PEDIATRICS

Developmental Disorders

Developmental disorders are the mental and physical chronic disabilities that occur in childhood or adolescence. They start in the developmental period and last a lifetime. They can cause impairments in different areas like social, physical, learning, and emotional. Some of the developmental disorders are:

• Cerebral Palsy: It is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance.
• Muscular Dystrophy: It is a disorder that causes muscle weakness in time.
• Spina Bifida: It is a major birth defect in a person’s spine.
• Intellectual Disability: It is a condition that limits the person’s ability to learn.

Lower and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Some of the lower respiratory tract infections in children are:

• Bronchitis: It can be acute or chronic.
• Pneumonia: It is caused by bacteria. Some symptoms are shortness of breath, fatigue, and cough.
• Tuberculosis: It is caused by TB bacteria. The symptoms are fever, cold, and weight loss.

Some of the upper respiratory tract infections in children are:

• Common colds: A tickle in the throat is the main symptom of common colds.
• Sinus infections: Symptoms are low energy, bad breath, and swelling around the eyes.
• Tonsillitis: Sore throat and fever are some of its symptoms.

High Fever in Children

High fever is a very common condition in young children. In a couple of days, the body temperature usually returns to normal. A normal temperature in babies and children is 36.4 Celsius. If your child has a high fever:

• They might look unwell
• They feel sweaty
• They feel hotter than usual

You should keep them at home, give them plenty of liquids and check their conditions regularly. You should not cover them with many clothes and you should not give aspirin if they are under 16. Also, do not undress your child to cool them.

Urinary Tract Infections in Children

Urinary tract infections are quite common in children. A bacteria is known to cause that infection. Urinary tract infections are seen mostly in girls usually after toilet training begins. Uncircumcised boys under one year old are also at higher risk.

Some of the symptoms of urinary tract infections are; fever, vomiting, irritability, and poor appetite.

If the infection also affects the kidneys, the condition is more serious. Antibiotic treatment can prevent your child from kidney damage. 

Diarrhea and Gastroenteritis in Children

Diarrhea in children is a condition that children have watery stools several times during the day. If it lasts more than 24 hours, and your child has a fever too, you should call your child’s doctor as soon as possible.

Gastroenteritis in children is mostly caused by viruses. Rotavirus is the main factor that caused stomach flu in children. Vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms of gastroenteritis in children. There is no specific treatment for gastroenteritis in children. Home rest and having lots of liquids can be very helpful in the recovery period.

Allergic Bronchitis

A deep, chesty cough during the night is the main sign of allergic bronchitis in children. Your child may tell you that his or her chest hurts. Some other symptoms of allergic bronchitis are can be lined up as below:

• Pressure in the chest
• Wheezing
• Clear mucus
• Fatigue

Allergic bronchitis is chronic. Tobacco smoke, dust, and air pollution might cause allergic bronchitis.

Treatment of allergic bronchitis varies. Using a mist humidifier, exercises of breathing, flu and pneumonia vaccines, oxygen therapy, and taking steroids are among these treatments.

Hay fever (Allergic Rhinitis)

Hay fever is a specific type of allergic rhinitis. The “term” hay is referring haying season but hay fever can result from hay, pollution, grasses, and chemicals.

Some of the most common hay fever symptoms are:

• Your nose is dripping with watery mucus all-day
• An itchy nose
• Watery, itchy, and red eyes
• Dry cough
• Pain around the sinuses

Nasal steroid sprays, eye drops, wearing eyeglasses, and bathing after being outdoors might be helpful to treat hay fever. You should visit a doctor if your child has severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, fever, throat swelling, and dizziness.

Prematurity Baby Tracking

Premature labor is the labor that happens before the 37th week of pregnancy. About 8 out of 100 babies are born prematurely. Twins and triplets are usually born prematurely.

Your medical experts check and monitor if your waters have broken and you are in labor. They also monitor if you have an infection. If your waters have broken, there is an infection risk for both your baby and you. You will be offered antibiotics and some tests for infections. If your waters have not broken, you might be offered a vaginal examination.

Asthma in Children

Asthma is one of the most common medical conditions among children in many countries in the world. It affects the airways and the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. Asthma is a long-term condition and in children can be dangerous, even life threatened. Only in a developed country like the UK, it is known that one million children are receiving treatment for asthma.

Some triggers of asthma are pollen, house dust, animal fur, and tobacco smoke. Difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness are among the symptoms of asthma. Using relievers and preventers will help to reduce some symptoms.

Eczema in Children

Eczema is a condition that the skin becomes red, dry, bumpy, and itchy. There are several types of eczema, the most common one is atopic “dermatitis”. The main symptoms of eczema are dry, itchy skin, but in babies, younger than one-year-old, eczema is seen on the cheeks, forehead, and scalp. It may spread to the knees.

There is no cure for eczema but treatment may reduce symptoms. Parents should make sure their children wear made of cotton clothes, drink plenty of liquids, and help them avoid stress which is a trigger of eczema.

Child Allergy

An allergy is a response of the immune system to a foreign substance. Like adults, children and babies can have allergies to what they eat and where they touch. For an instant, detergent in clothes or home dust may cause allergies in children.

Some common types of allergy can be lined up as below:

• Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis)
• Nasal congestion
• Ear Infections
• Food allergies

If your child has any type of allergy, you should inform the school administration and share your plan to avoid risks.

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