Understanding Frequent Headaches in Young Children: Causes and Solutions
Headache Issues in Young Children I would like to ask the doctor about my five-year-old son who often experiences headaches. The pain is located at the back of his head, slightly lower, and has been occurring for about a year. We previously visited Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Sir/Madam, Hello. Pediatric headaches are not uncommon in pediatric outpatient clinics and can be categorized into symptomatic headaches and benign headaches. Symptomatic headaches are often accompanied by some warning signs, including: 1. Headaches occurring in the mornin...[Read More] Understanding Frequent Headaches in Young Children: Causes and Solutions
Managing Persistent Cough in Children: When to Seek Help and Natural Remedies
Coughing Hello, Dr. Pei: I have two questions to ask you... (1) My two children (the eldest is over four years old and the youngest is over one year old) have been coughing for more than three weeks. They cough a few times each day; although it's not very frequent, each time...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Xiaofen, 1. Your child has been coughing for over three weeks, so it is advisable to consult a pediatrician for an examination. Post-infectious cough is still the most likely cause. 2. If the examination reveals no specific issues and the symptoms have improved, there may b...[Read More] Managing Persistent Cough in Children: When to Seek Help and Natural Remedies
Understanding Newborn Bowel Movements: What’s Normal and What’s Not?
Newborn stool Hello, Doctor He. I would like to ask you about my child, who is currently one and a half months old. He is being fed a combination of breast milk and formula, and he has bowel movements twice a day, with a substantial amount each time. Is this considered normal? I ...
Dr. He Shenglong Reply:
Hello: If exclusively breastfeeding, breast milk is digested and absorbed more completely, which may result in bowel movements occurring every three to four days. However, the baby should not experience any discomfort (such as crying, vomiting, severe abdominal distension, or ref...[Read More] Understanding Newborn Bowel Movements: What’s Normal and What’s Not?
Choosing the Right Vaccine for Your Toddler: Six-in-One vs. Four or Five-in-One
Six-in-one Hello Dr. Hsiao: My baby is now 1.5 years old and is due for the hexavalent vaccine! However, when I called the previous hospital (Hospital A) where we received vaccinations, they informed me that they are currently out of stock and can only offer the pentavalent or qu...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Currently, the six-in-one vaccine available on the market is exclusively from the BabyCare brand (GlaxoSmithKline). In principle, if the six-in-one vaccine is out of stock, the Department of Health recommends administering the five-in-one or four-in-one vaccine for the fourth dos...[Read More] Choosing the Right Vaccine for Your Toddler: Six-in-One vs. Four or Five-in-One
Understanding Intermittent Fever in Children: Causes and Concerns
Intermittent fever Hello Doctor: My child is in the second grade. Earlier this year, after recovering from a cold and fever, he has been experiencing fever every 3 to 4 days since then, mostly occurring in the afternoon. He also feels weak and has body aches, with pain on both si...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Mom Lu, Hello, your son experiences fever every 3 to 4 days, and the possible reasons are as follows: 1. During the Lunar New Year period, there is frequent viral transmission, making it easy to contract various viruses. 2. Urinary tract infection (is there pain in the g...[Read More] Understanding Intermittent Fever in Children: Causes and Concerns
When to Seek Hospital Care for Your Child's Illness: A Guide
Under what circumstances is it necessary to seek treatment at a major hospital? Hello, doctor. My child is almost 4 years old. On the night of February 7th, he had a fever of 38.5 degrees Celsius, and the doctor at the clinic said it was hand, foot, and mouth disease with ulcers ...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: Enterovirus can cause fever lasting 3 to 4 days. If there is no dehydration, the fever will resolve on its own. Generally, administering antipyretics during a fever does not have therapeutic effects, but it can reduce discomfort in children caused by fever. Therefore, it i...[Read More] When to Seek Hospital Care for Your Child's Illness: A Guide
Is It Safe for Infants to Travel to High Altitudes?
Infant altitude adaptation issues? Is it safe to take a 9-month-old baby to Qingjing for a trip?
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Ah-Chih, Hello! The speed of ascent, the altitude reached, the individual's level of physical training, and each person's unique physiological characteristics are the four main factors determining the occurrence and severity of altitude sickness (also known as acu...[Read More] Is It Safe for Infants to Travel to High Altitudes?
Seeking Help for Skin Allergies and Ulcers in Toddlers Under 3
excuse me? For a child under three years old experiencing skin allergies and ulcers, it is advisable to seek help from a pediatric dermatologist or a pediatrician with experience in dermatological conditions. If the child has been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (eczema) and the...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: The child has a skin allergy predisposition that leads to atopic dermatitis, characterized by redness and scaling. It is particularly prone to occur on the child's face, torso, and areas of the arms and legs that can be scratched, causing intense itching which leads t...[Read More] Seeking Help for Skin Allergies and Ulcers in Toddlers Under 3
Can I Administer BCG and Hepatitis B Vaccine Together for My Newborn?
Issues Regarding Vaccination in Newborns My child was born on January 4 and has not received the BCG vaccine. Can I administer it along with the second dose of the hepatitis B vaccine during the follow-up appointment on February 5? Thank you.
Dr. He Ciyuan Reply:
It is recommended to first receive the BCG vaccine, which can be administered at a nearby health center, followed by the hepatitis B vaccine.[Read More] Can I Administer BCG and Hepatitis B Vaccine Together for My Newborn?
Persistent Fever in Children: When to Seek Further Medical Attention
Persistent high fever Hello, Dr. Hsieh. My son is over 3 years old and has had a fever of about 39 degrees Celsius (ear temperature) since last Sunday. We visited a clinic where the doctor diagnosed him with a cold and noted redness in his throat. As of today, he still has a feve...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Hello: A common cold with a fever rarely lasts more than three days. It is advisable to visit a hospital for a thorough examination to check for any complications.[Read More] Persistent Fever in Children: When to Seek Further Medical Attention
Managing Milk Intake and Solid Foods for Your Baby's Nutrition
Milk supply and complementary foods? Dear Dr. Pei, My baby girl was born on August 28, 1997, and she is currently about 4 and a half months old. Her weight is approximately 7.6 kg, and her height is about 65 cm. She has been refusing milk for over a month now and rejects all mi...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: A normal baby weighs about three kilograms at birth, and by the fourth or fifth month, their weight will double to approximately six kilograms. By the age of one, they should weigh about three times their birth weight, which is around ten kilograms. After that, they typica...[Read More] Managing Milk Intake and Solid Foods for Your Baby's Nutrition
Assessing Growth Concerns in a 2-Year-Old: Nutrition and Health Tips
Height Hello, doctor. I would like to ask: My son is currently 2 years and 1 month old. Over the past year, his height has only increased by 6 cm and his weight has increased by 3 kg. He was 52 cm tall and weighed 3360 grams at birth. At 2 months, he was 63 cm tall and weighed 54...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Common colds should not affect height. The factors that influence height generally include nutritional status, adequate sunlight exposure and exercise, sufficient nighttime sleep (as growth hormone is secreted at night), and an important factor: genetics. If the parents are not t...[Read More] Assessing Growth Concerns in a 2-Year-Old: Nutrition and Health Tips
Can I Administer 5-in-1 Vaccine to My 1.5-Year-Old Child?
Vaccine The child is currently 1 year and 6 months old. They received the 5-in-1 vaccine at 2 months and 4 months, and the 4-in-1 vaccine at 6 months. The 4-in-1 vaccine is currently out of stock. Can the child receive the 5-in-1 vaccine instead? Is this dosage sufficient? Thank ...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
The pentavalent vaccine can be administered, and the dosage is the same.[Read More] Can I Administer 5-in-1 Vaccine to My 1.5-Year-Old Child?
Impact of Phototherapy on Newborns' Eyesight: What Parents Should Know
Neonate Dear Doctor, a 3-day-old newborn is placed in a phototherapy incubator due to high bilirubin levels. Although the eyes are covered, will this have any impact on the child's eyes or vision?
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: (1) The history of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice has been 30 years, and to date, there have been no reports of visual impairment under the protection of eye coverings. (2) However, care must be taken to ensure that the eye coverings do not become loose or obstruct bre...[Read More] Impact of Phototherapy on Newborns' Eyesight: What Parents Should Know
Understanding Hypercalciuria in Children: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Hypercalciuria Hello Dr. Pei: I have two questions to ask you... (1) My eldest child is currently over four years old, and my second child is over one year old. I previously asked you about whether these two children have been tested for kidney stones (caused by melamine). When t...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Xiaofen, (1) The diagnostic criteria for hypercalciuria are a 24-hour urinary calcium excretion exceeding 4 mg/kg/day. However, collecting 24-hour urine can be challenging, so most physicians use a spot urine calcium-to-creatinine ratio (Ca/Cre) as a substitute. If the rati...[Read More] Understanding Hypercalciuria in Children: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Understanding Pediatric Ear Lumps: What Parents Should Know
Adenoma Hello Dr. Pei, I apologize for asking you another question. Today, I noticed a small bump about the size of a pearl located on the skull behind my one-year-old child's right ear, rather than on the ear itself. Initially, I thought it was a bone structure, but when I...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Dear Xiaofen, Hello! In normal infants, lymph nodes are not easily palpable. However, it is acceptable to feel lymph nodes in certain areas of the body with exposure to antigens. These areas include the neck, armpits, groin, and the area behind the ears. If the lymph nodes are l...[Read More] Understanding Pediatric Ear Lumps: What Parents Should Know
Understanding Early Puberty in Boys: Concerns and Next Steps
Development in Fifth Graders Hello, Doctor: My son, who is in fifth grade, seems to have started developing. He has a slight Adam's apple, his voice is a bit hoarse and deep, and he has even started to grow some fine pubic hair. Is it too early for a fifth-grade boy to be de...
Dr. Xie Degui Reply:
Precocious puberty is defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics in boys before the age of nine. With improved nutrition compared to the past, many individuals are experiencing the development of secondary sexual traits at an earlier age. It is important to pay atte...[Read More] Understanding Early Puberty in Boys: Concerns and Next Steps
Is My Baby Sick? Signs to Watch for in Infants
Are you experiencing a cold? Hello, doctor. My baby is currently 8 months old. For the past couple of nights, my baby has been having trouble sleeping, crying or making sounds approximately every hour. It seems like there is some phlegm. There is more nasal mucus than usual, but ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Generally, when there is phlegm in the trachea, it tends to cause noticeable coughing. A cold in the nose may lead to sneezing, nasal congestion, or increased nasal secretions (including more nasal mucus). It is possible that your baby has a slight cold (as it is difficult to ass...[Read More] Is My Baby Sick? Signs to Watch for in Infants
Can Infant Formula for 0-12 Months Be Given to Older Children?
Can infant formula for babies aged 0-12 months be given to children over 2 years old or even those in elementary school? Hello, Doctor: I apologize for bothering you, but I would like to ask for your advice. I am personally serving at a children's home, and we have received ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The principle of infant formula is that older children can drink formula intended for younger infants, but younger infants should not drink formula meant for older children. Therefore, children over the age of 2, including elementary school students, can consume infant formula de...[Read More] Can Infant Formula for 0-12 Months Be Given to Older Children?
Post-Fever Care for Toddlers: Nutrition and Health Tips
Antipyretics. Complementary foods? Dear Dr. Hsiao, Thank you for your response on December 4th. My baby has been observed for another four days, and he has been normal without any fever, only experiencing slight coughing. I would like to ask: 1. If it is a viral infection and e...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
1. The fever has subsided, appetite is normal, and there are no other specific symptoms; generally, the patient should be considered recovered and can be monitored at home. 2. Performing disinfection can help reduce the invasion of bacteria and viruses, thereby protecting healt...[Read More] Post-Fever Care for Toddlers: Nutrition and Health Tips