Local Alerts/News

: for the week of Dec-7-09 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

When to suspect that your child has an allergy….

Here are some common clues that could lead you to suspect your child may have an allergy:

Repeated or chronic cold-like symptoms - that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year. These could include a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing, throat clearing, and itchy, watery eyes
Recurrent coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory symptoms may be a sign of asthma. Coughing may be an isolated symptom; increases at night or with exercise are suspicious for asthma.
Recurrent red, itchy, dry, sometime scaly rashes in the creases of the elbows and/or knees, or on the back of the neck, buttocks, wrists, or ankles.
Symptoms that occur repeatedly after eating a particular food that may include hives, swelling, gagging, coughing or wheezing, vomiting or significant abdominal pain.
Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth, throat and/or ears during certain times of year or after eating certain foods.

: for the week of Oct-12-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Keeping medicines out of reach of Children….

Most weeks we get a number of calls or visits from parents of children who have accidentally taken medicines from bottles while their parents are not watching them.

Please note that it is extremely important to keep all medications out of reach of children. Medicine bottles are not toys that you can give your children to play with. Even little ones can surprise you by opening bottles that you think are safe. Unfortunately the medicine packages in India are not child-proof unlike most western countries.

To be safe you should lock up all medications in cabinets and out of reach of children.

Medicine overdose can be fatal. Especially dangerous for children can be common fever medications like Paracetamol.

: for the week of Sep-28-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Water Safety for Children - better safe than sorry.

With the recent boat tragedy at Thekkady lake playing out in front of our eyes in which many children lost their lives it is probably time to look at some recommendations for children’s safety in water.

Never let your child swim in any body of water without an adult watching.
Be sure the adult watching your child knows how to swim, get emergency help, and perform CPR.
Teach your child safety rules and make sure they are obeyed.

-Never swim alone.

-Never dive into water except when permitted by an adult

-It is recommended that children always use a life jacket when on a boat, or playing in a river or stream. When you are riding in a tour boat or similar public facility make sure that there is sufficient supply of children’s size life jackets.

Watch children closely when they are playing near standing water, wells, open post holes, or irrigation or drainage ditches.
Teach your child to swim once he or she is ready (usually around 5 years old).

: for the week of Sep-21-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Sep 20-26th is ‘Turn Off’ Week…

Parents can lead the way by turning off TV and other media screens for a week…

Screen Time cuts into family time and is a leading cause of obesity in both adults and children. Excessive use of screens for recreational purposes leads to a more sedentary lifestyle and that is unhealthy for all of us, mentally and physically.

Turning off the screen gives us time to think, read, create, and do the things we never have time for. This allows us to connect with our families and engage in our communities. We feel good about ourselves as we grow more physically and mentally active.

: for the week of Aug-24-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Never leave an infant unattended on a bed or a high place….

Every week we see a few of children who have fallen off a bed or another place where their parent left them for a minute or two while they turned around and did something. You should avoid keeping infants on a bed or other such high place unattended even for a second. Even small babies who have not started moving around can fall of in instant and get injured. If you have to leave them unattended even for a couple of minutes a baby crib or a bed/mat on the floor is the safest place for them.

: for the week of Aug-10-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Advice to Parents on Swine Flu….

With Swine Flu reported to be spreading in parts of India including Kerala here are some tips for parents

1. What should parents do to protect their children from the swine flu?

Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Wash hands for 20 seconds,
Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
Alternatively, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay at least six feet away from people who are sick. Avoid crowds. This will limit the spread of illness.
Stay home when sick to keep from spreading illness.
If you are sick, stay home from work at least 7 days from the beginning of the illness.
If your child is sick, keep your child home from school or child care at least 7-10 days from the beginning of the illness.
Seek medical care if you are severely ill, such as having trouble breathing. Antiviral medicines may help.

2. What advice do you have for parents with children in school or child care?

Parents should not take children out of child care or school unless public health authorities have recommended such a step.
We do not have to close schools and other gathering places to prevent infection except in those areas where the public health authorities have determined that school closings are necessary.
If the virus is found in a particular area, authorities may close schools and public events.
If the school closes and your children are healthy, you should still keep them home and not participate in social activities.
Parents should remind their children about proper hygiene, including sneezing and coughing into a tissue or sleeve, and frequent handwashing.

3. What are the symptoms of swine flu in children?

Classically, children with influenza have a sudden onset of high fever, chills and respiratory symptoms. Children will develop mild nasal congestion and cough. Older children may complain of headache, scratchy or sore throat, and muscle aches.
Influenza is very different from the common cold. Typically, a child who has fever and no nasal symptoms likely has influenza. A child who has no fever, but significant nasal symptoms, likely has a cold, not influenza.

: for the week of Aug-3-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

World Celebrates Breastfeeding week form Aug 1-7

2009 Theme: Breastfeeding- A vital emergency response- are you ready?

OBJECTIVES OF WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2009

To draw attention to the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergencies worldwide.
To stress the need for active protection and support of breastfeeding before and during emergencies.
To inform mothers, breastfeeding advocates, communities, health professionals, governments, aid agencies, donors, and the media on how they can actively support breastfeeding before and during an emergency.
To mobilize action and nurture networking and collaboration between those with breastfeeding skills and those involved in emergency response.

RATIONALE

Children are the most vulnerable in emergencies – child mortality can soar from 2 to 70 times higher than average due to diarrhoea, respiratory illness and malnutrition.
Breastfeeding is a life saving intervention and protection is greatest for the youngest infants. Even in non-emergency settings, non-breastfed babies under 2 months of age are six times more likely to die.
Emergencies can happen anywhere in the world. Emergencies destroy what is ‘normal,’ leaving caregivers struggling to cope and infants vulnerable to disease and death.
During emergencies, mothers need active support to continue or re-establish breastfeeding.
Emergency preparedness is vital. Supporting breastfeeding in non-emergency settings will strengthen mothers’ capacity to cope in an emergency.

Please visit http://www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org/ for more information

: for the week of July-27-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Danger from Baby Walkers

At our clinic in the last 2 weeks itself we have seen two babies 8 months and 9 months olds who fell ,toppled over with the walker and had lip lacerations and stitches

Baby Walkers can be Dangerous!

Cuts and lacerations are minor injuries. There is greater risk of head injury, bleeding and permanent neurological damage.

Look at the facts from US:

34 children have died since 1973 because of baby walkers.
Baby walkers send more than 14,000 children to the hospital every year in US.

Are baby walkers useful?

It is generally believed that infant walkers don't help your kids learn to walk sooner than if they didn't use a walker. In fact, one study, Effects of baby walkers on motor and mental development in human infants, concluded that 'walker-experienced infants sat, crawled, and walked later than no-walker controls,

Another study, Infant walkers: developmental tool or inherent danger, found that 'the use of the infant walker did not influence the onset of independent walking.'

So while it is maybe not clear on whether or not using a mobile infant walker will delay the time that your child learns to walk, there have been no studies showing that it will help your child walk sooner than if you didn't use one.

As the statistics from the AAP show, many infants are injured when they use a mobile infant walker.

Injuries include:

falls, especially down stairs
pinch injuries to fingers and toes
burns
poisonings
drowning

Most of these injuries aren't because the walker itself is dangerous, but only that it makes your child more mobile, which can cause injuries if your house isn't well childproofed. Using a walker, he can get to and knock over a hot cup of coffee, pull something off of the stove, get too close to a fireplace or grab something poisonous out of a cabinet.

In case you are using a Baby Walker make sure that you are using a newer model infant walker that meets new voluntary safety standards, including having a wide base so that they can't fit through most doorways and a braking mechanism so that the walker stops if one or more wheels come off of the ground, like if it was going down stairs.

And be sure to always supervise your child in a mobile walker. Remember that most infants are quite fast in these walkers and can quickly get away from you and that many walker injuries occur while the child was being supervised by an adult.

: for the week of July-20-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Paracetamol and other medicinal overdose in children

ParacetaMol/Acetominophen (Sold in India under brand names like Calpol, Fevago etc.), is one of the most important drugs when your child has a headache, fever, body ache or toothache. It can help ease the pain and allow your child to get a good night's sleep. It is one of the safest drugs when provided in the correct doses.

Mixing up doses of drops with suspension is a common mistake made by parents -- the two are not interchangeable because of different concentration of the medicine- it can be dangerous. Poisonings can occur when parents mix up products and give babies a potentially dangerous dose.

There are four common ways for your child to get an overdose of Paracetamol/Acetominophen:

As mentioned above, you can give your child the wrong dose of the medicine by mixing up infants' and children's doses. If you have several children of different ages and one of them is an infant, this mistake can be extremely easy to make, especially at night.
You can accidentally give your child a double dose. One parent gives the child a dose of a medicine, and then the other parent does the same thing a few minutes later because of lack of communication.
You give your child two medicines simultaneously, both of which contain the same ingredient
You do not keep medicines out of reach of children

Carefully follow the instructions from your doctor and in case of doubt double check with your doctor or pharmacist.

: for the week of July-06-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Drinking water- Prevent infections from water borne diseases during monsoon season..

By providing your children with safe drinking water you can greatly reduce their chances of getting infected with water borne diseases like Hepatitis-A, Typhoid, Cholera and Viral Gastroenteritis.

Water can be made safe for drinking by boiling for 10 minutes or more. Ideally water should already be filtered to remove other contaminants prior to boiling.

: for the week of June-29-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Viral Gastroenteritis(Diarrhea) outbreak

Viral Gastroenteritis (Diarrhea) is seen in a lot of children in the Kochi area.Outbreak is this disease is very common during monsoon season. Viral Gastroenteritis is spread through contaminated food and water. Children should be given warm home prepared food and boiled water as much as possible. Hand washing will help reduce spread of the disease. Infected children should be excluded from school to prevent spread of the disease. Watch for signs of dehydration including decreased urine throughput and fatigue.

: for the week of June-15-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Research finds link between breastfeeding and better grades

Researchers studied 126 siblings, one breast-fed and one not, and found breast-feeding was linked to better grade point averages for high school students and a higher likelihood of going to college. More than one-half of the effect on grades and one-fifth of the effect on college attendance was linked to improvements in cognitive ability and health, the researchers said.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/06/15/Breastfeeding-may-boost-grades/UPI-27101245042298/s

s: for the week of June-8-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is active in Kochi Area

Over the past 2 weeks we have seen a number of cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in patients from our surroundings.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness of infants and children. The disease causes fever and blister-like eruptions in the mouth and/or a skin rash. HFMD is often confused with foot-and-mouth (also called hoof-and-mouth) disease, a disease of cattle, sheep, and swine; however, the two diseases are not related—they are caused by different viruses. Humans do not get the animal disease, and animals do not get the human disease.

How does it spread?:

Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with infectious virus. Infectious virus is found in the nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid, and stool of infected persons. The virus is most often spread by persons with unwashed, virus-contaminated hands and by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces.
Infected persons are most contagious during the first week of the illness.
The viruses that cause HFMD can remain in the body for weeks after a patient's symptoms have gone away. This means that the infected person can still pass the infection to other people even though he/she appears well. Also, some persons who are infected and excreting the virus, including most adults, may have no symptoms.
HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.

Prevention:

A specific preventive for HFMD is not available, but the risk of infection can be lowered by following good hygiene practices.
Good hygiene practices that can lower the risk of infection include

Washing hands frequently and correctly and especially after changing diapers and after using the toilet
Cleaning dirty surfaces and soiled items, including toys, first with soap and water and then disinfecting them by cleansing with a solution of chlorine bleach (made by adding 1 tablespoon of bleach to 4 cups of water)
Avoiding close contact (kissing, hugging, sharing eating utensils or cups, etc.) with persons with HFMD

Treatment and Medical Management:

Please contact your Pediatrician for treatment information

Disease Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

: for the week of May-18-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Week of May 18th is the National Dog Bite Prevention Week …

In the US alone approximately 5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. Children are the most common victims of dog bites.

Most dog bite injuries in young children occur during everyday activities interacting with familiar dogs.

Make sure that you take steps to protect your children from dog bites, here are some tips:

Train your dog.
Avoid playing aggressive games with your dog.
Keep your dog healthy. Vaccinate your dog against rabies and other preventable infectious diseases.
Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
Teach your child to ask a dog owner for permission before petting any dog.
Never bother a dog if it is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
Do not run past a dog.
If a dog threatens you, remain calm. Avoid eye contact. Stand still or back away slowly until the dog leaves.
If bitten then immediately consult your doctor. Clean bite wounds with soap and water as soon as possible.

: for the week of May-11-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Prolonged Exposure to Loud Music can induce hearing loss…

Prolonged exposure to loud music can induce hearing loss, and adolescents and young people are increasingly exposed to high-volume music due to the popularity of MP3 players and phones with MP3 players. A growing numbers of adolescents and young adults are suffering from hearing loss and symptoms such as tinnitus and distortion. Parents should educate their children and implement prevention strategies to create a safer listening environment for adolescent MP3 player users.

: for the week of April-27-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Vacation time is a good time to catch up on vaccinations for your child…

It is summer vacation time for schools in Kerala. If your child is behind in vaccinations, this is the perfect time to catch up on vaccinations. Vaccines protect children against many potentially serious and deadly diseases.

You may visit
http://www.allforkidsindia.com/allforkids/Resources/VaccinationScheduler.aspx to create an age appropriate vaccination schedule for your child.

: for the week of April-20-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Mumps cases on the increase in Kerala this year…

Kerala this year has seen an increase in the number of cases of Mumps reported. Generally the Mumps virus is more active during summer.

Mumps is a viral illness caused by the mumps virus.

Symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite; followed by swelling of salivary glands.

Mumps can sometimes cause serious complications like:

Inflammation of the brain and/or tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (encephalitis/meningitis)
Inflammation of the testicles
Inflammation of the ovaries and/or breasts
Spontaneous abortion
Deafness, usually permanent

The mumps virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory secretions and saliva.

The infectious period that an infected person can transmit mumps to a non-infected person is from 3 days before symptoms appear to about 9 days after the symptoms appear. The incubation time, which is the period from when a person is exposed to virus to the onset of any symptoms, can usually vary from 16 to 18 days.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for mumps.

Mumps can be prevented by having your children up to date on MMR Vaccination.

: for the week of April-6-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

April is Autism Awareness month…

Autism or Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of related brain-based disorders that affect a child's behavior, social, and communication skills. The ASD include Autistic disorder , Asperger syndrome and non-specified PDD (pervasive developmental disorders).

About 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. ASDs are lifelong conditions with no known cure. However with special help, children with ASD can progress developmentally and learn new skills. Some children may improve so much that they no longer meet the criteria for ASD, although milder symptoms may often persist. The importance of early and continuous surveillance and screening for ASD to ensure that children are identified and provided special assistance. The sooner autism is identified, the sooner an intervention program can start and the better the results will be.

In most developed countries the infrastructure to identify and intervene on ASDs exists. The outlook for children for ASD is slowly improving in India with support infrastructure starting to come up now.

: for the week of March-30-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Tips on Poison-Proofing your home when children are home during summer vacation

Most poisonings occur when parents are home but not paying attention. But the risk is more when the children are home during vacations. The common poisons that children accidently consume are medicines, cleaning products, antifreeze, pesticides, petrol and kerosene.

Here are some tips for poison-proofing your homes:

Store medicine, cleaners, pesticides etc. in their original packaging in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and out of reach of children.
Install locks for cabinets containing harmful products.
Purchase and keep all medicines in their containers locked away
Never refer to medicine as “chocolate” or another such name.
Check the label and refer to instructions from your doctor each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage.
Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.

: for the week of March-23-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Tips on Food and Water Safety while traveling with kids this summer vacation…

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and before you eat. Or use hand sanitizers
Eat hot foods and made to order foods when possible
Avoid Raw and Uncooked foods like salads and chutneys
Order items that require little handling with hands to prepare.
Be early in line at buffets if eating in a buffet
Have milk and dairy products only in better restaurants.
Avoid Street foods
Always drink boiled water that you carry with you or bottled water
Avoid ice if possible, you never know what kind of water was used to make it

for the week of March-9-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

AllForKids now offers Allergy Skin Testing at Tripunithura…

AllForKids now offers skin testing for allergies at its Tripunithura clinic.

An allergy skin test is used to identify the substances that are causing your allergy symptoms. It is performed by applying an extract of an allergen to your skin, scratching or pricking the skin to allow exposure, and then evaluating the skin's reaction to the allergen.

For appointments and more details please call 0484-6452772/6492772/6462776

for the week of March-2-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

US Court of Federal Claims finds Vaccines Safe…

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims on Feb. 12, 2009, found the scientific evidence is “overwhelmingly contrary” to the theory that measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the vaccine preservative thimerosal is linked to autism. This decision is in keeping with the numerous medical studies that have been performed worldwide.

We certainly hope that such findings will help reduce the effect of propaganda to the contrary.

for the week of Feb-23-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Hot weather increases risk of Chickenpox infections…

We are experiencing extreme hot weather in Kochi for the last week or so and this is likely to continue well till end of May. Prevalence of many diseases like Chickenpox is usually on the rise in extreme hot weather. Chickenpox is a vaccine preventable disease, it is advisable to get your children vaccinated against Chickenpox.

Also heat related conditions like exhaustion will be more during this season. Please make sure that children drink sufficient quantities of water during the day and try to avoid prolonged direct exposure to sun when possible.

for the week of Feb-16-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic

Effects of TV on Children…

Kids under two years old should not watch any TV and those older than two watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming suitable for Children.

The first 2 years of life are considered a critical time for brain development. TV and other electronic media can get in the way of exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others, which encourages learning and healthy physical and social development.

To give you perspective on just how much violence kids see on TV, consider this: The average child who watches two hours of TV a day will witness 200,000 violent acts on television by age 18. Kids may become desensitized to violence and become more aggressive.

Consider the following data as well:

Children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.
Kids who view violent acts are more likely to show aggressive behavior.

for the week of Feb-09-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Stress in Children on the rise….

With the changes in our Kerala society the factors that generate stress for children are on the rise. Many changes in life can cause stress in children. Even positive things like change of home, job change of parents, new baby in home or school change can cause stress in children. Negative changes like a death in family, divorce, conflict between parents, violence etc. also cause stress in children. When the stress is more than what the children can cope with, it leads to imbalance in the child's life. For children it becomes difficult to express or to understand that they are stressed. Stress in children can lead to emotional reactions, they might get aggressive, irritable, nervous, cry, panicky or may even complain about physical problems like a stomachache or headache. Stress in children can also lead to other health problems.

Parents can do their share to help children in stress. As adults, we can recognize stressful situation and keep children away from them. Not expecting children to become adults and lots of love and encouragement in difficult times can help children seek positive ways to deal with stress.

for the week of Jan-26-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Poisoning Prevention in Children…..

About 80% of poisonings occur in children who are between the ages of 1 and 4 years. So develop poison prevention habits early when your child is born.

Tips

Be aware of common substances that are poisonous, such as houseplants, chemicals and cosmetics.
Never leave a poisonous product unattended around children, even for a moment. Many poisonings occur when an adult who is using a poisonous product becomes distracted by the doorbell, a telephone, or some other interruption.
Use locks on your cupboards and kitchen cabinets
Keep products in their original containers. Never store poisonous products in food containers.
Never leave alcohol within sight or reach of a child.
Read product labels for caution statements, how to use the product correctly, and first aid instructions.

for the week of Jan-19-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Airbags in Cars and Children…..

Most of the newer generation and particularly the luxury cars in India now have safety airbags for driver and front passenger seats. The purpose of the front safety airbags is to deploy in case of a front collision to protect the driver and passenger.

Most people in India do not seem to be aware of the danger self deploying airbags can cause to a child who is seated in a front seat. Parents should never allow any child less than 12 years to sit in the front seat of a car. An airbag can kill or very seriously injure a small child by impact in case of a collision in which the airbags are deployed.

We strongly advise parents that the rear seat is the safest place for children in a car.

for the week of Jan-12-2009 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Cases of Fever with Diarrhea in Children….

Cases of fever with diarrhea (Loose motions) and vomiting are being seen in children in Kochi area. Most of these last 1-2 days and can be treated with increased fluid intake and bland diet. You can reduce the chances of getting the children infected by being careful about the water they drink and regular hand washing with soap. To reduce chances of dehydration tender coconut juice, kanjee, lime juice and ORS (Electrol, Electrobion) etc. may be given to children.

for the week of Dec-29-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Hepatitis-A Outbreak in parts of Kochi…

There have been outbreaks of Hepatitis-A reported from Kochi and surrounding areas over the last 2 weeks as well as other parts of Ernakulam and Trichur Districts.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.

Person to person contact
- When an infected person does not wash his or her hands properly after going to the bathroom and touches other objects or food
- When a parent or caregiver does not properly wash his or her hands after changing diapers or cleaning up the stool of an infected person
- When someone engages in certain sexual activities with an infected person
Hepatitis A can be spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the virus. The food and drinks most likely to be contaminated are fruits, vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water.

The best way to prevent Hepatitis-A is to get vaccinated, vaccinations are recommended for both children and adults.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

Some people with hepatitis A do not have any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may include the following:

Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Clay-colored bowel movements
Joint pain
Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or eyes)

for the week of Dec-22-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Presence of Lead in Children’s Artificial Jewelry

Parents should be aware of the potential presence of high levels of lead in Children’s artificial jewelry that is sold in the local markets. A couple of years ago authorities and consumer groups in the United States started putting in serious efforts to monitor and prevent Jewelry with lead getting to the market. Unfortunately the awareness seems to be very low in India.

Children under the age of six are those at greatest risk of the health effects associated with exposure to lead. They are particularly vulnerable because at that age, their brain and central nervous system are still forming. Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that interferes with the development of these systems as well as the kidney and blood-forming organs. Exposure to lead causes a wide range of health effects.

Even low levels of exposure to lead can result in IQ deficits, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, stunted or slowed growth, and impaired hearing. At increasingly high levels of exposure, a child may suffer kidney damage, become mentally retarded, fall into a coma, and even die from lead poisoning. Lead poisoning has been associated by studies in the US with a significantly increased high-school dropout rate, as well as increases in juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior.

For more information on lead poisoning please refer to :

http://www.allforkidsindia.com/allforkids/Resources/lead.aspx

for the week of Dec-15-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

A REMINDER TO USE INFANT FORMULA AS PER DIRECTIONS

Water intoxication is a serious condition that can occur when very small babies are fed water in addition to breast milk or formula, or when formula is diluted with too much water. The baby not only receives too few nutrients, but also the electrolyte balance is disturbed and seizures may occur. Parents should avoid adding extra water to infant formula and should follow manufacturer's directions carefully. Breastfeeding provides ideal nourishment for infants, including sufficient liquid.

for the week of Dec-8-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Cases of Fever with Diarrhea in Children….

for the week of Dec-1-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Prevalence of Obesity in children from urban areas of Kerala …

In a recent study conducted by the home science department of the Agriculture university of Kerala in school children of Kerala the prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban school children was found to be significantly higher than those in rural areas (upto 3 times in many age groups).

Parents should consciously monitor the food and exercise habits of their children and seek the advices of their pediatrician when in need.

Please refer to http://www.allforkidsindia.com/allforkids/Resources/Obesity.aspx for more guidance.

for the week of Nov-24-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Chickenpox Alert…

There has been a recent outbreak of Chickenpox (Varicella) in Kochi area. We are seeing a number of infections in school and college settings. Our data on infected children clearly indicates that the children who are infected are the ones who have never been vaccinated. Varicella is a vaccine preventable disease, with efficacy of vaccine between 85-90%. We strongly advise parents to talk to their pediatrician and get their children vaccinated against Chickenpox. Vaccination is also recommended for adults who have never been infected before.

Please refer to the guidelines from Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Varicella vaccinations at Guidelines- Varicella

for the week of Nov-17-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Hepatitis-A outbreak in Trichur District…

There has been a large outbreak of Hepatitis-A in Trichur District particularly around Chalakudy. Atleast 2 people died from the outbreak. The outbreak is believed to be caused by contaminated water from a well.

The best way to prevent Hepatitis-A is to get vaccinated, vaccinations are recommended for both children and adults.

for the week of Nov-10-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Number of Malaria and Leptospirosis (Rat Fever) cases mounting in Eranakulam District

According to District Health Authorities, the cases of leptospirosis (rat fever) and malaria have gone up in the district particularly the coastal parts of the district.

Last year 114 cases of leptospirosis were reported. The figures have so far reached 127 this year The cases of malaria have so far touched 145 while the total number of cases reported last year was 115.

for the week of Nov-03-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

FDA warning on BPA Found in Many Food and Liquid Containers…..

Q&A on BPA for Parents

Content Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

Q: What is BPA?
Q: Why is there controversy over BPA?
Q: What precautionary measures can parents take to reduce babies' exposure to BPA?
- Avoid clear plastic bottles or containers with the recycling #7 and the letters "PC" imprinted on them. Many contain BPA
- Consider using certified or identified BPA-free plastic bottles
- Use bottles made of opaque plastic. These bottles (made of polyethylene or polypropylene) do not contain BPA
- Glass bottles can be an alternative, but be aware of the risk of injury to you or your baby if the bottle is dropped or broken
- Because heat may cause the release of BPA from plastic, consider the following:
  - Do not boil polycarbonate bottles
  - Do not heat microwave polycarbonate bottles
  - Do not wash polycarbonate bottles in the dishwasher
Q: Should I stop using canned liquid formula?
- If your baby is on specialized formula to address a medical condition, you should not switch to another formula, as the known risks would outweigh any potential risks posed by BPA.
- Risks associated with giving your baby homemade condensed milk formulas or soy or goat milk are far greater than the potential effects of BPA

HOW TO AVOID BPA

Metal canned beverages appear to contain less BPA residues, while metal canned pasta and soups contain the highest levels.
Canned foods in glass containers are not a BPA risk.
Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are safer choices and do not contain BPA.
One-third of liquid baby formulas have high levels of BPA. Powdered formula packaging is generally considered safer.
Avoid heating foods in plastic containers and do not wash plastic containers in a dishwasher.
When possible, opt for glass, porcelain and stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.
Do not let plastic wrap touch your food in the microwave, or better yet, avoid microwave ovens altogether.
Many metal water bottles, . . . are lined with a plastic coating that contains BPA.

for the week of Oct-27-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Measles Outbreak in some parts of Kerala…..

More than 100 cases were reported from the Vizhinjam area recently. Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease. The size of the outbreak indicates that a chunk of the children in the community are either unimmunized or partially immunized.

The primary dose of measles vaccination is given to infants at nine months, while most other vaccines in the immunization schedule are administered by six months. Unless parents are highly motivated, measles vaccine administration is almost always missed.

for the week of Oct-20-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Gastroenteritis outbreak…..

Gastroenteritis which could be caused by Virus or Bacteria has been active in the Kochi area over the last 2 weeks. Usually manifests as stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea and usually lasts 48 hours. Children are more susceptible to dehydration and its complications and should seek medical attention.

for the week of Oct-13-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Diphtheria makes a comeback in Chennai…..

A case of Diphtheria has been reported in Chennai city, first adult case in 30 years and first child case in 10 years. Apparently it came from a patient from Andamans.

This points to the importance have a fully vaccinated population and keeping vaccinations up-to-date.

Diphtheria Spreads through direct contact, inhaling a patient's secretions.

Diphtheria is serious disease, is vaccine preventable , it can even cause death by affecting the person's central nervous system.

For vaccination schedule for children by age please refer to

http://www.allforkidsindia.com/allforkids/Resources/vaccinationaap.aspx

for the week of Oct-6-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Loud music from earphones can cause hearing loss temporary or permanent …

Parents should be worried when their children and adolescents listen to loud music frequently from their iPods and iPhones and other personal listening devices.

Hearing loud noises for a period of time can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.

It depends on the person, it depends on how long you're listening, and it depends on the level at which you're setting your iPod or other device.

for the week of Sept-22-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Chinese toys in the local market and lead poisoning in children…

Parents should be wary of the cheap toys particularly the Chinese toys in the local markets in Kerala as many of them uses paint which have high content of lead. Loose paint can cause children to ingest lead when they bite the toys or put their hands in their mouths.

Lead poisoning (also known as saturnism, plumbism, or painter's colic) is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the metal lead in the blood. Lead may cause irreversible nuerological damage as well as rental disease, cardiovascular effects, and reproductive toxicity

For more information about the effect of lead on children please visit the following link on our website: http://www.allforkidsindia.com/allforkids/Resources/lead.aspx

for the week of Sept-15-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Annual Influenza Vaccine for the year 2008-2009 is now available…

Influenza Vaccine (Flu Shot) for the year 2008-2009 is now available…

Influenza vaccination is the most effective method for preventing influenza (Flu) virus infection and its potentially severe complications.

Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine(TIV) which is the vaccine approved for use in India is injected into the muscle of the upper arm or thigh. It can be used for people 6 months of age or older, including healthy people, those with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women

Excerpts from the recommendation of ACIP (Advisory committee on immunization practices) is provided below:

Summary of Influenza (Flu) Vaccination Recommendations:

Vaccination of all children aged 6 months-18 years should begin before or during the 2008-09 influenza season if feasible, but no later than during the 2009-10 influenza season. Vaccination of all children aged 5-18 years is a new ACIP recommendation.

Children and adolescents at high risk for influenza complications should continue to be a focus of vaccination efforts as providers and programs transition to routinely vaccination all children and adolescents.Recommendations for these children have not changed.

Childres and adolescent at higher risk influenza complication are those:

aged 6 months - 4 years;
who have chronic pulmonary(including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders(including diabetes mellitus);
who are immunosuppressed (including immuno supression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);
who have any condition (e.g.,cognitive dysfunction,spinal cord injuries,seizures disorders, or other neuro muscular disorders) that can compromise rspiratoryfuntion or the handling of repiratory secreations or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
who are receiving long-term asprin therapy who therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
who are residents of chronic-care fecilities; and,
who will be pregnant during the influenza season.

Note : Children aged <6 months should not receive influenza vaccination. Household and other close contacts(eg. daycare providers) of children aged <6months, including older children and adlescents, should be vaccinated.

Content Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

for the week of Sept-8-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Avoid waterborne diseases this Onam vacation when you travel with kids…

During travel seasons which include Onam vacation in Kerala we usually get a lot of calls and visits with diarrhea, other gastrointestinal infections and waterborne diseases.

By being careful about the beverages you give to your children, you have a better chance of having an infection-free travel season.

It is advisable to carry boiled drinking water (ideally filtered and boiled) from a known source when travelling with children.

Safe drinking water: Water that has been adequately chlorinated according to the minimum recommended water treatment standards will afford substantial protection against viral and bacterial waterborne diseases. However, chlorine treatment alone, as used in the routine disinfection of water, may not kill some enteric viruses and the parasitic organisms that cause giardiasis, amebiasis, and cryptosporidiosis. In areas where hygiene and sanitation are poor, travelers should be advised that only the following may be safe to drink: beverages such as tea and coffee made with boiled water, canned or unopened bottled beverages, including water, carbonated mineral water and canned soft drinks.

Where water might be contaminated, travelers should be advised that ice should also be considered contaminated and should not be used in beverages.

It is safer to drink a beverage directly from the can or bottle than from a questionable container. However, water on the outside of beverage cans or bottles may also be contaminated. Therefore, travelers should be advised to dry wet cans or bottles before they are opened and to wipe clean surfaces with which the mouth will have direct contact.

for the week of Sept-1-2008 from AllForKids Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is active in Kochi Area

Over the past 2 weeks we have seen a number of cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in patients from our surroundings.

newsalert1

How does it spread?:

Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with infectious virus. Infectious virus is found in the nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid, and stool of infected persons. The virus is most often spread by persons with unwashed, virus-contaminated hands and by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces.
Infected persons are most contagious during the first week of the illness.
The viruses that cause HFMD can remain in the body for weeks after a patient's symptoms have gone away. This means that the infected person can still pass the infection to other people even though he/she appears well. Also, some persons who are infected and excreting the virus, including most adults, may have no symptoms.
HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.

Prevention:

A specific preventive for HFMD is not available, but the risk of infection can be lowered by following good hygiene practices.
Good hygiene practices that can lower the risk of infection include
- Washing hands frequently and correctly and especially after changing diapers and after using the toilet
- Cleaning dirty surfaces and soiled items, including toys, first with soap and water and then disinfecting them by cleansing with a solution of chlorine bleach (made by adding 1 tablespoon of bleach to 4 cups of water)
- Avoiding close contact (kissing, hugging, sharing eating utensils or cups, etc.) with persons with HFMD

Treatment and Medical Management:

Please contact your Pediatrician for treatment information
Disease Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

for the week of Aug-25-2008 from AllForKids, Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic

Stigma and misinformation about Asthma prevent effective use of inhalers and medications

Asthma inhalers are the main treatment for asthma. Asthma inhalers deliver variety of asthma medications, some that assist with long term control and others that provide quick relief symptoms.

There are different types of asthma inhalers: including metered dose inhaler, dry powder inhaler and nebulizer. They all do the same thing, make the day to day lives of those with Asthma better.

Many patients whose quality of life will tremendously improve with inhaler use are reluctant to use them because of the social stigma and misinformation about the impact of inhalers. Inhalers have been proven to be a safe and effective mode of treatment for Asthma in adults and children as young as 6 months. The added advantage of inhaler use is the fact that the dose of medicine is sometimes 1/100th to 1/1000th of oral dose thus minimizing the chance of side effects.

for the week of Aug-18-2008 from AllForKids, Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic

Vaccination Non-compliance on the rise in Kerala...

Analyzing the clinical data we collect is a priority here at AllForKids to provide appropriate trends and news that would be of interest to the local community in Kerala. Being one of the few health care facilities in Kerala which uses information technology to keep extensive clinical records places us in a very unique ability to analyze local trends.

Our recent data shows a number of children who are under-vaccinated. Non-compliance levels seems to be on the rise. That means that these children have missed essential vaccinations which protect them against serious diseases.

Vaccines have been one of the biggest achievements of medical science in the last century. We can not under estimate or hide the fact that it is vaccination which eradicated many deadly diseases like small pox from the world and vaccines continues to protect billions from a wide range of deadly diseases day in and day out.

By not vaccinating your children you are putting your children and the community at avoidable risk. How is the community put to risk? The cost of not vaccinating your children can be high to the child, the family and the society. Diseases that are almost unknown would stage a comeback. Before long we would see epidemics of diseases that are nearly under control today. More children would get sick and more would die. We don't vaccinate just to protect our children. We also vaccinate to protect our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

Please refer to the “All About Vaccinations” section at http://www.allforkidsindia.com/allforkids/resources/index.aspx to learn more...

for the week of Aug-11-2008 from AllForKids, Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic

Chickenpox Alert

The incidence of Chickenpox (Varicella) continues to be high in Kochi area. We are seeing a number of infections in school and hostel settings. Our data on infected children clearly indicates that the children who are infected are the ones who have never been vaccinated. Children can get infected from other children or adults who have Herpes Zoster. Varicella is a vaccine preventable disease, with efficacy of vaccine between 85-90%. We strongly advise parents to talk to their pediatrician and get their children vaccinated against Chickenpox. Vaccination is also useful for adults who have never been infected before.

Please refer to the guidelines from Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Varicella vaccinations at Guidelines- Varicella