– Dr. Harikah is a paediatrician at Sprout Children’s Clinic, Bengaluru
My five-year-old son weighs 23 kg. Despite my best efforts, he tends to eat a lot of junk food. Should I worry about him becoming obese at this age?
— Chitra Subramaniam, Chennai
Yes, his weight is too much for his age. You have to […]
– Dr. Shweta Kumari is a senior periodontist and implantologist in The Dental Office, Bengaluru
My 15-year-old son grinds his teeth while sleeping. This is a new phenomenon which my husband and I noticed recently, post the Covid-19 lockdown. To the best of our knowledge, he doesn’t have any major sleeping problems, or feelings of anger […]
– Dr. Harikah is a paediatrician at Sprout Children’s Clinic, Bengaluru
I have an eight-year-old son who is very physically active, playing cricket and other sports. The Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions have greatly upset his sports and games schedules. My husband and I are in our 40s and no elderly people live with us. How safe […]
– Dr. Amee Daxini is a dermatologist at Think Skin Clinic, Bengaluru
My 14-year old daughter’s hair has been falling ever since we moved from Chennai to Bengaluru. The apartment complex we live in supplies only hard water to the bathrooms. I have tried different hair fall treatment shampoos but it hasn’t helped. Her hair is […]
With skin rash listed as one of the symptoms of Covid-19, how does one distinguish between minor and infectious rashes? — Rajini Shri, Chennai
Rashes are very common in children. They can be caused by numerous non-infectious conditions as well as viral and bacterial infections. Infective rashes are usually accompanied by fever. Viral infections such as […]
My daughter started menstruating at 13 years. She is now 15 and suddenly her monthly periods have become irregular and sometimes skip a month. She is in class X and preparing for her boards. I wonder if this is because of stress.
— Worried mother, Chennai
Stress can’t be the only cause. Note down the number […]
My daughter is in class VII and physically fit and active. She perspires heavily in the underarm area. Is it safe for her to use deodorants?
— Shiny Verma, Pune
Some people sweat a lot. It’s not a disease but physiological variation. You can give her a double layer of cloth in the underarm area or […]
My five-year-old son wets his bed almost daily. When he was 2.5 years old he had stopped bedwetting but since last year, he has started again. Please advise.
— Anonymous, Chennai
This is secondary bedwetting i.e, reversion to bedwetting after six dry months. Try out some simple curatives to control bedwetting — limit fluids intake after […]
I have heard that it’s unhealthy to pack hot food in plastic containers as the heat and plastic combine to release toxic compounds. My daughter is in upper kindergarten. Can I pack a dry/cold lunch for her in a high-quality plastic tiffin box? She finds it difficult to open steel tiffin boxes and cannot manage […]
My son is 4.3 years old and uses his potty seat to urinate whereas he demands a diaper to poop. I have tried rewarding him with goodies to use the potty for both purposes but he refuses. How can I toilet-train him?
— Divya Manvik, Pune
There’s no need to worry. Toddlers gradually get toilet […]
I’m a first-time mother and worrywart. My nine-month-old, who has just begun crawling, puts dirt and small objects into his mouth. I am worried this will lead to a stomach infection. I try to keep dangerous objects away from his reach and keep a close watch but it is not possible to monitor him every […]
My daughter (15) is slightly overweight. To reduce weight, she has started following the keto diet. I am afraid that following this diet will have adverse effects. Please advise.
— Shalini Gowda, Bangalore
Adolescence is a period of constant growth and hormonal changes. It is critical that children in this age group eat a healthy, balanced […]
My ten-year-old daughter adamantly refuses to drink milk. Elders in the house insist that she should. But I have read that it’s not essential for children to do so, and that they can instead consume dairy products of their choice. Should I force her to drink milk? She is a healthy and active child. — Kamini […]
Our neighbour recently adopted a cat. Though I am an animal lover, I think my daughter is allergic to the cat. Subsequent to playing with the feline, she developed itching and a runny nose. Is there some way of finding out if she is allergic to cat hair/fur? —Preetha Kumar, Chennai
Dogs and cats emanate sticky […]
My 17-year-old daughter’s menstrual cycle is highly irregular. She got her last menstrual period four months ago. I fear she is suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? Should I consult a gynaecologist? — Reeja Manoj, Calicut
In the first two years, following the onset of menstruation, the cycle tends to be irregular in most girl children. […]
My son is only 16 years old but 75 percent of his hair is grey. We were advised to shave it off but the regrown hair is also grey. He doesn’t have dandruff. Is his greying hair because of vitamin deficiency or a skin disorder? Will medication or protein supplements help? Should he use hair […]
A friend recently told me about the dangers of infants inhaling talcum powder, especially baby powder. I wish I had not used it so liberally when my older two children were infants — my youngest is still six months old. Our entire family uses talc on the face. Does inhaling it cause breathing difficulties? — […]
I have enrolled my children in an outdoor sports summer camp. As the camp is in the peak summer month of April, what can I do to protect them from afflictions such as heat stroke? — Vidhya Srinath, Bangalore
Summer brings its share of problems. To protect your children from heat-related illnesses, here are some guidelines.
• […]
My five-year-old daughter gets long-lasting colds very frequently. How can I help prevent their recurrence?— Rina Thakur, Pune
There are several possible causes which need to be evaluated before arriving at a diagnosis and prescribing treatment. You will need to carefully observe and make note of the following:
• How often do the common colds occur — […]
There is an outbreak of head lice in my daughter’s class. She and some of her friends were sent home from school because of this contagion. I am very careful with my daughter’s hair care routine — she has shoulder length hair. My husband has advised that we cut her hair but I know it […]
I grew up believing that drinking milk twice or three times per day is crucial for healthy growth and development. But now, some people say it could be bad for children. Please advise.— Usha Madhavan, Chennai
Drinking milk is commonly regarded as a healthy food habit. Milk is a good source of nutrition and calcium and […]
My two-year-old son is meeting all his developmental milestones but I haven’t been able to toilet train him. I avoid using diapers at home, but use them when we go out. Is this advisable? Also is it ok if he still uses a potty instead of an adult toilet? — Lucy Fernandes, Kochi
The ‘potty’ is a […]
Dr. Nisha Miriam George, paediatric consultant at Sundaram Medical Foundation and Dr. Rangarajan Memorial Hospital, Chennai
Playing in the sand involves some risk of children being exposed to worms’ eggs and therefore, worm infestation and parasite contamination. An effective way to prevent worm infestation is to insist on thorough washing of hands and feet by children […]
My nine-year-old suffers from flatulence. He is often embarrassed in public gatherings. How can I help him? — Rita Chowdhury, Mumbai
Production of gas in the intestine is normal. However, in some cases there may be increased gas production because of a wide range of causes including lactose and fructose intolerance and/or constipation. I recommend that you […]
My 13-year-old son has severe acne. Even though he has oily skin, until recently he didn’t burst into pimples. Is the reason Chennai’s humidity or season change? Should I ask him to use anti-acne ointments or wait for his skin to clear up on its own? — Jayalakshmi K, Chennai
Acne is a common reaction to several […]
We recently brought home a pet dachshund dog. My children love playing with him and also allow him to sleep on their bed. Will this cause health problems? — Divya R., Mysore
Pets, especially cats and dogs, are great stress-busters for children and adults. But it’s important to set guidelines for children vis-a-vis pets, and ensure that […]
My eight-year-old enjoys playing football, gymnastics and tennis with great passion and intensity. I worry he is overexerting and can injure himself during playtime. How do I protect him from sports injuries? — Manas K., Bangalore
It’s commonly accepted that sports are good for children’s physical health and well-being. But it’s impossible to protect them from suffering […]
My daughter often complains of headaches. But she does not exhibit any accompanying symptoms such as cold or fever. Nor are they caused by hunger or playing under the hot sun. She is seven years of age and is an active child. Should I consult a doctor? — Tamara R, Chennai
Yes, you need to consult a […]
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