Understanding Changes in Your Toddler's Stool Color: What to Know
The color of a toddler's stool? Hello, doctor. For the past two weeks, my 4.5-year-old daughter has been having light yellow stools (previously, she would have a bowel movement every three days with darker color). Recently, she has been going every other day, and the color i...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Monitor for any signs of jaundice (yellowing of the sclera) or if the stool gradually turns grayish-white; otherwise, observation is sufficient.[Read More] Understanding Changes in Your Toddler's Stool Color: What to Know
Essential Guide to Newborn Thyroid Screening and Symptoms
Neonatal thyroid issues Due to my hyperthyroidism, I continued to take medication during my pregnancy. My child was born on March 20th, weighing 3100 grams. When is the most appropriate time to arrange for a newborn thyroid function test to avoid delaying treatment? Additionally,...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: Pregnant women with hyperthyroidism who continue to take medication during pregnancy may have these drugs cross the placenta, potentially affecting the baby. Fortunately, these medications are metabolized in the infant's body within a few weeks. In Taiwan, normal newb...[Read More] Essential Guide to Newborn Thyroid Screening and Symptoms
Understanding Your 4-Year-Old's Unusual Stool Color: What to Know
The color of a 4-year-old child's stool? I recently noticed that my 4-year-old child has stool that is dark brown in the first part and soft in the latter part, but the color seems unusual. The stool color is uneven, mostly resembling a type 5 stool but slightly yellower, an...
Dr. Xie Wanghu Reply:
Hello, little sister's mom! The color of a toddler's stool is mostly related to their diet, so there's no need to worry too much; just keep observing. If you still have concerns or if new symptoms arise, it is recommended to take a photo of the stool's appeara...[Read More] Understanding Your 4-Year-Old's Unusual Stool Color: What to Know
Understanding Red Spots on Children's Face and Neck: Causes and Concerns
Red spots on a child's face/neck? Hello, doctor. My child is currently 7 and a half years old, and he is a boy. At the end of December last year, he developed a red spot on his face. We took him to see a dermatologist, who said it was a red spot caused by vascular dilation, ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Boys with precocious puberty may exhibit other signs, such as the development of secondary sexual characteristics, including enlargement of the glans penis, lengthening of the penis, darkening and enlargement of the scrotum, development of pubic and axillary hair, and a significa...[Read More] Understanding Red Spots on Children's Face and Neck: Causes and Concerns
At What Age Can Children Accurately Test Their Blood Type?
At what age can a blood type test be performed? Hello, doctor: At what age can children have their blood type tested for more accurate results? Thank you.
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: Many hospitals test blood type at birth. If a blood transfusion is needed later, the blood type will be tested again. If the blood type was not tested at birth and the baby's jaundice rises significantly, the hospital will also test the blood type during phototherapy....[Read More] At What Age Can Children Accurately Test Their Blood Type?
Do 3-Year-Olds Need Preventive TB Medication After Positive Skin Test?
Skin test of 10 cm for a 3-year-old child? Hello, doctor. I would like to ask you a question. My grandfather, who lives with us, has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. My 3-year-old son had a normal chest X-ray, but his skin test measured exactly 10 mm. The pediatric infectious di...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: Numerous international studies have shown that the lifetime risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) among contacts of infectious pulmonary tuberculosis cases is as high as 17% for children, compared to 5% for adults. Data from our country also indicate that younger con...[Read More] Do 3-Year-Olds Need Preventive TB Medication After Positive Skin Test?
Understanding Changes in Stool Color in Toddlers: What Parents Should Know
Changes in stool color Hello Dr. Hsiao, I apologize for bothering you during your busy schedule. My daughter is currently one year and three months old. Previously, aside from solid foods, she was exclusively breastfed and had bowel movements approximately every 5-6 days, usually...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The definition of diarrhea is an increase in the water content of stool. It is uncertain whether this is caused by the consumption of fresh milk. A similar test is needed: if diarrhea occurs within three days of starting to drink fresh milk, then improves after stopping, and recu...[Read More] Understanding Changes in Stool Color in Toddlers: What Parents Should Know
Understanding Persistent Jaundice in Infants: Causes and Concerns
The jaundice in the one-month-old infant has not decreased to below the normal range? Hello, my baby is currently one month and one week old and is partially breastfed. The jaundice index is still at 2.9. The body no longer appears yellow, but the face still has a slight yellow t...
Dr. Pei Rensheng Reply:
Hello: It is quite common for a one-month-old baby to have a bilirubin level around 2-3 mg/dL. This is due to the shorter half-life of fetal red blood cells compared to adults, along with factors such as increased enterohepatic circulation, which can result in higher bilirubin le...[Read More] Understanding Persistent Jaundice in Infants: Causes and Concerns
Understanding Neonatal Jaundice: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery
Neonatal jaundice Doctor: My child is 10 days old, and the hospital said the bilirubin level is relatively high, requiring phototherapy. However, there was no jaundice at birth, so I would like to ask you: Can jaundice appear so many days after birth? Also, the whites of the chil...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Neonatal jaundice may not appear immediately; it can also develop gradually. Jaundice is merely a symptom, and it is important to investigate the underlying cause to provide appropriate treatment, including determining whether the bilirubin levels are high enough to require photo...[Read More] Understanding Neonatal Jaundice: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery
Understanding Infant Bowel Issues: Why Is My Baby Straining to Poop?
Bowel issues Hello Dr. Hsiao, my baby just turned one month old, and I've noticed that he often seems to be straining as if he wants to have a bowel movement, but it can take several hours for him to actually go, and when he does, it's soft stool. Although he doesn'...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
A one-month-old infant has weak bowel movements, and they are still learning how to coordinate the anal and rectal muscles during defecation. Therefore, it may appear that they are straining and having difficulty. As long as the stool is soft and not hard, there is no need for co...[Read More] Understanding Infant Bowel Issues: Why Is My Baby Straining to Poop?
Understanding Constipation in Formula-Fed Newborns: What Parents Should Know
Gastrointestinal issues Hello, doctor. Today is the 9th day since my son was born. He had elevated jaundice levels, so he stayed in the hospital for an extra day for phototherapy, and we brought him home when his levels dropped to 9. While he was in the hospital, he had a bowel m...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
It is acceptable for babies who are formula-fed to have a bowel movement frequency that changes from two to three times a day to once every two to three days, as long as the stool consistency is not excessively hard. Therefore, as long as the infant is not experiencing any discom...[Read More] Understanding Constipation in Formula-Fed Newborns: What Parents Should Know
Understanding Newborn Jaundice: Concerns and Follow-Up Care
Post-Jaundice Complications in Newborns I would like to ask about my baby who was born on June 10th. On June 13th (Saturday), the jaundice level at the clinic was 11.3. Our baby has G6PD deficiency and was very pale at birth. I noticed that while breastfeeding at the clinic, the ...
Dr. He Shenglong Reply:
Hello: The baby's jaundice reached 31, and after an emergency exchange transfusion, it is now around 7. Since there is a known case of G6PD deficiency, it is uncertain if there are other pathological causes, so I recommend consulting the physician who conducted the examinati...[Read More] Understanding Newborn Jaundice: Concerns and Follow-Up Care
Impact of Neonatal Jaundice Treatment on Baby's Vision Development
Neonatal jaundice Hello! My newborn baby currently has high jaundice levels and needs phototherapy. However, a careless nurse forgot to put an eye mask on the baby. I would like to know if this could affect the baby's visual development. Additionally, how long does the expos...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Newborns keep their eyes closed most of the time, so the risk of eye injury may not be as significant as one might think. It is recommended to have a detailed examination of the eyes and fundus at a pediatric ophthalmology department in a major hospital.[Read More] Impact of Neonatal Jaundice Treatment on Baby's Vision Development
Understanding Why Jaundice Light Therapy Can Darken Skin in Infants
Phototherapy for jaundice Dear Dr. He, Why does the skin darken after exposure to phototherapy for jaundice? Thank you.
Dr. He Shenglong Reply:
Hello: Phototherapy for newborns is used to accelerate the metabolism of bilirubin. Once jaundice decreases to a certain level, phototherapy is no longer necessary. If it is pathological jaundice, treatment for the underlying condition should continue. Theoretically, the skin sho...[Read More] Understanding Why Jaundice Light Therapy Can Darken Skin in Infants
Do Newborns Need Water? Guidelines for Parents on Hydration
Do newborns need supplemental hydration? Dear Doctor, my baby has been consuming formula milk along with breast milk and is about to turn one month old. I've noticed that my baby sometimes sticks out their tongue after eating and resting for a while. When my baby was two wee...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
In principle, the primary source of nutrition for newborns and young infants is milk, which contains a significant amount of water. If they urinate 6-8 times a day and the urine is light in color and not concentrated, it indicates that they are adequately hydrated and do not need...[Read More] Do Newborns Need Water? Guidelines for Parents on Hydration
Why Is My Baby's Face, Hands, and Feet Yellow? Causes Explained
The yellowing of the face, hands, and feet in your brother could be caused by several factors, with the most common being jaundice. Jaundice occurs when there is an excess of bilirubin in the bloodstream, which can result from liver dysfunction, bile duct obstruction, or hemolysi...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If one consumes a large amount of carotenoid-rich foods over a long period, such as carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, papayas, and mangoes, it can lead to a yellowish pigmentation deposit in the skin (especially on the face, palms, and soles), resulting in a localized yellowish ...[Read More] Why Is My Baby's Face, Hands, and Feet Yellow? Causes Explained
Understanding Light Yellow Stool in Toddlers: When to Worry
A 2-year-old child has light yellow stool? Hello doctor: My child is currently 2 years and 1 month old. Recently, for the past 2 to 3 months, his stools have occasionally been mixed with light yellow. However, his activities and diet are normal without any abnormalities. Is it st...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The color of stool is influenced not only by bile pigmentation but also by many other factors, such as food dyes. As children grow, they will not develop congenital biliary atresia (which you may be referring to). However, there are many acquired causes of pale or clay-colored st...[Read More] Understanding Light Yellow Stool in Toddlers: When to Worry
Understanding Yellow Palms and Soles in Healthy 4-Year-Olds
A 4-year-old child has yellowish discoloration on the palms and soles? Hello, I have a question: My 4-year-old child has yellowish palms and soles, but is otherwise healthy. The child is just lighter than peers (under 14 kg) and doesn't like eating vegetables, preferring whi...
Dr. He Shenglong Reply:
Hello: If a boy is 4 years old and weighs 14 kilograms, he is at the third percentile; if he is 3 years old and weighs 14 kilograms, he is close to the fiftieth percentile. Please refer to the growth charts in the children's health manual. Generally, it is important to culti...[Read More] Understanding Yellow Palms and Soles in Healthy 4-Year-Olds
Understanding Infant Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Infant diarrhea Hello Doctor: My child was born weighing 3500 grams and is now nearly 3 months old, weighing about 5.7 kilograms. He is exclusively breastfed. He developed jaundice three days after birth, which resolved after one month. Since he is exclusively breastfed, he had b...
Dr. Zhan Mingxuan Reply:
Hello: 1. Babies who are exclusively breastfed tend to have stool that is more acidic and watery, which is often mistaken for diarrhea or digestive issues. If the baby is sleeping well, feeding well, and not experiencing weight loss, it may not necessarily be abnormal. 2. If the ...[Read More] Understanding Infant Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
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