Understanding Abdominal Pain in Toddlers: Causes and Concerns
Frequent complaints of pain? My daughter is one month shy of two years old. Since she was one year and ten months, she has frequently complained of stomach pain, about 2-3 times a week. She currently weighs 10 kg and has only grown 1 cm in height over the past six months. She eat...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Ms. Xiao Ci, Hello! Below are the answers to your questions: 1. Drinking Yakult or yogurt on an empty stomach is generally not a problem. However, it is important to avoid letting children develop a habit of consuming overly sweet beverages or foods. Occasional consumption...[Read More] Understanding Abdominal Pain in Toddlers: Causes and Concerns
Understanding Iron Deficiency Anemia and Thalassemia in Children
Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia? Dear Sir/Madam, Recently, I noticed that my child (2-3 years old) has a slightly pale complexion and cold hands and feet at night. After a blood test, the doctor diagnosed iron deficiency anemia. Upon further investigation, it was found th...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear CAT, Hello. The issues of iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia can be discussed for hours. However, I would like to start with a brief explanation based on your questions. Hb is an abbreviation for hemoglobin, which is the main component in red blood cells responsible fo...[Read More] Understanding Iron Deficiency Anemia and Thalassemia in Children
Understanding Fever in Children: Causes and Treatment Options
High fever My son is 5 years old. This afternoon, he got lost in a mall and was very scared. When we got home, he suddenly developed a fever (39.4°C) with no other symptoms. After seeing a doctor, they found no issues and only suspected influenza. I would like to ask: 1. Can a ch...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Christine, I personally believe that there is no direct relationship between being startled and having a fever; it is possible that the infection was acquired in a public place or through other means. If it is confirmed to be influenza, it is caused by the influenza virus. ...[Read More] Understanding Fever in Children: Causes and Treatment Options
Understanding Mild Bilateral Renal Pelvic Dilation in Infants
Bilateral mild hydronephrosis? Hello, my daughter is now seven months old and weighs 6.5 kg. At birth, she was diagnosed with "bilateral mild hydronephrosis." She has been urinating normally, and we have been following up with ultrasounds every three months, which have ...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Mommy of Niu, Hello. The cause of hydronephrosis is excessive pressure from urine in that area, leading to the enlargement of the renal pelvis, which can also be referred to as "water kidney." The impact of this condition depends on the underlying cause and the se...[Read More] Understanding Mild Bilateral Renal Pelvic Dilation in Infants
When Should Preterm Infants Have Heel Prick Blood Tests?
Heel blood Hello, I would like to ask when my baby, who was born at 36 weeks as a preterm infant, will have the heel prick test?
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Meiling, I believe your question pertains to when newborn metabolic screening will be conducted. The purpose of heel prick blood sampling is to obtain specimens for testing, such as measuring bilirubin levels and blood glucose. In Taiwan, the government mandates that every ...[Read More] When Should Preterm Infants Have Heel Prick Blood Tests?
Caring for Your Newborn's Penis: Do You Need to Clean the Foreskin?
The newborn's penis? I have a question. My baby is just 10 days old, and when bathing him, do I need to retract the foreskin to clean it? If it is necessary to clean it, how should I go about retracting it, since it seems a bit difficult?
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear TONY, Dr. Lin Wen-Hsien, the Director of Pediatrics at Tainan Hospital, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, would like to inform you: It is not necessary to forcibly retract the foreskin during cleaning in newborns, as most newborns cannot be retracted (meaning the glans ...[Read More] Caring for Your Newborn's Penis: Do You Need to Clean the Foreskin?
Understanding Eye Asymmetry in Infants: Causes and Solutions
Eye size The baby is currently 11 months old. At 3 to 4 months, it was noticed that his eyes sometimes appeared uneven, but now the right eye is consistently larger than the left. The right eye has double eyelids while the left has a single eyelid. What could be the issue? Is the...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Hao, The human body appears very symmetrical at first glance, but upon closer comparison, there are always slight differences. For example, the palm lines on both hands are not identical. Therefore, the concerns mentioned in your letter may not necessarily indicate a proble...[Read More] Understanding Eye Asymmetry in Infants: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Persistent High Fever in Children: Is It Really the Flu?
Persistent high fever My son has been experiencing fluctuating fever since yesterday. I took him to the doctor, who said it was the flu, but he doesn't have any cold symptoms, only tonsillitis. His fever is around 39 to 40 degrees Celsius. Is my son really suffering from the...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Yuan Yuan, I hope this message finds you well. It seems that your son had a fever during the New Year period, which must have caused quite a bit of concern and fatigue for the whole family. I hope he has already recovered from the fever. In fact, a proper diagnosis of an i...[Read More] Understanding Persistent High Fever in Children: Is It Really the Flu?
Struggles with Milk Intake: Pediatric Tips for Parents
Not drinking milk? Dear Dr. Lin, Happy New Year! My daughter has only been drinking 60cc of milk since she was brought home from the obstetrics and gynecology department. She really dislikes milk and refuses to drink it from a bottle, so I have to feed her with a spoon, one spo...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Concerned Father, Happy New Year! It sounds like you and your partner are truly remarkable and are working very hard. Feeding a child often requires the effort of both parents. Indeed, correcting a child's eating habits can sometimes be quite challenging for parents, a...[Read More] Struggles with Milk Intake: Pediatric Tips for Parents
Why Your Baby Refuses Solid Foods: Tips for Parents
Children refuse to eat complementary foods? My child (male) started with breastfeeding and is now 9 months old, but his weight is only 8 kilograms. Is this normal? Since he was 6 months old, I have been feeding him complementary foods (such as rice porridge and cereal), but for t...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Xiaoxian, I am pleased to hear about mothers who are able to breastfeed for up to 9 months. Keep up the good work! The nutrition provided by breast milk is superior to any formula, and the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for up to two years, so there is n...[Read More] Why Your Baby Refuses Solid Foods: Tips for Parents
Understanding Delayed Puberty: Concerns and Insights for Young Adults
Pubertal Growth and Development Hello Doctor, 1. I am currently 23 years old, born in the Year of the Pig. I have some concerns regarding my growth and development during puberty. My height is approximately 168 cm and my weight is 70 kg. To describe myself from head to toe: I h...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Lin Wen-Hsien, the Chief of Pediatrics at Tainan Hospital under the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, responded to your inquiry: You mentioned several concerns, one regarding secondary sexual characteristics, including facial hair, Adam's apple, voice changes, armp...[Read More] Understanding Delayed Puberty: Concerns and Insights for Young Adults
Understanding Sensory Integration Issues in Young Children
Sensory integration issues? Hello, Dr. Lin. My child is 1 year and 10 months old, and I have recently been doing some sensory integration exercises with him, such as spinning, throwing, vertical acceleration, forward rolls, and backward rolls, which are forms of passive balance t...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Sherry, The report you referred to likely pertains to "Shaken Baby Syndrome." This condition occurs when an infant's head is subjected to violent shaking, which can sometimes lead to internal bleeding in the brain. The consequences can be quite severe, often ...[Read More] Understanding Sensory Integration Issues in Young Children
Addressing Language Repetition Issues in Toddlers: Tips for Parents
Language issues in infants? Hello Doctor: My baby is about one year and eight months old and is currently learning to speak. However, in the past week or two, we have noticed that when he tries to say a full sentence, he repeatedly starts with "Daddy" or "Mommy,&qu...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Hua, It sounds like the repetitive speech patterns of your baby are causing some concern for you as a parent. In fact, this can be a normal part of the language acquisition process. The age at which each child begins to speak fluently can vary significantly. During the lear...[Read More] Addressing Language Repetition Issues in Toddlers: Tips for Parents
Managing Baby's Gas and Formula Feeding Concerns: A Guide for Parents
Baby's gas and formula issues? Hello, my baby is now over 4 months old. He started having gas problems since he was over 1 month old, and we have to massage his belly to help him pass gas before he can sleep soundly; otherwise, he cries continuously. The doctor prescribed so...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Janty, The issue of your baby's abdominal bloating is a common concern raised by mothers in pediatric clinics. In fact, the abdominal wall muscles of infants are not as strong as those of adults, so it is normal for their bellies to appear larger. As long as there are ...[Read More] Managing Baby's Gas and Formula Feeding Concerns: A Guide for Parents
Understanding Umbilical Swelling in Infants: Causes and Care Tips
Umbilical swelling in infants? My daughter is two weeks old, and her umbilical cord has gradually swollen to about the size of a small ping pong ball. I would like to ask the doctor about the cause of this and whether it will continue to swell. What should I pay attention to in d...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dear Mr. Lin, I am writing in response to your inquiry regarding your two-week-old infant who has a bulge at the umbilical area approximately the size of a ping pong ball. This condition is likely what is known as an umbilical hernia. Such cases are sometimes observed during inf...[Read More] Understanding Umbilical Swelling in Infants: Causes and Care Tips
Can Thinking About Height Issues Affect Growth in Children?
excuse me? Is it possible to be affected by constantly thinking about or touching words like "not growing tall" or "short person"? Can this lead to not growing taller?
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Lin Wen-hsien, the Director of Pediatrics at Tainan Hospital under the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, responded to DEAR BOY: "No, it is not contagious. Short stature is not infectious; it is often due to issues related to nutrition or metabolic problems. If there ...[Read More] Can Thinking About Height Issues Affect Growth in Children?
Understanding Early Menstruation in Young Girls: Treatment Options and Concerns
Menarche Hello, doctor: My daughter just turned 10 years old in November and is currently in the fourth grade. We discovered that she started menstruating, and after an examination, her bone age was determined to be 12 years old. The ultrasound results were normal, confirming tha...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Lin Wen-Hsien, the Director of Pediatrics at Tainan Hospital under the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, responded to a concerned mother regarding her 10-year-old daughter who has started menstruating and has a bone age of 12 years. This issue can be addressed from two pe...[Read More] Understanding Early Menstruation in Young Girls: Treatment Options and Concerns
Addressing Developmental Concerns in Toddlers: Growth, Movement, and Speech
Infant and toddler growth and development issues? Hello Dr. Lin, my brother is one year and seven months old, and I have a few questions to ask again. Thank you! 1. Gross Motor Skills: My baby only started walking independently at 15 months and is relatively stable, so I feel h...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Lin Wen-Hsien, the Chief of Pediatrics at Tainan Hospital under the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, responded to DEAR Sher: Regarding the issue of gross motor skills, it seems that the mother has already taken the child to see a physician, and there are no concerns abou...[Read More] Addressing Developmental Concerns in Toddlers: Growth, Movement, and Speech
Understanding Jaundice in Newborns: Causes, Concerns, and Care
Jaundice Hello Doctor: My baby was born at 35 weeks, weighing 2700 grams. Three days after birth, the total bilirubin level was 17. Will it continue to rise? Is this level too high? How low does it need to be for us to take the baby home? Why does jaundice occur? I'm really ...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Lin Wen-Hsien, the head of the pediatrics department at Tainan Hospital under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, responded to DEAR ShaSha: Jaundice is a common phenomenon during the neonatal period, especially in premature infants, where it is more prevalent and tends to las...[Read More] Understanding Jaundice in Newborns: Causes, Concerns, and Care
Understanding Persistent High Fever in Toddlers: When to Seek Help
Fever in young children? Hello Doctor: My daughter is 2 years and 4 months old. Two weeks ago, she had a cold and we took her to see a pediatrician who prescribed medication. However, she has not fully recovered. On the evening of the 8th, she developed a high fever of 39.5 degre...
Dr. Lin Wenxian reply Pediatrics
Dr. Lin Wen-Hsien, the Director of Pediatrics at Tainan Hospital under the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, responded to DEAR Ami: It must be very concerning for you that your child has had a high fever for several days. During early childhood, due to insufficient immune res...[Read More] Understanding Persistent High Fever in Toddlers: When to Seek Help