Kawasaki Disease

A Typical Kawasaki`s Disease

My daughter was diagnosed with kawasaki disease when she was 2 and half years old. She had a fever of 105 for 8 days, the whites of her eyes got red like pink eye, the palm of the hands and bottom of the feet were swollen and had a rash, her lips were cherry red, swollen tongue, and rash at the torso, the fever was consistent, but the other symptoms came and went, on day 5 they suspected kawasaki disease when we brought her into the ER for dehydration, at the follow up on day 7 the doctor said he thought it was still just a virus, on day 9 I broke down and said that she had had all the symptoms and I started crying because nothing was being done. 

The doctor said he would order a cardiogram, we went had it done and returned home. We had just walked in the door when the phone rang and the dr. office called and told us to get back to the hospital. Her heart had swelling, arrhythmia, and a small aneurysm. They started the gamma globulin. I was fortunate to have a cardio doctor who specialized in kawasaki disease and studied under DR. Kawasaki himself. She said it is vital that the symptoms get treated by day 10 before it starts affecting the heart. We notice improvement in our daughter within an hour of the treatment starting. By day 4 in the hospital she was climbing the walls again. 

Our cardio doctor said the she will need to have cardiograms every 2-3 years for the rest of her life. All children with kawasaki disease needs to be followed because this disease is so young and the do not know what the long term affects have on the children as they become adults.

Right now she is fine. Doing great. But it was the scariest thing I have experienced as a parent by far.

The Dr. also told us the symptoms for this disease have started to become more and more A typical occurring in phases and not all at one time. But the key is the rash and swelling of the palms and soles of the hands and feet along with the continued high fever.

Be an advocate for you child and have them do a cardiogram, it saved my child`s life.

During this time, I found very great helpful information on pediatriconcall.com about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of kawasaki disease.

I hope it will be helpful to many others -

http://pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Diseases_a_z/article.aspx?artid=248

It is not normal for any child to have a fever for more then 7 days. That is the body`s way of telling you something is wrong.

I hope this will help anyone out there who is in doubt. 

Living with Turner Syndrome

I am 52 years old and greatful to the medical field and physicians. I was lucky to have a pediatrician who pushed my parents to seek diagnosis. I was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome at 9 months old. I have had aortic coartatiion repair at 9 yrs old. I have a full life. Currently a practicing RN. Carrier intrest due to the wonderful experiences in the hospital. There is one thing I can say for communication. I would have appreciated more communication and interaction with other turners. I feel that information about the syndrome would have helped earlier on. The unknown and unspoken was hard to understand. Early communication can prepare for the physical and emotional challanges TS presents. Challenges continue but thankful for a God who allowed me to be here, to share my experience strength and hope.

I have found a very great informative site - pediatriconcall.com where I got a detailed explanation about turner syndrome including it's causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

You may also find a useful information here -
http://pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Diseases_a_z/article.aspx?artid=210

Meningitis - How to Treat?

Neonatal Meningitis

My son was 20 days when he had fever. I neglected that for 1 day and 2 nights by giving him Calpol, but then I took him to doc, who said as he is very small {smaller than 3 months} his antibiotic level is very low, so need to be given I, V, so should be hospitalised. I was shocked.

Then on the 3rd day of fever we admitted him to hospital. There the doctors waited for 1 day, and then started to give antibiotic injection through the vein. to ensure that the brain is not affected by the fever, they took water from the spinal chord, and then they said it is also infected in a small percentage. The doctors said 21 days of antibiotics should be given.{both on morning and evening, twice daily} then the doctors asked us to go for eye testing {Narayana Nethralaya} and ear testing {Dr. Chandrashekar Institute of speech and learning}. If the baby has not been hospitalised at the right time, many problems like ear problem, speech problem, fits may occur.

While searching for the detailed information about meningitis I got a very informative site - pediatriconcall.com where I found all needed information about  meningitis including it's symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. This site also provides thorough nformation about other diseases also.

The reference link that you all can follow is :
http://pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Diseases_a_z/article.aspx?artid=192

It is easy to confuse the symptoms of meningitis with flu - but meningitis can kill in hours if it remains untreated. So if any of the meningitis symptoms occur, please ask your paediatricican or GP for correct advice.

Breast Feeding and Human Lactation Management

We all know about the wonderful difference {in fact between life and death} that breast feeding makes in LBW and VLBW neonates and yet we find that Paediatricians and gynecologists in general do not make that little bit of extra effort to motivate the mother to breast feed and breast feed exclusively. They often take the support of the supposedly special formula available for LBW babies. I cannot think they are all being supported by the Infant Milk Substitute industry , but more so that they do not have solutions to the complaints of mothers that they 'do not have enough milk' and that they want to 'increase their milk supply' or start 'relactation'.

the medical fraternity must realize that Lactation Specialist and Human Lactation Management is a science akin to Nephrology or neurology for example and that these cases should be referred to Lactation Consultants. Also there is a need to train both Gynaecogists and Paediatricians in this Specialty.

Read more about how to promote breast feeding and build confidence in mothers of LBW babies on pediatric oncall.

http://pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/report.aspx?reportid=424

Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine

 Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine has newly entered the market and IAP immunisation committee has recommended this vaccine to be used. The product monograph itself has follow up studies for 5 years only. The maximum age when it can be given is 26 years. That means that the vaccine provides immunity and protects till the age of 31 years. To my knowledge the disease occurs only after the fourth decade. Is the company or the IAP in a hurry to recommend this vaccine for use despite the knowledge that the longterm vaccine efficacy is not known.

Read more about hpv vaccine types, side effects, dosing schedule and benefits of vaccination in males on pediatric oncall.
http://pediatriconcall.com/forpatients/vaccination/article.aspx?artid=395

Obesity Problem With Fast,Busy Life

In this fast and busy life everyone wants to look attractive and want to get attentive position in their work too.To achieve this nowadays one definition  arises and that is nothing but “Firstly to be a slim, smiley, well dressed and secondly your knowledge”

But craze to be a slim is increasing day by day, which makes people intentionally or unintentionally possessive if they feel that they are “Obese.”

Obesity is nothing but  body weight more than normal for that particular age,sex and height.Now a days this problem of Obesity is one of the most common and serious attentive problem for everyone even from baby to older ones. I remember, My friend’s 6 month old daughter weighs 10 kg and the doctor says she is overweight and more to that he had noticed that she sometimes holds her breath for 10-15 seconds but otherwise she is o.k. and he wanted to know if this was normal?

In this case I replied to my friend that 'Yes,she is definitely on the healthier side. You need to keep a watch on height and weight over a couple of months and if she gains more weight, she would need investigation to rule out a hormonal problem.'
This holding of breath may be seen in obese patients and it would be better if she is made to sleep on her tummy rather than the back. That would ease her to breathe better.

The primary cause of obesity in children is either due to overeating, inadequate exercise and many other factors are also responsible for this. Obesity can lead to many complications like heart disease, hypertension, etc. But we can overcome this problem easily by taking some precautions in our daily diet.

About what is Obesity, it’s cause and how is this easily managed,I got really nice and short but helpful information on pediatriconcall.com.

Reference link :

http://www.pediatriconcall.com/forpatients/commonchild/eating_disorders/obesity_one.asp

So, in the race of getting more attention do not make negligence to your health problems.

Asthma in Children

One Morning,A Patient Asked me about her 2 sons.The elder one was 7yrs old and has asthma. Her younger son, who turned four this january, was sickness free till November last year, but he had cough for about 15 days and later developed wheezing. He was treated with a week long course of Taximo. Now for the last 3 days he again had cough with wheezing.She is worried that could he be turning asthamatic?

My Advice to her was : Don’t panic and don’t take instant decision about any disease without doing diagnosis. Wheezing in a child especially with a strong family history is highly suggestive of asthma. But first one may need to rule out other causes such as sinusitis, worm infestation, etc, before labelling it as asthma. Response to salbutamol is also useful. You need to consult your pediatrician to reach the diagnosis and if he turns out to be asthmatic, then proper treatment. 

What Factors that Shows Asthma:

Cough in night, Recurrent wheeze ,dyspnea  and chest tightness.

Precipitating factors:
Dusts, House dust mites, Pollen, Strong emotional expression (laughing, crying), Animals with fur or feathers, Viral infection and much more factors are responsible.

Variation factors: 
Variations in PEFR during the day(>=20%) and Reversible symptoms with treatment.

 

If all mentioned above factors reflects then confirm diagnosis by spirometry and response to bronchodilator drugs. If response is good, asthma is most probable and assess severity and give proper medications otherwise consider other of anti asthma drugs.

For Detail medication and treatment of asthma I have one informative site pediatriconcall.com where I found really helpful information about asthma and for other diseases too.The reference link that you all can follow is :

http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/diseasesandcondition/Allergy/asthma/PointerstoAsthmaDiagnosis.asp

Finally just to say that “Diagnosis is much important before reach to any conclusion action on any disease.”