Children’s Health

  On 15th of October 2018, a 14-month-old child died of diphtheria in Johor Bahru. According to a statement issued by the Director General of Health, Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, the child was never vaccinated as her parents were against vaccination. The child developed fever and sore throat on the 4th of October and it took a week for her mother to seek medical treatment at a private clinic.…

Q1: How often should my child have a poo poo? A: In first week of life, it is common for most babies to have >4 bowel movements each day. In the first 3 months, some babies have >2 bowel movements each day. By age 2, most children have at least 1 bowel movement each day. Every child is different, the above information is just for reference. Please refer to your…

  Q: When do babies start teething? What are the symptoms? A: On average, children begin teething around 4 to 7 months. The common symptoms include mild irritability, fever, drooling, and an urge to chew. Q: What is the FDA warning about? A: FDA warns the use of teething gel contains Benzocaine. Benzocaine is a local anesthetic which may cause a life threatening condition called methemoglobinemia (reduce of oxygen carried…

Many parents out there can probably attest to the fact that bedwetting is a common occurrence among kids. Let’s be honest, it can be stressful at times, not only for the parents due to the inconvenience of added laundry loads, but for the affected kids who probably have to deal with sibling-teasing and other social embarrassment. Sleeping over at friend’s place is most likely another issue. Just how common is…

A heat rash is a common skin disorder that occurs when a person sweats a lot due to physical activity or even hot environment. It appears to be cluster of small bubbles formed just under the skin. Although it is possible to get a heat rash in all age groups, it is most common in babies and young children.   Common symptoms The rash commonly occurs in areas of the…

“AAwww….look at these chubby cheeks, how cute. Mwwaahhh!” “Come here, you fleshy cuddly munchkin, give me a hug!” Let’s admit it, those fleshy bodies and chubby cheeks can be really adorable at times. While some may consider overweight kids being healthier than their peers, this could not be further from the truth. Childhood obesity has become a serious global public health issues particularly among the urbanites in the 21st century.…

What causes newborn’s skin to turn yellow after birth? The yellowing of skin (and white of eyes) in newborn is known as neonatal jaundice. It occurs commonly in the first week of life due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the skin and mucous membranes. Approximately 65% of newborns will develop the condition which is caused by raised bilirubin (higher than 6 mg/dL) in the blood circulation. Bilirubin is formed…