Child Specialist

Rickets is characterized by deficiency of Vitamin D. In the recent years, it has become more common. This is secondary to a number of reasons. One important reason is the diet of children has changed over a period of time. Mothers themselves are deficient in vitamin D.   Such newborns are vitamin D deficient as their mothers are also vitamin D deficient. When they breast feed their child, the newborn does not get enough vitamin D. Over a period of time as the child gets older they don’t take enough milk and the diet is deficient in milk and dairy products. The concentration is more on junk food. Another very important factor is the residential style of living. People tend to stay in small congested flats where there is little sunlight. Sunlight is necessary for activation of Vitamin D. The recent changes in life style has led to children either watching television or playing games on the computer. Children do not spend time playing outside and hence there is less exposure to sunl...

Club Foot is a condition characterized by inward turning of the foot at birth. The incidence is 1 in 1000, one of the most common congenital abnormalities. The tendons connecting the muscles of the leg to the foot are shortened. This is not a painful condition. According to Dr Mubina Agboatwalla – a child specialist in Karachi , in half the cases of club foot, both feet may be involved. Boys are more likely to be affected than girls. In the affected leg, the leg is slightly shorter than the other one. If left untreated, the child will walk on the outer side instead of walking on the sole, develop calluses and unable to wear shoes. Treatment should be started immediately after birth and non surgical. It is known as Ponsetti method. The foot is gently manipulated in the corrected position and casting done.   Each week repositioning is done and casting is done. And this goes on weekly for 6-8 weeks. In 90% of the cases, Achilles Tenotomy needs to be done. A small cut is mad...

The cold weather brings with it several respiratory illnesses. The cold harsh winds cause bronchospasm. The child develops dry cough and fever. The respiratory rate increases becoming more than 40 breaths/minute. There is nasal flaring and the intercostal spaces start depressing. The sub costal area i.e. the area between the ribs and abdomen starts developing a depression. There is wheezing, sounds can be heard coming from the chest. Cough is continuous and bouts of coughing occur. Bronchitis is generally viral with super added bacterial infection. The fever may increase to more than 101 Fahrenheit. This condition should be taken as an emergency. Nebulization should be immediately started, using normal saline and other bronchodilators as prescribed by the physician. Humidifier is very helpful as well as steam inhalation. If necessary, oxygen may be given to the child. Intravenous antibiotics should be started. Anti-allergies need to be given. Bronchodilators as advised by t...

Vitamin D deficiency is becoming more common these days. This is chiefly due to less intake of milk and milk containing products such as eggs, cheese, butter etc. In addition, sunlight plays a very important role in active conversion of vitamin D. According to Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla-A Child Specialist in Karachi People have started living in flats with little or no ventilation, and no sun light. Children do not play outside in the parks. They are busy doing homework, watching TV or playing games on the computer or mobile. Therefore, they are not exposed to sunlight. All these factors contribute to vitamin D deficiency. Children complain of aches and pain in the body, especially leg pain. Diagnosis is through testing vitamin D levels as well as X-Ray diagnosis.   Treatment is with Vitamin D administration generally in the form of drops. Treatment continues for at least 2 months depending on the severity of deficiency. In addition, exposure to sunlight must be ensure...

Pneumonia is common in children in the cold weather. All respiratory infections are not pneumonia but sometimes simple cough and cold can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is responsible for nearly 17% of deaths in children under five years of age. Basically, pneumonia means infection of the lungs. Sometimes, there is consolidation of the lobe of the lung, called lobar pneumonia. This occurs in older children. In others the whole lung may be involved in a patchy manner known as broncho pneumonia. According to Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla-A Child Specialist in Karachi , this initially starts with common flu like symptoms, fever, cough and cold. However, gradually the fever starts getting high grade and the cough increases. The respiratory rate tells us a lot about the pneumonia. If the respiratory rate is more than 50 breaths per minute in infants or more than 40 breaths per minute in children less than 5 years, which is considered as a dangerous sign. Other signs include presence of a depressio...

Tuberculosis is a dreaded disease in third world countries. It is considered disease of poverty. The disease generally occurs due to close contact with the infected person and the droplets causing infection. Tuberculosis of the lungs, known as Pulmonary Tuberculosis is most common. There is generally a history of tuberculosis in the family. The child suffers from low grade and sometimes high grade fever. There is history of weight loss for months. The fever also continues for months, and does not respond to general antibiotics. There is a continuous dry cough though it is not too severe. Sometimes, you can feel lymph glands like nodules. These lymph glands are matted, hard and rubbery. They may also occur in the axilla. According to Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla-A Child Specialist in Karachi , X-Ray of chest is quite diagnostic in this regard. The physician by looking at the X-Ray can make a clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis. In addition, the ESR is raised. Another diagnostic test is M...

Food poisoning has become quite common these days due to increased consumption of food from outside. Children not only eat burgers, pizza etc but also street made French fries, bun kebab, chips etc. Interestingly, food poisoning has become more common after eating food from high class restaurants. Food poisoning occurs due to eating stale food, left over food, expired food, improperly cooked food and food prepared in unhygienic conditions. Canned juices can also cause food poisoning. The symptoms start within 2-24 hours after eating contaminated food. Initially, there is severe vomiting. The child starts projectile vomiting and cannot tolerate any food. This is accompanied by abdominal pain and fever. This should immediately alert the parents. The vomiting lasts for 3-4 hours with the child unable to eat anything. In this condition, mother should try to give sips of water and ORS; otherwise the child will get dehydrated. Then the diarrhea starts which is very loose and watery. The vo...