Others

Behaviour problems are common in children as they grow up and learn to relate to people and situations. They may show defiance and have difficulty getting along with others causing them to talk back and get into fights. If these problems are persistent and cannot be corrected with time, advice or redirection, it may be a sign of a behavioural disorder.

Nutrition refers to the food or supplements we eat that provide our body with the energy and essential nutrients required for growth and development. Thus, our daily diet is our constant source of nutrition as it supplies fuel for proper functioning of the body. However, it is important to eat everything in a balanced proportion as over or underconsumption of food/nutrients may lead to unwanted results like obesity or malnutrition.

Children’s health, also called paediatrics, refers to the overall wellbeing of a child starting from birth till adolescence to help them develop into a healthy adult. The key aspects of a child’s health include physical, mental and emotional wellbeing to ensure a child is able to reach his or her full potential.

Unlike adults who exercise in the gym to keep themselves healthy and fit, fitness in children requires lots of physical activities involving movement to keep them active and alert. This can include outdoor games like running, jumping, skipping, swimming, badminton, cycling or skating. Attention should be paid also to indoor games to improve mental concentration and hand-eye coordination like chess, table tennis and puzzle-solving. Some activities like dancing help to keep kids happy and fit at the same time.

The first 24 hours after birth are crucial. A newborn’s crying at birth indicates that the baby is able to breathe. It clears the respiratory passage and strengthens the lungs. Newborns who do not begin to breathe on their own within a minute after birth are administered positive pressure ventilation with room air by a self-inflating bag and mask. After the baby begins to breathe normally, they should be assessed for birth weight and any signs of illness. Special care is given for preterm, low-birthweight and sick babies.

Paediatric travel medicine involves the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases that are acquired during travel in children. Since children’s immunity is immature and not as strong as adults they are prone to contract infections or fall sick easily during journeys. Some common diseases include infections, respiratory illnesses, allergies, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and malaria. Therefore, it is important to exercise necessary precautions and be prepared before you begin travel with your child to avoid discomfort at a later stage.

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