Child Specialist

Malaria is caused by malarial parasite Plasmodium. There are four varieties of Plasmodium. Out of which Plasmodium Vivax is most common and Plasmodium Falciparum, is the one with most complications. The Plasmodium species are found in blood of mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites the child, plasmodium enters into the blood stream of the child. They enter the red blood cells where they multiply. The onset is with fever generally high grade accompanied by shivering. It is common in endemic areas like Africa, South Asia and South East Asia. The onset is generally sudden but can be chronic. There is associated headache, vomiting and muscle pain. Seating is common. The malarial parasite resides in the spleen. In cases of chronic malaria, the spleen is enlarged. The plasmodia break up the red blood cells and the child is anaemic. Complications include cerebral malaria whereby the brain is affected, there is brain edema and the patient is unconscious. There may be liver failure w

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla- a child specialist in Karachi Cough is a condition very common in children. Parents often complain of their children having different types of cough. Cough is reflex action with the body trying to get rid of the secretions in the bronchi or irritation due to allergies. Cough can be of different types. It can be productive with sputum, which can be white or yellow in colour or sometimes even green. This is secondary to infection. The lungs produce mucus which the body tries to get rid of by coughing. Sometimes, there is throat infection and irritation of the throat. The child tries to get rid of the secretions and clears the throat in the form of a cough. Flu or nasal irritation can cause a post nasal drip and again the child coughs. Allergies cause a dry cough. They cause the bronchioles to get constricted, and this irritating cough occurs all the time but specially at night. The bronchspasm in frank asthma can cause continuous bouts of coughing.