Understanding Abnormal Blood Test Results in Pediatric Infections
Abnormal blood test results? Hello Doctor: My daughter is 9 years old. Last week, she was infected with the new influenza (rapid test positive on 11/30), and she was treated with Oseltamivir for five days. Over the past few days, aside from having a fever on 12/1, she seems to be...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
In general blood tests, parameters such as white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophils (segments), and lymphocytes cannot definitively determine the type of infection. Additional tests are required (such as a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia or a urinalysis to assess for urinary ...[Read More] Understanding Abnormal Blood Test Results in Pediatric Infections
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:
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
Flu vs. New Flu: Vaccination Guidance for Your Toddler
Influenza and Novel Influenza Hello Doctor: My child is 2 years and 11 months old. The health center has notified us to administer the influenza vaccine, and I am unsure how to decide. Q1. Is it sufficient to only get the influenza vaccine, or is it necessary to receive the new i...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: 1. Two different vaccines prevent different strains of the influenza virus, so both need to be administered for effective prevention. 2. According to a notice from the Centers for Disease Control, there are no restrictions on administering these two vaccines separately; th...[Read More] Flu vs. New Flu: Vaccination Guidance for Your Toddler
Understanding Allergies and Asthma in Young Children: A Parent's Guide
Allergic rhinitis / Asthma My daughter (2 years old) has always been in good health, rarely experiencing fever. When she does have a fever, it usually subsides quickly, often without the need for medication; just giving her some warm water is enough to help reduce the fever. Howe...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Mrs. Liang, Hello. Allergic diseases are related to two factors: one is the allergic constitution, and the second is the allergens. The allergic constitution can be hereditary; numerous studies have shown that if one parent has an allergic constitution, the child has a one ...[Read More] Understanding Allergies and Asthma in Young Children: A Parent's Guide
Understanding Baby Spitting Up: Causes and Solutions for New Parents
Baby spitting up? Hello, doctor. My baby is one month old. He was born and stayed in the hospital for seventeen days, and he has been drinking S26 formula. He was underweight at discharge, so we switched to Similac. Before that, he was drinking formula for premature infants, and ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If a newborn "vomits a lot" at "every feeding," or shows "insufficient weight gain" or even "weight loss," it is considered abnormal and requires a visit to the hospital's neonatology department to check for any structural abnormalitie...[Read More] Understanding Baby Spitting Up: Causes and Solutions for New Parents
Understanding Testicular Size Discrepancies in Infants: When to Seek Medical Advice
Testicular size Hello Doctor: My grandson is 50 days old, and I recently discovered that his testicles are different sizes, with the left measuring 5.5 cm and the right 3.5 cm. Is this normal? It seems like they have been different sizes since birth. Could this be a case of hydro...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello! The causes of scrotal swelling include: 1. Scrotal edema: 6% of full-term infants may experience scrotal edema, but most cases resolve within the first year, so it is advisable to wait until after one year to decide on surgery for neonatal scrotal edema. 2. Hernia: Intesti...[Read More] Understanding Testicular Size Discrepancies in Infants: When to Seek Medical Advice
Understanding Numbness in Toddlers: Causes and Concerns
When the child is lying down, they complain of numbness in their hands and feet? Hello Dr. Hsieh, I have a little boy at home who is about 2 and a half years old. Recently, over the past month or two, he has been experiencing a sensation of numbness in his hands and feet while ...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: Numbness in the hands and feet is primarily an issue related to sensory nerves. It may be due to heightened nerve sensitivity, which is often hereditary or congenital. Symptoms can arise from insufficient blood circulation or nerve compression when lying down. If this cond...[Read More] Understanding Numbness in Toddlers: Causes and Concerns
Understanding Frequent Coughing in Children: When to Seek Help
Regarding frequent coughing? My niece is currently 5 years old. Every time we take her to the doctor, they say she has a cold, but they always prescribe bronchodilators and theophylline. When we follow up with the doctor, the answer is that her airways are more sensitive. It take...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The causes of persistent cough in children include: respiratory allergies, post-nasal drip irritation, gastroesophageal reflux irritation, certain specific infections (such as mycoplasma pneumonia, etc.), foreign body aspiration, recurrent colds after recovery, non-respiratory is...[Read More] Understanding Frequent Coughing in Children: When to Seek Help
Probiotics for Allergic Children: Addressing Eczema and Gut Health
Probiotics for Allergic Children Issues Hello, doctor. I have some questions to ask. My eldest child is currently over 3 years old and has been diagnosed with a milk protein allergy. Although we have switched to hydrolyzed formula, he frequently develops allergic eczema on his sk...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Theoretically, adding probiotics is intended to adjust the intestinal environment to achieve better digestibility and enhance the gut's defense functions. However, there is no consensus on whether adding probiotics will yield the desired effects, how much should be added, or...[Read More] Probiotics for Allergic Children: Addressing Eczema and Gut Health
Understanding Hepatosplenomegaly in Infants: Causes and Next Steps
Hepatosplenomegaly in a six-month-old infant? When my child was five months old, he was hospitalized for a urinary tract infection and abnormal liver function tests were discovered, with the AST and ALT levels approaching 400. During the hospitalization for the urinary tract infe...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Claire, Hello! It has been discovered that liver function indices are abnormal, with GOT and GPT levels approaching four hundred, indicating the presence of hepatitis. After excluding the possibilities of CMV, genetic metabolic diseases, and other viral hepatitis, Toxoplasm...[Read More] Understanding Hepatosplenomegaly in Infants: Causes and Next Steps
Should I Worry If My One-Year-Old Hasn't Started Teething?
Teething usually begins around one year of age? Hello, Doctor: My younger sister is about to turn one year old on the 15th, but she hasn't shown any signs of teething yet. I noticed a couple of small spots on her lower front teeth a while ago, which seemed like they were abo...
Dr. He Shenglong Reply:
Hello: A one-year-old child has not yet developed teeth; I suggest you wait a little longer, as some children have a slower teething process. If you wish to consult someone, it would be best to see a dentist, but currently, no special intervention is needed. Your child is now abl...[Read More] Should I Worry If My One-Year-Old Hasn't Started Teething?
Understanding Anemia in Infants: Causes, Symptoms, and Care
Anemia in infants? My baby is almost one year old, and recently his complexion has been yellowish. Two months ago, his blood test results showed that his hemoglobin level was only 7, and both MCV and MCH were low. I was tested for thalassemia during my pregnancy and it was negati...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Microcytic anemia, characterized by a low mean corpuscular volume (MCV), is commonly seen in Taiwan and includes two main types: thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia. Thalassemia can be diagnosed using electrophoresis, which can also differentiate between mild and severe cases....[Read More] Understanding Anemia in Infants: Causes, Symptoms, and Care
Understanding Blood in Stool: What Parents Should Know About Pediatric Health
Blood in the stool? Hello, Doctor: My daughter is 8 years old, and last week she had blood in her stool, although I didn't see it myself. I thought it might be due to her wiping too hard, so I told her it was okay. However, yesterday she had blood in her stool again, and whe...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
In children, blood in the stool can be classified as upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Fresh red blood in the stool is typically indicative of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (while upper gastrointestinal bleeding often presents as black stools). Possible causes include a...[Read More] Understanding Blood in Stool: What Parents Should Know About Pediatric Health
Can Hepatitis A and New Flu Vaccines Be Administered Together?
New influenza and hepatitis A vaccine? Hello: My child is 2 years and 10 months old and is due for the second dose of the hepatitis A vaccine. It coincides with the influenza vaccine administration period. Can the hepatitis A vaccine and the influenza vaccine be given together? I...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: Vaccination can be administered together or spaced out by any number of days.[Read More] Can Hepatitis A and New Flu Vaccines Be Administered Together?
Understanding Common Concerns in Newborns: Health Issues and Solutions
Is it possible to get sick? Hello, doctor. My baby was born a little while ago and was classified as a low birth weight infant at 1830 grams. He returned home weighing 2200 grams and is currently 2600 grams, but he cries frequently and is difficult to soothe. I notice that his br...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: 1. The respiratory issue may be laryngotracheomalacia, which is common in low birth weight or premature infants and usually resolves on its own by 7 to 9 months of age. 2. The fluid accumulation is not a hernia and most cases resolve before the age of one. 3. Congenital hy...[Read More] Understanding Common Concerns in Newborns: Health Issues and Solutions
Addressing Constipation Issues in Toddlers: When to Seek Medical Help
The baby is 2 years old now... bowel movement issues? My baby has had a problem with hard stools since a young age. Now that he is 2 years old, there has been no improvement, and he often has bowel movements that result in bleeding from the anus. Additionally, his stools are extr...
Dr. Zhang Yingwen Reply:
It is recommended to consult a pediatrician, especially a pediatric gastroenterologist who specializes in this area. Early diagnosis and treatment can ensure normal nutritional development in children and prevent pain during bowel movements caused by anal fissures, which may lead...[Read More] Addressing Constipation Issues in Toddlers: When to Seek Medical Help
Understanding and Managing Excessive Crying in Newborns: Tips for Parents
Crying incessantly? Hello, doctor. My baby was just born not long ago, and is under one month old. For some unknown reason, he cries frequently, almost every half hour. His diaper has been changed, and he has been fed. Each feeding lasts about an hour, but he only consumes around...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Common reasons for a baby under one month old to cry continuously include: 1. Hunger, wet diaper, or needing comfort; 2. Fever; 3. Oral ulcers or severe thrush; 4. Foreign objects in the eyes, ears, or nose; 5. Inguinal hernia; 6. Severe diaper rash; 7. Vaccine side effects; 8. I...[Read More] Understanding and Managing Excessive Crying in Newborns: Tips for Parents
Essential Vaccine Questions for Pediatric Health: A Parent's Guide
Regarding vaccine issues? Question 1: Hello, regarding the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, my son did not receive the private vaccine at two months old, so he received the combination vaccine at that time. When he was four months old, I informed the doctor that I wan...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
1. The basic immunization for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine requires at least two doses before the age of one, so your baby has received sufficient Hib vaccination and does not need a booster. 2. The seasonal influenza vaccine can be administered simultaneously with...[Read More] Essential Vaccine Questions for Pediatric Health: A Parent's Guide
Should My Kids Get the New Flu Vaccine After Having Influenza?
Is it necessary to receive the new influenza vaccine? My children are in the second and third grades of elementary school. In September of this year, they had a fever and tested positive for influenza A through a rapid test. Should they receive the new influenza vaccine?
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
A rapid test that indicates influenza A does not necessarily mean it is H1N1 (as H1N1 is just one subtype of influenza A). It could also be an infection from other strains of influenza A, so vaccination against the new influenza (H1N1) vaccine is still recommended.[Read More] Should My Kids Get the New Flu Vaccine After Having Influenza?
Understanding Pediatric Neck Lumps: When to Seek Medical Advice
Infant neck Hello Dr. Hsieh, my child is 13 months old. When he was over 6 months old, I noticed a movable lump in his neck that appears when he turns his head to the left, and it is not painful. Should I take him to see a doctor? I've heard that other children have this iss...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: There are many normal lymph nodes in the head. When experiencing illness with fever (such as pharyngitis or otitis media), they may enlarge. If they continue to enlarge, are larger than 1.5 centimeters, or are red, swollen, hot, and painful, further examination and evaluat...[Read More] Understanding Pediatric Neck Lumps: When to Seek Medical Advice