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A Public Health Triumph: The Impact of Vaccines on Hib

Haemophilus influenzae: A Brief Overview

Haemophilus influenzae is a gram-negative, non-motile, coccobacillus bacterium that can cause a variety of infections in humans, particularly in children. While there are several different strains of H. influenzae, the most significant pathogen is Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

Hib Infections:

Meningitis: Hib is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis, a serious infection of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Pneumonia: Hib can also cause pneumonia, an infection of the lungs.
Epiglottitis: Hib can lead to epiglottitis, a life-threatening infection of the epiglottis, a flap of cartilage that covers the opening of the trachea (windpipe).

Risk Factors:

Age: Children are at the highest risk for Hib infections, especially those under the age of five.
Immunosuppression: Individuals with weakened immune systems are also at increased risk.

Prevention:

Vaccination: The widespread use of Hib vaccines has significantly reduced the incidence of Hib infections in many parts of the world.
Good Hygiene: Practicing good hygiene, such as handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, can help prevent the spread of Hib and other infections.

Treatment:

Antibiotics: Hib infections are treated with antibiotics, such as ampicillin or cefotaxime. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe complications.

Conclusion:

Haemophilus influenzae type b is a serious pathogen that can cause significant illness in children. However, the availability of effective vaccines has significantly reduced the burden of Hib-related diseases. By understanding the risks and taking preventive measures, parents and healthcare providers can help protect children from this infection.

Act-HIB Vaccine:

Understanding Act-HIB:

Purpose: Act-HIB is a vaccine designed to protect against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), a bacteria that can cause serious infections in children, such as meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis.
Efficacy: Act-HIB is highly effective in preventing Hib infections. Studies have shown that vaccination significantly reduces the incidence of Hib-related diseases.

Safety and Side Effects:

Mild Side Effects: Common side effects of Act-HIB include redness, swelling, and tenderness at the injection site, fever, fussiness, and loss of appetite.
Severe Allergic Reactions: While rare, severe allergic reactions can occur. If you experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, seek immediate medical attention.
Delayed Reactions: In some cases, delayed allergic reactions may occur days or weeks after vaccination.

Immunization Schedules:

Recommended Schedule: The recommended immunization schedule for Act-HIB in the United States and many other countries involves three primary doses at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, followed by a booster dose at 15-18 months of age.
Catch-Up Immunization: Children who are not up-to-date on their Act-HIB vaccinations can receive catch-up doses according to the recommendations of their healthcare provider.

The Impact of Vaccination:

Reduced Disease Burden: Act-HIB vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of Hib-related diseases, leading to improved health outcomes for children.
Public Health Benefits: Widespread vaccination has helped to protect entire communities from the devastating effects of Hib infections.

Conclusion:

Act-HIB is a safe and effective vaccine that provides valuable protection against Hib infections. By following the recommended immunization schedule, parents can help ensure their children's health and well-being.

What are fetal abnormalities?

Fetal abnormalities, also known as birth defects or congenital malformations, are conditions that affect a fetus or embryo during development. These conditions can have varying degrees of severity and may impact different parts of the body.

Here's a comprehensive overview of fetal abnormalities:

Types of Fetal Abnormalities:

Structural abnormalities: These affect the physical structure of the body, such as limb malformations, cleft lip/palate, heart defects, or spina bifida.
Chromosomal abnormalities: These involve changes in the number or structure of chromosomes, such as Down syndrome, Trisomy 13, and Turner syndrome.
Functional abnormalities: These affect the organ or system function, such as cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, or metabolic disorders.
Syndromes: These are groups of abnormalities that occur together, often with a known genetic cause, like Noonan syndrome or Marfan syndrome.

Causes of Fetal Abnormalities:

Genetic factors: Some abnormalities are caused by mutations in genes or chromosomal abnormalities inherited from parents.
Environmental factors: Exposure to certain toxins, medications, infections, or maternal health conditions during pregnancy can increase the risk of certain abnormalities.
Unknown factors: In many cases, the exact cause of a fetal abnormality remains unknown.

Diagnosis of Fetal Abnormalities:

Prenatal screening and diagnostic tests: These tests, including blood tests, ultrasounds, amniocentesis, and chorionic villus sampling, can detect or raise suspicion for some abnormalities during pregnancy.
Postnatal examination: Some abnormalities may not be evident until after birth through physical examination, imaging tests, or genetic testing.

Management of Fetal Abnormalities:

Prenatal counseling: If a potential abnormality is identified, parents receive comprehensive information and support to make informed decisions about pregnancy and care options.
Intervention and treatment: Depending on the nature of the abnormality, some prenatal or postnatal interventions, such as surgeries or medications, may be possible to improve outcomes.
Supportive care: Families affected by fetal abnormalities require ongoing medical, emotional, and social support to navigate the challenges they face.

Research and Future Developments:

Advances in genetic testing and diagnostic technologies are continually improving the detection and understanding of fetal abnormalities.

Research into targeted therapies and preventive measures holds promise for improving the lives of children with congenital conditions.

If you have any concerns about fetal abnormalities, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional experienced in prenatal care and genetics. They can provide personalized information, guidance, and support throughout your pregnancy journey.

Remember, you're not alone in this. Several resources and support groups are available to help families coping with fetal abnormalities. Don't hesitate to reach out for assistance to navigate this challenging but hopeful journey.

breast milk:

Breast milk is the best food for babies. It is packed with nutrients that are essential for their growth and development. Breast milk also contains antibodies that help protect babies from infection.

Benefits of breast milk:

Here are some of the benefits of breast milk:

Nutrition:

Breast milk is the perfect food for babies. It contains all of the nutrients that babies need to grow and develop, including protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Breast milk is also easily digested by babies.

Antibodies:

Breast milk contains antibodies that help protect babies from infection. These antibodies are especially important in the early months of life, when babies' immune systems are not yet fully developed.

Cognitive development:

Breast milk has been shown to boost cognitive development in babies. This is likely due to the high levels of DHA and omega-3 fatty acids in breast milk.

Bonding:

Breastfeeding is a great way to bond with your baby. It is a special time for you and your baby to connect.

Health benefits for mothers:

Breastfeeding has also been shown to have health benefits for mothers, such as reducing the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

In addition to the benefits listed above, breast milk is also more affordable and convenient than formula. Breast milk is always available and it does not need to be prepared or mixed.

If you are able to breastfeed, it is the best thing you can do for your baby. Breastfeeding is beneficial for both babies and mothers.

Child's sitting position:

Your baby begins to grow from birth. The first position he will take with his body is sitting, followed by crawling and walking.

For your baby to achieve the sitting position without any problems, his muscles need to be as strong as it takes to support all his weight. And your little one is supposed to acquire this ability in his muscles, starting from the sixth month. However, the child does not master the sitting position on his own and without any help from you, except in the eighth or ninth month.

The sitting position for your child is a completely new activity, a position that offers him new concepts and another view of his surroundings.

How do you help your child to sit down?

It is better not to try to force your child to sit, as you risk overloading him with what may exceed his physical capacity and may result in his behavior being restless, nervous and upset. It is natural that when your little one exceeds six or seven months, his body will be ready to be able to take a sitting position. Put him to sit and surround him with pillows to keep him in place. Put him between your legs to support his back, and put toys in front of him so that he can immerse himself in the game.

No need to panic when you are late!

Each child has certain physical characteristics, each one growing at its own pace. There is no point in comparing your child's sitting and when he has mastered it with other children. These comparisons would only stress you out and make you lose time, money, and your comfort and your child's comfort on medical visits and various methods without any result, while you can avoid them with a little patience.

A few months late is not enough warning to scare you like that! Remember that the most important thing to focus on is your child's health and enjoyment of childhood and games and discovering his world step by step until his body and ability reach the stage of sitting.

Ways to perform children while crying:

It is normal for babies to cry even when they are healthy and they may cry from one to three hours a day. So learn how to calm them down:

Shake your baby:

Shake your baby to reassure him, relying on soft sounds you make in his ear

Studies show that trying to soothe your baby by rocking him slows his heart rate and relaxes his muscles.

Sing lullabies or songs of your choice:

Don't just sing lullabies. Experiment with different types of music and songs, including the ones you like best.

Music has the ability to calm the child's nervous system, and reduce his heart rate and breathing rate. Don't underestimate the good effect of your voice on him, even if you don't have a good voice.

restart:

Sometimes memorizing the sounds the child makes and crying on the phone and making him listen to them will calm him down.

When babies cry they sometimes have trouble calming down, even when whatever is bothering them is dealt with. But a distraction like recording their voice can calm them down quickly.

Turn off the lights:

Placing a child in a darkened room may be one of the most effective ways to calm him down. They closed the curtains and put him to bed with his lollipop.

Babies get excited easily with all the noises and lights in everyday life. Do not forget that they are accustomed to the quiet and darkness that the womb provides

Spur some noise:

Bet on white noise technology and turn on a fan, vacuum cleaner, etc.

These sounds seem to be an imitation of what a baby hears in the womb. White noise drowns out other sounds, like the cries of a baby's siblings. Keep the volume down because if these loud machines are placed near a child for long periods of time, they can cause hearing loss.

giving autonomy within the framework of the education and parenthood:

Children of overprotective parents tend to live shorter, concludes this study by a team of psychologists and doctors from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), which thus recalls the importance of giving autonomy within the framework of the education and parenthood. Findings published in Scientific Reports that reveal the very impact on the longevity of children's relationships with their parents.

Increased risk of death:

Thus, men who had an overprotective father and little autonomy during their childhood run a 12% higher risk of death before their 80th birthday. Women who have had an overprotective father run a 22% increased risk of death at the same age. On the other hand, women who were protected by their mother during their childhood see their risk of death reduced by 14% at the same age. Finally, men who lived with a single parent in childhood have a 179% higher risk of dying before age 80.

reconcile parenthood data and longevity:

The study followed 941 English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) participants, born in the 1950s and 1960s and who died between 2007 and 2018 (445 women and 496 men). Researchers analyzed data from questionnaires covering many aspects of childhood and life, including family structure, housing, parents' occupation and relationships with parents during childhood and adolescence, as well as as the quality of care and protection provided. The team was thus able to reconcile parenthood data and longevity.

“We demonstrate in figures what has been understood about parenthood for many years. Caring and loving relationships with your father and mother during childhood have lifelong implications. However, for the first time, our results show how parenthood affects longevity,” says lead author Dr. Tiago Silva Alexandre, professor of geriatrics.

"Better living conditions in childhood make it possible to enjoy old age",

adds the author who recalls that authoritarianism, permissiveness and negligence are harmful to the development of children.

The middle way is the best:

it is thus a question of avoiding the intrusion, which deprives the children of autonomy, but also the neglect or the emotional distance which gives them too much. What we call care is: “not neglecting and being present without overprotecting”.

The study is the first to reveal:

how the absence of a parent or poor parental relationships can reduce longevity;
a lower risk for women well surrounded by their mother, most likely due to low levels of stress during childhood and then in adulthood;
how parental relationships profoundly affect child behavior.

And for the last generations?

Although the study focuses on the longevity of the baby boom generation, the researchers believe that the experience of more recent generations is not fundamentally different.

"We know that parents now overprotect their children differently, but that can also have an impact." The study notably highlights a 179% higher risk of dying before the age of 80 for male participants who lived with a single parent when they were children, a situation that today affects more than 15% children.

A difference according to the sex of the Child?

The study indeed highlights a difference between the sexes in terms of the impact on longevity of parental absence or negative parental relationships. Overprotective parents affect the lifespan of girls more than that of boys, and the presence of a mother has a positive effect only on that of girls. Women seem more likely to internalize negative emotions and suffer more frequently from mental disorders, the authors explain, while men are more likely to resort to substance use.

"In any case, these 2 factors are closely linked to longevity."

Toddler swimming:

Accustoming our children to the fact that exercising is an integral part of their lives, is important for their health, fitness, and building their bodies in a healthy and proper manner. Swimming is one of the best sports a child can practice at an early age

Your child can swim since the age of six months with your help or the help of the father or a coach, but your child can rely on his natural ability to swim in basic ways before reaching the age of six months, as the infant has the innate ability to hit the water and push it with his hands and feet, and hold his breath in the water without thinking Whether or not he is afraid since he reached two months of age, do not worry about your child swimming before taking the necessary vaccinations, because the chlorine in the swimming pool water kills the germs that may infect him.

Tips for your child to swim healthy:

Choose the appropriate clothes for your child while swimming, and also know that the floats are not suitable for your child if he is less than a year old, but there are some other means designed to help your child at this age, and do not forget to breastfeed him after swimming.

Make sure that the duration of one session is approximately 10 minutes at first, then you can gradually increase the duration until it reaches 20 minutes. And if your child is not yet one year old, avoid keeping him in water for more than 30 minutes.

Make sure to bring his face closer to you when you go into the pool for the first time, so that your eyes meet, and hold him to your chest so that he feels reassured, relaxed, and feels more confident.

Also, make sure to stretch your arms and move your child to the right and left, and make him feel that this time is nothing but a time for play and fun.

Avoid taking him swimming if he has a cold or runny nose, or even if you notice he doesn't look well. And you should consult a specialist doctor if your child suffers from skin problems, to make sure that the chlorine in the swimming pool water will not cause him any problems such as skin irritation.

Taking the baby to the sea:

Most babies love water and enjoy a daily warm bath that helps them relax and feel comfortable. Your little one was originally a good swimmer when he was a fetus swimming in the amniotic fluid inside your womb. But does that mean you can take him to the sea?

When does your baby go to sea?

Doctors advise that the infant not go to the sea or the swimming pool until he can control the movement of his head and the stiffness of his neck, and it is better to wait until he is the first six months of his life, as his immune system is not yet complete, which puts him at risk of infection, so it is advised not to introduce him in any A kind of open water environment for the first months of his life to keep him safe.

Going to the sea is also associated with other factors that must be taken into account, such as exposure to the scorching sun, which negatively affects your child’s health and puts him at risk of dehydration or sunstroke and skin burns. Dermatologists advise not to use sunscreen before a year of six months so as not to harm His sensitive skin, but after this age you can take him with you to the sea taking the following precautions in mind to keep your child safe and protected, and to have a safe and fun time at the beach.

Tips to keep your child safe and protected at sea:

Make sure to use a sunscreen intended for children, with a protection factor of not less than 15%, and test it on a small part of your child’s skin before the summer trip, to test for any sensitivity of the child to its components, and there are also protective creams for the lips, you can Also, buy it to avoid sore lips from the sun or salty sea water.
Apply a layer of sunblock cream intended for children on your child’s skin before heading to the sea, and renew it for him every hour, even if the child will be sitting on the beach in the shade, as the sea water reflects the sun’s rays on the child’s skin even if he is not exposed to it in any way. direct.
Start by letting your child into the sea for a few minutes the first time, then gradually extend the time of his descent into the sea every day until it reaches half an hour.
Do not force him to go down to the sea if he feels afraid of it, leave him the freedom of choice and with time he will be encouraged and express his desire to go down and experiment himself without being forced.
Do not leave him in the water unattended, even for a second, even if he is at a safe height.
Consult a doctor before taking him to the sea, if he suffers from ear infections.
Make sure that he wears shoulder or chest floaties that are appropriate for his age for more safety, but it never replaces the presence of adults beside him.
Avoid going to the sea with your child during times when the sun's rays are intense, that is, from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon. It is better to go to the sea early in the morning or sometime before sunset.
Wear a head covering for your child to protect his face and head from the sun's rays while you are sitting on the beach.

Carrying the baby too much:

The child likes to be held all the time and feels happy in his mother’s hands, as he feels comfortable and reassured when carrying him and holding him in your chest, but with time the child grows and it becomes difficult to carry him all the time, especially since some children keep crying until their mothers carry them, which causes them embarrassment, to use their children Crying as a means of pressure until they are carried again, and they are even upset and do not feel that they are carried if the mother is sitting, and there are also some children who want to be carried and moved around the place.

Here are the most important reasons why your child behaves like this, and what you must do to get rid of that habit.

Reasons why your baby wants to get pregnant:

The child is antisocial at times and is used to seeing you and his father only, so when leaving the house he does not feel reassured unless he is attached to your chest.
A child at this age begins to develop his ability to perceive and discover the world around him, and this usually happens after the first months of his life, and therefore he realizes that once he cries, you will carry him immediately, this is what may accustom him to using crying to express his desire to conceive and not calm down until you carry him, so it is better to teach him that pregnancy has times, because while not getting him used to it, it may become difficult later on.
The child may have colic or any other pain that he cannot express, so he feels that he does not want to be away from you and that he is being carried all the time.

Methods of dealing with your child if he continues to cry:

Take control of your nerves and control them, so do not shout at your child and do not hit him so as not to abuse your relationship with him, but ignoring is the best solution when the crying begins, so ignore him until he feels that his crying is of no use, and the more he cries, do not give up your patience. Of course, I do not need to stress that this behavior should not be resorted to if his crying is due to illness or pain he feels.
Convince him that you ignore his crying that it is of no use, and he will not be rewarded with pregnancy after that because he is crying.
Remember that as your child gets older and does not find a response to his requests when crying, he will become less nervous and will not get used to getting his desires by crying.

Tips to get rid of the habit of carrying your baby:

Don't leave him in a bad mood, but play with him a little bit before you leave him alone.
Make sure to increase the period during which your child stays on the rocking chair or on the floor on the colored carpet, and attract him with toys of colors that attract his attention to distract him from the idea of pregnancy.
Use a rocking chair and put him in it instead of carrying him, or you can put him on a colorful play mat to distract him from the idea of being pregnant.
Do not use the rocker that is attached to the ceiling to distract it, as it is a dangerous tool that may lead to the fall of your child.
Do not leave him on the bed alone without changing his diaper and watching him closely, as a child who loves to be carried is often nervous and moves a lot, and this may expose him to falling.

Baby nail biting:

Your child does not stop biting his nails. This bad habit bothers you, it bothers you, and you wonder where you learned it from, and you try to prevent him from cutting his nails. Rest assured, your child does not suffer from any tension or disorder, as this habit is often observed in children, starting from the age of two.

Tips to help a child stop biting his nails:

To help your child get rid of this habit, we offer you 7 tips:

Children who spend a lot of time watching TV often tend to bite nails or suck their thumbs.
If your child is able to understand, explain to him that nails are a nest of dirt and germs, and that continuing to bite his nails may cause him diseases.
If a time passes without him biting his nails, praise and encourage him.
Children often start biting their nails as a result of a new or disturbing event, such as the birth of a brother, the death of a brother, or the change of school. Try to understand the reasons why he does this.
Cut his nails regularly.
Ask him to do manual work such as coloring and drawing.
Paint his nails with bitter dye.

The beginning of walking in a child:

In his first year, the child gradually acquires the muscular strength and neuromuscular compatibility necessary to learn to sit, roll over, and crawl, and after that he may be able to extend himself to the top, and then stand with the help of something to lean on, and this is between the period of the sixth and tenth months of his life, but now the issue It is only a matter of time, and it is related to the child's acquisition of confidence and balance, and most children begin their first steps by reaching their first year,

And when they reach the fifteenth month of their age, they are able to walk without help from anyone, but their steps are often unsteady, but you should not worry if the child takes longer than others to walk, because some do not walk until they reach the 17th or 18th month, We often notice that those who love first walk faster.

Encouraging the child to walk:

Help your child change his position from standing to sitting, and use the method of scattering toys on the floor to pick them up.
Encourage your child to stand, leaning on a wall or a piece of furniture. Before walking, the child must be taught to stand. You can also put toys and drawings on the furniture to encourage your child to stand on the furniture.
Encourage him to walk on his own, for example, bend your knees, extend your hands to him and call him with a smile.
Allow your child to move freely, in wide and safe places, as this will help him to strengthen his muscles in running and walking.
Put him on shoes and watch his steps. If he walks with difficulty, take off his shoes and let him walk barefoot.

Factors that help the child walk:

Feeding the child on sufficient amounts of calcium, from foods rich in calcium, milk and its derivatives, and suitable for the age of the child. Each age group of children has specific foods that they eat.
The child must be exposed to the sun to obtain vitamin D, which is important in building the child’s bones well and protecting him from developing osteomalacia. Exposing the child to the sun in the morning hours before ten o’clock, or after four o’clock in the afternoon.
In the seventh month, the child must be seated alone, and appropriate toys should be provided to him.

Teaching an infant to crawl:

It is natural for every mother to wonder about when the child crawls, and how she can help him to crawl, and because crawling helps the child to get to know the surrounding environment and develop his skills, in addition to developing his senses, we will tell you in this article when the child crawls and how to help him with the different types of crawling.

When does the baby start to crawl?

Often the child begins to crawl between 7-10 months of age, and he will choose the best way to do so, and quickly your child's life and your life will change as well, he will become more effective, and you will be surprised where he can reach.

During the first six months of life, the child is completely dependent on you, but when he starts crawling, he can move and reach things on his own. His arms and he starts crawling.

Teaching a child to crawl:

In order for your child to start crawling, he first needs a high sense of balance, and often develops very quickly, and he also needs strong muscles that bear the weight of his body and help him move, so he must sleep for long periods on his stomach, until the muscles of the head and neck are strong, To be able to see in front of him while crawling.

He must also first be able to sit on his own without assistance, so that the back muscles are strong, and he can carry his body while crawling, and balance between his right and left side, so that he does not stumble while crawling.

How do I help my child to crawl?

In order to help your child start to crawl; First, you can put his favorite toys in front of him so that he needs to move, to reach them. It may also help you to put the child in a crawling position, and then imitate crawling in front of him yourself, so that he can do that.

You can also put your hand under his stomach, then lift him up gently, until he uses his hand to support his body. You can also move his hands and knees yourself.

If you have friends with toddlers, invite them to the house, so that the children can encourage each other by playing and having fun.

How do they love the child in different ways?

The method of crawling differs from one child to another, but what is important is that the child be able to move on his own, and the method is not important at all. Most children crawl using the arm and knee, but there are other methods:

The child may move by crawling using the forearm, with the foot fully extended.
The child may move using the arm, and the knee backwards (crawling backwards), which is completely normal, and does not mean any defect in growth, and it continues more often than one to two weeks during the first period in crawling, when the muscles of the arms are stronger than the muscles of the legs , so he starts moving backwards, and the child will always be happy with the movement as long as he can reach his things, and with time the muscles of the two legs gain additional strength that enables him to crawl forward, and you can help him move forward by placing the toys he loves, or a favorite food, for example, in front of him, to move towards them, and you can also put your hand gently on the back of the child, and gently push it forward.
The child may not crawl at all, and move only by dragging his body on the backside in a sitting position. This movement will do the trick, but it will be completely slow compared to normal crawling.
The baby may move by rolling over, turning from side to side, which is also normal, and only safe indoors.
Your child may not crawl at all, and start walking directly, which is normal for 10% of children, as some experts do not consider crawling as a sign of development other than sitting, walking, and running.

Children's drooling:

Drooling from the mouths of children, especially infants, in abundance and without control throughout the day, and it has not yet reached the stage of teething or food, so what is the reason?

Causes of drooling in children:

There are different reasons for drooling, some of which require a doctor's consultation, while others are completely normal:

Although the teething stage often begins at the age of 6 months, the mother begins to notice excessive salivation from the age of 3-4 months, and it is considered completely normal in this case and is not satisfactory, because the tooth buds begin to grow inside the gums early, thus enhancing the work of the glands The salivary glands are activated and the child drools abundantly until the teething stage.
Infections, mouth ulcers, and fungi that appear in your child's mouth, whether on the gums or throat, lead to difficulty swallowing, and thus an increase in salivation and saliva. Usually, you can discover this easily by examining your child's mouth. It requires the doctor's intervention to prescribe the appropriate treatment, after which the drooling will stop.
If your child suffers from allergic rhinitis, or a cold that causes a stuffy nose, or if he suffers from adenoids, all of this leads to increased salivation and salivation in abundance.
Does your child have stomach worms or intestinal parasites? In this case, saliva and urine secretion also increases from your child's mouth, which is a condition that the doctor determines by doing a stool analysis for the child to take the appropriate treatment.
Sometimes, your baby drools when soft foods are introduced, as a natural reaction to the first time he tastes food.
Finally, when the child enters the teething stage itself, it makes saliva secretion a lot.

Treatment of drooling in children:

In general, if you notice that the secretion of saliva is associated with your child's crying and pain from something along with his refusal to eat or breastfeed, you should visit the doctor for examination and determine the cause, otherwise, you should know that the secretion of saliva without a pathological symptom is good for your child to get rid of oral germs, and it does not affect his health. Your baby's appetite for breast or food.

Child seat in the car:

A child seat is mandatory when traveling by car with a child under 10 years old. The seat must be installed backwards to ensure its safety in the event of an accident. But according to Peter Fleming, a professor at the University of Bristol in England, this gesture will not be without risks for the little ones, hence the importance of taking appropriate safety measures.

A study conducted by Churchill Car Insurance, a British car insurance company, warns parents of possible respiratory problems when children stay too long in a child seat while traveling by car. It was carried out on 2,000 parents and would have lifted the veil on some risks that three-quarters of the respondents are not aware of.

Indeed, 75% of parents do not know that it is not recommended to take journeys of more than 30 minutes by car with a newborn and a third of them will not realize that it is necessary to take a 15-minute break every two hours when the child is on the plane.

Information still unknown:

This survey is not the first of its kind to highlight the risks associated with the safety of children in a car In 2016 safety expert Professor Peter Fleming contributed to a study on placing children in child seats According to the results of this research, a very long journey can cause breathing problems in a child , affecting his heart rate.

The study, which was carried out by the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Bristol, based its findings on the infant's supine position. When this is prolonged and associated with the vibrations of the vehicle, it is bound to cause health problems for the child. According to Professor Peter Fleming, "Positioning the child in a 40-degree position with the vibrations one would feel in a car leads to an increase in heart rate and respiration".
Thus it is highly recommended not to exceed more than 30 minutes of continuous flight for babies from 4 to 6 weeks of age.

Child seats are always necessary:

While the results of the study call for caution in the use of child restraints, the fact remains that they are essential to the safety of young people. In fact, child seats are mandatory even from a legal point of view. “Parents should not stop using child seats for their children. They must be protected in a moving vehicle and this is required by law,” explains Dr. Renu Arya, who conducted the aforementioned study.

Iron deficiency in children:

Iron deficiency in children can affect the child’s health and development and lead to anemia. Continue the following article to know the symptoms of iron deficiency in children, how to prevent iron deficiency, and the importance of examining the child to check for iron deficiency.

The importance of iron for children:

Iron is an essential nutrient for a child's development. Iron helps transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, and helps muscles store and use oxygen.

If your child's food lacks iron, it may develop into a condition called iron deficiency. Iron deficiency in children can occur on several levels, due to the depletion of iron stores leading to anemia. Untreated iron deficiency can affect the child's growth and development.

Symptoms of iron deficiency in children:

Iron deficiency can weaken your child and affect his general health. However, most of the symptoms of iron deficiency in children do not appear until iron deficiency anemia occurs:

Pale skin.
Fatigue.
Slowing growth rates.
Poor appetite.
Abnormally rapid breathing.
Behavioral problems.
Frequent infections.
Unusual desire for non-food substances such as ice, starch, dirt, or paint.

The importance of examining the child to check for iron deficiency:

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are usually diagnosed through blood tests, with all infants from 9 months to 12 months old being screened for iron deficiency anemia.

As for those with increased risk factors for iron deficiency, they are examined again at an older age, and according to the results of the examinations; The doctor recommends oral iron supplements, a daily multivitamin, or other screening.

Corona virus effect on children:

The detector showed that the Corona virus does not have a negative effect on children, and this is what studies and research have found through two approaches to thinking:

Since the child’s body does not have immunity against all types of germs, it considers them all the same as each other, including the Corona virus. Therefore, his body is qualified to not have negative effects from these germs of all kinds. Therefore, divine conditions protect him from this virus and others.

The Corona virus only affected animals, so it found a new outlet to enter the human body, so it was difficult and strong for an adult, but for children, this outlet has not yet been formed.

Transmission of infection:

But the germ can be present in the child’s body and contribute to the transmission of the infection to others without showing signs of the disease, so it can transmit the infection to the elderly due to the fragility of their immunity, especially if they suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, heart failure, respiratory failure, and other diseases. ...because they are diseases that weaken immunity, and therefore this disease will have very negative and severe repercussions on their health.

Children and allergies:

In most cases, if the child complains of high temperatures, sneezing, and shortness of breath, this is considered a sign of allergic diseases, and in this case, the direct doctor should be contacted to clarify the situation.

Children getting headaches while playing:

If you have a child at home, he might fall one day and get a headache. Even if you are worried, it is normal for children to get headaches while playing or doing other activities. If you're wondering, "My kid fell and hit his head and I don't know what to do." This is normal and can happen at any time.

Infancy is when your child is at risk of hurting himself or falling frequently. This period is often filled with anxiety in the minds of parents. Since we cannot control all the movements of the baby completely, there are risks involved. Injuries at this age are very common and you need to know how to avoid them.

Children, by nature, are innocent. They are unaware of the dangers around them. They easily move over furniture or can't see the game on the floor. This period of danger is usually between six months and four years, during which the child begins to discover the world with more independence.

Up to 3-4 years of age, there is an imbalance between the weight of the child's head and the weight of his body. Not only are falls more common at this age, but no matter how a child falls, they always hit the ground head first, which poses a high risk of head injury.

This situation may sound familiar to you: "My baby fell and hit his head badly and now he can't stop crying." A fall on the head can be very dangerous, depending on the child's circumstances and symptoms.

It is important to have an intuition and to know the dangerous places in your home. In this way, as much as possible, you prevent the child from stumbling and falling. A child's fall should not be taken lightly, and the appearance of behavioral disturbances, abnormal sleepiness, abnormal signs, or pain should prompt immediate medical attention.

My child hit his head: How can I help him?

Now you know how prone your child may be to falling. Now it is important to know what action to take. Most accidents result in superficial injuries only to the surface of the head. For example, bruises or bruises, lesions, and local pain.

headache:

The steps to follow are very simple. Keep your child in a quiet and peaceful place. Hold his head up while you apply ice wrapped in a cloth to the area where he fell. Then give him a small amount of water to drink to avoid any vomiting symptoms. The important thing is to stay calm and reassure your child. This will help you observe it with more objectivity. Depending on the type and severity of the blow, additional methods can also be applied.

injury:

If you have a wound, you should wash the wound with clean water. If an object was broken during the accident, especially check that there are no particles left in the affected area. To stop the bleeding, use gauze soaked in hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide). Then apply small drops to the affected area. And if the wound is deep, it may require stitches; In this case, you will need to go to a medical center to clean the wound and suture the wound.

Hematoma:

In the event that your child has a hematoma, the procedure is simpler, but requires the same amount of care and attention. When you apply ice in a local manner, the hematoma should automatically shrink in size. On the other hand, if the affected area increases in size and inflammation occurs, it is best to go to the doctor to carefully check the condition of the hematoma. This will prevent any serious consequences.

Head alert symptoms:

Falling on the head is one of the most difficult situations for children and adults. Since this is the area that houses the brain, it is important to note how your child reacts several hours after the accident:

Drowsiness is a symptom that raises suspicion. It is often believed that a child should not be able to fall asleep after being hit on the head. You shouldn't make him stay up if it's time for bed and rest.
When he wakes up, you should watch very carefully to see if the baby is normal or if you notice anything suspicious.
Nausea, blurred vision, or confusion are other symptoms that should be watched closely. You must remain extremely alert and vigil for these situations and watch for reoccurring disturbances.
Check if the child feels numb in his limbs or if he has a headache. This is because it can lead to a type of cerebral vascular injury.
If any of these symptoms occur, you should seek immediate medical attention. The doctor must assess the child's level of consciousness and his general condition.
By carefully examining this variable, he or she will determine which tests are needed to assess the possibility of brain damage such as X-rays or ultrasounds.

Conclusions:

It is important to note that if the child's general condition worsens, you should always go to the hospital for a consultation in case of a fall. Always do this if the head-on fall occurred immediately but also within 48 hours of the accident.

It is also essential to consult a hospital or pediatric emergency immediately because it is possible to be in the presence of significant head trauma with hematoma. Without prompt medical intervention, brain damage can be significant.
Internal bleeding or fractures may also go unnoticed at first. If fractures do occur, you will need to undergo close medical monitoring to avoid any later problems.
Remember, if you want to prevent your child from having this type of accident, you need to evaluate the play area and the places they are used to.
Remember that your child will not be aware of his surroundings or the dangers that may be present. And now when you hear someone say, "My baby fell over, he's got a headache," you'll know how to help that anxious other person.

Why should you have regular check-ups of your child's health?

Your child's medical follow-up begins on the day he is born. Every medical visit to a pediatrician who follows your child regularly is essential to prevent possible illnesses and for his future health.

The frequency of regular or additional appointments and tests depends on your child's clinical information since conception. But without a doubt, medical examinations of your child are essential to prevent disease and assess his development at all levels.

From birth, the medical team that brings the baby into the world makes the first assessments of its health. Health checks for your child are the first source of information about his or her general health.

Obesity in children:

Obesity in children has increased in our time, as a result of the interaction between several factors, including heredity, the environment, and the fast eating habits followed at home. .

Or even as a result of a background problem from birth or as a result of a problem in the balance of the liptin hormone ratio, in the body, which has recently been known to be one of the genetic causes of increased fat in the human body, and research in this field is still ongoing. that are left behind.

Acquired eating habits:

These habits are due to social, economic and family conditions such as:

Family composition:

A single boy, born in a separate family, such as the mother’s divorce, the youngest child in the family….

Social composition:

Average hours spent by the boy in front of the TV screen, lack of physical movement, study problems (exams), lack of sleep period.

Eating habits:

As a result of poor fulfillment of the emotional needs of the parents, as this is compensated by excessive eating. Reliance on formula milk as a substitute for breastfeeding from the mother’s breast, introduction of solid solid food, lack of interest or much interest on the part of parents with regard to feeding children, and frequent eating of foods that contain a lot of calories. And canceling the habit of breakfast in the morning daily and eating a lot in one meal, such as lunch or dinner, and replacing the three meals (with irregular eating) throughout the day.

Obesity problems and its complications in children:

Obesity in children leads to high levels of fat and cholesterol, high blood pressure, problems with flat feet, or curvature of the spine forward. But the solution and treatment of these problems is to slim down.

The obese child suffers from breathing problems, as he feels tired at the slightest effort, and also suffers from skin problems (redness, strings, and wrinkles on the hands, feet, and under the abdomen).

Treating childhood obesity:

Treatment is possible at an age of less than six years. Treatment of obesity in children is limited to providing advice and guidance on healthy eating, because strict diets cause problems in the growth process in addition to psychological problems.

Tips for parents and children to treat childhood obesity:

Fat relief.
Reducing sugars between meals.
Avoid sweet drinks during and between meals.
It is allowed to offer sweets to children (from time to time) only after the meal.
Encourage the child to eat carbohydrates.
Protein consumption from plant and animal sources.
Encourage fiber consumption.
Establish a strict schedule for meal times to prevent (fast food).
Provide a daily snack before or in the afternoon that contains fruits or milk and its derivatives.
Provide a meal that fills the stomach, such as mixing vegetables with starches.
Encourage the child to eat breakfast.
Accustom the child to eat while sitting without watching TV.
Teach him to chew food slowly.
Encourage him to move physically.

Encourage children to make the right choice:

This is the responsibility of parents in the process of guiding children towards the right choice and the exact timing of eating. But the amount of food must be determined by the child, except in the case of a strict diet, where he is forced to eat the necessary quantities, and he must be encouraged to slim down, which gives a better result, especially by encouraging parents, family and friends in his surroundings, in addition to nutritionists, as they have a great role in encouraging the child to make efforts in this field.

Adolescents and obesity between the ages of 12-17 years:

Obesity problems in adolescence are among the most serious issues in developed countries that lead to many problems, as they affect growth, as puberty begins early and is therefore limited to bone growth, and affects this age more than its impact in childhood, as the young man grows Adolescents to become obese adults. This leads to changes in the blood, such as pressure, blood lipids, high insulin levels, and other factors that lead to chronic diseases in the future.

Obesity in adolescence causes problems in controlling the psychological and social situation of the adolescent, who becomes isolated because of his negative body shape and suffers from a lack of self-confidence. In addition to his lack of psychological and social development. Inappropriate body shape causes teenagers to have many problems with eating habits, such as anorexia and bulimia.

Weight loss and growth deficiency:

There is a difference between underweight and underweight. Which can be determined by the pediatrician. Before going to a nutritionist, the child must be taken to a pediatrician when his physical structure is weak. The lack of growth is the result of organic causes (allergies to certain types of food), psychological reasons, or as a result of malnutrition, which is a condition that exists in abundance.

Causes of underweight in children:

The main reason for weight loss in children is a psychological condition, which is present in many cases as a result of fear of new foods. It begins at the age of two years, worsens at the age of four years, and continues until the age of 8 years. The child is afraid even of tasting some foods.

How to deal with a child who is underweight:

When examining the child and making sure that he is underweight, he should be taken to a nutritionist to address the problem, so that he can see the extent of the seriousness of the condition according to age and weight. In the first stage, the child should not be frightened of his condition, but rather the mother should be explained according to his age (weight loss has an effect on his immunity and muscle mass). And in a second stage, it is necessary to move on to what is expressed in nutritional education and not follow a diet as is known to adults.

How should parents act?

Parents should not lose hope when the child does not want to eat, but rather try several times, and several methods can be followed to encourage him to eat, such as diversifying the dish (for example, eggs, grains, and vegetables). Many methods must be taken to encourage him to eat, and it is necessary to train parents to facilitate interaction with the condition of their children.

Tips for dealing with underweight children:

A nutritionist explains to the child how to deal with the nutrients and how to form his own plate through the basic ingredients for his growth (proteins found in meat and fish) and passing on to the vitamins found mainly in the grain.
It must be served in certain dishes to encourage the child to eat.
Fatty foodstuffs should not be served as a solution to increase the weight of the child (french fries and hamburger), but it is enough to eat some healthy foods (eggs, vegetables and grains).
A child should not be forced to eat.
The child should be encouraged to exercise regularly to open the appetite and to develop the rate of his nutritional needs.