Can Infants Safely Consume Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Can infants consume traditional Chinese medicine? Hello, I would like to ask you a question. My sister is about 1 year and 2 months old. She often catches colds when she is taken care of by her nanny (who looks after two children, including my sister) and frequently takes Western...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Hello: I am a Western physician with limited knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Based on my online research, the following article is for your reference! The appropriate timing for giving Chinese medicine to infants depends on the purpose of the medication. Dr. Chen...[Read More] Can Infants Safely Consume Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Is the Flu Vaccine This Year Effective for Infants? H1N1 Strain Included?
Influenza vaccine Is it true that this year's flu vaccine includes the H1N1 strain? My baby just turned 6 months old; does he/she need to receive the vaccine?
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Ms. Hsuan: Hello! (1) This year's influenza vaccine components include H1N1, H3N2, and one strain of B-type influenza, totaling three components. (2) Babies can be considered for free vaccination after they reach 6 months of age (the registration fee still needs to be...[Read More] Is the Flu Vaccine This Year Effective for Infants? H1N1 Strain Included?
Essential Guide to Baby Food: Nutrition Tips for 11-Month-Olds
Infant complementary foods Hello Doctor, my daughter is currently 11 months and 18 days old, weighing 7.6 kg (her weight gain has been slow, with a birth weight of 2796 g) and measuring 72 cm in height. She is very active. Her daily feeding schedule is as follows: - 7:30 to 8:0...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Tina: Regarding the issue of infant complementary foods, please refer to the attached document for my response. Wishing you peace and health. Sincerely, Dr. Pei Ren-Sheng, Director of Pediatrics, Taoyuan General Hospital, Department of Health.[Read More] Essential Guide to Baby Food: Nutrition Tips for 11-Month-Olds
Understanding Pediatric Skin Allergies: Transitioning to Hydrolyzed Formula
Skin Allergy (Continued) Hello Doctor, I have consulted with you regarding my child's skin allergy and have been switching to hydrolyzed protein formula. Over the past week, I have gradually transitioned to half hydrolyzed formula and have noticed that my child's stools...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Rita: Hello! It is normal for stools to be more pasty when drinking water mixed with protein powder compared to regular formula. If you notice blood or mucus in the stool, it may indicate a possibility of gastroenteritis; also, if there is slow weight gain, it would be advis...[Read More] Understanding Pediatric Skin Allergies: Transitioning to Hydrolyzed Formula
Understanding Skin Allergies in Infants: When to Seek Help
Skin allergy Hello, doctor. 1. My baby is now over 3 months old and often has skin that resembles "hives," with small red spots or patches on the hands and feet. They appear for a while and then gradually fade. The clinic doctor prescribed medication and mentioned to ...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Hello: The primary purpose of lactose-free formula is to alleviate diarrhea. To prevent allergies, the best approach is to breastfeed, followed by considering hydrolyzed protein formula. Allergic predisposition can be hereditary; studies indicate that if one parent has an allergi...[Read More] Understanding Skin Allergies in Infants: When to Seek Help
Can Honey Help Manage Asthma in Children? Expert Insights
Dietary Therapy for Health Maintenance Dear Dr. Pei, I would like to ask you about my six-year-old child who experienced acute asthma for the first time last year. After several months of maintenance treatment using only inhaled maintenance medications, the doctor said we could ...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Hello: According to the literature on honey, its medical benefits are as follows: Honey contains not only glucose and fructose but also various vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Because honey is composed of simple sugars like glucose and fructose, it can be directly absorbed b...[Read More] Can Honey Help Manage Asthma in Children? Expert Insights
Understanding Your Newborn's Enlarged Left Lateral Ventricular Angle
The posterior horn of the left lateral ventricle in the baby is dilated? My baby just had a brain ultrasound at the hospital after birth. Today, I received the results indicating that the posterior horn of the left lateral ventricle is enlarged, and I was advised to return for a ...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Franktu, Hello, your baby may have mild hydrocephalus. Many cases of fetal hydrocephalus are caused by central nervous system malformations, such as myelomeningocele and Arnold-Chiari malformation, benign intracranial cysts, aqueductal stenosis, vein of Galen malformation, ...[Read More] Understanding Your Newborn's Enlarged Left Lateral Ventricular Angle
Understanding Vomiting in Infants: Causes and Solutions for Parents
Vomiting after eating? Hello, doctor. My daughter just turned eight months old. She started introducing solid foods around five months, and aside from fruits, she has been eating well. Recently, I'm not sure if it's due to a cold and the medication (she has a cough, a s...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Tina, Hello! After a child catches a cold, they may experience throat inflammation and pain, which can trigger a gag reflex after eating just a few bites. Additionally, infants may be picky eaters, rejecting certain foods and only consuming others. These behaviors are norma...[Read More] Understanding Vomiting in Infants: Causes and Solutions for Parents
Understanding Constipation in Infants: A Guide for Parents
Bowel issues Hello Doctor, my child is currently over six months old and is exclusively breastfed. Around five months old (on April 1), I started giving her Lactoferin LP33, currently two capsules a day (since both my husband and I have allergic tendencies). Initially, her bowel ...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Tina, 1. The normal frequency of bowel movements can range from three times a day to once every three days; however, it is common for breastfed infants to have a bowel movement only once a week, and if the stool is soft, it is still considered normal. 2. An increase in pro...[Read More] Understanding Constipation in Infants: A Guide for Parents
Understanding Congenital Hyperthyroidism in Newborns: Causes and Prognosis
Neonatal Hyperthyroidism Hello Doctor: My nephew had a newborn screening, and his thyroid levels were elevated. The doctor said he needs to take medication until he is 6 years old. Is this what is referred to as congenital hyperthyroidism? My sister-in-law does not have any thyro...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Ms. Chen, Hello, I believe your baby may have congenital hypothyroidism, which is a condition characterized by a deficiency of thyroid hormones at birth. Approximately 1 in every 4,000 newborns has a severe defect in thyroid function, while many others may have mild or vary...[Read More] Understanding Congenital Hyperthyroidism in Newborns: Causes and Prognosis
Concerns About Baby Not Urinating for Over Ten Hours
More than ten hours without urination? Hello Doctor: My baby is currently 4 months old and weighs 9 kg. I breastfeed once a day and supplement with formula milk, around 60-180 cc. I would like to ask you about my baby not urinating from last night at 10:30 PM after finishing brea...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear tsae: 1. Increased physical activity during the day may have caused excessive sweating? 2. Sweating excessively at night due to heat while sleeping? 3. Sleeping too deeply? 4. Insufficient fluid intake? Please continue to monitor these possibilities. If you continue to exper...[Read More] Concerns About Baby Not Urinating for Over Ten Hours
How to Identify Allergies in Infants: A Guide for Parents
How to identify allergies in infants? Hello, doctor. My baby is 4 months old, and I would like to know how to determine if he is allergic. I asked the hospital, and they said that allergy testing through blood work can only be done after the age of three. However, some people say...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Hello: Allergic diseases are related to two factors: one is the allergic constitution, and the second is allergens. The allergic constitution is hereditary; many scholars have statistically found that if one parent has an allergic constitution, the child has a one in four to one ...[Read More] How to Identify Allergies in Infants: A Guide for Parents
Understanding Patent Foramen Ovale in Children: What Parents Need to Know
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) Hello Doctor, my child is currently 2 years and 2 months old. At birth, the foramen ovale was not closed and measured 0.2 cm. During a follow-up at around 6 months, an ultrasound showed that it had closed. However, recently, after my child had a cold an...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Ms. Huang, 1. The foramen ovale is a passage between the left and right atria. It typically closes automatically within six months after birth. If it remains open beyond six months, it is classified as an atrial septal defect (ASD), which accounts for 10% of congenital hear...[Read More] Understanding Patent Foramen Ovale in Children: What Parents Need to Know
Common Concerns for Your 3-Month-Old Baby: A Pediatric Guide
The issue with the baby? Hello Doctor: My baby is currently 3 months old and will turn 4 months in 2 weeks, weighing 8 kg. I have some questions regarding her health. 1. My baby shakes a little before urinating, which has been happening since birth but has become more frequent ...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear tsae, Hello! 1. The phenomenon known as "cold shivering" (shaking while urinating) occurs because the body expels a significant amount of heat energy during urination. The body compensates for this loss of heat by shivering to generate warmth, which helps mainta...[Read More] Common Concerns for Your 3-Month-Old Baby: A Pediatric Guide
Understanding Middle Ear Effusion in Children: Causes, Treatment, and Concerns
Middle ear effusion Hello Dr. Pei, I would like to ask you three questions... (1) My daughter is five years old. She caught a cold in early November last year, with symptoms of only a runny nose and cough. We have visited the doctor several times, but she has not fully recovered....
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Hello: (1) If you have had a cold for two months, I recommend getting a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia or other issues. There is also a possibility of allergies, so a blood test to check for mycoplasma levels and allergy markers would be helpful to guide treatment. (2) Otitis...[Read More] Understanding Middle Ear Effusion in Children: Causes, Treatment, and Concerns
Understanding Newborn Feeding: Signs of Hunger and Overfeeding Concerns
Newborns do not feel full? My baby was born on January 1, 1999, and she is a little girl. Since I am on prescribed medication, I am concerned about the effects of the medication on my baby, so I am feeding her formula. Normally, she should be fed about 70-90 cc every three hours,...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Hello: Babies do not need to be fed according to a schedule; they can be fed whenever they are hungry. However, excessive feeding may lead to spitting up and the possibility of overweight. You can refer to the growth chart to check if the baby's weight is within a healthy ra...[Read More] Understanding Newborn Feeding: Signs of Hunger and Overfeeding Concerns
Understanding Kawasaki Disease: Urgent Care and Ultrasound Timing for Your Child
Kawasaki disease Hello Dr. Pei, my younger brother is one year old and has recently been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease. It has been about half a month since the diagnosis. We visited the doctor on the 14th, and they recommended that we get an ultrasound, but the appointment is ...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Jia-Yi, Hello! During the acute phase of Kawasaki disease, a cardiac ultrasound should have already been performed. If there is no significant coronary artery aneurysm formation, you can wait for a period of time before the next follow-up. According to the pediatric cardiol...[Read More] Understanding Kawasaki Disease: Urgent Care and Ultrasound Timing for Your Child
Understanding Headaches and Limb Pain in Children: When to Seek Help
Headache, leg pain, numbness in the legs? Hello, my daughter is nine years old and has occasionally complained of headaches, leg pain, or numbness in her legs over the past six months. What could be the possible causes of these symptoms? Should I consult a pediatric neurologist, ...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Ms. Hsin-Hsin: Hello, the majority of hand and foot numbness is caused by nerve compression, known as "compressive neuropathy." When a nerve is subjected to external pressure, it can result in a sensation of numbness. For example, when we sit cross-legged for an extende...[Read More] Understanding Headaches and Limb Pain in Children: When to Seek Help
Managing Post-Vaccine Nausea and Fever in Children: A Guide for Parents
Influenza vaccine Hello Dr. Pei, my daughter is currently in the first grade of elementary school. In October, she received the flu vaccine (not H1N1) at school. However, the day after the vaccination, she experienced mild fever and nausea. The fever gradually subsided after a fe...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Hello! The overall reporting rate of adverse reactions following the administration of the domestically produced Guoguang H1N1 vaccine or seasonal influenza vaccine is comparable to data from other countries and is very low. According to the statistics from the Centers for Diseas...[Read More] Managing Post-Vaccine Nausea and Fever in Children: A Guide for Parents
Child Experiences Back Pain While Urinating: What Parents Should Know
Children may experience lower back pain when urinating? Hello Doctor: My child complained of back pain while urinating today, and it took her three attempts to finish urinating. Upon further questioning, I found out that she did not use the restroom at school all day, nor did she...
Dr. Pei Rensheng reply Pediatrics
Dear Maggie: Hello, the symptoms in your child strongly suggest a urinary tract infection. Please ensure they drink plenty of water and urinate frequently. It is important to consult a pediatrician. Generally, the physician will perform a urinalysis, and if a urinary tract infect...[Read More] Child Experiences Back Pain While Urinating: What Parents Should Know