Dr Aliraza Khunt

Palak Vyas

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a virus. This virus lives in mosquitoes. The virus can cause fever, headaches, rashes, and pain throughout the body. Most cases of dengue fever are mild and go away on their own after about a week. When a mosquito infected by dengue virus bites a person, the person can get affected by dengue fever. The virus can't spread directly from person to person. In rare cases, dengue fever can lead to a more serious form of the disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF can be life-threatening and needs to be treated right away. It can be fatal sometimes. Common signs and symptoms of dengue fever include:<ul><li>Symptoms of dengue fever are generally mild in younger children and those who have the disease for the first time.</li><li>High fever, possibly as high as 105°F (40°C)</li><li>Pain behind the eyes and in the joints, muscles and/or bones</li><li>Severe headache</li><li>Pink rashes over most of the body</li><li>Mild bleeding from the nose or gums</li></ul>Symptoms can start anywhere from 4 days to 2 weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and typically last for 2 to 7 days. Diagnosis: If you think your child might have dengue fever, call a doctor right away. You should also call a doctor if your child has recently been to a region that has dengue fever and has a fever or severe headache. The doctor will ask about your child's medical history and recent travels, and send a blood sample for testing. Treatment:No specific treatment is available for dengue fever. Mild cases are managed with lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and getting plenty of rest. Pain relieving medicines can ease the headaches and pain associated with dengue fever. Most cases of dengue fever go away within a week or two and won't cause any lasting problems. If someone has severe symptoms of the disease, or if symptoms get worse in the first day or two, seek immediate medical care. Prevention:<ul><li>There's no vaccine to prevent dengue fever. The best protection is to prevent bites by an infected mosquito. Be sure to:</li><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> Natural Remedies for Dengue Fever:<ul><li>Drink sufficient Water</li><li>Juice of Papaya Leaves</li><li>Chew Basil Leaves</li><li>Neem Leaves</li><li>Orange Juice</li></ul>

Here are Dengue Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Remedies.

All about dengue

Ravina Sewani

<ul><li>Pet allergy is body’s immune response against animal’s dander (dead skin in animal fur), animal’s saliva, or animal’s urine. The body perceives all of these as a threat and triggers an allergic reaction in your child.</li><li>A pet with a lot of fur or feathers on its body holds a greater chance of triggering an allergic reaction in your child.</li><li>If your child has been diagnosed of pet allergy by your child’s paediatrician, it is better to not own a pet. If your child loves animals, you can take him/her visit your friend’s or relative’s pets once in a while.</li><li>If your child is allergic to other things as well, then your child may show immediate symptoms after coming in contact with some animals.</li><li>Pet allergies are known to self-resolve after avoiding animals for some time. But if this is not the case, it is better to not own pets at all.</li><li>Pet allergens are airborne so use an air filter in your house to keep your child from contacting these allergens. Keep the carpets at the minimum in your house.</li><li>Keep your pet’s belongings and cage clean and free of fur.</li><li>Keeping pets outdoor might help a bit but does not solve the problem entirely.</li><li>Treatments include prescription of antihistamines and nasal sprays by your child’s paediatrician.</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></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>

Children love pets. But sometimes, the pet dander may cause allergies in children.

Pet allergy

Practically, a child can be allergic towards any fruit but the most common are apples, pears, cherries, peaches, melons, plums, kiwis. Causes: Proteins present in the fruit that the child is allergic to. Symptoms: Symptoms usually show up minutes after a child has been exposed to a fruit that (s)he is allergic to. Sometimes, the symptoms might show up after a few hours.The symptoms include:<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>Drop in blood pressure</li><li>Severe reactions include loss of consciousness, chest pain, turning pale, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, or anaphylaxis</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>The first thing is to not self-diagnose. Always rely on a healthcare expert's diagnosis.</li><li>A healthcare expert will examine your child's symptoms, his/her health history, and conduct other tests if required, to confirm whether your child has an allergy towards particular foods or not.</li><li>The doctor might get a blood test or a skin prick test done for your child.</li></ul> Foods to avoid:<ul><li>Fresh fruit to which the child is allergic.</li><li>Fresh fruit juice.</li><li>Desserts or food dishes which contain the fruit to which your child is allergic.</li><li>Fruit flavoured packed foods.</li></ul> Treating allergies:<ul><li>The best way to prevent allergies of any sort in children is to avoid the source of the allergen.</li><li>In allergies, paediatricians usually prescribe antihistamine medicines for mild allergic reactions. Whereas for severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis, your child’s paediatrician will prescribe an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI).</li></ul> Precautions:<ul><li>Develop a habit of reading the food labels for ingredients and allergy information.</li><li>Teach your child to mention about the allergy whenever (s)he goes to visit someone.</li><li>Inform your child’s school about your child’s allergy. You can also give the medicines prescribed by your child’s doctor to the school which they can use in case of sudden allergic reactions.</li><li>Be careful about the possibility of cross-contact; especially when visiting a restaurant.</li><li>Always keep the allergy medication handy for your child.</li></ul>

Not every child will have an allergy towards the same fruit. Every child's immune system reacts differently towards different fruits. The allergic reaction, however, is more or less the same towards any kind of fruit.

Fruit allergies

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

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is also known as cot/crib death. As per the name, it is a sudden unexplained death of a child under 1 year of age with no explainable reasons after a thorough biopsy. SIDS is more likely to occur between 2 to 4 months of infants. SIDS is more prevalent in boys. Most SIDS deaths occur in the winter. Causes: The cause of SIDS is unknown. Researchers believe that low levels of oxygen or a build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood might be the reason behind SIDS. When babies sleep face down, they may re-breathe exhaled carbon dioxide and so the CO2 levels rise in the blood. Risk factors of SIDS:<ul><li>Sleeping on the stomach.</li><li>Being around cigarette smoke while in the womb or after being born.</li><li>Soft bedding in the crib.</li><li>Multiple birth babies (being a twin, triplet, etc.).</li><li>Premature birth.</li><li>Having a brother or sister who had SIDS.</li><li>Mothers who smoke or use illegal drugs.</li><li>Being born to a teen mother.</li><li>Short time period between pregnancies.</li><li>Late or no prenatal care.</li></ul> Diagnosis: A baby is determined to have died from SIDS if no cause of death can be identified. Treatment: There is no treatment available for SIDS as of yet. Preventive measures:<ul><li>Put your baby to sleep on his back.</li><li>See that you don’t put extra pillows, blankets or bumper pads in the bed with the baby.</li><li>See the baby doesn’t get too hot.</li><li>Always use a firm sleep surface for baby’s the bed.</li><li>Keep your baby away from smoke and smokers.</li><li>Use of pacifiers reduces risk of SIDS, although the reason is unclear.</li></ul>

Here are SIDS Causes, Risk factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.

All about Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Causes of deafness:<ul><li>Otitis media: middle ear infection</li><li>Premature birth</li><li>Diabetic mother</li><li>Genetic make-up</li><li>Smoking or consuming alcohol while pregnancy</li><li>Nervous or brain disorder</li><li>Illness of injuries - meningitis, encephalitis, measles, chickenpox, flu</li></ul> Look for these signs to make sure that your child's hearing is developing continuously: From birth to four months, your infant should:<ul><li>Startle at loud sounds</li><li>Wake up or stir at loud noises</li><li>Respond to your voice by smiling or cooing</li><li>Calm down at a familiar voice</li></ul> From four months to nine months, your infant should:<ul><li>Smile when spoken to</li><li>Notice toys that make sounds</li><li>Turn its head toward familiar sounds</li><li>Make babbling noises</li><li>Understand hand motions like the bye-bye wave</li></ul> From nine to 15 months, your baby should:<ul><li>Make various babbling sounds</li><li>Repeat some simple sounds</li><li>Understand basic requests</li><li>Use its voice to get your attention</li><li>Respond to name</li></ul> From 15 to 24 months, your toddler should:<ul><li>Use many simple words</li><li>Point to body parts when you ask</li><li>Name common objects</li><li>Listen with interests to songs, rhymes and stories</li><li>Point to familiar objects you name</li><li>Follow basic commands</li></ul> Hearing loss Symptoms:<ul><li>No reaction to loud noises</li><li>No response to your voice</li><li>Child makes simple sounds that taper off</li><li>Pulls or rubs an ear</li><li>Be constantly cranky for no clear reason</li><li>Stops paying attention</li><li>Has little energy</li><li>Does not understand directions</li><li>Often asks for the TV or radio to be louder</li><li>Has a fever</li><li>Has ear pain</li></ul> Diagnosis: Hospitals usually check newborns' hearing before they are sent home. Some others are particularly tested where deafness is known in the family. Types of Hearing Loss:<ol><li>Conductive hearing loss: It is caused by something that stops the sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear. This type is usually treated via medicines or surgery.</li><li>Sensorineural hearing loss: It is caused because of the functionality problem either of the inner ear or hearing nerve.</li><li>Mixed hearing loss: It is due both the conductive and the sensorineural hearing loss.</li><li>Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: The sound enters the ear normally but because of the defects in either the inner ear or in the hearing nerve, the brain does not understand what the sound is.</li><li>Unilateral or Bilateral hearing loss: Hearing loss in one ear (unilateral) or both the ears (bilateral).</li><li>Symmetrical or Asymmetrical: Hearing loss is the same in both the ears (symmetrical) or different in both the ears (asymmetrical).</li><li>Congenital or Acquired: Hearing loss from birth (congenital) or develops later in life (acquired).</li></ol> Treatment:<ul><li>Conditions like otitis media go away on their own. So if your child is diagnosed of otitis media, in time (s)he will be able to hear soon. An ENT doctor will guide you for the same. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics for this condition. If otitis media does not improve, an ENT doctor might suggest getting the ear tubes surgery done.</li></ul>Other treatments include:<ul><li>Hearing aids: Children as young as 1 month old can use this device. Consult an ENT doctor to choose the right device for your child.</li><li>Implants: These are electronic devices which are placed in the inner ear to help with the hearing. These are a second resort when hearing aids don't work.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Maintain healthy lifestyle during pregnancy.</li><li>Make sure the child gets all the vaccines.</li><li>Keep your child away from excessive loud noises.</li><li>Wear ear protection like earplugs or earmuffs if you are going to be around very loud noises for more than a few minutes.</li><li>Remove excessive earwax.</li></ul> Raising a child with hearing impairment:Hearing impairment can be either congenital defect, due to some injury/disease or due to exposure to loud noises after birth. Raising a child with hearing loss can be quite challenging. It is altogether different. It will demand more patience and more understanding with loads of love.Depending upon the level of deafness, parents can select a kindergarten or school where a child's special needs are met. There are special schools and educators for such differently-abled children. With certain children, hearing is possible with surgery or a hearing device. But sometimes this defect is irreversible and can’t be cured. In all cases, the child and parents can learn different ways of communication to understand each other better. Lip reading skills, written or printed texts and sign language, are the ways for communication with such children.&nbsp;There are important aspects that parents can work on:<ol><li>The most important of all is a child's self-esteem. As a parent, you can always boost their confidence by praising their little efforts and continuous smiles.</li><li>Motivate them throughout the process.</li><li>Usually parents tend to overlook and forget to acknowledge their child’s immense effort in coping with the situation.</li><li>Do not treat them as weak. Support them but at the same time let them learn to be independent.</li><li>Let them have their own battles and own victories. Do not talk on their behalf. Unless they ask you, stay away and let them deal with friends and people on their own.</li><li>Be around whenever they need help but do not impose yourself all the time and everywhere.</li><li>Gradually the child as well as people around develop understanding and learn to communicate with each other.</li><li>Stay consistent with your behaviour. Sometimes the parents start pitying their child. Avoid over sympathising with them. As a parent, you give them the liberties which you would not otherwise if they could hear. So do not do this. Raise them firmly and with the right kind of attitude. Do not compare your hearing-impaired child to another child who can hear properly.</li><li>There should be same rules and regulations for all the kids in the house.</li><li>Instil qualities of self-control, behavioural management, cooperative skills and positive responses to people.</li><li>Good communication is the basis of good bonds in the family. Be patient with such a child and let them have their time to communicate. Give them a fair chance to express in everyone’s presence.</li><li>You, as a family, can learn the sign language or develop a system to communicate with your child. Playing games using sign languages can enhance his/her communication skills.</li><li>Family support is the strength of such a child. Be sensitive and supportive of them. Help them feel normal, natural and strong.</li></ol>

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

All about Deafness

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

In mastitis, your breasts might become tender, warm to touch, breast may get swollen, get a breast lump, skin redness, experience burning sensation continuously or while breast-feeding. Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast due to ineffective draining of milk. Mastitis is known to happen in only one breast but sometimes it can happen in both your breasts. Mastitis requires medical advice right away. When you are breastfeeding, milk production is a continuous process and if you do not empty your breasts, the pressure around the breasts increases and the milk builds up in the surrounding breasts tissues. This build up of milk causes redness and swelling. If the milk enters into the blood stream, your immune system might respond with fever or with chills and heat alternatively. Mastitis sometimes is also caused by bacteria entering your body through your cracked nipples or milk ducts. The risk of mastitis increases there is poor draining of milk, sore or cracked nipples, inefficient nursing, or if you wear a tight-fitting dress restricting your milk flow, if you smoke or have a poor nutrition compromising your immunity. If left untreated, mastitis could lead to abscess. Mastitis can be prevented by ensuring drainage of the milk from your breasts while breast-feeding. This can be done by allowing your baby to fully feed from one breast before offering the other.The usual treatment for mastitis includes prescription of antibiotics. Mastitis can recur if you do not treat the cause. You need to drain your breast totally during every feed. Continue to breastfeed through your bout of mastitis as this may help you. If you do not do this, you run the risk of another infection.

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast due to ineffective draining of milk.

Mastitis in mothers

Samiksha Choithani

Children experience toothache because the nerves and the blood vessels are very sensitive in the teeth and gum area. Causes:<ul><li>Diet of the child</li><li>Cavities</li><li>Bacterial infection</li><li>Broken teeth</li><li>Infected gums</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Swelling, painful gums</li><li>Bad taste in the mouth (from an infection in a tooth)</li><li>Fever or headache</li><li>Bleeding from gums</li><li>Pain while chewing</li><li>Hot or cold sensitivity</li><li>Tooth pain that only occurs when pressure is applied</li></ul> Diagnosis:A check-up by dentist leads to an appropriate diagnosis. Sometimes, dentists carry out dental X-rays to diagnose the problem properly. Sometimes, X-rays Various ways of handling the teething pain at home are:<ol><li>Use a cold pack: Apply a cold pack against your child’s cheek where there is painful sensation. If you don’t have a cold compress, you can wrap a few pieces of ice in a cloth and use it.</li><li>Make your child rinse their mouth with warm water and a teaspoon of table salt.</li><li>You can also use a clean finger or moistened gauze pads to rub your child’s gums, this might help to ease the discomfort.</li><li>Rinse with warm saline water: Add a teaspoon of table salt in a warm cup of water. Ask your child to swish it in mouth for 30 seconds and spit.</li></ol> Medical Treatment:<ul><li>Visit the dentist when your child develops a fever or there is an increase in discomfort.</li><li>The doctor might give an injection around the tooth if the pain is severe. If there is swelling in the gums or face, or if your child have fever, antibiotics may be prescribed.</li><li>For more severe cases like tooth decay, root canal may be performed.</li></ul> Prevention:<ul><li>Help your child to maintain the oral hygiene.</li><li>Ask them to properly gargle after eating.</li><li>Make a habit of brushing teeth twice in a day.</li><li>Avoid sugary foods.</li></ul>

Toothache is quite common among children as they like to munch on anything and everything.

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