SERVICES WE PROVIDE

Bringing a new life to an existence is one of the most precious moments of any parent’s life. At KIMS Cuddles, we strive to make those precious moments of a mother even more memorable and cherishing through our services.

Diagnosis Of Child Health Issues

Our Pediatric health care unit diagnoses the health issues of the children to the root cause for effective treatment of the child. We use the best of equipments which provide trans...

Read More...

High Frequency Ventilators

Babies who have severe lung disease may fail on conventional ventilators. For such babies we have the facility of high frequency ventilation....

Read More...

Mechanical Ventilation

Sick newborns especially preterms may have lung immaturity/dysfunction. These neonates may require ventilator support....

Read More...

Neurodevelopmental Care

Our team includes Occupational therapist and support staff who visit the NICU regularly and help in the developmental support of the sick babies. This support continues even after ...

Read More...

Universal Hearing Screening

All babies born in KIMS Cuddles undergo hearing tests to detect early deafness....

Read More...

Doctor Videos


Dr. P Rajesh Khanna, Parenting, Pediatric Services, Vaccination, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. P Rajesh Khanna, Parenting, Pediatric Services, Vaccination, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. P Rajesh Khanna, Parenting, Pediatric Services, Vaccination, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. Aparna C., Dr. Aravinda Lochani T, Dr. Pranitha Reddy, Lactation Support Services, Neonatal Surgeries, Neonatology Services, NICU, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. Aravinda Lochani T, Human Milk Bank, Lactation, Lactation Support Services, Neonatal Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Neonatal Surgeries, Neonatology Services, NICU, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. Pranitha Reddy, Neonatology Services, Parenting, Pediatric Services, PICU, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. Aparna C., Neonatology Services, NICU, Parenting, Pediatric Services, Vaccination, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. Aravinda Lochani T, Neonatal Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Neonatal Nephrology, Neonatal Surgeries, Neonatology Services, NICU, Parenting, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. Pranitha Reddy, Neonatal Nephrology, Neonatal Surgeries, Neonatology Services, NICU, Parenting, Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Pediatric Services, Well Baby Clinic


Dr. Aparna C., Neonatology Services, Parenting, Pediatric Services, Well Baby Clinic

Health Blogs

image

23 December, 2022

Three Surprising Causes of Infant Weight Loss

Authored By:

A Baby’s weight during their growth plays a significant role. It helps us track their development and growth. It is like a direct indicator of their healthy upbringing. Then, what if you notice your baby is underweight or losing weight. Do not panic; it is not very dangerous. However, it is still not a great sign to consider.  It is good to know the reasons behind infant weight loss. We might do some of these on a regular basis without knowing the fact how harmful they are for your kids. Check out these three surprising causes of infant weight loss.  Bathing the baby soon after feeding A lot of parents think that a full stomach will keep the baby put during the bath. Maybe, babies might feel drowsy and do not make much noise, but this daily will affect their metabolism. When an infant is fed, the food takes time to digest, just as it does in any adult’s body. Now, bathing the baby cools down the body and slows down the metabolism rate. This causes late digestion, indigestion and gas issues in the tiny ones.  Having longer gaps between the meals  You might have already observed how less your little ones consume at a time. Yes, their little stomachs cannot fit in more. But, their growing body requires more food. Thus, we need to feed them more. Long spans of time between meals trigger gas in toddlers. This gas will bloat their stomach for hours, leaving them uncomfortable, which in turn leads to rejection of food.  Giving liquids or breastfeeds before actual meals  For babies older than six months, supplying solid food is an important part of nutrition. Giving breastfeeds, water or any liquids before actual meals will occupy their tiny stomachs. Thus, avoid the food that is provided which has more nutritional value. Baby meals must be adequately planned, and you should take some extra care about timing.  Do not worry about your baby’s weight if you are following the above three measures. If that’s not the case, think of it and monitor your baby’s weight and metabolism levels. Consult a paediatrician or doctor for better tips and tracking measures of your baby’s growth!! *Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision. 

image

24 January, 2022

Baby’s First Year – Feeding Schedule and Nutrition Tips

Authored By:

You’ve happily clicked a snap of your little munchkin eating messily! That’s great, but now are you worried about how to provide the best nutrition to your baby in the first year? Fret not, here’s a guide on the feeding schedule for baby in the first year. Keeping in mind the fact that different infants require a different amount of nutrition, the nutrition you provide to your infant depends on his or her age, appetite, and body weight. So let’s have a glance at the healthy food for baby according to their age in the first year of birth. Newborns. As you must know, infants should receive the nutrition and calories only through breast milk or formula.  So let’s know the feeding schedule for baby with both these items. Breast milk According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, an infant should drink one to two ounces of breast milk per feeding. However, once your baby is at least two weeks old, the amount of this quantity will amplify to two to three ounces.  Generally, you need to feed breast milk to your newborn every two to three hours ass it proves to be a healthy food for baby. Formula. If you’re opting to include a formula in the feeding schedule for baby, then make sure to provide two to three Oz per feeding. Additionally, you need to remember that the infants take up formula every three to four hours. Once your baby grows, gradually the amount of this liquid even increases. According to an associate professor of general pediatrics in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, you should provide 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of your baby’s weight. 1-3 months old babies. The feeding schedule for baby gradually heightens as he or she enters the three months of age threshold. During this period, the baby will become more vocal when his or her appetite increases. The healthy food for baby during this period is also either breast milk or formula. According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, a two-month-old baby can consume four to five Oz of breast milk or formula every three to four hours. Four to six months old. When the babies reach five to six months of age, they tend to start eating solids. Some of the indicators showing that your infant may now be ready to take in solids include their grabbing skills and head and neck control.  So during this duration, you can aim at providing one to two tablespoons of food to your child twice a day. However, make sure not to substitute solid food with milk completely. The American Academy of Paediatrics suggests including some 8 ounces per feeding every four to five hours once your baby is six months old. 6-9 months old. Healthy food for baby when he or she is 6 to 9 months old includes both milk and solid items. However, during this period, the major calories should still come from breast milk or formula. Generally, you may aim at feeding up to two meals to your child that include two to four tablespoons each. You can introduce solid items to your child during this period that include single-grain baby cereals, pureed fruits, vegetables or meats. At the same time, when breastfeeding, make sure not to cross the limit of 32 ounces of formula per day. 9 to 12 months old Once your baby enters this age threshold, the feeding schedule for baby should provide half the calories from food and half from breast milk or formula.  Generally, babies even like to play with their food and explore their tastes during this period. So you can even consider adding yogurt, or an additional dip with their whole-grain crackers or food items. So now you can create a feeding schedule for baby that includes healthy food for baby. *Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before making any decision. 

image

21 January, 2022

What is a Neonatal Care Specialist and What’s Their Job Description?

Authored By:

Once a baby enters into this world, he or she needs to be taken care of. The transition of the baby from the womb to the outside world is made smoother with the efficacious services of a neonatal care specialist. A neonatologist or a Neonatal Care Specialist is a physician who provides care for newborns, especially infants that are born prematurely and have different health issues. Due to this, the services of a Neonatal care specialist are hired by different Community hospitals, University Medical centers, and other children’s hospitals. Now let’s have a peek at the job description and the qualifications or education required to become a Neonatal care specialist.  Education of a Neonatal care specialist  What is a Neonatal doctor? A Neonatal doctor or a neonatologist is a physician responsible to maintain the proper nutrition of a newborn. To practice the profession of a neonatal care specialist, you need to acquire a demanding educational path. This means you have to procure your undergraduate degree and then spend four years in a medical school. Once medical school is done, a neonatologist spends another three years in residency in general pediatrics.  When your education is completed, you need to obtain general certification from the American Board of Paediatrics. This requires you to pass certain education requirements along with the certification exam. Once done, you are ready to practice the different job roles and responsibilities of a neonatologist. Job description and responsibilities of a neonatal care specialist. The basic job role and responsibility of a Neonatal care specialist is to ensure that the newborn receives proper nutrition and is taken care of to the best extent. For this, the neonatologist might consult the parents, paediatricians and other healthcare providers of the infant.  In normal circumstances, most pediatrics have enough experience and education to provide nutrition and care to infants. However, in the cases where a baby is born prematurely or has several other health issues,  the services of a neonatal care specialist are to be hired. These physicians work in Intensive care units and are responsible to diagnose several conditions in the infants after their birth. They are responsible to treat infections, birth defects and breathing problems in premature babies by coordinating with their healthcare providers. Sometimes when the medical issues of the baby are known in advance, the neonatal care specialist may even be present during labour. Or, he or she may arrive just after birth for a short-term follow up care of the infant before passing the child to the pediatrician. Working conditions of a neonatologist  Just like other doctors, the working conditions of a fetal treatment specialist require working for long hours. They may even be called during the weekends and evenings and spend most of the time standing or walking. Additionally, the neonatal care specialists often get emotionally connected with their patients and hence may spend additional time with them.

image

06 January, 2022

Skin Care Advice And Protecting Your Baby’s Skin

Authored By:

Once you have brought your newborn home, the most important thing on your list should be to keep him or her warm and nourished. Knowing skin care tips for babies is crucial because newborn skin is delicate and it requires special care. Besides the normal rashes, different fragrances, chemicals or even detergents and baby products can cause irritation, allergies, dryness and chap on your infant’s skin. But if you know the right skin protection tips, you can save your baby from all such issues. So let’s have a glance at the skin care tips for babies that will help you to protect your babies skin.  Natural skin care advice for babies A newborn baby has a natural baby skin defensive mechanism with wrinkly skin and the protective covering known as vernix. This skin layer naturally peels off in the initial first week of the baby. So you need to make sure not to invade this natural process by rubbing or treating their baby’s skin, with creams and lotions in the initial first week. However, in case your child is born past the due date, then the naturally peeling off process is likely to be already finished while they are inside the womb. Skin care tips for babies. Besides not invading with the natural skin defensive mechanism of the babies, certain other skin protection tips for your newborns are explained below. The most crucial thing which you should remember before practising any skin care tips for babies is that in the case of newborns and infants, ‘less is more’. Do not commit the mistake of bathing your baby frequently. By frequently, here we mean not to bathe your baby more than three times in a single week during the first year of your baby’s life. In case you frequently bathe your baby, you are only depriving his/her skin of natural oils. Not only this, but frequent bathing can even lead to dry skin or sometimes amplify eczema. So this is one of the most crucial skin protection tips to remember for your infant. Instead of bathing, you can conduct a sponge bath two to three times a week. This is because generally, the newborns don’t get very dirty except for the diaper changes or droolings. Since they are not working, playing or working out, they are generally clean. Between the sponge baths, you can simply clean your baby’s diaper area and mouth with a cleanser or little water. Make sure not to use Scented baby products on your baby’s skin during the early months. You never know which product or ingredient can prove to be harmful or allergic to your infant’s skin. It is quite essential to wash your baby’s clothes before they are worn. However, while washing, make sure to use a baby laundry detergent that is free from any dyes or fragrances. Due to the same reason, it is advised not to wash your baby’s clothes, blanket or bedding with your family’s clothes. Another alternative here can be to use the same baby laundry detergent for the entire family. To evade the problems of eczema or dry skin on your baby, you should prefer soft clothing, like cotton. In order to avoid diaper rashes, check your baby’s diaper frequently and change them if they are wet or soiled. You should avoid using baby wipes and instead use a soft cloth. The reason behind this is that some of the wipes have alcohol or perfumes in them that can further irritate your child’s skin and cause rashness. So these are some of the important skin care tips for babies that you should follow. *Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before making any decision.

image

23 November, 2021

Newborn Sleep

Authored By:

Newborn Sleep  Sleep patterns in newborn babies is different from that of children in that they usually sleep for most of the time in a day. Often this will be hard for the new parents to know what normal sleep pattern of their newborn baby is and how long a baby will sleep. How are sleep patterns in newborn? Newborn baby sleep for most of the time in a 24hour period and wakes up in between for feeding every few hours. There will not be any fixed schedule for the newborn sleep and their day and nights are little confusing. Most of the newborn babies sleep for about 16 to 18hours duration in a 24hour period. They sleep mostly in the day time and will be awake during night time. This could be probably due to sleep pattern during the stay in their mother’s womb. They usually start to learn the day and night rhythm by about 6 to 8weeks of age. But the sleep patterns can vary and some babies may not sleep during night time through their initial few months. Newborn baby will wake up for feeds atleast once in every 2 to 3 hours. Parents need to closely watch for the changes that happen in the sleep patterns of the newborn as their sleep duration will gradually decrease and awake period increases through their first year of life. How can we identify the sleep readiness of the newborn baby? The following signs can help you to know the readiness for sleep. Fussiness Excessive Yawning Not interested in the surroundings Redness of the eyes What are the different alert phases in a newborn? Newborns also differ in their alertness as well. Quiet & alert phase: Phase where the baby is awake, not crying, calm and interested in the surrounding. Active & alert phase: Phase where the baby is active and attentive to sounds. Crying phase: This follows active and alert phase. Baby can be easily over stimulated, and cries out loudly. Baby can be held and swaddled to calm down. How can you help the baby to fall asleep? When the newborn baby shows signs of sleep readiness, they can be held in your arms, make the environment comfortable, calm and quiet. Swaddling also help them to feel safe and help in falling asleep.  What sleep positions are best for a baby? Putting the baby on his or her back is safest. Prone position (placing baby on tummy) and side sleeping positions has an increased risk of sudden infant death (SIDS) as per research. What are the things to keep in mind while making a newborn sleep? As per American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommendations on infant bedding: Baby should be placed on his or her back on a firm surface Avoid pillows, soft toys, comforters in the baby’s bed Tuck a thin blanket only upto baby’s chest Baby’s face should remain uncovered.

image

13 October, 2021

Fever In Newborn

Authored By: Dr. Aravinda Lochani T

Normal body temperature is 98.6 F or 37 C (+/- 0.5 C). Any body temperature greater than 99.5 F or 37. 5 C is termed as fever in newborns. Fever is the body’s defense mechanism that helps to fight infection or inflammation. How to measure fever: By using a digital thermometer in the axilla (armpit) or with the help of an infrared thermometer which measures the skin temperature (usually measured from the forehead) Causes of fever:  Dehydration (due to poor feeding) Hot environment or proximity to sunlight Wrapping the baby in too many clothes Infection Postvaccination Maternal fever at the time of delivery Symptoms: The baby may be irritable, appear flushed, have either fast breathing or decreased breathing efforts, have dull activity, abnormal tone, and decreased intake of feeds Untreated fever or infection may lead to seizures and has increased risk of mortality.  What to do when your baby has fever: First unwrap the baby and keep the baby in a normal environment (25-28 C). Try to give breastfeed/expressed breast milk as spoon feed to the baby. Recheck the temperature after 20-30 minutes.  If baby’s temperature is normal and baby is feeding adequately, ensure frequent feeds. A properly fed baby sleeps comfortably between two feeding sessions, passes urine 8-10 times in a day and gains weight consistently. If the baby is still having a temperature of > 99.5 F, or having any other symptoms mentioned above, approach the doctor as early as possible for complete evaluation of dehydration/ infection.  KEEPING BABIES WARM (PREVENTING HYPOTHERMIA) Normal body temperature in adults is maintained by metabolism (through brown fat stored inside the body) as well as by shivering. Babies, before they were born, lie inside the mother’s womb, where the amniotic fluid keeps the baby warm. Normal body temperature of newborns measured in the axilla(armpit) is between 36.5 C- 37.5 C. After birth babies tend to become hypothermic due to the cold environment and also because of not able to generate appropriate shivering response. Low body temperature leads to dull activity, poor feeding, increased risk of infections and also increased risk of mortality. How to avoid hypothermia (or low body temperature) in term babies: Immediately after birth baby should be dried fully with a clean towel and placed on the mother’s chest/ abdomen. Breast feeding should be initiated within 1 hour of birth and baby should be roomed in with the mother throughout the day. Breast feeding should be encouraged every 2nd hourly, in the first few postnatal days. Avoid bathing the baby until the cord falls off. Keep the baby always covered with cap, socks, mittens and dress. Keep the baby wrapped properly all the time. Maintain the room temperature between 25- 28 C. Avoid placing the baby near open window or doors where there might be exposure to cold air/draught. The palms and soles of the baby should be as warm as the chest when the skin temperature of the baby is felt by the back of the parent’s hand.  If the soles of the baby feel cold compared to chest, baby is in cold stress and needs to be clothed and wrapped properly If for any reason, baby’s skin feels cold, or baby is dull with decreased intake of feeds, contact the health care personnel. PREMATURE INFANTS: Premature infants are more vulnerable to low body temperature because of: A higher skin surface area compared to weight.Thin skin with no subcutaneous fat which leads to evaporative heat loss.Less brown fat and poor vasomotor control. Inability to establish full feeds at birth due to gut immaturity Therefore premature babies need to be cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where the babies will be placed under radiant warmers to maintain body temperature. Very premature babies are usually placed inside incubators where the humidity of the baby’s environment can also be controlled to prevent evaporative heat losses through the skin. Premature babies, if they need respiratory support are provided with heated and humidified air through bubble CPAPs or ventilators.  Kangaroo mother care, initiated as soon as the baby is stable also keeps the baby warm.

image

01 October, 2021

Dengue Fever In Children: Our Old Enemy

Authored By:

DENGUE FEVER IN CHILDREN OUR OLD EMEMY In current times of COVID having fever makes all of us anxious specifically if it’s our kids, but currently the scare of Dengue fever making lot of parents and doctors more scared that COVID. As dengue is endemic/epidemic tropical fever (infection still very prevalent in Hyderabad (India) and can lead to very critical disease if not attended immediately. In spite of listening to all stories of dengue fever around us, it really doesn’t hit you until one of your own contracts this deadly disease.  STORY: There are several stories comes in my mind when I think about dengue but when my own daughter had this disease it made me to think about how bad this disease is and what are the complications of this disease, what helps and what complicates these kids and admitting them timely so that they don’t deteriorate is the most important thing about this disease.  STORY OF ONE OF OUR PATIENT COMING TO KIMS CUDDLES: It was a regular day. When I came from my work I found my 10 years old daughter is little dull and having fever of 100F, Generally, once she is back from her basketball classes, she will inform me all events about her day including what happened during her basketball training, but that day she was looking very dull and she straight way went to bed and said I don’t feel like eating, I thought that she might be tired that’s why she is dull and feeling little feverish.  After coming home she usually pay with her pet but that day she was not in mood of playing with him, and it has never happened in past few years they I understood that something is wrong and she is not well. After 1 hour when I checked her she was having high fever of 103F and she was burning all over.  I gave her Paracetamol and gave her little tepid sponging to reduce the fever early. That night she persisted to had intermittent fever throughout the night ranging between 101-104F and I gave almost 4 doses of Paracetamol to her. Next day she started complaining headache and pain around eyes and by the end of the day she started having rash all around the body. Her oral intake was very minimal and her urine colour turned very dark. She became so weak that she was not able to walk and preferring to in bed.  I understood this is not some routine infection and something is not good, I decided to take my daughter to the hospital immediately. Once I reached KIMS Cuddles Hospital, Kondapur, Pediatrician saw him in emergency room, checked his vitals which showed low BP, they immediately put IV cannula gave IVF and did some test and shifted her to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit as she was having Dengue Shock Syndrome (Dengue fever with low BP) My daughter had dengue fever, her packed cell volume (PCV, Blood thickness) was more and his platelets were falling down rapidly, his liver showing some swelling and her body was getting swollen.  Thankfully though my daughter had critical Dengue because of of timely intervention of my Pediatrician & KIMS CUDDLES hospital, my daughter was there in PICU for 3 days and then for 2 days in room. With all intense and appropriate management her fever began coming down. They serially monitored her blood thickness and platelet count. And within a week we were back home.   It’s definitely not an illness that you would want anyone to endure, especially children. And remember the real problem start or child becomes sicker when the fever subsides. Over the time you start recovering the weakness lingers on for a long period which can take a toll on your child’s health and well-being. What is Dengue Fever? Dengue fever is self-limiting viral infection and is caused by a bite of mosquito transmitting virus in body of individual. It’s common in Tropical areas like India. The virus can cause symptoms like fever, headaches, rashes, and pain throughout the body. Dengue Fever Transmission: Dengue fever is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes Aegypti mosquito infected with the dengue virus. When an Aedes mosquito bites a person who has already been infected with a dengue virus, the mosquito can also become a carrier of the virus. If this mosquito then goes on to bite someone else, the person gets infected by the dengue fever. This virus however cannot spread directly from person to person. Dengue Fever Signs & Symptoms: Most of dengue patient get milder symptoms but it can cause serious disease in May in the form of disease called Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever or DHF Dengue Shock Syndrome. This form of dengue can end up being life-threatening and needs to be treated immediately. While symptoms of dengue in kids and those who are experiencing the disease for the first time are mild, older kids, adults, and those who have had a previous infection may have moderate to severe symptoms. Below are some common signs and symptoms of dengue in kids that a parent should look out for High fever, can even be as high as 105 degrees F. Most common initial symptoms are like flue like high-grade fever, runny nose, cough, and weakness. Severe headache- Sometimes kids get retro-orbital pain, joint pain, abdominal pain and severe muscle or body pain.  Change in behavior- Children may exhibit more irritability and fussiness than usual. Poor feeding, lethargy, decreased acceptance of fluids, passing high coloured urine Rashes over the body- A common symptom of dengue fever is an itchy skin rash that appears in patches. Usually rash appears on day 2-3 of fever and sometimes its diffuse and unrecognizable.  Bleeding manifestation, though uncommon, common site of bleeding are nose, gums, sometimes in motion and urine. Mild bruising Abdominal pain Calm and cold peripheries like hand and feet, change in colour of peripheries or dusky peripheries Sometimes some patient might have abnormal movements called as seizures Decrease urine output or passing very high coloured urine Breathing difficulty, mainly during late phase of disease. Generally, the dengue symptoms and signs like fever, rash, and headache often referred to as the dengue triad is characteristic of dengue. Another name for dengue fever is also dandy fever or break-bone fever owing to the severe bone and muscle pain it can cause. Often the pain can be so bad that it can feel equivalent to bones breaking. Diagnosis and Treatment of Dengue Fever The symptoms of dengue fever can be observed from 4 days to 2 weeks post being bitten by an infected mosquito, and generally lasts for about 2 to 7 days. Often the period after the fever begins to subside is crucial for those people with DHF (dengue hemorrhagic fever). Severe bleeding, gastrointestinal problems like nausea, vomiting or severe abdominal pain, and respiratory problems like difficulty in breathing. Also, a drop in blood pressure, dehydration, and heavy bleeding can happen if DHF goes untreated. These symptoms are life-threatening and need immediate medical attention. What are the danger signs or when we should hospitalized children? High spiking fever lasting more than 2 days Poor oral acceptance or dehydration Child not passing urine for more than 8-10 hours Bluish discoloration of extremities or hand and leg getting cold Abnormal behaviour or seizures Bleeding from any site Persistent abdominal pain or vomiting Swelling over body How Is Dengue Fever Diagnosed? Clinical symptoms as discussed above Blood test (as suggested by doctor) Most commonly dose blood test are Complete Blood Test (showing fall in WBC and platelet count with increasing PCV or Hemoglobin), C – reactive protein (to rule out other infection) and Specific Dengue test (Dengue NS1 antigen or Dengue IgM test) Treatment of Dengue fever Currently, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever. However, in most cases, dengue fever goes away within a 7-10 days. Not all dengue fever needs treatment or hospitalization. Almost 80% of patient with mild dengue get treated at home with hydration and as and when required Antipyretics (paracetamol).  Patient with danger signs as explained above needs admission and evaluation. But if someone has severe symptoms, medical attention must be sought immediately, as it could be signs of DHF which can be life-threatening, Hospitalized Management:  Intravenous fluid as per proper Dengue protocol (means IVF fluid are given in particular way) As and when required Paracetamol if temperature >100F Medications to take care of acidity of stomach  Frequently monitoring blood thickness level and platelet count and titrating IVF accordingly And if there is life threatening bleed supplementing with platelet and other blood products transfusion. Other general things to be taken care off Make sure your child is drinking enough fluids and water along with healthy meals. Ensuring that your child sleeps well is essential for his recovery.  A healthy diet and sufficient rest will help strengthen his immunity and destroy the virus. Pain relievers like acetaminophen may be prescribed if your child is experiencing unbearable muscle and joint aches associated with dengue fever.  Pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided, as they can make bleeding happen. Including generous amounts of immunity building foods in your child’s diet, like citrus fruits, almonds, turmeric, garlic, etc. will help in strengthening your little ones’ immunity and aid in quick recovery. Lastly, efforts must be made to keep the infected child from being bitten by any mosquitoes as this will help in preventing the spread of dengue fever to others. Can Dengue Fever Be Prevented? As there are no vaccinations to prevent dengue fever, the best protection is to ensure that your child does not get bitten by an infected mosquito. Prevention is better than cure when it comes to dengue fever and there are several ways in which you can protect yourself and your family from this illness Use screen meshes on door frames and windows to keep mosquitoes out without compromising on the ventilation aspect.  Ensure good quality screens are installed, which are less likely to rip as mosquitoes can make way into your house even through the smallest possible opening. Also, fix any tears in the mesh or broken and damaged screens as soon as possible.  All un-screened windows and doors must be kept closed. Ensure kids are wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks, whenever they step outside the house. Limit outdoor activities of kids especially in the hours around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Keep the kids engage with fun indoor activities like board games etc. Don’t give mosquitoes places to breed in. They lay their eggs in stagnant water, so get rid of any sources of standing water like containers, mugs, basins, and pots, buckets including draining sinks and bathtubs too. Ensure that the water is removed or covered. Taking the above-mentioned precautions to prevent your child from contracting the disease becomes crucial especially due to the lack of a cure or vaccine for dengue fever.

image

21 September, 2021

Crying in Babies

Authored By:

Crying in babies Often crying in babies is a cause of anxiety among family members and a reason for frequent visits to Paediatric emergency. Many a times it will not be associated with any serious problems and requires reassurance to the parents. What are the causes of crying in babies? Hunger cry – hunger is the most common cause and subsides once baby is given feeds. Baby starts playing after feeding. Soiled / wet diaper – Baby’s skin is so sensitive that faecal soiling and urination can cause irritation. Once diaper is changed babies calm down. Before sleep – Babies become fussy before going to sleep and requires some swaddling and mom needs to keep the baby in comfortable position. Excessive feeding – Some parents feed their babies more due to misconception about inadequate feeds, which causes mild bloating of tummy. Improper clothing – Excessive wrapping with many layers of cloth during hot climate or inadequate clothing during winter seasons can lead to crying of babies. Inadequate burping – Burping after feeding for about 10min relieves baby from swallowed air and makes them comfortable. Inadequate cuddling – Often babies require cuddling from mom and feel comfortable. Causes of concern  Nose Block – During times of cold and running nose babies can have congestion of nose which leads to transient nose block. Colic – Usually in the early months of life majority of babies cry without any serious problem. But when the duration of cry is more than 3hours we may have to suspect colic. Pain – Painful diaper rash, Ear ache, injection site pain, any insect bites (eg: mosquitoes) Fever – When your baby is having body temperature more than 100.40f. Constipation – Some babies might pass stool once in 3 to 4days, but it can be painful if it’s hard lumpy stool. Urine infection – Babies may sometimes cry before voiding urine. But persistent crying while passing urine can be a sign of urinary tract infection. Serious bacterial infection – Decreased activity, poor feeding, lethargy, excessive irritable crying and not interested in surroundings can be a sign of serious bacterial infection When do we suspect colic in babies? Inconsolable crying for more than 3hours Baby looks normal in between the bouts of crying Baby crying with legs folded up into abdomen Baby is getting enough feeds, but still cries Myths about crying baby Passing of gas is normal in babies, which is usually misunderstood by parents. Swallowed air while feeding may also contribute to the gas. Flatus does not cause abdomen colic. Regurgitation (spitting up) of feeds in small quantities may be seen in few babies, which is a self limiting condition and does not cause pain How to calm babies while crying? Techniques that can be of some help for calming a crying baby are Wrapping and swaddling the baby Try to feed the baby Talking to baby and singing  Rocking motion, preferably in a rocker Burping the baby Holding up of baby in arms by mom Playing light music What parents can do in case baby is inconsolable? Sometimes babies cry without an apparent cause, so don’t be too anxious. Be patient and visit your nearby Paediatrician  If in case you cannot visit to clinic, make a teleconsultation with your Paediatrician Whenever baby is not feeding well, irritable, running high temperature, breathing fast, not interested in surrounding then you may need to make a visit a Paediatric emergency. Never use any medication such as ear drops, colic drops etc., without Paediatrician advice.

image

20 August, 2021

Newborn Screening

Authored By:

Protect your Newborn What is newborn screening (NBS)? Newborn screening refers to identification of the newborn babies and protect them from serious disorders which is treatable, but may not be visible at birth. This screening should be performed after 48 hours of the child’s birth. Why should a baby have newborn screening? Newborn screening is the only way to identify babies with serious disorders, who needs diagnosis and treatment. These disorders can cause injury to brain, nervous system and other organs and in rare cases, the condition may be untreatable. Early treatment will help in proper growth and wellbeing of the baby. An affected baby looks healthy at the time of birth because symptoms are not visible until weeks or months later. Once the signs and symptoms begin to show, the adverse effects can become permanent and may even cause death. It is important that these disorders are detected as early as possible. A simple blood test can give you critical information to protect your newborn against these disorders. What disorders can be detected by this screening? Phenylketonuria/ Amino Acid Disorders: This disorder prevents a baby to break down certain amino acids in their blood such as phenylalanine, ammonia and amino acids and accumulation can result in medical complications. Treatment with special diets and supplements can help the baby to prevent mental retardation, seizures, organ damage and death. Congenital Hypothyroidism: This disorder is caused by the lack of thyroid hormone, which leads to poor mental and physical growth. If treated early with thyroid medication, the child will grow and develop normally. Galactosemia: This disorder occurs when galactose cannot be breakdown in the baby’s body. Galactose is found in breast milk and other milk products. If the galactose level is high it can be life-threatening and cause damage to the brain and liver and can occur as early as one week after birth. When started early, a special milk-free diet can prevent these problems. Organic Acid Disorders: This disorder is caused when a baby is unable to convert amino acids into energy. It affects the metabolism of the baby and damages the heart, muscles and other organs. Treatment with a low-protein diet and supplements can help prevent vomiting, seizures, coma and death. Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders: This disorder is caused when a baby is unable to convert fat into energy. This leads to accumulation of toxic fatty acids and affects the metabolism of the baby. Treatment with a low-fat diet, dietary supplements, and avoidance of fasting can help prevent low blood sugar, coma and death. Hemoglobin Disorders: These disorders are caused by defective formation of hemoglobin. Some of these disorders can be mild but some may be severe enough to require repeated transfusions and even bone marrow transplants. Early diagnosis is associated with better outcome. G6PD deficiency: The deficiency of this enzyme can cause prolonged and/or severe jaundice in babies. In this deficiency use of certain drugs can cause severe side effects. So early identification helps in preventing these complications. Biotinidase deficiency: This enzyme deficiency cam lead to neurological disorders and seizures in babies. Treatment with biotin supplements after early identification can prevent neurological issues. When and how this screening is done? A few small drops of blood is taken from the newborn baby’s heel which is collected by the experienced hospital staff within 48-72 hours of your newborns birth. What if we have no family history of any disorders? Parents with no history of these problems or already have healthy children can also have children with these disorders. Most newborns with these disorders come from families with no previous history of any particular conditions.

image

12 August, 2021

Tips For Weaning The Child From Breastfeeding

Authored By:

Motherhood is full of surprises, just like the pregnancy phase – it is unpredictable and overwhelming. Nothing can go exactly the way you want it to. So does the weaning process of your child. You might think that it is easy or maybe too tough, but it can be done another way. We are here to help you figure out the best way to help your child and smooth out this process. Here are some tips for weaning your child from breastfeeding.  Do not worry too much about the baby’s food needs Weaning is a normal part of your baby’s growth. It is the progressive introduction of other meals to your baby while continuing to breastfeed. Weaning can bring up a lot of conflicting feelings. You may be both happy and sad about your baby’s newfound independence and the fact that the baby is moving on to a new stage in their life. This is very normal behaviour. Recognize when your baby is ready  Babies usually give us signs that they are ready to start weaning. They’ll, for example, keep their head erect, sit comfortably, and show curiosity in what you are eating. Ask or lean in for the food that you are having. Furthermore, their vigorous tongue-thrust reflex will vanish, and they may become uninterested or irritable during nursing sessions. Introduce alternate meals one after the other when it’s time  After you notice the signs from your baby, start taking the measures. Add alternate meals in place of breastfeeding. You can begin semi-solid and soft solid foods if the baby crosses six months of age. You can skip one nursing session every week, probably the most uncomfortable or least interesting feeding for your baby—and progressively reduce feedings until they’re just getting bottles and meals. Provide comfort both emotionally and physically Generally, breastfed newborns are used to intimate physical touch with their mothers; therefore, it’s crucial to comfort in other ways while weaning. You can cuddle them while reading a book or singing a lullaby, romping about at the playground together, or massaging their back. These acts will soothe them down to have a better meal later in the day.  Soothing your engorgement equally  Another reason to do it slowly is that you may have engorgement in your breasts if you stop nursing too soon. Why? Your milk ducts haven’t gotten the signal that milk production has to be reduced, and there’s nowhere for it to go. If you’re engorged, use cold packs or acetaminophen to relieve the pain. Alternatively, use your trusted breast pump; the produced milk may be served in a bottle or mixed with your baby’s milk. You can always consider the options; it is not just all or nothing in breastfeeding. You can even try partial weaning methods. You can even try the half feeding and half formula method for a few days before completely stopping breastfeeding. If you are a working mother, you can even try pumping your milk into bottles for your baby while you are away. This will help you both in a smooth weaning process. You can consult your doctor if there is any difficulty or for more suggestions.  *Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision. 

Loading booking..