Palak Vyas

Preterm birth usually affects a child's respiratory system and brain development. The effects of preterm birth on a baby’s development depend on how early the baby was born before its full term. Preterm birth can have short term and long term effects on a child’s development. Short term effects of preterm birth:<ul><li>Preterm babies are born with serious breathing problems. Sometimes they have to be put on ventilators to breathe.</li><li>These babies are at higher risks of developing asthma in the later stage of life.</li><li>As mentioned earlier, they are likely to develop brain impairments, because the brain is the last major organ to develop even after birth. So when the baby is prematurely born, its brain has to keep growing in an abnormal environment that is outside the womb. So even though the brain develops post-birth, for premature babies, the development is slow as they have spent less time inside the womb.</li><li>In short, the kind of growth that happens easily inside the womb is difficult for preemies outside the womb.</li></ul> Long term effects of preterm birth:<ul><li>Life-long effects include cerebral palsy, mental retardation, visual and hearing impairments, and poor health.</li><li>Babies, who are born a few weeks early, say at 34-36 weeks, may have behavioural, social and emotional problems.</li><li>They are likely to develop learning difficulties.</li><li>Increased risk of ADHD</li><li>Increased risk of SIDS</li><li>Chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.</li><li>The other important thing to keep in mind is the birth weight. The less your baby weighed when (s)he was born, the more likely (s)he is to have health problems that could affect his/her growth. Mostly the preemies born with very less weight than normal a child are kept in the hospital under observation. First year can be a bit problematic but gradually they cope up.</li></ul> The other general effects found in preemies are:<ul><li>They may look different than full term babies.</li><li>Their bones and muscles are fragile. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, lots of minerals like calcium and phosphorus needed for baby’s growth are transferred from mother to baby. And because premature babies are born before full term, they cannot get enough of these minerals. They need extra care while handling.</li><li>Language development may be delayed. These babies might have more trouble speaking and understanding the language.</li><li>Their teeth may develop abnormally or may have late teething than full-term babies.</li><li>There are chances of vision impairment, squint eyes, farsightedness or nearsightedness.</li></ul>

Premature babies are prone to more health risks than full-term babies.

Effects of preterm birth on growth and development of babies

Rashes are common among infants. Rashes can occur because:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">If the diaper is wet for too long</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Allergic reaction</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Bacterial Infection</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Milk drops falling around baby’s neck</li></ul> Take these measures to cure/avoid rashes:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Wash your hands before and after changing a diaper</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Keep a periodic check on baby’s diaper</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use medicated cotton and plain water to poop off your baby’s skin</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use a mild cleanser</li><li class="ql-align-justify">If you use wipes, choose mild ones or without fragrance and alcohol</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make sure that the area is completely clean and dry before using another diaper</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Let the baby go diaper free if the rashes are extreme</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Clean the neck after every feed</li></ul> If your child has rashes solely due to diapers, then:<ul><li>First of all, you can change the brand, as the allergy can be due to a child's sensitive skin. Different babies have different types of skin sensitivities.</li><li>Apply good moisturiser on the skin before using diapers.</li><li>With every diaper change, clean the area properly.</li><li>You can also use specially designed creams for diaper rashes.</li><li>Even then if the rashes continue, limit the use of diaper to minimum.</li><li>Use cotton underwear instead.</li><li>Rash associated with diarrhoea, needs treatment for diarrhoea.</li><li>Severe cases may need mild steroid based cream under doctor’s supervision.</li></ul> Follow the above measures for mild rashes. In case, the rashes do not improve overtime, contact your paediatrician for appropriate anti-bacterial or skincare ointments and medicines.

Dealing with rashes properly helps soothe a child.

Treating baby rashes

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>If the child gets sick again and again, the parent considers it as weak immunity but this is not true because every time a child falls sick, (s)he gets back to normal on their own so the immunity is fine. The immunity is weak when the child doesn’t heal and stays sick for long extended periods.</li><li>As a child grows, (s)he does not stay at one place or with just one person. This leads to a child getting exposed to outside environment and a lot of new people. Due to this, the chances of catching infections again and again are very high. And so the child falls sick frequently.</li><li>This does not mean that the immunity is less. In fact, the child should not be given medication again and again. The infection will be cured within a week as a child’s body learns to fight against outside germs. Fighting against germs will only make your child’s immunity stronger.</li><li>A child’s immunity completely develops by 5 to 7 years.</li></ul> To increase your child's immunity:<ul><li>Breastfeed your baby.</li><li>Encourage exercise:&nbsp;It enhances immune system through stress-reduction. Thus encouraging your kids to opt for age-appropriate exercise regularly, will&nbsp;make them physically fit and support their immunity. Regular moderate intensity exercise increases child’s immunity.</li><li>Give them nutritious diet: Deficiencies of Vitamins A, C, E, B6 and Folate, are also associated with reduced immunity. Micro-nutrients such as Zinc, Selenium, Iron and Copper are also important in developing a healthy immune system. Thus, a properly balanced diet with all required nutrients is extremely important, especially in the growing years when the immune system is still maturing.</li><li>Inculcate healthy sleep habits: Sleep is a restorative process that plays a critical role in the proper functioning of the immune system. It is important to develop and follow a healthy and optimum sleep pattern for your children.</li><li>Serve more fruits and vegetables.</li><li>Develop a good habit of washing hands: You should pay particular attention to their hygiene before and after each meal and after playing outside, handling pets, blowing their nose, using the bathroom, and arriving home from daycare. When you're out, carry disposable wipes with you for quick cleanups. To help kids get into the hand-washing habit at home, let them pick out their own brightly coloured hand towels and soap in fun shapes, colours, and scents.</li><li>Keep your babies away from second hand smoke: If you or your spouse smokes, quit. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 toxins, most of which can irritate or kill cells in the body.</li></ul>

Your child getting sick again and again does not mean that (s)he has a weaker immunity.

Increasing child’s immunity

If your child does not like milk or takes time to have a glass of milk every morning, do not get impatient. Threatening the child is not a solution.Calcium is important for bones and milk intake is important for a child’s health, so you can try these techniques or give alternate sources of Milk: <ul><li>Keep offering milk at each meal.</li><li>Make a smoothie with Banana or make almond milkshake.</li><li>You can pair milk with cornflakes or healthy cereals.</li><li>Give a handful of almonds and oranges as a substitute.</li><li>Sprinkle some sesame seeds in salads or add them when you knead a roti dough.</li><li>Give plenty of curd or yogurt/cheese/ghee - these are good substitutes of milk.</li><li>Don’t start with a full glass and insist on finishing it; try small quantities and gradually increase the intake.</li><li>You can even pair it with you child’s favourite biscuits or cookies.</li><li>Give them options of colourful glasses to choose from so as to make the milk consumption appealing.</li></ul> REMEMBER the goal is to fulfil the calcium need in a child's body. So if your child dislikes animal milk, you can try almond or coconut milk or given him/her alternative sources of calcium.

If your child does not like milk or takes time to have a glass of milk every morning, do not get impatient.

What to do if child does not drink milk?

Ravina Sewani

Immunotherapy is a form of desensitisation treatment for allergies performed under medical supervision and may be recommended.In this treatment, your child is given small doses of allergens as an injection, tablets or drops, to 'reduce symptoms' of severe, persistent allergy (allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, eye allergy or stinging insect allergy). The allergens are present in very small amounts, enough to desensitise the immune system against the particular allergen. This treatment is used so that your child is able to build resistance to the allergen.Note: This treatment should only be performed by a healthcare expert under proper medical supervision. Never perform this treatment on your own. There are 2 phases in immunotherapy, given at regular intervals up to three years:i) Build-up phase – In this phase, the dosage of allergens in the shots is increased gradually and frequently till the allergen is tolerated well.ii) Maintenance phase, this phase begins after the effective dose is reached and then onwards, the frequency of shots is reduced significantly.Immunotherapy is commonly used for environment-induced allergies where the medications aren't helping, your child has side effects from the medications, and you would like to reduce the continued use of allergy medications.This treatment requires the medical supervision of an allergist or an immunologist, who will look out for local reactions if any, and treat symptomatically.

Immunotherapy is a type of long term treatment to combat allergy problems in children.

Immunotherapy

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

<ul><li>Massage helps your baby to develop mentally, socially and physically.</li><li>The baby stays relaxed and does not get upset. He/she cries less and sleeps better.</li><li>You may find that giving your baby a massage lifts your mood and helps you to feel more empowered as a parent. As you massage your baby, it comes naturally to chat with him/her and have plenty of eye contact. It strengthens your bonding with your baby. This is one reason why massage can help mums with postnatal depression, or who are at risk of depression.</li><li>Even the father can give massage to their babies so as he can bond well and feels better about parenting.</li></ul> Massage may be particularly good for premature babies resulting in:<ul><li>Improved weight gain, particularly if oils are used. Massage can improve digestion and bowel movement, helping your baby to gain weight.</li><li>A more stable heart rate. Massage improves the parts of the nervous system that regulate our organs. So massage can help to keep your premature baby's heart rate steady.</li><li>The baby shows calmer response to stress and pain.</li><li>There is more stable brain activity. Premature babies who are massaged tend to have brain activity that develops at a normal level.</li></ul>

Body massage helps in keeping your baby healthy and happy.

Baby Massage benefits

When moms start feeding the newborns, the nipple often turns red and pointy instead of round and smooth. This could be due to the problem in latching technique, insert your finger into the corner of your baby's mouth to stop feeding for a while when you feel pain -- and then try latching on again. Ideally, your baby should take at least one inch of your areola (entire circle surrounding the nipple) into the mouth. Measures to treat sore nipples:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">When you take bath, clean the area with water and do not apply any soap. Your areola secretes oil that keeps your nipples moist. If you use soaps, these protective oils might be removed.&nbsp;Air-dry your nipples and do not rub them harsh. There is no need to clean your breasts before breastfeeding, offer your breasts as such. The microbes on your breast surface will help in the development of your baby's gut bacteria. You need to only clean your breasts before feeding if you have an infection.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Apply few breast milk drops. Massage a few drops of breastmilk before and after the feed to heal your nipples.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Your doctor might sometimes prescribe you creams to apply on your nipples.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">If you need instant relief after nursing, use hydrogel pads.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Sometimes the pain is also due to blocked milk duct, massage your breasts with warm water. This will help to unplug ducts and clear the lumps, milk gets released and there is a relief in pain. Note that breastfeeding is the best way to unclog ducts, do not stop breastfeeding due to the pain.</li></ul> These are only temporary relief solutions. You will have to work on the cause of your soreness like poor latch or baby's tongue tie etc. A lactation consultant will be able to help you better. Some women face nipple structural challenges as well. Some of them have flat nipples or very large nipples. In any case, there is no need to worry as generally newborns can nurse on all types of nipple structures. Just ensure that there is a proper latch during the breastfeeding and that the baby is gaining adequate weight. However, here are a few things which might help you if you are facing a lot of trouble:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">If you inverted nipples, they will naturally protrude out as the pregnancy progresses. Even if this does not happen, your baby will be able to latch on and feed properly. If the baby is facing some troubles, a nipple shield will be very helpful in this case. Consult your doctor or a breastfeeding specialist to help you accustom to the use of nipples.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">If you have flat nipples, they will raise with stimulation. If they don't, do not worry as long as your baby holds on to the areola apart from nipples. If along with flat nipples, you have engorged breasts, your baby might struggle with the latch. In this case, use your fingers to pull the nipple towards your baby's mouth. Your doctor might suggest you to use breast pumps in this case.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">If you have large nipples, it will take your baby a few days to have a proper latch. But if you have adequate milk supply, your baby will get enough milk and gain wait adequately. You can try football hold if you have large nipples.</li></ul>

Breastfeeding can sometimes get overwhelming, not just emotionally, but physically too. Nipple care is very important for the first few months of feeding.

insect sting allergy health concerns

Following article(s) will help solve your concern.