children Archives - CHILD AND CHEST HEALTH CARE

Air Pollution increases Pneumonia in children,Dr.Dev,M.D.,Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist,Rajendra Nagar Ghaziabad

Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr.Dev Kumar Jha,Formerly at AIIMS,New Delhi - 19 Nov, 2021 - Parents’ Guide,Professionals Guide, - 1 Comment

In the period of October-November 2021 ,there is high level of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.
Air pollutants contain particulate matters of different sizes.
Pollutants containing sizes PM2.5 and PM10 are very dangerous.
These pollutants of size pm2.5 and pm10 can enter the respiratory tract of children.
PM 2.5 can easily enter the alveoli and damages it.
High pm2.5 was defined as pm2.5 level more than 10.75 mcg/cubic meter.
In one study published online on 29.10.2021 in Experimental biology and Medicine,out 810 children,220 were included in study and they were divided into two groups,one with high risk group for community acquired pneumonia(126 children) and second group with low risk for community acquired pneumonia(94).Pneumonia was defined by radiographic evidence of opacity consistent with pneumonia.
It was observrd that more cases of pneumonia were diagnosed from the area with high pm2.5 as compared to low pm2.5
The mean level of pm2.5 was 10.75mcg per cubic meter during study period which is lower than the high level set by U.S.Environmental protection agency .
According to the reports by SAFAR(System of air quality forecast and resaearch) Delhi,NCR,the highest level of pollutants including pm2.5,pm10,ovc,so2,co,nitric oxide are being seen in Delhi NCR air between midnight and 10 am in the morning as on 19.11.2021.Air quality index is in very poor category in Delhi,NCR as on 19.11.2021
So, air pollution is a risk factor for pneumonia in children

REFERENCES;1.. Mehta S, Shin H, Burnett R, North T, Cohen AJ. Ambient particulate air
pollution and acute lower respiratory infections: a systematic review
and implications for estimating the global burden of disease. Air Qual
Atmos Health 2013;6:69–83

2. Ostro B, Roth L, Malig B, Marty M. The effects of fine particle components on respiratory hospital admissions in children. Environ Health
Perspect 2009;117:475–80

childern usually do not transmit coronavirus19 infection,Dr.D.k.Jha,M.D.,Pediatric Pulmonologist,Delhi,India

DR DEV KUMAR JHA - 16 Jul, 2020 - INFECTIOUS DISEASES,Respiratory, - 0 Comment

Coronavirus 19 is a potential lethal virus causing Coronavirus disease 2019.

This disease has made realisation of its presence all over the world .

All age groups are being infected with this disease with varying morbidities and mortalities.

The disease has disrupted the educational and economic activities,all over the world.Schools are closed for a long time all over the world in the fear of spread of the disease among children and then in the household.

Researchers have studied 4130 cases through hospital surveillance network between 10,March 2020 to 10,April 2020.Among them 40 cases were children below 16 years of age.Household and parents were called for contact tracing .

It was observed that,in 79% of cases, the source were an adult in the household who were either diseased or infected prior to the infection in children.

In only 8% cases,children were primarily infected who then infected adults.

It was then concluded that,children, not only suffer from mild form of the disease in majority of cases,but they are also not the source of infection to othe children or adults in most of the cases.

The study was published in PEDIATRICS,the official journal of American Academy of Pediatrics.

In conclusion,there will be very little benefit from closing the schools, but it can adversely affects the academy of growing children.

REFERENCES:Pediatrics. 2020;146:e20201576, e2020004879

Thumb sucking in children,Dr.Dev,M.D.,Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist,Sahibabad,Delhi-NCR

Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr.Dev Kumar Jha,Formerly at AIIMS,New Delhi - 09 Jun, 2020 - Child Health Guides,Parents’ Guide, - 0 Comment

Thumb sucking is frequently seen in infants and children.

It is not a disease but a habit in some children.

It is a cause of undue disturbance in parents.

It does not cause any problem in children below 4 years of age.

CAUSES:Some children starts sucking thumb when they are hungry.
Some children starts sucking thumb when they feel lonliness.
Some children starts sucking thumb just to induce sleep.

It is very common phenomenon in children at the time of teething to start sucking their thumb to pacify themselves when they feel irritation in gums.This is the same time some parents prefer to give some form of pacifier to their babies.

This phenomenon is harmless in babies as long as they just put their thumb into their mouth and start sucking gently.It becomes harmful if they vigorously suck their thumb or fingers because it may then cause disfigurement of mouth,roof of mouth or teeth.

This phenomenon of thumb sucking is very common in children below 3 years of age and in usual cases, it vanishes after the age of 2-4 years.

HOW TO GET RID OF IT–

:Do not try to take out the thumb or fingers from the mouth of baby, as it will worsen the problem.
Try to engage the child in some other activities.
Tell some stories to induce sleep in children
Give the child feed on time.

If these do not work,you may apply bandages or socks over the thumb .Some harmless food ingredients may be applied over the thumb like juice of NEEM or bitter gourd but under supervision of a qualified doctor and at right time and right quantity.Some doctors prefer to apply bitter medicine which are harmless to overcome this problem

REFERENCES:Mouth healthy,American Dental Association