Understanding Premature Infants: Key Concerns for 20-Week Old Babies
Issues Related to Premature Infants I would like to ask about a premature infant born at approximately 20 weeks gestation but weighing 3 kilograms. Should we be concerned about the incomplete development of the child's organs? Are there any specific considerations we should ...
Dr. Ma Zhihao Reply:
Continuous outpatient follow-up for complications related to previous preterm birth, such as those affecting the heart, eyes, and brain. Other aspects should be monitored according to corrected age, including growth and developmental milestones such as sitting, crawling, and stan...[Read More] Understanding Premature Infants: Key Concerns for 20-Week Old Babies
Essential Ultrasound Checks for Infants: Timing and Importance
Neonatal ultrasound examination Hello, doctor! My baby is currently over four months old. We have not conducted various ultrasound examinations yet because we were waiting for insurance approval. I would like to ask if doing the checks now would mean missing the optimal period fo...
Dr. Xie Wanghu Reply:
Hello! If a baby belongs to a higher risk group, such as having a family history of genetic disorders, the mother did not have regular prenatal check-ups during pregnancy or was informed of abnormalities during high-level ultrasounds, there were abnormalities in prenatal genetic ...[Read More] Essential Ultrasound Checks for Infants: Timing and Importance
Understanding Weight Loss in Growing Children: When to Seek Medical Advice
Child Growth and Development Hello: My daughter is 10 years old. I have noticed that her weight has not increased in the past 5 to 6 months and has actually decreased by about 1 kilogram. (Her current weight fluctuates around 22.8 kilograms, down from approximately 23.7 kilograms...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
A 10-year-old girl with a height of 128 cm and a weight of 23 kg falls into the 5th percentile for both height and weight, meaning she ranks among the lowest 5 out of 100 girls her age, indicating that she is underweight. It is advisable to consult a pediatric growth and developm...[Read More] Understanding Weight Loss in Growing Children: When to Seek Medical Advice
Weight Loss in Children: Understanding Constipation and Health Concerns
Weight loss Hello: A 9-and-a-half-year-old girl frequently experiences constipation and sometimes has rectal bleeding due to anal fissures. Recently, it was noted that her weight has decreased by about 1 kilogram compared to four months ago (currently weighing 22.5 kilograms). He...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
According to the growth and development chart for children, a 9.5-year-old girl weighing 22.5 kg falls around the 3rd percentile, meaning she ranks among the lowest three out of 100 girls her age, indicating that she is underweight. This may be related to chronic constipation, an...[Read More] Weight Loss in Children: Understanding Constipation and Health Concerns
Understanding Puberty Stages in Boys: Key Signs and Indicators
Has my child started to develop? Hello, doctor. My son is 11 and a half years old. He has not developed pubic hair at the base of the penis, has not experienced voice change, and does not have a noticeable Adam's apple. The volume of his testicles is approximately 6 to 8 ml ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
This corresponds to the second stage of male genital development. Male puberty is a continuous process where growth and development initially accelerate, followed by the development of the genitalia. The development of the genitalia also involves an increase in scrotal volume bef...[Read More] Understanding Puberty Stages in Boys: Key Signs and Indicators
Impact of Gas Odor on Infant Health: Concerns and Recommendations
The effects of gas odors on infants? Hello, Doctor. My baby is over 7 months old. In our bedroom, there is a door leading to a balcony where we have a gas water heater. Unless necessary, we keep that door closed, with only a small gap at the bottom. Due to the cooler weather toda...
Dr. He Zongxian Reply:
Hello, based on your description, it seems that the baby is not at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In Taiwan, liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas are treated with odorants (such as mercaptans) as a warning agent, which gives the otherwise colorless and odorless gas a disti...[Read More] Impact of Gas Odor on Infant Health: Concerns and Recommendations
Guidelines for Managing Overweight Toddlers and Pacifier Use
Baby Growth and Development Hello, Doctor: I would like to inquire about my child who is currently 1 year and 4 months old. On October 28, I took him for vaccinations, and his height is 78 cm and weight is 12.4 kg. The doctor mentioned that his weight is "overweight," b...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Based on the growth and development curve, the height exceeds the weight by nearly two percent, indicating that the child is somewhat overweight. After the age of one, dairy products should no longer be the main staple, and other staple foods should take precedence. The principle...[Read More] Guidelines for Managing Overweight Toddlers and Pacifier Use
Vaccination, Weight Concerns, and Medication for Infants: Expert Insights
Breastfeeding, growth, and medication issues in infants and young children? Hello, doctor. My baby just turned one year old and is due for the MMR and varicella vaccines. Due to the pandemic, we didn't go to the hospital where he was born, but instead took him to a nearby cl...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
MMR and varicella vaccines can be administered simultaneously at different sites; however, if given separately, they should be spaced at least one month apart. If your child's growth curve remains consistent with previous measurements and their development is normal, along w...[Read More] Vaccination, Weight Concerns, and Medication for Infants: Expert Insights
Can I Still Grow Taller? Understanding Growth Patterns in Adolescents
Is it still possible to grow taller? In our country, I started developing an Adam's apple in the second year of junior high school and began growing armpit hair in the third year, but only a little, and there is none on the left side. I grew 8 cm from the first to the second...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Puberty for boys generally lasts until the age of 18, and the chances of growing taller after puberty are quite limited. It may be advisable to consult a pediatric growth and development specialist at a hospital for a bone age assessment, which evaluates the degree of epiphyseal ...[Read More] Can I Still Grow Taller? Understanding Growth Patterns in Adolescents
Impact of Ingesting Residual Alcohol on Children's Growth and Development
Ingestion of incompletely evaporated alcohol? Over the past year, children (ages 2 and 4) have frequently used 75% alcohol or alcohol wipes to sanitize their hands while outdoors or at restaurants. It is quite challenging for them to control this, and occasionally, the alcohol do...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
I believe that the amount of alcohol additives in hand sanitizer is minimal, and since the quantity used each time is limited, the issue of residue remaining on the hands after the alcohol evaporates should not be significant. However, it is best to avoid it when possible, as dir...[Read More] Impact of Ingesting Residual Alcohol on Children's Growth and Development
Will a 14-Year-Old Still Grow Taller? Understanding Growth Patterns
Will a second-year junior high school student still grow taller? Hello, I would like to ask, I am 159 cm tall, in the second year of junior high school, my father is 168 cm tall, and my mother is 156 cm tall. Since the summer vacation after the first year of junior high school un...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If secondary sexual characteristics have appeared, it may be less likely to experience significant height growth. However, boys typically continue to grow until around the ages of 16 to 17. Therefore, improvements in exercise, diet, lifestyle habits, and sleep can still contribut...[Read More] Will a 14-Year-Old Still Grow Taller? Understanding Growth Patterns
Are X-Rays Safe for Kids? Understanding Radiation Risks in Pediatrics
Is it harmful for children to have X-rays? A 1.5-year-old child bumped their temple against a chair, resulting in a swelling. They were taken to the emergency room, where the doctor arranged for two head X-rays, but the neck was not protected with a lead apron. Later, a 3-year-ol...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello! The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends using the Sievert (Sv) to quantify the potential harm of radiation to the human body. The average background radiation dose in Taiwan is approximately 1 to 2 millisieverts (mSv) per year. The dose fr...[Read More] Are X-Rays Safe for Kids? Understanding Radiation Risks in Pediatrics
Understanding Patent Foramen Ovale in Children: Risks and Treatment Options
Patent foramen ovale Hello, doctor. A fourth-grade student was found to have a heart murmur, arrhythmia, and left axis deviation. They have been monitored at a major hospital for several years, and the diagnosis is an open foramen ovale. Now in the first year of junior high, is i...
Dr. Xie Wanghu Reply:
The foramen ovale typically closes between birth and six months of age. If it remains open, it is referred to as an atrial septal defect (ASD). The management depends on the size of the defect; if the opening is too large, it can affect blood flow direction and growth and develop...[Read More] Understanding Patent Foramen Ovale in Children: Risks and Treatment Options
Understanding Your Toddler's Ongoing Loose Stools: Causes and Solutions
The baby's stools have always been loose and mushy (one and a half years old)? The baby was breastfed at birth and later switched to formula milk - Children's Growth 3 (which contains lactic acid and probiotics). Now at one and a half years old, the baby also eats two m...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
I want to note that as long as the frequency of bowel movements does not increase daily, and the stool does not become increasingly watery (which is defined as diarrhea) or contain blood, and growth and development are normal (with height and weight percentiles increasing appropr...[Read More] Understanding Your Toddler's Ongoing Loose Stools: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Loose Stools in Toddlers: When to Worry?
The baby's stool has always been loose and mushy (one and a half years old)? The baby was breastfed at birth and later switched to formula milk - Children's Growth Formula 3 (which contains lactic acid and probiotics). Now, at one and a half years old, the baby also eat...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
I want to note that as long as the frequency of bowel movements is not increasing daily, and the stools are not becoming more watery (which would define diarrhea) or containing blood, and growth and development are normal (with height and weight percentiles increasing appropriate...[Read More] Understanding Loose Stools in Toddlers: When to Worry?
Is Zinc Deficiency Affecting My Child's Growth and Appetite?
Is it a zinc deficiency? Hello, Doctor: My eldest son is already 3 years old, but his height is only 90 cm and his weight is 13 kg. Is this normal growth and development? He usually has a poor appetite during meals, only eating 2 to 3 bites before refusing to eat more. Additional...
Dr. Lin Yishou Reply:
Dear Parent, Your child's height and weight are indeed on the lower side. Zinc deficiency can lead to poor appetite and hinder growth. It may be advisable to conduct a blood test for confirmation. Thank you for your message.[Read More] Is Zinc Deficiency Affecting My Child's Growth and Appetite?
Impact of Low Birth Weight on Infant Health and Development
Low birth weight (less than 2500 grams) at term? Hello, doctor. My baby was born at 37 weeks and 5 days, a girl weighing only 2360 grams, which is below 2500 grams. However, by the time she turned one month old, her weight had increased to 4000 grams! Aside from her slightly low ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If a low birth weight infant has no other complications at birth, their future development and prognosis are not significantly different from those of normal newborns, so there is no need for excessive concern.[Read More] Impact of Low Birth Weight on Infant Health and Development
Understanding Frequent Vomiting in Toddlers: Causes and Solutions
Children are prone to vomiting? Hello Dr. Hsiao, I would like to ask you about my 2-year-old daughter. She often cries and then vomits, or she coughs and vomits, especially after drinking milk in the evening. She usually drinks more at night, about 150cc at 7 PM and 200cc before ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
In a two-year-old child, the lower esophageal sphincter at the junction of the esophagus and stomach is still immature, which makes it easier for vigorous diaphragm movements, such as crying or severe coughing, to trigger gastroesophageal reflux and vomiting. This is generally no...[Read More] Understanding Frequent Vomiting in Toddlers: Causes and Solutions
Should I Switch My Baby's Formula? Addressing Feeding Issues
Formula Switching Issues Hello, my child is currently 3 months old, and the IgE test report shows a level of 8.82. The doctor recommended a hydrolyzed formula. Around two months, it seems she started to refuse milk. Currently, she is taking 150 ml, but since she doesn't drin...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If growth and development are normal, meaning height and weight are increasing appropriately, it is considered a benign period of milk refusal and normal physiological spitting up (you may try small, frequent feedings). As the child ages, gastric capacity will gradually increase,...[Read More] Should I Switch My Baby's Formula? Addressing Feeding Issues
Nutritional Needs for a 9-Month-Old Baby: Is Your Baby's Diet Adequate?
Diet for a 9-Month-Old Baby The baby was born on July 4, 2016, with a birth weight of 2540 grams and a height of 47.5 cm. Currently, at 9 months old, the baby is approximately 70 cm tall and weighs about 7.4 kg. The feeding schedule has recently changed to three milk feedings of ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Infants who drink less milk will naturally consume more solid foods to supplement their energy. As long as the infant's growth and development are normal (your child’s growth is normal) and their activity level is appropriate, this nutrition is sufficient.[Read More] Nutritional Needs for a 9-Month-Old Baby: Is Your Baby's Diet Adequate?