Understanding Skin Folds in Children: Should You Be Concerned?
Skin folds Hello doctor, my son is over 3 years old. Since birth, he has had multiple folds on his arms and neck. I have to specially separate and wash them during bath time, but he is not overweight. I initially thought these would disappear as he grows older. Will this have any...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Hello, Xiaojuan's mother: Based on your description, the child's skin folds are quite pronounced and need to be spread apart during bath time. The arms and neck are not typically areas where weight gain is most noticeable. I recommend that you first visit a pediatric cl...[Read More] Understanding Skin Folds in Children: Should You Be Concerned?
Understanding White Patches on Infants: Causes and Care Tips
Please ask your question! Hello! My child is six months old, with a corrected age of five months. Recently, white patches appeared on his neck and have spread to his back. I took him to see a pediatrician, who said it is a common condition in children and will resolve on its own....
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Hello, Zhu Zhu's mom: As long as there are no signs of a specific disease, any infant can develop spots. While they may seem unsightly, most spots do not pose health issues. The normal color of the skin is related to the state of capillaries and melanin. The formation and pr...[Read More] Understanding White Patches on Infants: Causes and Care Tips
Understanding Developmental Milestones in Infants Under One Year
Infant and Toddler Development Hello Dr. Tsai, I would like to inquire about the developmental status of toddlers before their first birthday. My brother's child is currently one year and two months old, has not yet developed any teeth, and is still moving around using a cra...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Hello Mr. Pan: To assess whether a child is experiencing developmental delays, it is essential to have past records of regular measurements of height, weight, and head circumference, as well as observations of neurological development at 1 month, 3-4 months, 6-7 months, 9-10 mont...[Read More] Understanding Developmental Milestones in Infants Under One Year
Understanding Infant Sleep Patterns and Common Concerns in Pediatrics
I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that? (1) My child is less than a month old. Since birth, I have noticed that while sleeping, their eyelids frequently flutter, and they often move their hands and feet as if they are "sleeping and moving" at the same time. C...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Hello, You'er's Dad: You must be a very attentive and caring father! Every moment with a newborn baby is filled with surprises for parents, and it can also raise concerns about whether everything is normal. Based on your description, the eyelid fluttering during sleep i...[Read More] Understanding Infant Sleep Patterns and Common Concerns in Pediatrics
Delayed Tooth Eruption in Children: What Parents Should Know
Teething in children? Hello, Dr. Tsai. My daughter has been teething slowly; she only started getting her teeth after she turned one year old. Now, at two years and two months, she has developed two upper canine teeth and the same number of lower teeth, but her upper canines have...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Hello, Mr. Amin's father: The growth of children's teeth can be influenced by many factors, including genetics, nutrition, calcium intake, and medications taken during pregnancy (such as Tetracycline). However, it is unusual for your child to have their first tooth erup...[Read More] Delayed Tooth Eruption in Children: What Parents Should Know
Is Your Baby Experiencing Breath-Holding or Seizures?
Infantile apnea or epilepsy? Hello Dr. Tsai: My child is one year old, and during extreme fits of anger and crying, he exhibits a phenomenon similar to breath-holding spells, where he suddenly stops crying, becomes completely still, and his face turns blue. This lasts for about 2...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Tsai Cheng-Hsien from Tainan Hospital's Pediatrics Department responds: Hello, Jing-Jing's mother. Your child is likely experiencing infantile apnea; however, due to a significant family history of epilepsy, it is advisable to consult a pediatric neurologist nearby....[Read More] Is Your Baby Experiencing Breath-Holding or Seizures?
Understanding Sleep Issues and Head Development in 9-Month-Old Babies
A nine-month-old baby is having trouble sleeping well at night and has issues with head development? Hello Doctor: My baby is now nine months and ten days old, weighing 9.9 kg and measuring 76 cm in height, with a head circumference of 43.8 cm. Usually, he only takes a half-hour ...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Ms. Liu, From your description, I noticed that your child's height and weight are in the 75th to 90th percentile, but the head circumference is only in the 10th to 25th percentile. This is an unusual phenomenon. Additionally, since your baby seems to be crying and rest...[Read More] Understanding Sleep Issues and Head Development in 9-Month-Old Babies
Understanding Labial Adhesions in Infants: Concerns and Care
Labial adhesion in a nine-month-old baby? Hello, doctor. My daughter is currently nine months old. Recently, she had a fever and was taken to the hospital for examination, where we unexpectedly discovered that her labia were fused. The doctor manually separated the labia and pres...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Tsai Cheng-Hsien from Tainan Municipal Hospital's Pediatrics Department responds: Dear concerned mother, infant labial adhesion, strictly speaking, refers to "labial fusion," which commonly occurs in girls under three years old and is often discovered during ro...[Read More] Understanding Labial Adhesions in Infants: Concerns and Care
Can Medications Treat Patent Foramen Ovale in Children?
Is medication treatment available for a patent foramen ovale in children? I have a few questions for the doctor: 1. My child has a patent foramen ovale (PFO) with a size of 2.5mm. The doctor mentioned there is a 95% chance it will close. Is 2.5mm considered small? Will it close? ...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dear concerned mother, The foramen ovale is a necessary cardiac opening in the fetus while in the mother's womb, which maintains important blood circulation. After birth, about 70% of newborns will close it immediately, and 90% will close it within three months. If it remai...[Read More] Can Medications Treat Patent Foramen Ovale in Children?
Is My Toddler's Behavior Normal? Understanding Child Development Concerns
Babies engage in sexual behavior? My daughter is two years and five months old, and this week she has been exhibiting strange behavior: every night before going to bed, she will lie on me (or my wife) or on the blanket and pillow, twisting her waist and hips in a manner similar t...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Peter Lai, The early childhood period refers to children aged 1 to 4 years, during which their self-concept develops rapidly. During this stage, toddlers need to learn and practice to establish regular sleep patterns, good eating habits, toilet training, and the ability to ...[Read More] Is My Toddler's Behavior Normal? Understanding Child Development Concerns
Understanding Bedwetting in 5-Year-Olds: Causes and Solutions
Bedwetting at age 5? Hello Dr. Tsai, my son was able to urinate independently during the day at the age of 2.5 years. Now, at 5 years old, even with restricted fluid intake and using the toilet before bed, he still urinates 1 to 2 times at night and cannot wake up to go to the ba...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Mrs. Wang, Congratulations! Your child being able to use the toilet independently at 2.5 years old indicates good self-control training. However, nighttime bladder control does require more patience, and sometimes we must wait for the maturation of his autonomic nervous sys...[Read More] Understanding Bedwetting in 5-Year-Olds: Causes and Solutions
Understanding the Differences Between Key Androgens for Growth in Pediatrics
Desire for further development? I would like to ask about the differences between the following compounds if I want to promote development again: 4-Androstenediol, 5-Androstenediol, 1-Testosterone, 1,4-Androstadienedione, 1,4-Androstadiene, 4-Androstene, and Androstenedione.
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Kevin, Dr. Tsai Cheng-Hsien from the Pediatrics Department of Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, replies: The above all pertains to the metabolism of testosterone and its intermediates. If you are interested in biochemistry, please refer to Harper’s Biochemis...[Read More] Understanding the Differences Between Key Androgens for Growth in Pediatrics
Why Won't My Toddler Sleep? Understanding Sleep Resistance in Kids
I don't want to sleep! My daughter is two years and six months old, and for the past week, she has been refusing to sleep at night! Even though she is yawning frequently and her eyes are heavy with sleep, she insists that she needs to use the bathroom, either to urinate or h...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Mimi, Your child seems to have a "bedtime struggle" every time it's time to sleep, which can have many possible causes. We suggest the following: 1. Your child or your family may not have a regular sleep routine. Sometimes, she may feel physically tired but ...[Read More] Why Won't My Toddler Sleep? Understanding Sleep Resistance in Kids
Understanding Persistent Jaundice in Premature Infants: Causes and Risks
What causes persistent high levels of bilirubin? Dr. Tsai: Hello! I delivered a premature infant weighing 476 grams on October 24. On October 26, due to a high bilirubin level, the attending physician recommended a blood exchange, and we exchanged 50 cc of blood. After the exchan...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Tsai Cheng-Hsien from Tainan Municipal Hospital's Pediatrics Department responds: Your baby's condition is indeed concerning. Premature infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams, classified as extremely low birth weight infants, require stricter criteria f...[Read More] Understanding Persistent Jaundice in Premature Infants: Causes and Risks
Feeding Concerns for Your 3-Month-Old: Tips for Nutrition and Comfort
Could you please clarify your question for Dr. Tsai? My baby is over three months old. I am feeding my baby a mixture of Enfamil formula, Karotani goat milk powder, and a small amount of Karotani vegetable and fruit rice cereal. The mixing ratio is correct. Is this combination ha...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Mama Bear, I apologize for the delay in my response. Goat milk formula generally contains added calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, folic acid, probiotics, and fructooligosaccharides, making it a good nutritional supplement for infants and children. However, for infants under ...[Read More] Feeding Concerns for Your 3-Month-Old: Tips for Nutrition and Comfort