The Common Cold in Children

Cold is the most common reason for a pediatric office visit. ItŸ??s responsible for a childŸ??s absence from school & parentŸ??s staying away from work.

Let us try to understand this common illness in the next few paragraphs.

What causes a Cold?

Ÿ??ColdŸ? is a group of symptoms caused by a number of viruses.Over a hundred viruses may be responsible. Therefore a child may be affected multiple times each year.

Children under 6 years of age may average 6-8 colds per year. Children in daycare appear to suffer from cold more commonly. The frequency of such episodes may decrease by the time they reach primary school.Episodes of cold may be more in children as they are still developing their immunity.

Colds may occur at any time of the year. Transmission occurs from one person to another directly or due to viruses in the environment. Colds tend to be more contagious during the first two to four days.

Contact Ÿ?? Cold virus may survive on the skin for upto 2 hrs & on surfaces (such as door handles, toys ) for upto a day. Infection can spread by touching such objects& then touching the nose, eyes, mouth of the uninfected.

Inhalation– Droplets containing virus or viral particles are released by coughing & during exhalation. However it is not usually transmitted by this route.

What are the symptoms?

Signs & symptoms usually show up a day or two after exposure. Nasal congestion & discharge are the most common symptoms. Discharge can be clear, yellow or green. Fever may be present during the initial phase. Other symptoms include: Sore throat, cough, difficulty in sleeping and decreased appetite. The glands in the neck may be enlarged. Symptoms may continue for up to 2 weeks and are usually worst during first 10 days. A second cold may sometimes superimpose and extend the period of sickness.

What are the complications?

Ear infections, wheezing, sinusitis & pneumonia are the common complications.

Ear infections: If a child develops fever after the initial phase of illness or fever continues for a prolonged period (beyond 3 days) ear infection can be suspected.

Wheezing: Children may develop wheezing even if they have not wheezed before. Colds may worsen asthma.

Sinusitis: If nasal congestion does not improve does not improve over 10 days then sinusitis may be suspected.

Pneumonia: Late onset of fever or prolonged fever may suggest pneumonia, especially if the child has signs of breathing difficulty.

How do you manage?

Treatment of cold is usually symptomatic:

  • Anti-histamines, decongestants and cough expectorants have been used with adults.
  • Improve symptoms of nasal congestion. Saline nose drops may be used to thin mucus.
  • Suction can be used to remove secretions. Adequate amounts of fluids must be taken. Honey can be used in children older than one year. Antibiotics are not effective in treating colds but may be used if complications are suspected.
  • Vitamin C used preventive may decrease the duration of cold.

How to prevent:

Hand hygiene:

  • Maintaining hand hygiene either by washing with soap and water or by using alcohol based hand rub.
  • Avoid contact of child with people who are ill.
  • Clean surfaces with household cleaner eg. Lysol

Danger Signs:

Seek immediate help in the presence of the following symptoms.

  • Prolonged refusal of feeds
  • Excessive irritability or lethargy
  • Difficulty in breathing or rapid breathing
  • Fever lasting more than 3 days
  • Prolonged nasal congestion (more than 10-15 days)
  • Ear pain & other signs of infection

Love and Limits?? Parenting playfully

Harmonious Family Life Tips to Balancing Love and Limits - Motherhood Hospital India

Discipline and Freedom: What’s the correlation between these two powerful words? Discipline is taken up as a serious business by some parents, they curb their child’s freedom to choose or act. But as they say, freedom brings in opportunities to learn likewise disciplining needs to bring in the freedom to think and choose. Our goal as a parent is to teach the child all about inner discipline or ‘self-discipline (Thoughts, feelings and choices) which takes a while for the child to learn and absorb. This inner discipline comes from a high sense of principles or values, understanding and conscience rather than the use of punishment, which uses scale or stick, shame, humiliation or even isolation.

Self-discipline is internalizing responsible actions and respect for others, the environment, and oneself. Discipline shouldn’t be about forcing a child to do something against his or her will, scaring the child into compliance or causing physical or emotional pain. Instead, validate the child’s feelings, empathize with his or her experience or pain, remove the stressor, point out the needs and feelings of others, encourage restitutions, help the child brainstorm alternative forms of actions and allow freedom of choice.

It starts with parents feeling the lack of freedom, stressing and focusing more on the role they play. However, grandparents are a lot more relaxed and experimental.They enjoy freedom, explore and bond with children a lot more, because their focus is on relationship and not responsibilities. A child feels empowered when given a chance to explore, play and feel free An essential element to grow. Our nature wants us to be free, try everything, taste everything and do everything.

Need for a paradigm shift

Parents often see uncooperative behavior as a challenge to their authority. Once we understand that uncooperative behavior may be the communication of a child’s unmet need, a hurt or any unpleasant emotion or stress, then we do not have to take the behavior, personally. A child behaves in a certain way, either in a new situation or a recurring one, because he does not know the accepted way. Using commands and threats may work immediately, but sustainability comes when such situations are dealt with love, respect, compassion, freedom and positive reinforcements. 

A child needs love the most, when we think he doesn’t deserve it.

Give your child the freedom to choose his outfit for the day, lunch for school, choose how to spend his time, play or do homework. Simple questions like these make a child feel important, involved and most importantly, valued. This freedom may require you to set limits, simple rules and directions towards acceptable and unacceptable behavior, as a family. Explain these to your child in a way that makes sense to him and most importantly benefits him, which is undoubtedly a skill for a parent to learn. Talking about positive and negative consequences helps the child connect his actions to the outcomes and eventually helps him understand the concept of cause and effect. He is then empowered to think through and predict the possible consequences before he acts.

You may have to set this new pattern, reinforce and remind your child till he is ready to accept it, with love being the key. This takes time, but the only way we learn to make responsible decisions is through practice, which comes with trial and error. And it is through freedom and practice that the child learns how to discipline himself and how to be a responsible person. He identifies feelings and develops his inner compass for what is right and wrong.

The idea is to help children develop a conscience through a strong, connected parent child relationship, allowing them to feel secured, confident and teaches them how to reconcile their mistakes. We teach best by being the example. Define love as a culture, use respect as a tool and hold compassion as the attitude to teach your child the essential lessons of behavior.

How Do Vaccinations Work

Protective benefits of vaccination: Essential components of immunization - Motherhood Hospital India

A newborn is immune to some infections because it receives antibodies from its mother; this is called “passive immunity“. Passive immunity lasts for a few weeks or months. Ironically, that immunity begins to fade away in the first few months of life. So, it’s very important to follow an immunization schedule.

What is vaccination?

Vaccination protects you from specific diseases that can make you very sick, disable or even kill you. Vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection as it would react when it recognizes and fights the real infection. They trick the body into thinking it is under assault & trigger the immune system to produce its own antibodies (substances produced by the body to fight disease), as though the body has been infected with a disease without actually infecting us and harming us with the disease. This is called “active immunity“.

Thus, vaccination is like a dress rehearsal for your immune system so it is prepared for the real show .

How does it work?

When germs, such as bacteria or viruses, invade the body, they attack and multiply quickly. This invasion is called an infection , which causes the illness.

  • The vaccine contains antigens: harmless substances (such as dead bacteria or molecules) associated with the disease.
  • The body assumes the antigens are the actual disease, and its immune system stimulates white blood cells to activate and create antibodies – proteins that can fight the disease’s bacteria or viruses – the invading organism.

How are vaccines created?

Viruses and bacteria can be produced in the laboratory by infecting cells grown in tissue culture; thereby weakening or attenuating it by growing it repeatedly to carefully select a strain that’s less dangerous.The treated pathogen is then combined with stabilizers and preservatives, to produce a vaccine dose.

Does it have any harmful side-effects?

Seldom, vaccination can cause minor symptoms, such as fever. They are normal and can be expected as the body builds immunity. If a child was given 11 vaccines all at the same time, it would only use a thousandth of its immune system, so it does not harm the baby!

How long is the vaccine effective?

Generally vaccinations provide lifelong protection against a disease, but others need boosting. The duration depends on the disease that is being protected against, the vaccine and the person’s inbuilt immunity.

Some vaccines provide high levels of protection like MMR provides 90% protection against measles and rubella after single dose. Others are not as effective typhoid vaccine provides around 70% protection over three years; Tetanus may need boosters.

The antibodies don’t disappear even after their work is done. If these germs reappear, whether it’s a few weeks or many years later, the antibodies are ready to protect & prevent the infection.

Is one vaccination enough to give my child immunity?

The antibodies are very specific. They have been created to combat to a specific disease. The mumps virus, cannot to work against rubella. Thus, one should follow the immunization schedule. Young children are vulnerable to many potentially dangerous infections.

Can vaccination eliminate diseases?

The disease can be eradicated completely if the vaccination is given to most people, as has happened with smallpox and polio. If enough people in a community are vaccinated, it’s harder for a disease to infect even those people who have not been vaccinated. This is called “herd immunity“.

Teaching Your Child Good Manners

They say parents are the first teachers in the life of a child. That is why it is important to start inculcating good behaviour in your child as early as possible. Good behaviour can be taught at any time and any place, at family meals, outings, etc. In this blog we provide parents basic tips they need to teach good behaviour to their child. This will improve the child’s personality and promote positive social behaviour. Be a role model to your child Remember the old saying, Practice what you preach ? That’s exactly what you need to do. If you want your child to say please and ‘thank you , you need to be good examples. You need to give respect to earn respect from others, including your child. Family meals are the best time to showcase the right behaviour to the child. Use polite language while talking to your spouse and other members of the family especially in the presence of the child. Table manners can be easy to teach when the family eats together. Let others try teaching your child Do you think your child is not listening to you? Maybe you should let someone your child looks up to, to help you out. Maybe a neighbour, friend, or relative that your child really looks up to or is very fond of should motivate your child to display good manners. blog food Also get the same people to behave in good way in front of the child. Other too must be a good influence on your child. After all children are extremely impressionable and can easily learn impolite behaviour. Acknowledge and appreciate good behaviour It is important that you appreciate your child each time he demonstrates good behaviour.Encourage him to be quiet and well behaved when you go to public places like restaurants and the movies. When he does remain quiet and well behaved, tell him how impressed you are with his behaviour. Places like the mall or a kiddie restaurant can be a good place to practice good manners. Rewarding good behaviour is also a good idea but don’t let the child behave well only for the rewards. Eventually, when you take your child out to fancy restaurants and other social gatherings, he will know exactly how to behave. Be polite, positiveandpatient The key ingredients to raising a well-behaved child include the three P’s:
  • Politeness: Remember to be polite to your child while correcting wrong behaviour. Keep your voice low but firm and look straight into his eyes while talking. The child must understand that you are correcting him because you care and not because you want to control.
  • Positivity: Parents must always have a positive attitude while teaching the child good manners. Don’t use negative words that can make the child feel threatened, fearful or not loved .Choose your words wisely while correcting the child.
  • Patience: Patience is important as well. Teaching good manners is not an overnight affair. At first you might feel you are fighting a losing battle, but success doesn’t come easy. Give your child to understand and learn the benefits of good behaviour. Also remember that every child is different and you might have to use a different, customised approach if required. Combine these tips with your parenting instincts, and you re good to go!

ADVANCED WOMEN AND CHILD HEALTHCARE CENTRE

Making motherhood a blissful experience,Motherhood Indiranagar

Women require unique and specialised health care in every stage of life; some for themselves and some for their children. With a view to providing women in Bangalore a healthcare facility close to home,Motherhood, Bangalore inaugurated the new wing of their Indiranagar facility on 14th November 2013.

The facility known as the Advanced Women & Child Healthcare Centre is equipped with ultra-modern medical facilities to provide comprehensive care in Gynaecology, Neonatology and Paediatrics. The centre was inaugurated by Mr. U.T. Khader, Honourable Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Karnataka.

While most pregnancies progress without any problems, some require specialized care. Motherhood has partnered with leading experts in fetal medicine, The Bangalore Fetal Medicine Center (BFMC) to give this expert care to the unborn baby primary care while it is still in the womb, making it possible to diagnose and manage genetic and other abnormalities in the fetus. Fetal medicine specialists, sonologists and emotional counsellors provide the most advanced treatment and care.

Motherhood has also partnered with Kosmoderma Skin Clinics &Medispa’s, a leading skin, hair and laser clinic in South India. Motherhood  Mommy  Makeover for new mothers provides customised cosmetology services to women before, during and after pregnancy.The Mommy Makeover program includes, Anti-stretch Mark Treatment for body, Post Delivery Tummy Toning, etc.

We recognise that the health of women and children is very essential in building a self-reliant, healthy, stable and confident community. Our healthcare centre functions with the assistance of world-class expertise and technology, coupled with compassion and a home-like setting.

Iron Kids

Why Iron is Crucial?

Iron is essential to your child’s growth and development. Lack of iron in the diet may result in iron deficiency where the blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, providing energy and giving skin a healthy colour. Untreated iron deficiency in children can lead to delays in their physical and mental development and advance to iron deficiency anaemia.

15th-april-blog

Who’s at risk?

  • Babies born prematurely or have low birth weight.
  • Babies fed on cow’s milk before age 1 (cow milk has low iron).
  • Breast-fed babies who aren’t given iron rich complementary foods after age 6 months.
  • Babies fed on non-iron fortified formula.
  • Children ages 1 to 5 who drink more than 710ml (24 ounces) of cow’s milk, goat’s milk or soy milk a day.
  • Children with chronic infections or restricted diets.
  • Adolescent girls lose iron through menstruation.

What are the signs?

  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Pale skin
  • Poor appetite
  • Shortness of breath
  • Irritability and behavioral problems
  • Inflammation of the tongue
  • Difficulty maintaining body temperature
  • Increased likelihood of infections
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or pure starch

How to prevent?

  • Breast-feed or use iron-fortified formula
  • Encourage a balanced diet
  • Consider iron supplements

To keep your child’s growth and development on track, pay attention to how much iron your child is getting through his or her diet and talk to your child’s doctor about the need for screening and iron supplements. Remember, excessive iron intake is also harmful for children. Never give iron supplements/pills without consulting your doctor.

For further details or queries , kindly contact us at tomotherhoodindia@gmail.com