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Dr. Dur Afshar Agha is a consultant pediatrician with around 26 years of experience in various medical facilities both in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. She has headed the Department of Preventive Pediatrics at the prestigious, Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health in Pakistan and is a life member of the Pakistan Paediatric Association. She has also completed her Post Graduate Program in Pediatric Nutrition from the Boston University School of Medicine (USA) and has authored articles and papers in the field of Nutrition and Child Health. Dr. Agha provides online consultations and has her own Facebook and Instagram handle. Her focus is to provide consultation that isn’t heavily tilted towards medication but holistic in terms of managing the child's health.
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Salmonellosis or salmonella infection spreads from contaminated food and occurs due to Salmonella bacteria that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Salmonellosis in children occurs from infection induced by consuming contaminated food (mostly poultry, meat, eggs, or milk) or water. Although the bacteria only causes mild stomach flu in children, it may become fatal if the child’s…
Feeding a baby with a syringe is an inevitable choice when a baby can’t nurse from the breast. Generally, babies are born with an innate ability to suckle and consume breast milk. However, there may be various reasons why a baby can’t do it. In such instances, feeding a baby with a syringe can help…
Most teenagers are attracted to consuming pre-workout supplements such as whey protein under the belief that these supplements can aid in improving their physical appearance. However, parents are often worried about the safety of whey protein for teenagers. Although good quality whey protein may have certain benefits, such as increasing muscle mass, strengthening bones, and…
Knee pain in teenagers is a common complaint, particularly among physically active teens and those engaged in sports. It is also known as adolescent anterior knee pain and is characterized by pain in the center of the knee, beneath the patella (knee cap). Athletic teenagers are more likely to develop anterior knee pain than others.…
The impact of hormones while breastfeeding could take a toll on maternal mental health, often causing them to rely on medications such as Effexor while breastfeeding. Although most new moms face panic or depression-like symptoms post-childbirth and while breastfeeding, consuming any medications during the lactation period may also affect the baby. However, if you are…
Turmeric is a spice widely known for its anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, this spice is sometimes called a superfood. So, if you want to know the benefits of turmeric for children, then this post is for you. When consumed in the right amounts, it can benefit the body. It also has a…
A burn is a skin or tissue injury resulting from overexposure to the sun, chemicals, heat, or electricity. It is one of the most common household injuries among children. Burns may range from minor injuries, such as sunburn that can be managed with home care, to life-threatening injuries requiring emergency care. Read this post to…
The medication Prozac while breastfeeding is known to treat postpartum depression (PPD), a physical, emotional, and behavioral change that pregnant women experience after the delivery of a newborn. For example, a mother may feel tired, exhausted, irritated, and anxious about taking care of their child. As a result, she may seek escape from the responsibilities…
You may often find children glued to their phones or laptop screens. Unfortunately, this sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to the health and wellness of adults and children alike. However, pilates exercises for children effectively introduce them to physical exercise at an early age. Pilates involves low-impact exercises focused on core strengthening and posture correction. These…
An active lifestyle has several physical and psychological benefits for children. As per the American Academy of Pediatrics, organized sports like gymnastics may improve their social skills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report indicating that in 2020, over half of children aged 6 to 17 years (54.1%) participated in sports…
Children are naturally energetic and tend to enjoy jumping, running, and playing from the time they learn to walk. Heel pain in kids may result from regular sports activities, such as soccer and basketball. It is generally mild but may require timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. Heel pain usually begins with tenderness in…
Apart from the menstrual cycle and abdominal cramps, many adolescents deal with puberty headaches due to stress or hormonal changes in their bodies. The pain is usually managed by resting in a dark room or taking a painkiller. However, sometimes the headache may be due to other underlying conditions. Therefore, it is important to consult…
Electrical safety for kids is one of the unavoidable safety measures parents should ensure when their little one begins to move. There is nothing compared to the happiness of seeing your baby taking little steps or crawling around the house. Unfortunately, cute little explorers are unaware of dangers, and they tempt them to pull or…
Children grow fast, and their diet plays a crucial role in providing them with all essential nutrients. Calcium is one such nutrient that helps maintain bone and tooth health. If you are not sure about the sources of this mineral, we have prepared a list of calcium-rich foods for kids to help you identify them.…
A baby watching TV might look amusing, but it isn’t something they should be doing. Avoiding television in today’s world is almost impossible when almost every house has at least one television in it. Then, parents and caregivers often place the babies in front of the television to keep the baby engaged while parents do…
Onion is a type of vegetable that brings out the flavor of any dish it is added to. Further, consuming onions while breastfeeding can impart various health benefits. For example, it helps in treating gestational diabetes, enhancing immunity, and preventing various diseases. However, you should consult your healthcare provider about the amount of onion you…
Calamine lotion is a popular skin lotion used across all age groups. The topical lotion has been available as an over-the-counter medicine for decades. The anti-itch and cooling properties make it a widely used skin care product. But is it safe to use calamine lotion for babies? In this MomJunction post, we tell you Calamine…
Teen pregnancy poses health risks for teen mothers and their babies and adversely impacts their families and society. Read the post to know about the ways of teenage pregnancy prevention. In the US, 10% of females between the ages 15 and 19 conceive every year. These pregnancies are mostly unplanned and occur outside marriage. However,…
Earache in kids is common and can result from different causes. For example, your child may complain about pain in the ears during a respiratory tract infection (RTI) due to the spreading of the RTI up to the ears, causing earaches. The earaches might also develop from ruptured eardrums (1) (2). Diagnosing the cause and…
The time of ear piercing for kids may vary in each culture. Some may do it too early, while others do it later or not pierce at all. If ear piercing does not have a cultural significance, parents can choose to get their child’s ears pierced any time they want to. While some parents are…
Acidity and indigestion are common digestive issues women may face during nursing. While dietary changes are helpful, some might consider taking over-the-counter remedies such as Tums. But is Tums safe while breastfeeding? Certain medicines can pass through breast milk and reach the baby, increasing the risk of side effects. Hence, consulting a doctor is essential…
There can be times you notice your baby with cold hands while the rest of the body seems normal. A baby's hands can become colder than the rest of the body due to the surrounding temperature. However, it may also result from an underlying health condition. While cold hands are seldom an alarm, frequent cold…
Growing pains in kids are cramps or pounding pains in the thighs, shins, calves, or back of the knees (1). They are often seen during childhood between three and 14 years, mostly in children who are physically active and have flexible joints. Although harmless and a natural part of development, growing pains in children can…
The stepping reflex in babies is a crucial reflex that trains the baby’s leg muscles to prepare for crawling and walking. Generally, babies are born with several primitive reflexes, such as the stepping reflex, which help them survive after birth. Reflexes are automatic responses to a stimulus triggered by the central nervous system (CNS). The…
Babies have softer skin, and hence they bruise easily, especially when they begin to crawl or walk. Bruises on infants can occur if they hit or bump their bodies against a wall or any object. This may damage blood vessels and lead the blood to clot under the skin. Most bruises in babies are not…
Breastfeeding works the same for all women, irrespective of the size and shape of their breasts. However, breastfeeding with big breasts may lead to some challenges about position and latching, in addition to the other challenges of breastfeeding. Some tips and tricks can help women with heavy breasts have a successful breastfeeding journey. If you…
Roseola in children is often caused by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and less frequently by human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) (1). Usually, most children get roseola infection before four years of age, and children younger than two years are commonly affected (2). This viral infection is also called exanthema subitum, roseola infantum, or the sixth disease,…
An inclined sleeper for babies is a compact bassinet with an inclined sleep surface that keeps the baby’s body in an inclined position while sleeping or lying. The sleeper's base usually has an inclination range of 10 to 30 degrees (1). Once a popular baby product, inclined baby sleepers for babies are now known to…
The narrowing of the pylorus (opening from the stomach into the duodenum) is called pyloric stenosis. Pyloric stenosis in babies occurs due to the thickening of the pylorus muscles, preventing the food from passing through the stomach to the intestines. According to StatPearls Publishing by the National Library of Medicine, two to five in 1000…
Your little one will be stepping into their 20th month soon, and they may begin to throw food tantrums more often. Therefore, keeping some 20 months old baby food ideas handy could help relieve some of your worries. As toddlers approach their second-year birthday, their food habits and interests keep changing. Also, your little one…
Urine is a clear or pale yellow, with a mild smell in most babies. However, there can be instances when you notice strong-smelling urine in babies. If your baby is well-hydrated and urine is pale, occasional strong-smelling urine is not a cause for concern. Sometimes, a strong urine odor can be due to inadequate feeding.…
A child is said to have a flat foot or flat feet when they lack curvature in the foot/feet, causing their entire feet to touch the floor flat. Flat feet in children is a common condition that usually disappears around six years of age (1). Still, one to two children out of every ten continue…
Common cold can negatively impact your health and make bedtime annoying. It makes your nose stuffy, gives you a headache, and eventually makes it impossible to sleep. In such situations, you might consider visiting a pharmacist to purchase an over-the-counter cold medication such as NyQuil to alleviate the irritation and help you sleep better. But…
Using olive oil for kids’ food can be a healthy option for its numerous benefits. For example, olive oil helps promote brain function and growth, prevents cardiovascular diseases, and establishes quality skin care. However, you should know its quality and proper usage before adding olive oil to any preparations. There are different types of olive…
Pediatric limping is most often caused by physical injuries. However, prolonged limping without a physical injury may be a cause for concern. The causes of a child limping could range from a minor injury to an underlying medical condition. If limping in children is associated with pain, it should not be dismissed as growing pain…
How do you set a daily routine for kids? The best schedule should be such that it works for them and you. It should help your children be productive, disciplined and help them build some important decision-making skills. Also, it should make them inculcate good habits and invite peace to their minds and home. In…
Several babies can self-soothe themselves to sleep, while others need assistance from parents. If your baby falls in the latter category, trying the pick up, put down method might help. The pick up, put down sleep training method involves an entire process where you pick up the baby, soothe them, and then put them down…
Spanking babies is an unsuitable technique for disciplining or teaching a behavior. It can be traumatic, counterproductive, and affect normal mental development. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns of the impact of spanking and other harmful techniques, including paddling, to control children's behavior (1). Some parents may hit or spank their little ones out…
The common allergens that cause food allergies include peanuts, dairy, and eggs, to name a few. However, sometimes parents also deal with carrot allergy in infants. In most cases, children develop carrot allergies if their parents are allergic to carrots. The allergy may manifest in red, watery eyes, hives, and swollen lips as the common…
“Do boys have periods?” is a common question for many teens in puberty when they know about menstruation. Boys will not get periods as they do not have ovaries and a uterus to ovulate. Periods are a part of women's physiology and occur during the reproductive age. It is the shedding of the uterine lining…
Naproxen is an anti-inflammatory drug that is most commonly used for treating headaches, cramps, or similar kinds of pain. So, is it safe to use naproxen while breastfeeding? We will help you find the answer to this question in this post. Lactation and breastfeeding is a sensitive time for both the mother and the infant…
Echinacea or purple cornflower is often used as a natural remedy for upper respiratory tract infections and other illnesses, such as the cold, flu, and fever in children. However, parents must understand its effectiveness and safety before using echinacea for kids to treat illnesses or improve their general health (1). Echinacea is a group of…
If you are a new mom suffering from infections such as a urinary tract infection or an uncomfortable condition such as constant diarrhea while breastfeeding, you may be quite uneasy. In such scenarios, you may consider taking medications such as Bactrim while breastfeeding. However, you need to talk to your provider before popping a pill…
Belly button bleeding in a newborn is usually not a cause for concern. The umbilical cord helps the placenta to attach to the fetus and supplies blood and nutrients. After delivery, it is clamped and cut, and the remaining part on your newborn’s abdomen is the umbilical stump. The bleeding, also called umbilical bleeding, causes…
A baby's stool has a typical appearance due to their formula- or milk-only diet. However, some parents may fret over the appearance of mucus in the baby’s stool. The appearance of mucus in your baby’s diaper is not always a cause of concern; however, at times, it may be seen due to some underlying cause.…
Enlargement or lumps in a baby\'s breasts are common among newborns and are usually harmless. The condition may result in visible lumps under the nipple in one or both breasts, and it can affect boys and girls alike. In most cases, such breast lumps subside without requiring treatment. However, you may consult a pediatrician to…
If you love lighting fireworks on the 4th of July, for Diwali, or during any other special occasion, you may want your children to join in the fun as well. However, it must be kept in mind that fireworks safety for kids is of utmost importance. Children are always eager to experiment with new things;…
Babies develop several fundamental reflexes at birth known as newborn or infant reflexes, which are generally automatic and respond to certain stimuli. Some baby reflexes, such as the symmetrical tonic neck reflex in babies (STNR), may not be present at birth but may be developed later in life. The sucking reflexiXAn reflex in which babies…
The rooting reflex in babies is one of the primitive reflexes, which help them transition smoothly into the new environment outside the womb. All reflexes are controlled by the central nervous system (CNS) and are triggered only by the right stimulus. Be it holding the finger or sticking the tongue out; these reflexes are critical…
A baby inside the womb is exposed to the mother\'s hormones. Exposure to these hormones may increase the chances of vaginal bleeding in newborns, along with some other causes. The appearance of blood-like vaginal discharge on the baby\’s diapers could concern the parents. However, it is considered normal in most cases (1). Keep reading to…
Babies have a heart-melting way of communicating. Their non-verbal communication involves a lot of hand-waving and is generally one of the first ways they engage in social interaction before developing speech skills. Are you curious to know when do babies wave? This post will answer your question. Waving is one of those non-verbal gestures that…
Dramamine is an antiemetic formulated from the generic drug dimenhydrinate and is useful for alleviating symptoms of motion sickness (kinetosis) such as nausea and vomiting. Dramamine for kids is usually available in chewable grape-flavored pills or tablets and is often used as an over-the-counter drug (1). Dimenhydrinate, a first-generation drug, consists of diphenhydramine and 8-chlorotheophylline…