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Eye Infections in Babies - Types, Symptoms and Treatment
It’s disheartening to see your baby in pain. In case you find your baby’s eyes crusty, gunky or red, it's likely an eye infection. Eye infections are common in babies and can be caused by an allergy, irritation or infection.
Types of Eye Infections in Babies
Here are the common types of eye infections:
1. Sty
If your child has a red bump on his eyelid, it's a sty.
Symptoms
The bump is tender and filled with pus. You may also see white or yellow discharge from your baby's eyes.
Causes
It happens when bacteria infect an oil gland which is present at the base of the eyelash. It is by no means serious but still should be treated before anything more serious happens.
Treatment
Apply a Warm Compress
Soak a clean cloth in warm water and press it against your baby’s eyes for 15 minutes. The heat will open the pus and help it drain faster. Repeat this procedure 4 times a day.
Leave the Sty Alone
Don't pop or squeeze the sty to drain the pus. This will cause more pain to your little one and also transfer bacteria from your hands to his eyes.
2. Pinkeye/Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the inner eyelid or eyeball.
Symptoms
If the whites or rims of your baby’s eyes are red, it could be pinkeye or conjunctivitis.
Causes
Viral Eye Infection
If your baby has a cold along with pinkeye, it is usually due to a virus.
Bacterial Eye Infection
If you notice a thick yellow discharge in your baby’s eyes, it could be due to an infection by bacteria such as staphylococcus, streptococcus or Haemophilus.
Allergic Reactions
This is a rare cause, but your baby might be allergic to smoke, dust or any other allergen, especially if the eyes are swollen, red and watery.
Treatment
Conjunctivitis heals on its own. Your paediatrician will tell you to keep your baby’s eyes clean. If the condition persists beyond two weeks, it's better to consult the doctor again.
3. Chalazion
A chalazion is a lump or cyst which forms on the eyelid.
Symptoms
It can start small but grow big as a pea. Unlike a sty, it doesn't produce discharge and isn't contagious or painful. However, it can blur your baby’s vision.
Causes
A chalazion is due to chronic inflammation of one of the oil-producing glands located in the upper or lower eyelid.
Treatment
Administer OTC Medication
Never squeeze a chalazion. Use antibiotics and ointments prescribed by the paediatrician.
Apply a Warm Compress
This can help to soften the duct blocked with oil and cause drainage of the pus. Press a warm, wet compress against the affected area for 15 minutes; repeat this process 4 times a day.
Seek Medical Help
Consult an ophthalmologist if the chalazion doesn’t go away even after a warm compress. Your baby may need an injection or a surgical procedure to remove it.
4. Periorbital and Orbital Cellulitis
If your baby’s eyes are red and swollen shut, it could be because of periorbital or orbital cellulitis.
Symptoms
These include fever, runny nose and conjunctivitis.
Causes
This is a serious bacterial eye infection in infants which happens when harmful bacteria enter the eye. It can affect one eye or both.
Treatment
Consult your baby’s doctor immediately. He will examine your baby’s eyes using cultures, blood tests, and X-ray tests and prescribe ointments or an injection to clear the infections. It usually goes away in 2 days, but you can give your baby the antibiotics till the doctor tells you to stop.
5. Blepharitis
If you see your baby’s eyelids inflamed and his eyes watery, red and irritated, it may be because of blepharitis.
Signs
The eyelashes may fall off if another infection happens alongside blepharitis.
Causes
Blepharitis is due to overproduction of oil in the eyelid or a bacterial infection. It does not cause any vision problem but may be followed by a sty, chalazion or conjunctivitis if not treated in time.
Treatment
Consult your doctor to be doubly sure. After that, you can use saline solutions or baby shampoos to wash your baby’s eyes, followed by antibiotic drops and a warm compress.
6. Blocked Tear Ducts
As the name suggests, it happens when the tear ducts are blocked due to fluids and become swollen.
Signs
If you see lots of sticky discharge that glues your baby’s eyes shut and eyelashes together, it can be due to a blocked tear duct.
Causes
When the baby is inside your uterus, the tissue within the tear duct usually dissolves and leaves a hollow core. If that doesn’t happen, the tissue may remain and block the duct.
Treatment
Usually a blocked duct opens on its own, and the discharge will go away with time. You can use warm water to wet a cloth in water to clean the discharge from your baby’s eyes. If the condition still persists when your baby is 12-18 months old, consult a doctor as she or he may need surgery.
Home Remedies for Eye Infection in Infants
Here are some effective home remedies to treat your baby’s eye infection:
Boil water and place a tea bag in it for a few minutes. Remove the tea bag and wring it to drain out the excess water. Place it on your baby’s eyelids to soothe the pain and irritation.
Add some salt to boiling water and allow it to cool down. Dip a cotton ball into this mixture and place it on your baby’s eyelid for relief.
Breast milk is also a surprisingly effective home remedy as it has antibacterial healing properties. Using a clean dropper, place two drops of breast milk on the affected area around your baby’s eyes.
Soak some jasmine flowers in clean water overnight. Apply the liquid to the affected eye using a dropper. Jasmine flower has a cooling effect.
Chamomile oil is also effective in treating an eye infection. Add a few drops of chamomile oil to a pan of boiling water and allow it to cool. Apply the mixture to the affected eyelid using a cotton ball.
If the eye infection is due to a blocked tear duct, gently massage the area between the eyes and the nasal area.
A bacterial eye infection can only be treated with ointments or antibiotic drops. However, you can clean the sticky yellow discharge around your infant’s eyes with saltwater eye drops.
Using a warm compress on your baby’s eyes reduces irritation and swelling.
It is extremely important to wash and sanitise your hands before and after touching your infant’s infected eyes.
Of course, the above-mentioned home remedies are effective, but it's always better to consult your paediatrician when an eye infection develops. During such times, keep your infant away from other children.
Also Read:
Sticky Or Watery Eyes in Babies
Eye Problems in Infants Read more
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विद्यार्थियों की भूमिका राष्ट्रीय विकास के लिए अति आवश्यक है।
विद्यार्थियों का जीवन बड़ा ही कोमल होता है, माता-पिता एवं शिक्षक द्वारा इन महत्वपूर्ण पौधों को अपने ज्ञान रूपी सागर से, " जरूरत होती है प्रकाशित दिशा में सींचने की"। इसी दिशा में मैंने एक संक्षिप्त कविता अपनी लेखनी से लिखने का प्रयास किया है, कृपया अवश्य ही पढ़िएगा एवं अपने विचार व्यक्त किजिएगा ।
राष्ट्रीय विकास में विद्यार्थियों की भूमिका
१. विद्यार्थी जीवन का हर एक क्षण है, अविस्मरणीय सफलता की दिशा पर अग्रसर हो बनाए सार्थक भविष्य।
२. माता-पिता व शिक्षक बढ़ाए छात्र को ज्ञान के लक्ष्य को हासिल करने के लिए।
३. छात्र शक्ति उन्नति के उद्देश्य लेकर बढ़ रही है नये अभियान को पूर्ण करने के लिए,
सबको अपने साथ लेकर एकता के सूत्र में पिरोते हुए, सर्व-जन उत्थान को ध्येय बनाकर अपने कर्म पथ पर बढ़ने के लिए।
४. ज्ञान की तलवार लेकर सत्य की ढाल हाथों में थामें हुए लक्ष्य भेदित मार्ग के व्यवधान को रोकते हुए,
तर्क और विज्ञान के सहारे सीख नम्रता की लेते हुए, निज हितों का त्याग करके आत्म -स्वाभिमान की रक्षा करने के लिए।
५. विद्यालय में शिक्षक से ज्ञान रूपी शिक्षा पाकर साथ ही खेल भावना को बढ़ावा देते हुए, देश प्रेम को साथ लेकर एकता की ढाल बनाकर
यह ध्येय मन में बनाकर किताबी ज्ञान के साथ ही अन्य समस्त प्रकाश रूपी शिक्षा को पाने का प्रयास करते हुए।
६. सभी विद्यार्थी एकता स्थापित करके सत्य, निष्ठा व ज्ञान की ज्योति को प्रकाशित कर सर्व हित कार्य करते हुए।
एक जागरूक राष्ट्र के निर्माण हेतु अग्रसर होते हुए, आगे ही आगे कदम बढ़ाकर एक मिसाल कायम करते हुए।
७. चल पड़े हैं अविराम अपने बुलंद हौसलों को साथ में लेकर क्योंकि मालूम है उनको वे ही तो आगामी युग के राष्ट्र निर्माता है। विद्यार्थियों का अथक परिश्रम व सहयोग ही राष्ट्र को, विकास की दिशा में अग्रसर करने हेतु सहायक सिद्ध होता है।
डिस्क्लेमर: इस पोस्ट में व्यक्त की गई राय लेखक के व्यक्तिगत विचार हैं। जरूरी नहीं कि वे विचार या राय Momspresso.com (पूर्व में mycity4kids) के विचारों को प्रतिबिंबित करते हों .कोई भी चूक या त्रुटियां लेखक की हैं और Momspresso की उसके लिए कोई दायित्व या जिम्मेदारी नहीं है ।
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Nightmares in Children - Causes and Solution
It is very common for children aged between three and ten to wake up in the middle of the night after having a nightmare. Nightmares are a part of every child’s growth and development and usually not a reason for worry.
What are Nightmares?
Nightmares are bad dreams that frighten children and cause them to wake up in fear in the wee hours of the night. Nightmares could be about imaginary scary things or about real-life dangers that the child has learnt about. Young children who wake up in distress may not be able to separate reality from their dreams and may actually think that something bad has happened. As they get older, they realise that dreams are unreal. It is usual for children to have nightmares about imaginary things like scary dolls or monsters. Older children may have nightmares about real-life dangers. Examples of these include auto accidents, death, violence, aggressive animals, etc.
How to Determine Whether Your Child is Having Nightmares?
Nightmares can be confused with night terrors. Children experience night terrors early in the night when they are asleep. Although a child experiencing a night terror does not fully wake up, he can seem to be agitated or distressed in his sleep and may have a rapid heart rate. Children usually do not recall the episodes of night terror. Nightmares have a tendency to occur in the second half of the night, during the time which is called the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Children dream in their REM sleep. After a nightmare, children wake up in fear and have to be calmed down. But, they have complete awareness and can recall their nightmare clearly after they wake up.
When Do Bad Dreams Occur?
Bad dreams can occur in children as a reaction to some real-life fear or trauma. They can also occur in response to imaginary fears that take over when a child reads a scary book or watches a frightening show just before bedtime. The subject of nightmares is usually a reflection of what the child is experiencing in real life. Examples could be struggling with aggression, fear of separation, etc. Nightmares can be about various things like animals, imaginary creatures, monsters, bad guys, familiar places, people, and memorable events.
What Causes Nightmares in Kids?
The exact cause of nightmares in children are not known. They may originate from what a child experiences in the daytime, something that is upsetting. NIghtmares are often a result of a traumatic experience. The type of nightmare is related to the developmental stage of the child’s life. For example, a toddler could have nightmares about being lost and separated from his parents. Older children may have nightmares about death. So, the intensity of nightmares differs in children of different age groups.
Tips to Help Your Child After Nightmares
Here are some tips to help your child calm down and return to bed after having a nightmare:
Comfort and Reassure:
If your child wakes up in distress after a nightmare, comfort him with a hug, cuddle him, or kiss him. Reassure your child that you will not let anything bad happen to him so that he will go back to sleep knowing that you are there for him.
Ensure Enough Sleep:
If your child is sleep deprived, he is more likely to suffer from nightmares. Make sure the child gets enough sleep. Make him follow a routine. Tell him he should sleep at 10 pm every night and eventually he will get into the habit of sleeping at the same time and won't be awake until late.
Talk About It:
Discuss the nightmare during the day with your child and try to determine if there is a recurring pattern. This could help you find out what is making him fearful or anxious. Once you find the cause, you can work on fighting that fear.
Use Magic:
For young children, you can reassure them with the magical power of your protection. You can get rid of monsters using a magic monster spray. You can also check under the bed to make sure there are no monsters hiding beneath.
Help the Child Go Back to Sleep:
If the child wakes up in distress, calm him down with a soothing voice and help him go back to sleep. Talk about some happy dreams the child might like to have or gently kiss his palm and hold his hand till he falls asleep.
Security Blanket:
Offer the child a security object to hold while going to sleep. For instance, you can give him a blanket, cuddly toy, or his favourite pillow. This is especially helpful when you are not around to soothe him.
Nightlight:
Most children are afraid of the dark. The night makes shadows seem like scary monsters. Leave a nightlight on for the child so that he does not fear the dark.
Work Out Methods to Dispel Nightmares:
Discuss with your child and come up with methods to dispel nightmares. If the child is afraid of the dark, you could leave a flashlight by his pillow that can be a nightmare destroyer. If the child is scared of monsters, you can reassure him that monsters are imaginary. You can also make up a funny ending to the dream to eliminate his fear.
How to Encourage Sweet Dreams?
After a nightmare obviously, it will be hard for your child to go back to sleep. But, if it happens every day, even you won't get enough sleep. So, why not encourage sweet and happy dreams in children. Follow these tips to prevent nightmares and encourage sweet dreams:
A Warm Bath: A warm bath can help in calming the child and it will also help him sleep better.
Dream Catcher: You could also hang a charm over your child’s bed and tell him that it is a dream catcher that catches and stops bad dreams.
Reading Happy Stories: Reading happy stories before bedtime uplifts a child’s mood and fills his mind with positive thoughts before sleeping which keeps bad dreams at bay.
Avoid Scary Shows and Books: Do not allow the child to watch scary shows or read scary stories before bedtime as those stories would wander in his mind and may scare him at night.
Snuggle and Wish Them Sweet Dreams: Snuggle with your kid for a while and wish him sweet dreams. This will make him go to sleep in a happy mood, reassured by your touch.
When to Consult a Doctor?
NIghtmares are common in children, especially if they see a scary movie or read a book filled with fear. But, if your child is doing neither of the two and is still having bad dreams night after night, you need to take him to a doctor. Below are some cases when you should consult a doctor:
If the child has nightmares every night for a prolonged period.
If there are recurring nightmares in children, especially after a traumatic event in real life.
If the kid is having bad dreams despite all your reassurances and this is affecting his day-to-day life.
If the nightmares are repetitive or very distressing and worsen or become more frequent.
Nightmares in children are very common and nothing to worry about. They usually get resolved on their own as the child grows out of his fears. You only need to worry if the nightmares are persistent and worsen over time. Follow the tips in this article to deal effectively with nightmares in children.
Also Read: Sleepwalking (Somnambulism) in Children Read more
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Overcome Your Miscarriage Fears
It is said that with pregnancy, a woman completes all her roles. The ability to give birth to a child is a special and life-changing experience. Unfortunately, due to certain unforeseen factors, some pregnancies terminate spontaneously.
Sometimes, a pregnancy can go awfully wrong. When this occurs, it is called a miscarriage. Approximately 15% of known pregnancies conclude with a miscarriage. In a majority of these cases, 80% of them occur in the first trimester and are least likely to occur past the 20th week mark.
What is a Miscarriage
A miscarriage is a medical condition that is termed spontaneous abortion. However, it is not an abortion, as it is commonly understood. It is the loss of an unborn baby, which occurs prior to the 20th week of gestation. If the miscarriage occurs past the 20th week of gestation, then it's called a late miscarriage. This type occurs in very rare circumstances.
There are some common symptoms women experience while having a miscarriage. These are:
Severe abdominal pain
Cramping
Bleeding that systematically progresses to heavy
Passing of tissue
Fever
If you are pregnant and experience such symptoms, please contact your obstetrician/gynecologist immediately or visit your local emergency room.
Currently, the actual cause of miscarriage is not completely understood. Miscarriages that occur in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy are usually caused by chromosomal abnormalities within the infant. Chromosomes are minute cellular structures, which carry the body’s genetic information. Genes are responsible for determining an infant’s physical attributes such as hair and eye colour, gender and blood type. These chromosomal problems are a chance occurrence and are unrelated to the parents’ health.
In some cases, miscarriages may also occur due to the following factors:
Hormonal problems
Uterine bleeding
Infection.
Exposure to workplace or environmental hazards such as toxic agents or radiation
Kidney disease
Incompetent cervix
Lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol, smoking, consuming drugs
Radiation
Thyroid disease
Congenital heart disease
Medications such as Accutane
Severe malnutrition
Uncontrolled diabetes
Currently, there is no evidence, which suggests that sexual or physical activity leads to a miscarriage.
How Are Miscarriages Diagnosed And Treated
Your obstetrician/gynecologist will request for an ultrasound test and also perform a pelvic exam to confirm that a miscarriage has occurred. If the uterus has cleared, no treatment is required. Sometimes, the uterus does not completely empty out, in which case dilation and curettage is performed. In this procedure, dilation is induced and any placental or fetal tissue left behind is removed. Medications may be administered as an alternative dilation to perform the same procedure.
What Are Some Ways To Avoid Miscarriage
In most cases, the miscarriage cannot be prevented because the cause is difficult to determine. However, most women can lower their risk of a miscarriage by taking the following precautionary measures:
Not smoking while expecting
Not consuming illegal drugs or alcohol while pregnant
Eating a well-balanced and healthy diet which includes at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables
Preventing certain infections such as rubella
Being at a healthy weight before becoming pregnant
Your Weight And Preventing Miscarriage
Women who have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 are at an increased risk of miscarrying. The best method of protecting your health and that of your unborn child is loose the excess weight BEFORE becoming pregnant. A healthy weight is the best to reduce your risk of miscarrying. Even during pregnancy, it is absolutely vital that you maintain some level of activity just as swimming or walking. Perform all exercises only after consulting with your physician.
Learning that you are expecting can be an elating experience but then finding out a few weeks later that you have miscarried can throw you into an emotional tailspin. For many women, dealing with a miscarriage often sends them into depression. Some develop a fear of miscarriage and feel they won't be able to carry a baby to term. Others may feel inadequate and feel a deep sense of loss. It is at this time that women need a lot of support and comfort from their family and friends. Speaking to a doctor about getting pregnant again and how to avoid miscarriage in the future can also help. Read more
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Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
2 hours ago
Q. is it normal to have 2 dominant follicles in Right ovary? Today is my D8 and the size of both the follicles are 20x18mm and 19x18 mm Is it normal.
and left ovary follicles 12x18mm.and ET size 7.89
pls advice
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. if it is induced one then there can be chances. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
POOJA KOTHARI has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. what should I eat for a healthy baby in my 3rd month of pregnancy.kindly suggest a healthy diet routine
POOJA KOTHARI
Mom of a 7 yr 1 m old boy
2 hours ago
A. Whole grains — like brown rice, millet, oatmeal, bulgur, and whole-wheat bread. Proteins — like lean meats and chicken, eggs, seafood, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, and tofu. Low-fat or fat-free dairy — like milk, yogurt, cheese, lactose-free dairy, and fortified soy beverages (soy milk) or soy yogurt.
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. in which month of pregnancy we should start excercising for normal delivery
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. no exercises vigorously only moderate walking ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
I am 28 weeks pregnant and feeling breathlessness and Always tired ... is this normal ?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. this cannot be normal always better to see the doctor once. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
1 hour ago
Q. My 4 year baby have always complaint of abdomen pain.
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. if the child is having abdominal pain give syrup colicaid or syrup cyclopam 5 ml to the child for now
then you have to meet the doctor to find the cause of abdominal pain because it can be either due to gas or due to worms or some other abdominal pathology or gastroenteritis, constipation, digestive issues.
in the meantime it is advisable to give only easily digestible food to the child and water andx buttermilk curd rice and dal.
can give poha upma daliya and fruits.
avoid milk products , packet foods and fried items and heavy diet.
you can continue anti-colicx medicines and your doctor may add antacids for the child for few days it will help in decreasing the gas as well as bloating.
shilpi Bhandari has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
35 mins ago
Q. lo laying placenta he koi problem tho ni hogi na or sahi pojicion me lane ke liya ky krna chahiye
shilpi Bhandari
Mom of 2 children
18 mins ago
A. hello deri it is very important that you should take care of your diet because there are high chances of the anemia and the bleeding and the possibilities are there that you will have the C section
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