimes, infants and toddlers might suffer from fits during high fever. This is when it becomes very much essential to bring down the fever. Children also feel pain or ache during fever due to which it is important to lower down the fever in children by giving medication. Common Causes of Fever:<ul><li>Respiratory tract infections</li><li>Flu</li><li>Tonsillitis</li><li>Cold and cough</li><li>Ear infections</li><li>Teething in infants</li></ul> How to be sure whether a child has fever or not?<ul><li>Most of the parents touch their child’s forehead and if they find it a little warm, they consider it as fever. Scientifically this is termed as delusion of fever.</li><li>Delusion of fever might result due to several reasons:</li></ul>- Mother’s hand being cold because of working with water on and off. Also, hands are usually cold as they are quite away from our hearts.- As infants barely have hair on their head, their head feels a little warmer than adults.- As a child’s brain is developing, there is blood circulation going on and that is the reason their head can feel hotter compared to the rest of the body.<ul><li>If the temperature of a child's head is 98.5 or 99 degree Fahrenheit and if mother’s hands are at 90 or 92 degrees Fahrenheit, then too the mother can find a child’s forehead way hotter even if the child’s temperature is actually normal.</li><li>So never assume there is fever just by touching your child’s forehead, always use a clinical thermometer to stay assured.</li></ul> Diagnosis:Thermometer reading:<ul><li>Digital thermometers are the most reliable and the easiest to use. Place it in the armpit of your child for 1-2 minutes and it will clearly show temperature readings. There is a beep sound that comes when the temperature stops rising. Take that reading and you would accurately know your child’s temperature.</li><li>Scientifically, if the axillary (armpit) temperature reaches 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or is more than that, it is considered as a fever.</li></ul> Treatment:Medicine for children having fever:<ul><li>Safest option for relieving a child’s fever is paracetamol. Paracetamol is easily available in the market. Choose any medically acclaimed brand which has a good taste so that the child can easily take it. Or you can simply ask your child’s paediatrician.</li><li>Dosage is usually mentioned on the bottle. Dosage depends upon the age and weight of the child. Paracetamol comes in two different preparations. One is the regular preparation and the other is DS- (double strength) preparation.</li><li>Regular paracetamol syrup contains 120-125 mg of paracetamol in 5 ml. Whereas DS paracetamol syrup contains 240-250 mg of paracetamol in 5ml.</li><li>Usual dose that needs to be given is 10-15 mg of paracetamol per kg of a child's weight.</li><li>For example, if your child is say 8 to 10 kgs in weight, 5ml of regular paracetamol is enough. As the weight increases, dosage should also be increased.</li><li>For every 2kg of weight increase, 1ml of syrup should be increased.</li><li>For a child who is 12 to 14 kg, 5 ml of DS paracetamol can be given. Otherwise the child will have to take 7 to 8 ml of regular paracetamol which is more than required.</li><li>Paracetamol is considered the safest medication for children. Certain reports say giving 20 mg per kg of child’s weight is also allowed in a few cases. In a whole day, giving 60 to 80 mg of paracetamol per kg is also considered harmless.</li><li>If it is required, you can give paracetamol after every 4 hours. There are certain diseases in which the fever subsides for 10 to 12 hours, once you have given paracetamol. In such cases there is no issue. But there are other types of diseases where the fever keeps coming back frequently. Here, once you give the medication, the fever subsides for a while but there are toxins in the blood therefore as the effect of medicine subsides; there is rise in temperature again. In such a case you need to give paracetamol after every 4 hours as per required.</li><li>It is very rare that the child’s fever doesn’t subside after taking paracetamol. In most cases children respond well to this medicine yet there can be a few cases where a child’s fever is not affected at all even after taking paracetamol. In that case, you will have to give some other fever medication after consulting your child’s paediatrician.</li><li>If paracetamol does not seem to work for your child, you can try either of these two combinations:</li></ul>i. Combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen. It is commercially known as ibugesic plus or Combiflam.ii. Combination of Paracetamol and mefenamic acid. At times when giving Paracetamol doesn’t show any improvement, you can use mefenamic acid - Meftal, which is also a very popular medicine for fever. <ul><li>Apart from medicines, you can also use cold packs to decrease your child’s temperature.</li><li>Keep in mind to not use cold refrigerated water cold packs for fever, instead use normal tap water. Soak the cloth in the water, drain excess water and place it over the child’s hands, legs, and forehead. Temperature will eventually subside.</li></ul> Home Remedies:<ul><li>If the temperature is below 102˚ F the fever is normal, just give plenty of fluids (liquid) and extra rest.</li><li>If the fever is between 102˚ F to 105˚ F give a warm bath or sponge your child with lukewarm water, this will help to reduce the temperature.</li><li>Make the child wear light clothes and use a light blanket.</li><li>Complete rest and good sleep can help the child recover soon.</li><li>Increase the water intake as much as possible.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Make sure your child(ren) wash hands properly and regularly.</li><li>Make them to avoid touching their mouth, eyes, and nose constantly.</li><li>Maintain hygiene in your child's surrounding.</li><li>Avoid sharing cups/glasses/spoons.</li></ul>

Here are Fever Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Home remedies, and Prevention.

All about Fever

Itching can result due to various reasons:<ul><li>Skin allergies</li><li>Food allergies</li><li>Dandruff</li><li>Skin disorder</li></ul> <ul><li>It is advisable to consult your paediatrician or doctor for itching before you apply any skin products to your child.</li></ul> Remedies for itching:<ul><li>Avoid scented soaps, lotions, and bubble baths.</li><li>Change out of wet or damp clothing immediately after exercising or swimming.</li><li>Moisturising the skin with a good moisturiser.</li><li>See a doctor when the itching persists for more than 2 weeks, when there is inflammation and when itching affects the entire body.</li></ul>

Itching, if not treated at the right time can intensify and irritate a child. It is better to consult your paediatrician at the right time.

Itching problem in children

Ravina Sewani

Unlike dengue or other viral fever, malaria has specific medication. If your child has been diagnosed with malaria then you should consult a doctor. Malarial germs do not die on their own. Our body can’t fight these germs so it is mandatory to give medication as soon as malaria is diagnosed. Symptoms:<ul><li>Drowsiness</li><li>Poor appetite</li><li>Trouble in sleeping</li><li>Chills</li><li>Fever (it might reach up to 105˚ F)</li><li>Fast breathing</li><li>Headache</li><li>Nausea</li><li>Body ache</li><li>Seizures in case the infection reaches the brain</li></ul> Causes:Malaria is caused by parasites carried by female mosquitoes. Congenital malaria is the infection of malaria to a child in the womb from mother. Malaria also spreads through blood transfusion, organ donation, or shared needles. Diagnosis: Diagnosis is based on physical symptoms and blood tests. Treatment:<ul><li>Take prescribed anti-malarial drugs by the doctor.</li><li>Take proper care and see that the child rests well.</li><li>Give sufficient fluids so there is no dehydration.</li><li>In case if the child is young enough and can’t take oral medication there are injections available too.</li><li>If the child doesn’t eat or drink or have any other complications after taking the medication, the child should be hospitalised.</li></ul> Preventive measures:<ul><li>Use screens (mosquito nets) on doors and windows, and promptly repair broken or damaged screens. Keep doors and windows shut.</li><li>Have kids wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks when they go outside.</li><li>Use insect repellent as directed on kids.</li><li>Limit the amount of time kids spend outside during the day, especially in the hours around dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.</li><li>Keep surroundings clean. Mosquitoes breed easily when there is water around. They lay their eggs in water, so get rid of unclean water around you.</li></ul>

Here are Malaria Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, and Diagnosis.

All about malaria

There are majorly 2 main reasons for cold and flu. One is because of a virus and the other is due to allergy. Cold because of a virus:<ul><li>Science says that once the body faces a certain type of virus, it develops immunity towards that particular virus. For example, if a person has been infected by chickenpox virus once then there are less chances of him/her getting infected again by the same virus.</li><li>Likewise if the child is suffering from cough due to some virus then gradually his/her body develops immunity towards that virus and with time the child will stay unaffected due to that virus in future.</li><li>Till the age of 4 or 5 years, the child gets affected by different viruses and his/her body develops immunity towards those viruses. Hence the chances of viral attack decrease gradually as the child grows.</li></ul> Cold due to allergies:<ul><li>As the child grows, his/her immunity also increases. Hence the allergic flu also decreases with increasing age in most children.</li><li>Some children may have a natural tendency of developing allergies towards smoke, dust, dirt, or pollen, and then they might come down with cold.</li></ul> If the cold and cough is due to common cold virus or due to an allergy, science does not recommend giving medicines in this case. This is because the medicines contain chemicals and ultimately these chemicals will affect child's liver. Doctors prescribe medicines for common cold and cough only when a child’s routine gets disturbed like the child does not feed well, does not sleep well. Ruling out pneumonia:<ul><li>If your child is suffering from cold, the first thing that the doctor will identify is whether it is due to common cold virus, due to an allergy, or due to a more serious virus like pneumonia.</li><li>Every time a child catches cold, the doctor will first rule out whether the child has pneumonia or not. You can identify whether your child has pneumonia or not by observing following symptoms in your child:</li></ul>- breathlessness- high fever- problem in breastfeeding- problem in urination- child is tired <ul><li>If your child has any of the above symptoms, it is better to consult your child’s paediatrician immediately. If these symptoms are absent and your child is playing, sleeping well, eating well, urinating well, then give only cough syrups as prescribed by your child’s paediatrician.</li><li>Sometimes, the child develops cough which last for 8-10 weeks or even up to 3 months. This is dues to particular types of viruses and such a cough can be dealt with by giving antibiotics to children prescribed by a paediatrician.</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Watery mucus in the nose</li><li>Watery or crusty eyes</li><li>Sneezing</li><li>Feeling of tiredness</li><li>Fever (sometimes)</li><li>Sore throat</li><li>Coughing</li></ul> Excess coughing during day and night:<ul><li>If the child experiences coughing throughout the day which disturbs his/her routine, cough syrup can be given as per doctor’s advice.</li><li>If the child experiences coughing throughout the night, it may be due to allergens, dust mites in the bed, some plants in the room, insects or cockroaches. In this case, it is best to keep the bedding clean and the bedroom hygienic. Make sure there are no such insects or mites or plants in the bedroom that might cause allergy to the child.</li></ul> Child ends up vomiting after coughing: Sometimes when the coughing is intense, it is accompanied by vomiting. In this case, the child’s eyes turn red or watery and the face turns red while coughing. In this case, you should consult a doctor and use prescribed medicines. Foods that cause cough and cold:Each child has a different body tendency. Some children might suffer from cough after eating coloured food whereas some after eating sugary food. The parents should closely observe their child’s tendency for different foods which result into cold and cough. Once they identify it, they should try and avoid such foods. If the cold and cough is too much, you can avoid the following:<ul><li>Dairy products: Dairy products such as butter, cream, cheese induce mucus. So ensure that there is a limited intake of these foods when your child has a cold.</li><li>Fried food: The fats and oils present in fatty foods like butter and cheese produce mucus. Fried food should also be avoided.</li><li>Other foods like avocados, mushrooms, yogurt and fermented foods aggravate cold and cough.</li><li>Sugar: Sugar and sugary foods can worsen the cough.</li><li>Juices: Juices having high sugar content and acids irritate the throat and worsen the conditions.</li></ul> Medicines for cold and cough:Cough and cold are two different things. Cold is nose related - running nose or blocked nose are considered as cold symptoms. There are two different types of medication based on the type of cold.<ol><li>Combination of decongestant and antihistamine</li><li>Anti allergic medications</li></ol> Cough can be of two types: dry cough and wet cough. Cough is our body’s reflex, used to clear our respiratory passages.<ol><li>Dry cough is because of throat infection.</li><li>Wet cough is due to presence of sputum or mucus in the lungs.</li></ol> Most of the medicines available are to suppress the reflux of the cough. Bronchodilators, nebulisers and inhaler pumps can be used as per the paediatrician’s advice. Home remedies for cold and cough:<ol><li>Ginger tea: You can simply add half an inch of grated ginger to boiling water and give it to your child when it is warm. You can also add honey to mild the bitter taste of ginger. Or you can make traditional ginger tea with milk; whatever suits your child.</li><li>Lemon, Cinnamon and honey: Half a spoon of honey, a few drops of lemon and a pinch of cinnamon. You can give this mixture twice a day.</li><li>Lukewarm water: This reduces inflammation in the throat and helps in replenishing the fluids in the body.</li><li>Milk and Turmeric: Turmeric mixed in warm milk or in lukewarm water does wonders.</li><li>Gargle with salt water: You can add half a spoon of turmeric also in the water.</li><li>Spiced tea: Basil leaves, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon and cardamom mixed in the usual tea also helps in providing relief from cold.</li><li>Honey, lime juice and warm water can also be given.</li><li>Indian gooseberry: Eating an Indian gooseberry every day helps fight many infections.</li><li>Ginger Basil mix: Extract ginger juice and add crushed basil leaves to it and a spoonful of honey.</li><li>Ginger and salt: Cut ginger into small pieces and add salt to it. Chew ginger pieces to fight cough and cold.</li><li>Jaggery solution: Boil water with black pepper, cumin and add jaggery to it. Consume when warm, it helps relieve chest congestion.</li></ol> Treating Dry Cough at home:Dry cough causes irritation in the throat and makes it sore. See which of the following remedies works the best for your child:<ol><li>Menthol cough drops: They are easily available in any chemist’s shop. It soothes and relaxes cough reflex. See that your child doesn’t get choked up. Consider your child’s age and consult a doctor before giving him cough drops.</li><li>Soup, broth, tea or any other hot beverage: These add moisture while providing immediate relief for sore throat. Keep your child hydrated; it is essential for the healing process.</li><li>Honey: It has anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces throat inflammation. You can add honey and lemon in warm water and give that mixture to your child twice or thrice a day.</li><li>Saltwater gargle: Make your child gargle with lukewarm saltwater if (s)he can.</li><li>Herbs: Herbs like turmeric, basil, mint leaves, black pepper etc. can be used either in the form of tea or just in any recipes you prefer. But avoid giving sugary foods and fried junk foods to your child.</li><li>Plenty of fluids including lukewarm water but avoid giving cold drinks, fruit juices.</li><li>Pineapple: Pineapple has an enzyme called bromelain which helps relieve inflammation.</li></ol> Treating Wet Cough at home:<ol><li>Steamy Shower: Try to give your child a steamy shower or let him/her sit in a steamy bathroom for at least 5 minutes. You can also try using a steam inhaler if your child is old enough to handle it.</li><li>Honey: Eating 1.5 teaspoons of honey before bed can help reduce cough and also helps in encouraging sound sleep in children.</li><li>Herbal cough drops made with lemon, honey, ginger, and mint help in controlling wet cough.</li><li>Vitamin C: A dose of vitamin C boosts your child’s immune system. Try giving him/her oranges or tomatoes or food having a high amount of vitamin C.</li></ol> Prevention:<ul><li>Ask your child to wash their hands often.</li><li>Keep your child away from the ones who have cold or cough as these are contagious diseases.</li><li>Maintain hygiene in their surroundings.</li><li>Give them healthy diet.</li></ul>

Here are Cold and Cough Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, Home remedies.

All about cold and cough

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

Relactation is when you resume breastfeeding after you have stopped it either due to medical reasons or due to separation from your baby.&nbsp;Relactation is the process of building up the milk supply after it has stopped. The younger your baby, the better are your chances of succeeding at relactation. If the baby is under 3 months old you have the best chance of succeeding. Also, if you have previously breastfed your baby, your baby will be more willing to resume the breastfeeding. The key here is to focus on your emotions of satiation and keep a positive attitude rather than worrying about not being able to build up enough milk supply. Relactation can produce enough milk to cater to your baby’s need if you are determined about it. Relactation could produce enough breastmilk to supply all of your baby's needs. In some cases, supplements may be needed. Start by putting your baby to your breast; the skin to skin contact suckling action would stimulate your hormones to produce milk. Try this skin to skin contact for at least 12 times a day with each session lasting up to 20 minutes. As your milk builds up, you still to supplement your baby with formula milk or solid foods depending on the age of your baby. If your baby is not willing to suckle an empty breast, try tube feeding with a tube attached to your nipple. You can try breast pumps too as they stimulate your body. Your doctor may prescribe medications in cases when enough milk is not being built up. Do not be discouraged if you relactation procedure was not successful. Remember, it is not your fault. You can still bond well with your baby and your baby is going to be fit and healthy.

Relactation is when you resume breastfeeding after you have stopped it because of any unavoidable reasons.

Relactation

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

Seafood allergy is an immune response induced by the proteins present in the seafood. This is because the body perceives seafood proteins as a threat and results in an allergic reaction.Seafood allergy, particularly fish allergies tend to stay on for life.Seafood is broadly categorised into fish (Tuna, Cod, Flounder, etc.), Crustaceans (crabs, lobster, crayfish, shrimp, prawn, etc.) and Molluscs (squid, snails, clams, oysters, scallops, etc.).If a child is diagnosed with a specific fish allergy, chances are (s)he may be allergic to more than one type of fish.If a child is allergic to fish, it does not mean that they will necessarily develop allergies towards crustaceans and molluscs as well.Confirm any type of allergy after proper diagnosis by a healthcare expert. 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:Seek help from a healthcare expert to get your child diagnosed of the seafood allergy. The doctor will examine your child’s symptoms, medical history, family history, and may suggest a few tests like skin prick tests, blood tests or Oral Food Challenge. Precautions:<ul><li>Avoid all kinds of seafood as the intensity of the reactions varies each time. Even trace amounts of allergens in seafood can cause life-threatening reactions.</li><li>Always read the ingredients on food labels.</li><li>Avoid visiting or eating at Seafood restaurants if your child has an allergy, as the vapours from cooking fish may trigger allergic reactions in highly sensitive children.</li><li>Avoid taking your child to the fish market due to the risk of cross-contact or cross-contamination.</li><li>Always have an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) handy. Inform your child's school or caretakers about the seafood allergy and ensure they have an AAI.</li></ul> Foods to avoid:<ul><li>Pre-packed Scampi, which may contain white fish, imitation crab</li><li>Worcestershire/Barbecue sauces, Caesar salad dressings (may contain anchovies)</li><li>Even nougat or marshmallows may contain fish gelatin</li></ul> Possible sources of crustaceans or molluscs are:<ul><li>Fish Stock, sauces, soups, seafood flavourings, bouillabaisse, and cuttlefish ink</li><li>Fish cakes, pies, nutritional supplements</li><li>Fish food, pet food, fertilisers</li><li>Though Omega 3 fatty acids are recommended as a therapeutic option in children with allergy, fish-based Omega 3 products might still contain fish protein. Hence they need to be avoided as well.</li></ul> Seafood poisoning and seafood allergy:<ul><li>Seafood poisoning and seafood allergies are two totally different things even though their symptoms may seem similar.</li><li>Seafood poisoning is caused due to due to toxins and infections. The most common forms are given below:</li><li>Fish poisoning: Occurs after ingesting fish which is improperly frozen or poorly cooked, causing the bacteria to grow.</li><li>Herring worm infection: This is caused due to a parasite ingested while eating raw or pickled seafood.</li><li>Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP): A toxin-induced seafood poisoning occurs in a child when (s)he ingests fish which contains algae toxin - ciguatoxins.</li><li>The treatments for seafood allergy and seafood toxins are also completely different. In seafood allergy, doctors usually prescribe antihistamine medications and adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) to children. Whereas in seafood poisoning, the medicine prescriptions are different. In any case, never give medications which haven’t been prescribed by your child’s paediatrician.</li></ul>

Seafood allergy is one of the common food allergies.

Seafood allergy

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.

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