Ravina Sewani

The feeling of blocked or clogged ears is either due to water or sir getting stuck in the ears. Water in the ears:When water enters in an ear due to any reason, the ear feels clogged/blocked. If there's too much water in the ears, surrounding sounds also get muffled. It is important to remove the water from ears because otherwise it can cause infections. You can get the water out of your child's ear, these are a few steps to follow:<ul><li>First dry out your child's ear using a soft towel. Do not push the towel deep into the ear canal.</li><li>Ask your child to tilt their head on the side of the ear which has water stuck in it and let gravity to do the work. Slightly pull their earlobes; this will straighten the ear canal helping in draining the water.</li><li>If the clogging of the ear persists, you can get ear drops prescribed by your child's doctor.</li><li>Do not use cotton swabs as they will push the dirt deep into the ear. Warn your children to not stick their finger in their ear.</li></ul> Air in the ears:The ears tend to feel full and clogged when a person is sick, or when altitudes change. To relieve from this feeling, one needs to pop their ears. Here is how you can help your child:<ul><li>Yawn: Instruct your child to yawn as many times as possible as yawning helps in opening up the ear canal hence helping the ears to pop.</li><li>Swallow: Give water to your child or a candy to suck on as swallowing activates the muscles that open up the ear canal.</li><li>Valsalva maneuver: Take a deep breath and pinch your nose shut. Keep your mouth closed and gently exhale through the nose. If your child is too young, this technique to pop the ears is not advised as it carries a minute risk of rupturing the eardrum.</li><li>Toynbee maneuver: Pinch the nose shut and with your mouth closed, try swallowing. If your child has difficulty doing this, a mouthful of water will help in swallowing.</li><li>If nothing works, consult your child's doctor.</li></ul>

The feeling of blocked or clogged ears is either due to water or sir getting stuck in the ears.

Blocked ears

Palak Vyas

The most common side effects of antibiotics are:<ul><li>Vomiting</li><li>Nausea</li><li>Bloating and indigestion</li><li>Severe watery diarrhoea and abdominal cramps</li><li>Allergic reactions like shortness of breath, swelling of lips/face/tongue</li><li>Loss of appetite</li><li>Rashes</li></ul> Initial symptoms of anaphylaxis are often the same as a mild allergic reaction. They include:<ul><li>Feeling lightheaded or faint</li><li>Breathing difficulties – such as fast, shallow breathing</li><li>Whistling sound while breathing</li><li>A fast heartbeat</li><li>Sticky skin</li><li>Confusion and anxiety</li><li>Collapsing or losing consciousness</li><li>In rare cases, an antibiotic can cause a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.</li></ul> Reducing side effects of antibiotics:Take Antibiotics as directed by your paediatrician: Some antibiotics should be taken only with water. But many others need to be taken with food, which can relieve stomach ache — a common side effect of antibiotics. Complete the course of medication: Give your child the entire prescribed course of antibiotics, even if the symptoms clear up. If you stop giving the medication mid-course, the infection could linger and the bacteria may become resistant, setting you up for more problem. Take a Probiotic: Many antibiotics can cause soft stools or diarrhoea. That’s because they may kill some “good” bugs along with the bad, throwing off the delicate balance of bacteria in your intestine. You can give your child probiotic buttermilk. Talk to Your Doctor: Contact your physician if your child develops more serious side effects of antibiotics, including:<ul><li>Severe watery diarrhoea</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>White patches on your tongue</li><li>Vaginal itching or discharge</li><li>Allergic reactions, such as a rash, shortness of breath, and swelling of the lips or tongue</li></ul>

Usually children are prescribed antibiotics which will not have any side-effects. But sometimes, a child may develop a few side-effects because of them. It is better to understand them and treat it at the right time.

Side effects of antibiotics

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

Samiksha Choithani

The first yellow milk (fluid) produced in the breasts is called colostrum. It is the first stage of breast milk production. Colostrum is thicker than your usual breast milk. Colostrum/yellow milk lasts until the transitional phase or mature milk is produced i.e. till the second or fifth day after the birth. Colostrum is like a child’s first immunisation, it is full of antibodies, white blood cells and other immune properties. Benefits of Colostrum for the baby are:Builds a strong immune system.Creates a tough layer on baby’s stomach and intestines to fight with germs that cause illness.It serves as a laxative that helps your baby pass the first dark stool/poop.Prevents jaundice.It is a perfect blend of nutrients to make the child’s brain, eyes and heart strong.Prevents low blood sugar in newborns. A baby should take 1-4 tablespoons of colostrum per day. Note: Do not give honey or any other food substance during birth, the first yellow milk is a great source of nutrition.

Colostrum has multiple benefits for a baby's health and should be the first food give to a baby after birth.

Colostrum and its benefits for Babies

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

Massaging your baby’s scalp with suitable oil and the right technique will give your child all the benefits. Ensure that you apply oil on clean scalp and massage gently. Some of the benefits are:<ul><li>﻿It moisturises your baby’s hair and soothes dry scalp.</li><li>Helps in treating scalp problems like dandruff, scaly skin, a bacterial or fungal infection.</li><li>It hydrates your baby’s hair.</li><li>It prevents hair fall.</li><li>It strengthens hair roots.</li><li>If your baby has curly hair, applying oil softens hair strands.</li></ul>

Hair massage with oil is beneficial in several ways.

Benefits of applying oil in child’s hair

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects children. It mainly affects a child’s social communication which includes language as well as an emotional response to any situation. Children with autism also show some repetitive and restrictive behaviour. One-third of all children who have autism, suffer from intellectual disability, meaning they have a low IQ or mental retardation. Autism is not a life-threatening problem. Its severity ranges from mild to severe and early diagnosis and intervention can help in a better way.Children with autism have a trouble understanding what others think and feel. They cannot express themselves properly either with words, facial expressions, or gestures. Children with autism develop uneven skills. They might have a problem in communicating but they might be good at maths, art, or music. Symptoms:<ol><li>Lack of eye contact</li><li>Repetitive behaviour, example repeating phrases or rocking back and forth</li><li>Higher sensitivity to sounds, sights, smells, touch which might seem ordinary to others</li><li>Not looking at things when someone points at something</li><li>Not paying attention to what the other person is saying</li><li>Trouble adapting to changes</li><li>Some might also get seizures</li></ol> The symptoms usually appear before the child turns 3 or sometimes are evident from birth. Causes: Though the exact causes are not clear, here are a few factors which increase the chances of autism:<ul><li>Genetics of the child</li><li>Older parents</li><li>Pregnant woman exposed to drugs</li><li>Maternal metabolic conditions - like diabetes and obesity</li><li>Autism runs in the family</li></ul> Risk Factors: Children of all races can get autism but certain factors increase the risk. They are:<ul><li>Child's sex: Boys are about four times more likely to develop autism than girls.</li><li>Family history</li><li>Other disorders</li><li>Preterm birth</li><li>Parents' ages: More research is required but children born to older age parents are more likely to develop autism.</li></ul> Diagnosis: 2 step diagnosis for children Step 1: Developmental screening - The doctor will examine whether your child's basic skills like leaning, speaking, behaviour, and movement are on track or not. These developments should be routinely checked at the age of 9 months, 18 months, 24 months, and 30 months. Step 2: If your child shows signs of a problem on step 1 screenings, (s)he might have to undergo a hearing, vision, and genetic testing. By now, you will be advised to work with a child psychologist. Prevention: There is no way to prevent autism development in children. But mothers can live a healthy lifestyle, avoid drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. These will reduce the chances of autism development. Treatment:The treatment patterns which work for one child might not necessarily work for others. Your child's doctor will specially design a treatment plan for your child.&nbsp;Autism cannot be cured but the following treatments are helpful: Main treatment is Psycho-social intervention. It includes different types of behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, speech therapy, social skill therapy and special school arrangements. Medicines can help to counter different symptoms like irritability, hyperactivity, depression or some of the repetitive behaviours. Behaviour therapy: Behaviour therapy is a collective term for several types of therapies used to treat mental health disorders. The treatment focuses on unhealthy behaviours and aims to change them. Behavioural therapy can be used to treat depression, anxiety, panic disorders, anger issues, autism, ADHD, etc. The several types of behavioural therapies are – cognitive behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural play therapy, aversion therapy, system desensitisation.&nbsp;Cognitive therapy: It is based on the concept that the way we think about things affects us emotionally. It is based on present thinking rather than past experiences. Speech therapy: Speech-language therapy addresses challenges with language and communication. It can help people with autism improve their verbal, nonverbal, and social communication. The overall goal is to help the person communicate in more useful and functional ways.Goals of speech therapy include improving the spoken language, learning nonverbal skills such as signs or gestures, or learning to communicate using an alternative method (such as pictures or technology). Examples of the skills that speech therapy may work on include:<ul><li>Making clearer speech sounds</li><li>Matching emotions with the correct facial expression</li><li>Responding to questions</li><li>Matching a picture with its meaning</li><li>Modulating tone of voice</li><li>Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) - for some children with autism, it's easier to communicate through pictures or technology rather than speaking.</li></ul> Social Skills Therapy: Social skills therapy work on improving communication with friends, family members, at school, and more. Your child's psychologist might arrange group therapy for this particular skill development. Depending upon your child's autism intensity, your child's psychologist will layout the treatment plan for your child. Moreover, your child's doctor might also suggest parent training for you and your spouse. Safety precautions: Secure your house, irrespective of the child's age. Keep sharp objects away, keep harmful objects out of reach. You can use monitoring technology to stay assured about your child's safety. FAQs regarding ADHD: Can autism be cured?Autism is a lifelong disorder. The improvement depends on many factors like severity of the problem, time of diagnosis, IQ of the child and the interventions done. Children with normal IQ and mild to moderate autism can live a normal life with timely intervention. Any food can help with autism?There is no evidence that any particular food can help better autism. Do all children with autism have a low IQ?No, only one-third of all autistic children have low IQ. Many children with autism have some extra skills and more than average IQ. To whom should I consult for autism?If you see any symptoms of autism in your child, it is best to consult a psychiatrist. For an initial consultation, you can visit your child’s paediatrician as well. Can a child with autism live a normal life?Yes, many autistic children can live a normal life provided their IQ is normal and the intervention for social communications is done properly. Is autism a genetic problem?Yes, there are pieces of evidence that genetic factors are involved in aetiology (causes) of autism but it is not the only factor. There are others like immunological, neurological and developmental factors also involved. Can a child with autism go to a normal school?If the IQ of a child is normal, (s)he can definitely go to a normal school.

Here are Autism Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Precautions, Risk factors, Prevention, Diagnosis, and FAQs.

All about Autism

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

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

Hypertension in children

If your baby cries for excessively for too long and cries frequently despite your best attempts to soothe or console, your child might be having Infantile colic (I.C). Infantile colic starts at about 3 weeks of age and self-resolve by 6 months. Do not feel guilty about not being able to soothe your child because more children than you would assume have infantile colic. Colic and crying are different. All babies cry but not all are colicky. When babies cry it is to grab your attention to matters like hunger, wet diapers, tummy troubles, teething, or an underlying illness. And this is not colic. Ideally a colicky infant cries for more than 3 hours a day, for more than 3 days a week, and for over 3 weeks. Babies with colic are healthy, gain weight normally, and do not have digestive complaints or other known ailments. Other symptoms of colic are flushed red face when the babies cry, fussiness with arching back, drawing knees to the stomach, or clenching fists. The exact reasons for colic are still a mystery. The digestive system of infants is immature and this can lead to colic. Your child’s doctor will diagnose colic based on the symptoms, intensity and duration of the crying episodes. Managing my colicky baby:<ul><li>Ensure that your baby is not hungry or cold. Make sure to change the diapers regularly.</li><li>Always hold your baby upright while feeding and burp your baby after feeding. This prevents swallowing of air.</li><li>Bathe your baby in warm water, while gently massaging your baby's stomach.</li><li>Identify the time your baby gets fussy determine if anything seems to trigger or relieve the crying baby. Talk about your diet with your doctor, the doctor may suggest to skip some gas-producing foods from your diet.</li><li>Try new positions with your baby, swaddle them tight or massage may help. Try to turn your baby on your lap, make them sleep on stomach, and gently massage on back.</li><li>You can also try some sounds, a car ride or take them out in a pram. Sometimes changing the surroundings and outdoors may do the magic.</li><li>Take turns with family members to handle a the baby when they fussy.</li><li>When the baby is crying cradle or rock your baby in your arms. The comfort of your arms might calm your baby!</li><li>Sometimes, your child’s doctor might prescribe colic drops for your baby’s relief. But mind well that colic drops should only be given to a child after a doctor’s prescription.</li></ul> Seek immediate medical help if your baby develops other complications like breathing problems, turns pale, refuses to feed and vomits green fluid, or has traces of blood while passing motion.

Crying and colic are not the same thing and so it is important to identify the difference and address it.

mastitis health concerns

Following article(s) will help solve your concern.