Answered on Mar 06, 2023

Question by Valmik - Mar 03, 2023

Doctor my Son aged 8 years is suffering from Autism disorder and not able to speak fluently ..kindly guide me for his treatment

Ans: He needs speech therapy and follow up with a developmental pediatrician

(more)

Answered on Mar 04, 2023

Question by ELIZABETH - Mar 04, 2023

My grand daughter has completed two years, but is still unable to speak in sentences. she mostly uses single words. Is this normal? I am worried because most children start talking by the age of one. She is always surrounded by older family members as we all live in close proximity. we all talk to her throughout the day, but her response is mostly in single word. Her mother had an attack of covid while she was in the seventh month of pregnancy. could this have any affect on the child? Please advise

Ans: By 2 most children speak 3 word sentences or atleast join two words. If she is having a lot of screen time that could lead to delayed speech. I would advise you to visit an audiologist to first screen for a mild hearing disability. Once that is ruled out, speech therapy can be started.

(more)

Answered on Mar 02, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 24, 2023

My Son is having 11 years old and always having Cold and Cough, Once we go to the doctor after taking medicines for few days and the same problem will continue in a week or 10 days time once the medicines are over. The doctors are advising to take much fruits and Nuts to improve the immunity. Can you please suggest me how to get rid of this cold and to improve the immunity power for my son.

Ans: A balanced diet with daily intake of vegetables with lunch and dinner. Fruits at least twice a day. Varied vegetables and fruits of different colours are rich in vitamins and iron. Both of these improve immunity

(more)

Answered on Mar 01, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 27, 2023

My grandson has bubble in lung and was surgically removed. This has not happened in my family. Will the condition repeat? Is he in dnger?

Ans: This must have been a congenital cyst. This will not affect him adversely now. If not removed it would have led to recurrent infections.

(more)

Answered on Mar 01, 2023

Question by Mahesh - Feb 27, 2023

My ward is 4 year and 8 month old, half an year ago he fell down in staircase and got hurt near lowerlips. And much blood were out at that day.. after stitching by doctor it's treated wounds. And now a days he is frequently getting sick, like cold, and Viral fever, cough etc and I visited for pediatrics to cure. Doctor also suggested that his blood count is seems to be down . My question is whether it's due to that incident of fell down or due to climate change its happening! What should I do care for his better immunity concern? As he take fruits, egg vegetable then also low blood count? What should I do care?

Ans: By low blood count I assume you mean low WBC count. That can happen secondary to viral infections. It will pick up a week later. If you mean low haemoglobin then you need to increase iron rich foods in diet like green leafy vegetables, ragi, meat.
The frequent infections could also be due to allergies. This is not related to the fall.

(more)

Answered on Feb 25, 2023

Question by SC - Feb 22, 2023

Hi Dr. Aarti, My Son now. 5 yrs 10 months old is still wearing diaper. Me and my wife tried many times to keep him off diapers but to no avail. Though he occasionally urinates in washroom when without diapers and we ask him to do so, but he will always ask for diaper to pass out stool. If we refuse to put on a diaper he will simply just not pass out stool. Once we tried it for more than a day to not give him diaper but even after a day when he still did not pass stoll we gave him diaper thinking that keeping stool under pressure may hamper his health. Now he has to go to Class 1 and we fear how he will cope up, as till K.G. there are maids (aya's) who change diapers at school, if needed, and school time is also upto 3 hours. Please help us with what to do? Thanks in advance.

Ans: Is he wearing diapers at night still? If he is dry by night then stop diaper at night first. When he is at home, take him to the washroom at regular intervals like say every hour initially then 2 hourly to pass urine.
For stools, give him 5 min potty time in the commode after each meal. Stay with him at that time. If he hasn't passed, it is ok. Just repeat after every meal. Slowly it will regularize. Once he starts passing regularly the diaper should not be used at all. Use a reward for each time he successfully uses the toilet. It could be a story reading or a game. Be patient. It could take up to a couple of months.

(more)

Answered on Feb 25, 2023

Question by Rabindra - Feb 22, 2023

Hi Mam, My son is 11 year old and his school starts at 7:30 early morning. One big issue is hos bowl movement and for him it takes almost 30mins everyday in the morning which is getting very difficult to manage. Any suggestion how we can improve the situation here?

Ans: He needs to eat a proper breakfast and then give at least 10 mins on the commode to pass the motion. A good water intake throughout the day and good fibre intake like vegetables and fruits like papaya and banana are important too.

(more)

Answered on Feb 24, 2023

Question by Amit - Feb 24, 2023

Hello Doctor, My son has cough from last Jul. I have shown him to Pediatrician and Chest Specialist. They are advising to take Foracort through inhaler and it is going on for quite time and asked me to relax. Still cough is not going away. He had covid in last Jul and since then the cough has not stopped. How long will it take for him to recover? Is there any alternate medicine we should try or any additional tests to be done?

Ans: He may be allergic to something. Your doctor can prescribe allergen testing. Also check if he has reflux which can lead to a chronic cough.

(more)

Answered on Feb 22, 2023

Question by Bhadresh - Feb 16, 2023

My Child is 11 year old and have eye allergy problem since 2 years. He has to regularly take eye drops. Doctor says it will go away after 14-15 years of age? Is there any way to treat this

Ans: The ophthalmologist is the best person to treat your child. It is not possible to opine without seeing the child

(more)

Answered on Feb 22, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 13, 2023

Hi Dr, My daughter is 12 years old and son is 8 years old. They are urinating in bed at night times. How to overcome this issue. My second question is Both of them having cough and wheezing very frequently. Though they are talking asthalin inhaler, is there any home theraphy for both the problems. Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Ans: By 7-8 years, a child should be able to sleep through the night without passing urine. Restrict all fluids including milk to 1 hour before bedtime. Bladder needs to be emptied at 1 hour before and at bedtime. No screen time for 2 hours before bedtime. If in spite of these measures, the problem persists then get a urine routine test done
If wheezing is persistent inspite of Asthalin, then they probably have asthma and will require a steroid inhaler in addition.

(more)

Answered on Feb 22, 2023

Question by Aslam - Jan 13, 2023

My son is 10 years old and he is restless and is not able to sleep at night and frequently visits the washroom most of the times in the night, how can I help him so he gets better and he sleeps peacefully?

Ans: By 10, the child should sleep through the night without having to pass urine. See that he drinks no fluids from 1 hour before bedtime. For example, if he sleeps by 10, last fluid intake should be before 9 pm. This means no milk either. He need to pass urine at 9 pm and then again at 10 pm, i.e.1 hour before and at bedtime.
Also, no screen time for 2 hours before bedtime.
If , in spite of these measures, he still needs to pass urine after sleeping, then he needs a urine test and a check up.

(more)

Answered on Feb 16, 2023

Question by AJYA - Feb 16, 2023

how to increase Vitamin D if aperson is vegetarian

Ans: Sunlight exposure around 10am to 3 pm 1/2 hour daily .
The only dietary vegetarian source is mushroom.

(more)

Answered on Feb 11, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 11, 2023

How to train the children to swallow the medicine tablets? My son who is 13 years old still unable to swallow the tablets. I need to crush the tablets add sugar and give him.

Ans: Start with softgel capsules like seacod and the vitamin D ones. The trick is to keep the tablet at the back of the tongue and take just a sip of water and swallow the tablet. Then top it off with more water.

(more)

Answered on Feb 02, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 02, 2023

Dr Deepaji, Do Government hospitals maintained in the sense of potency of vaccines through the cold chain system of transporting vaccines in Government health centres and by following a vaccination day of once a week?

Ans: Yes, government set ups provide good cold chain maintenance. They usually receive multidose vials unlike single dose vaccines used in the private setup. This means once a bottle is opened, it should be finished on the same day. So they have only once or twice a week vaccination days to ensure maximum usage and least wastage.

(more)

Answered on Jan 31, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 10, 2023

How does a child's individual style and temperament affect behavior?

Ans: There is some impact on behaviour but nothing that can't be recognised and managed or controlled. Usually one or both parents will have the same trait. So they need to show how they manage it so that they can set a positive example.

(more)

Answered on Jan 30, 2023

Question by Ankitha - Jan 07, 2023

My child spends too much time on the mobile and he doesn't read many books.He is very bright,but how do I get him to read more.

Ans: It depends on his age. If he is younger than 5 then no mobile time at all. If between 5&10 you need to negotiate a maximum mobile time of 1/2 hour or less. Older than 10 , 1 hour. Join a library and help him choose books and start reading to him . Then gradually make him read. Bedtime reading is a good habit. Basically it is up to you. You need to be firm.

(more)

Answered on Jan 30, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 30, 2023

Deepaji, Is it legally allowed to marry my grandfather's sister's daughter's daughter? Will that affect our child's health?

Ans: I can't comment on the legal implications but consanguineous marriages have greater chances of genetic diseases being transmitted.

(more)

Answered on Jan 27, 2023

Question by Utkarsh - Jan 26, 2023

My five-year-old daughter complains of pain in the legs every night before sleep. She also sometimes complains of pain in the legs right after waking up in the morning. Although she plays and behaves normally during the rest of the day. Is she deficient in some kind of vitamin? She also falls ill very quickly, mostly with fever and throat infection.

Ans: At this age this is a common complaint especially in active kids. Calcium supplements help in some children. A diet rich in leafy vegetables and dairy will also provide calcium , iron and vitamins which would help in improving her immunity. However if she is complaining of localised pain, pain in the knee or ankle joints then she needs to visit an orthopedic doctor.

(more)

Answered on Jan 26, 2023

Question by Harish - Jan 26, 2023

My Daughter is 4 years old. I give her milk twice a day with Pediasure powder one spoon each other. Is it safe to give pediasure twice daily? Thanks

Ans: My observation with Pediasure is that it leads to weight gain. So if your daughter is underweight then it is fine. But if she has weight which is above average then give it just once.

(more)

Answered on Jan 26, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 26, 2023

Dr. Deepaji, why are Johnson & Johnson baby products not advised by pediatricians in India?

Ans: The talcum powder was detected to contain asbestos which was associated with cancer. There was a court case in the UK where a lady was awarded compensation in this regard. In India the case is ongoing. Probably the reason why even the other products are being avoided though there are no harmful ingredients in these. Personally I prefer natural oils like coconut for massage. Soaps for babies should have a pH of 5.5 so that there is no drying or skin irritation.

(more)

Answered on Jan 24, 2023

Question by Vaihayasi - Jan 24, 2023

My grandson is three months old and lives in Ireland. My daughter wants to visit with him. At what age is it safe for him to travel.

Ans: It is safe for him to travel now. He needs to be nursed during take off and landing so that he doesn't develop ear discomfort. Ensure that he has received age appropriate vaccination before travelling .

(more)

Answered on Jan 11, 2023

Question by shailesh - Jan 11, 2023

hi, actually whenever we visit any place my kids get affected by fever or cough what will be the suggestion we always take care with there health but still having the same issue thanks

Ans: Probably due to change of weather. Ensure healthy food intake, plenty of fluids. They will grow out of this soon

(more)

Answered on Jan 10, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 10, 2023

if a person is on warfarin 5 mg lifelong which vaccine is safer for him Covaxin or Covishield and middle aged people who are dying of cardiac related ailments are those episodes related to adverse affects of Vaccination .

Ans: Covaxin is preferredNot related

(more)

Answered on Jan 09, 2023

Question by Hemantkumar - Jan 09, 2023

I believe that the baby walker acts as a crutch, denying the baby the opportunity to develop leg muscles and coordination on his own. Even more serious, the use of baby walkers has been found to lead to numerous accidents. So why do we use baby walkers to teach a baby to walk sooner?

Ans: I don't recommend and discourage parents from using walkers. Push toys are fine as babies can use them only once they are able to stand up and walk with support.

(more)

Answered on Jan 09, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 09, 2023

Hello Dr Deepa , my son is 6.5 m & is on tummy time for most of the day. While he rolls over from back to tummy & tummy to back, he is yet to crawl. At what month do babies generally crawl? Also he sits with support -when is the time by when they sit - especially asking for feeding solids . At the moment i hold him in sitting position to feed

Ans: Crawling on knees occurs after 8 months. At this age he will sit with support or with hands placed forward as support. Independent sitting is also after 8 months. However for feeding , you can use a baby rocker or place cushions behind and on the sides to support him.

(more)

Answered on Jan 09, 2023

Question by Laxmi - Jan 09, 2023

Doc, due to inevitable circumstances, I will be travelling with my 18month old and 6 yr old from 35 Celsius to 1-2 Celsius temperature? Are there any precautions I need to take care while travelling? Other than enough warm clothes, how should I prepare myself as they stay will be almost two weeks in that extreme cold climate which the kids will be experiencing for the first time.

Ans: Protect the ears and neck . Carry all emergency medicines. Ensure warm fluid intake.

(more)

Answered on Jan 09, 2023

Question by Vishal - Jan 08, 2023

My daughter is about to turn 10. Her weight has been hovering around 25 kg since almost 2-3 years. Is this a cause for concern?

Ans: It depends on multiple factors. How has her growth been in the past 10 years? If her height and weight have always been below average then this is her growth pattern. 25 kg is below average for 10 years but in the normal range. If there has been a slowing or a dip in her growth curve over the past 2 years then she needs to be checked for iron deficiency and hormonal problems like hypothyroidism for example.

(more)

Answered on Jan 07, 2023

Question by Shailaja - Jan 07, 2023

My son is 13 years old. His height is more than normal, he is currently 5'10" tall. Because of his height he looks older than his age. His height has grown a lot since he turned 10. He has no health problems otherwise. Is this normal, Dr?

Ans: It depends on the height of other family members like parents, uncles, grandparents . Also has he developed any signs of puberty? This sudden growth spurt usually indicates start of puberty and final height is generally an average of parental heights. To determine whether this is part of pubertal growth spurt, bone x-rays are advised.

(more)

Answered on Jan 07, 2023

Question by Savera - Jan 06, 2023

Hi, please give suggestions to deal with hair loss

Ans: A good diet adequate in proteins and iron is essential for skin and hair health. A dermatologist is the best person to treat this issue

(more)

Answered on Jan 07, 2023

Question by Harish - Jan 06, 2023

My daughter is 4 years old. She constantly has cough problem like running nose or mucus in the lungs. Can you suggest some home remedy for the same? Thanks

Ans: Her chest needs to checked to rule out congestion and wheezing. If chest is clear, you can try honey with a few drops of ginger juice

(more)

Answered on Jan 07, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 06, 2023

My son is not well since last 15 months approximately and he skipped school very often. Now he gets aggression very soon. Pls provide suitable advice.

Ans: He needs to be checked by a doctor for any deficiency. Blood tests too may be needed

(more)

Answered on Jan 07, 2023

Question by Sudesh - Jan 06, 2023

What is lipoma

Ans: It is a benign tumor of the fatty tissue underneath the skin. It usually presents as a soft lump. If big and unsightly then it can be surgically removed. It is usually hatmless

(more)

Answered on Jan 07, 2023

Question by Divya - Jan 06, 2023

Hi Dr My son is 5. He often gets rashes on his body. Since he is a very active kid we give him a bath twice a day and regularly advice him to wash his hands and face. His specialist recommended Dermadew. But the problems reoccurs every few months.

Ans: Harsh soaps will prad to dryness. Use Dermadew or Aquasoft body wash instead of soap. Continue use of moisturizer post bath.

(more)