Dr. Balbir's Children Hospital

15/08/2023

Happy Independence Day 2023 to all.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the richness and diversity of our culture and heritage, and work towards preserving it.

Let us all pledge to uphold the values of democracy, equality, and justice that our freedom fighters fought for.

Let’s celebrate the spirit of freedom and unity on Independence Day. Together, we can build a better and more prosperous nation for all.
Happy Independence Day 2023!

30/04/2021

IMPORTANCE OF VACCINES AND THEIR IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH
Vaccines are probably the most useful and cost-effective public health
tools known to mankind for preventing diseases. Vaccines are complex
biologic agents which give you immunity against a particular disease
without you getting sick first. They contain either the weakened
disease-causing germs, which are either killed, attenuated, or a part of
this disease-causing germ. Apart from the antigen, vaccines also contain
some other components such as adjuvants which increase the potency
of a vaccine, stabilizers which increase the stability of a vaccine and
additives which are added during the manufacturing process.
Remember that investing money in vaccination is a much wiser
decision than spending money on readymade baby foods. Once a child
suffers from an infection, parents not only have to spend a huge amount
in treatment, there is also loss on a number of school days, abstinence in
work by parents and other social issues. And due to the emergence of
antimicrobial resistance and other cause, we cannot guarantee
successful treatment too for all infections.
Vaccines are among the top 20 discoveries in the history of science. We could successfully eradicate
smallpox from the world; eliminated polio from all but two countries in the world; expect to eliminate
measles in the next 5 years; and reduce infection and death to a negligible number from diseases such as
diphtheria, tetanus, rabies, whooping cough, hepatitis B, typhoid, chickenpox, etc.

24/03/2019

06/01/2019

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREGNANT MOTHERS TO ENSURE FETAL WELL-BEING
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Pregnant women should take care of the following points:-

1. Diet :- Maternal nutrition, especially during pregnancy affects the growing fetus. A pregnant woman needs to take a well balanced diet containing about 3000 to 3200 Kcal per day. A healthy woman with a healthy fetus normally gains 12 - 15 kg of weight during pregnancy. Inadequate weight gain due to an insufficient diet would affect the weight of the growing fetus as well.

2. Exercise :- The mother should be encouraged to carry on all normal activities during pregnancy, including physical exercises. She also needs to take a little extra rest during pregnancy.

3. Antenatal Check up :- Regular antenatal Check up from a qualified doctor is advisable to ensure early detection of any abnormality or pregnancy complications.

4. Sexual life :- On the whole normal s*x life can be continued, unless the mother has had a history of abortion or spotting during early pregnancy. Abstinence is desirable during last trimester.

5. Counseling for breastfeeding :- The mother needs to be counselled, in the antenatal period about the advantages of breast feeding for the infant and mother herself. Her misgivings should be addressed so that she gives proper attention to care of breasts and ni**le during pregnancy and knows exactly what to do after the baby is delivered. The problem of retracted ni**le is also best managed during the antenatal period itself. The mother should gently pull out the retracted ni**le from side to side as well from above downwards several times a day.

6. Avoidance of medication :- A pregnant woman should avoid all medications particularly during the first trimester. Medicine should be taken only when utmost necessary and only under the supervision of a specialist doctor.

7. Preventive immunization :- Tetanus vaccination to the pregnant mother is the surest and safest way of preventing tetanus in the newborn. Two doses of tetanus toxoid beginning at 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy and 2nd dose should be taken during 7 to 8 months or at least 2 weeks prior to delivery.

8. Screening of mother :- Screening of pregnant women for Hepatitis B, & C, HIV and Syphlis etc. are mandatory as these diseases are known to produce vertical transmission.

18/01/2018

The following is a list of danger signs in a newborn baby and requires urgent consultation with a child specialist doctor.

DANGER SIGNS IN A NEWBORN BABY
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1. Lethargic / Not feeding well / Decreased activity
2. Abnormal movements (Seizures)
3. Excessively yellow
4. Baby becoming blue (especially tongue)
5. Rapid breathing (> 60/min.)
6. too cold / too hot to touch (hypo/ hyperthermia )
7. Persistent vomiting
8. Less than 4 urinations per day after day 3
9. Continuous cry
10. Drooling of saliva
11. Sweating of forehead during feeds

18/01/2018

Bed wetting also known as NOCTURNAL ENURESIS is a very common issue amongst the children for which the parents bring their children to a Paediatrician. Here are some scientific facts about this condition for the guidance of the parents whose children are suffering from this condition.

BED WETTING ( NOCTURNAL ENURESIS )
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Nocturnal enuresis is a repeated inability to control urination during sleep beyond the age of 5 or 6 yrs. Bed wetting can result in emotional stress to the child and anxiety to the parents. Bed wetting in most of the Children is just a Neuro developmental delay and only a small percentage 5 to 10 percent of the cases are caused by specific medical situations. Bed wetting is frequently associated with a family history of the condition suggesting a genetic basis.

NOCTURNAL ENURESIS IS CLASSIFIED IN TO TWO TYPES
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PRIMARY NOCTURNAL ENURESIS :-- When a child continues to wet bed and has never been dry even after the age by which he or she is generally supposed to have attained bladder control at night.

SECONDARY NOCTURNAL ENURESIS :-- When a child after having attained bladder control and staying dry for six months or more reverts to night time bed wetting. This is generally caused by emotional stress or a medical condition such as Bladder infection, Type 1 Diabetes mellitus etc.

CAUSE OF NOCTURNAL ENURESIS :-- The cause of Nocturnal enuresis is not fully understood although there are three common causes.
1. Excessive Urine Volume
2. Poor Sleep Arousal
3. More Bladder Contraction and Less Capacity of Bladder
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DELAY :-- This is the most important cause of bed wetting. Most bed wetting Children are simply delayed in developing the ability to stay dry and have no other developmental issue.

GENETIC :-- Bed wetting has a strong genetic component. Genetic research shows that bed wetting is associated with the genes on Chromosome 13q and 22q.

IMPACT OF BED WETTING:-- Bed wetting may undermine the self esteem of the child and interfere with the social development and peer relationships.

MECHANISM OF BLADDER CONTROL DURING NIGHT
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Two Physical functions prevent bed wetting. The first is a hormone ADH that reduces the urine production at night. The second is the ability to wake up when the bladder is full. Children usually achieve night time dryness by developing one or both of these abilities. There appears to be some hereditary factors in how and when these develop. By the age of one and two years the size of Bladder start enlarging and they begin to sense bladder fullness.

HOW TO HELP A CHILD WITH BED WETTING
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The condition is best handled with care, understanding and compassion. Most Children would respond to general measures without any medication. The child should be encouraged to take early dinner and restrict his fluid intake to atleast 2 hours prior to bed time. The child be asked to empty the bladder completely prior to going to bed. Rice should not be taken in dinner and Bed time milk should be prohibited. The child should be asked to maintain a calendar of dry and wet nights. The child should be encouraged and rewarded for dry nights by words of praise, pat on the back, golden stars on the calendar or by giving gifts to the child. He should be constantly be encouraged and supported by positive thoughts to control the menace. Punitive actions and reprimands are counterproductive and must be avoided. Rather he should be inspired and reassured that he has the ability and will power to control it.
During the day time, the child should be encouraged to drink plenty of liquids and asked to hold the urine as long as possible till the urge to pass urine can not be further controlled. This procedure enhances the capacity of the bladder. Patients should not be unduly alarmed about bed wetting because the condition invariably settles spontaneously in due course of time and no child continues to wet his bed beyond teens.

05/01/2018

TEETH GRINDING ( BRUXISM )
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Teeth Grinding or Bruxism in toddlers and Children is common. What causes it is not exactly known to us. But the traditional belief in our country has been that it is associated with worm infestation. Although Teeth Grinding is also seen in children in Developed countries where worm infestation is not an issue.
The current scientific evidence suggests it to be a symptom of tension due to unexpressed anger and resentment during the day. In some Children Teeth Grinding may be accompanied by talking during sleep.

TREATMENT :- The child should be encouraged to participate in the play activity and should learn to express his anger and resentment without any undue restraint. Bed time should be made enjoyable and relaxed by narrating a story or talking with the child regarding pleasant and unpleasant experiences of the day. Praise and encouragement boost the confidence and reduce tension of the child.
In due course of time, the habit gradually wanes off as the coping skills of the child improve. A consultation with a dentist is worthwhile in children who are severe Teeth Grinders.

05/01/2018

18/09/2017

PURPOSE OF THIS PAGE
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The purpose of this page is to provide real and the scientific information about the commonly encountered problems of childhood to the general public, so as to erase the effects of false beliefs and misinformation.

18/09/2017

DEMYSTIFYING TEETHING
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Everyday I see in my OPD many parents coming with their sick Children suffering from fever, Diarrhea, vomiting, Dehydration, chest infections and other ailments and asking me a pet question..........Is my child erupting teeth ? Historically in our set up every ailment has been ascribed to teething.
According to Indian folklore, Teething has been blamed to cause Fever, cough and cold, severe diarrhea, convulsions and even death. But the fact is that Teething is a harmless physiological process and is not associated with any serious health consequences. Teething may be associated with irritability, biting or gnawing, drooling of saliva and mouthing ie. child putting his fingers or every object in his mouth.
A large majority of children do not manifest any teething trouble and teeth erupt as a matter of routine but some of them may become irritable, cranky and refuse to take food. At times Babies start pulling their ears 👂 when pain of tooth eruption is reffered to ear. Some infants may exhibit a little increase in the frequency of motions and change in colour of stools to green but teething is never a cause of severe watery diarrhea.
WHEN DOES PROCESS OF TEETHING START
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The process of eruption of temporary or milk teeth starts around 6 months of age and is generally complete by two and a half years of age. During this period child is likely to put many dirty things like soiled fingers and objects, nibbled food particles and toys in to his mouth which may lead to watery diarrhea because of infection.

HOW TO MANAGE "TEETHING TROUBLES "
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There are so many general medicines which are advertised for teething but actually none is required.
You only need to offer your child a good nutritious diet and home made weaning foods. There should be adequate provision of Vit D, Vit A and Calcium. These can be easily obtained from milk and milk products, fats, oils and exposure to sunlight and green leafy vegetables and yellow fruits.
Due to irritation of gums, baby likes to chew plastic toys, but should be made of good quality food grade plastic. The toys should not have loose small parts and should not be made of brittle plastic material which a child can chew in to small bits and get choked. Child may be offered a big piece of hard bisquit, rusk, Toast, or a cold peeled carrot to chew upon.
If a child is irritable or cranky because of pain associated with teething he may be offered a safe analgesic like Paracetamol and/or a sedative like Phenergan. Some Proprietary teething gels are also available which contain pain killers and mild local anaesthetic. These can be rubbed over the swollen gums with some relief.

MESSAGE
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The message is that Teething is an essentially normal physiological process as such is not associated with any disease. The intestinal infection may result subsequent to putting dirty objects in to mouth by the child. Nothing special is required to facilitate the process of Teething. A good nutritious diet with adequate provision of calcium, Vit A and Vit D is all that is required.