Child Specialist

Q 1. Why is a premature newborn baby put in a incubator ??? A . A premature newborn baby is born before term. This baby is lacking in many aspects. The baby is unable to maintain the temperature as the temperature regulating centre is not fully developed. The incubator maintains the temperature of the new born. In addition,   the closed environment of the incubator provides a protective environment to prevent infections from outside. Otherwise, the low immune system of the baby makes it susceptible to get infections. Oxygen can easily be given to the baby in the incubator.

  Tetanus Toxoid injection should be given to every child. In Infancy Tetanus becomes part of the routine immunization of DPT. Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus with a booster shot at 18 months and five years.   However, After five years the tetanus toxoid shot should be repeated after every five years. At 10 years at 15 years and so on. Even in adult hood. As children are prone to frequent falls and injure themselves frequently , while playing giving small cuts. The Tetanus Toxoid shot protects against tetanus. It is frequently asked after a small injury if Tetanus shot should be given.  According to Dr Mubina Agboatwalla , the answer is that if the child has taken the Tetanus shot in the past five years there is no need to give the tetanus injection. Even during pregnancy the mother should be given Tetanus Toxoid shots, so as to prevent neonatal tetanus one of the leading causes of death in neonates. It is vaccination of the mother that prevents tetanus in neonates.