Dr Thomas - Baby and Children Specialist Kemena Pacific Hospital Bintulu

06/11/2025

🌿 Protecting Your Baby from RSV: What You Need to Know About Beyfortus

Many parents have been asking — “Is Beyfortus a vaccine?”
👉 No, it’s not a vaccine, but it works to protect your baby from RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) — a common virus that can cause serious lung infection, especially in infants.
👉 It is a monoclonal antibody

💉 What is Beyfortus?
Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) is a long-acting antibody injection that gives your baby ready-made protection (passive immunity) against RSV for about 5 months — just enough to cover one RSV season.

Unlike vaccines that teach the body to make antibodies, Beyfortus directly provides the antibodies your baby needs to fight RSV immediately.

?
💰 The Cost Perspective
What attracts me is the cost effectiveness of this antibody.

Let me break it down for you:
💸 Beyfortus injection: around RM2000
🏥 RSV hospitalisation: 3–7 days × RM1000/day = RM3000–7000+, not yet taking into consideration of the potential long-term lung damage caused by RSV, especially for those less than 3 months old.

💡 In short:
“One dose of Beyfortus can save your baby from a week in the hospital — and protect their tiny lungs for the whole RSV season.”

Talk to your paediatrician to see if Beyfortus is right for your baby.

03/10/2025

👩‍⚕️ Mini Case Quiz 👨‍⚕️

A 6-year-old boy presents with a well-demarcated 5-6 cm erythematous patch on the anterior neck. Initial working diagnosis: dermatophytosis (fungal skin infection).

🔹 One week later: no improvement, and instead, multiple new erythematous papules appear on the back and trunk.

❓What is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer: Pityriasis rosea – classically begins with a “herald patch” followed by widespread secondary eruptions, often along skin cleavage lines.

👉 玫瑰糠疹 (méi guī kāng zhěn)

💡 Reminder: Always revisit the diagnosis when lesions do not respond to first-line therapy and monitor disease progression. Pityriasis rosea can mimic dermatophytosis but has a characteristic evolution and distribution pattern.

01/10/2025

Yesterday I met a patient, a five-month-old baby boy. Because of muscle development problems, he is still unable to lift his head, and his arms, legs, and body are weak. We sometimes call this a “floppy baby.”

To find out the cause, we arranged a genetic test called WES – Whole Exome Sequencing. In simple terms, this test looks at the important parts of the baby’s genes, the “instructions” that control how the body develops and functions, to see if there are any changes that might explain his condition. The result confirmed the diagnosis of Congenital Myopathy.

When I explained this to his parents, I could clearly see the sadness and helplessness in their eyes. As a doctor, I also felt heavy-hearted, because at present there is no cure for this disease, and the prognosis is often not very good. This is very difficult for any family to hear and to carry.

Still, I want the parents to know: even if we cannot cure this condition, we can still walk this journey together. Through supportive care—helping with breathing, nutrition, rehabilitation, and daily care—we can do our best to improve the child’s quality of life. The medical team will not give up; we will continue to support you and your baby.

And I also want to say to the parents: you are already very brave. This diagnosis is hard to accept, but your love and presence are the greatest strength for your child. I hope you can continue to stay strong. We will be by your side, walking with you on this difficult path.

29/09/2025

New Assessment Tool Available!

We are excited to announce that Kemena Pacific Hospital now offers the 𝐖𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧® 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐂-𝐕). WISC-V is the gold standard tool for assessing intelligence in children and adolescents aged 6 years 0 months to 16 years 11 months.

The WISC-V provides:
✅ An overall measure of intellectual ability (IQ score)
✅ Insights into five specific cognitive domains that influence learning and classroom performance
✅ Identification of intellectual and learning disabilities
✅ Assessment of giftedness
✅ A clear picture of a child’s cognitive strengths and areas that may benefit from support

Understanding your child’s unique learning profile can guide tailored educational strategies and recommendations for further assessment or intervention.

How to get started:
Book an initial consultation with our Clinical Psychologist to discuss your concerns and explore whether this assessment is right for your child.
📞 | 011-1674 7273 https://wa.me/601116747273

-V

22/09/2025

👩‍⚕️ 新专科医生介绍 👨‍⚕️

我们非常高兴地欢迎 -- 余医生 —— 加入我们的医疗团队！

余医生是一位物理医学与康复医学专科医生（Physiatrist），专门帮助病人通过非手术方式改善身体功能、减轻疼痛，并提升生活品质。

科普一下。
🌿 康复医生的专长包括：
1️⃣中风后康复与功能恢复
2️⃣脊椎与关节疼痛管理
3️⃣脑损伤、脊髓损伤康复
4️⃣儿童与成人的运动障碍（如脑瘫）
5️⃣截肢后康复及义肢训练
6️⃣老年人行动能力及防跌训练

💡 为什么选择物理医学与康复医学？
它不仅仅是“治疗疾病”，更是帮助患者重拾独立、自信与生活的能力。

🎉 我们相信，余医生的加入，将为社区带来更多希望与祝福！

👩‍⚕️ Introducing Our New Specialist Doctor 👨‍⚕️

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Jee to our medical team!
Dr. Jee is a Specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), also known as a Physiatrist. Their focus is on helping patients restore function, reduce pain, and improve quality of life — all through nonsurgical treatments and holistic care.

🌿 Rehab physician areas of expertise include:
1️⃣Stroke rehabilitation & functional recovery
2️⃣Spine, muscle, and joint pain management
3️⃣Brain injury & spinal cord injury rehabilitation
4️⃣Pediatric and adult movement disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy)
5️⃣Amputation rehabilitation & prosthetic training
6️⃣Elderly mobility enhancement & fall prevention

💡 Why PM&R?
It’s not just about treating disease — it’s about helping patients regain independence, confidence, and the ability to live life to the fullest.

🎉 We believe Dr. Jee’s presence will bring new hope and healing to our community!

Kemena Pacific Hospital is delighted to introduce Dr. Jee Rou Chen, New Visiting Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician.

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Date: 26th September 2025 (Friday)
Time: 1.00 p.m.

Dr. Jee Rou Chen holds an MD (CMUH, Taiwan) and a Master of Rehabilitation Medicine (UM). His expertise focuses on helping patients improve function and quality of life through rehabilitation care.

For appointments or inquiries, please contact us at:
General line: 086-251 888
Email: customercare.bintulu@kemenapacific.com

04/09/2025

30/08/2025

28/08/2025

Are you familiar with this situation?

Your child is asked to redo a simple correction, and instead of complying, he bursts into tears, shouts at the parents/teachers, and refuses to listen. He/she will be frustrated over tiny little things such as: losing a game, being told to turn off the TV, or being asked to tidy up. The entire household begins to feel like they are “walking on eggshells,” never knowing when the next explosion might come.

For many families, the daily stress of raising a child with ADHD is not just about inattention or hyperactivity. What causes the greatest strain is often the emotional dysregulation — the sudden mood swings, irritability, and explosive reactions. Unfortunately, this aspect of ADHD is frequently misunderstood. Instead of being recognized as part of the condition, children are sometimes labeled as “spoiled,” “defiant,” or “disrespectful.”

Understanding the link between ADHD and emotional dysregulation is vital. It not only validates parents’ struggles but also points the way to effective strategies — from teaching children how to recognize and label their feelings, to equipping families with coping tools that can reduce stress at home.

Recommendations/guidelines/diagnostic criteria:
-5 & -11: emotional dysregulation is not a diagnostic criterion but recognized as common in ADHD.

& guidelines: highlight the importance of assessing and managing it, often overlapping with oppositional defiant disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, anxiety, or mood disorders.

Apart from treating the hyperactive/inactivity symptoms of ADHD with medication, it is also very important to address the emotional dysregulation component. This is where clinical psychologist comes into play. One of the first steps in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is teaching the child to recognize and label emotions. By learning to name feelings — “I am angry,” “I feel disappointed,” “I am frustrated because I lost the game” — children begin to create a pause between the feeling and the reaction.

26/08/2025

Did you know?

Dengue cases in Malaysia continue to rise every year, especially during rainy seasons. Bintulu has three hotspot zones this month - Kampung Baru, Kampung Sinong, and Pasar Lama.

There are 4 different dengue virus serotypes — meaning a person can get dengue up to 4 times in their lifetime.

A second dengue infection often carries a higher risk of severe complications such as dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

💉 The New Dengue Vaccine – Qdenga®
Qdenga® is a tetravalent (4-in-1) live attenuated vaccine, designed to protect against all four dengue virus strains. It is available in Malaysia since February 2024.

What makes it important?
✅ Can be given regardless of previous dengue infection history.
✅ Shown to reduce symptomatic dengue and hospitalisation risks in clinical trials.
✅ Adds a strong layer of protection alongside mosquito control efforts.

⚠️ Dengue prevention: COMPLEMENT - do not replace other preventive measures.
1) Eliminate stagnant water—and remove breeding sources like tins, tyres, plant trays weekly.
2) Participate in community clean-up campaigns and support fogging operations.
3) Seek immediate medical attention for dengue symptoms: high fever, severe headache, eye pain, joint aches, or skin rash.

When used together, vaccine and vector control strategies can significantly protect Bintulu communities from dengue.