Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

Watch out for toxic toys

Kids usually want everything they see in stores. And whether it’s their birthday, Christmas or just the fact that the neighbour’s child has one – our little ones can become very persuasive to get what they want!

Before you give in to their pleas, though, make sure you’re not purchasing something that could be dangerous to your little one’s health!

According to Safe Kids Worldwide a non-profit organisation, each year throughout the world, almost one million children die of an injury. Almost every one of them was preventable.

Toys are meant to be fun, but if your child needs to be taken to hospital for choking on an object, it’s time to reconsider his favourite toys. The most effective way to ensure the safety of your child is to also supervise while he plays. It’s always a good idea to read instructions on toys more carefully as well. Buy brands that you trust and that meet safety standards.

Avoid toys with these materials

Lead: Children’s bodies are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. A small amount of exposure can harm their brain development and nervous system. New research by Greenpeace finds too that almost one in every three toys made in China contains heavy concentrations of metals and lead.

Phthalates: Is a group of chemicals used to make plastic flexible and harder to break. This hazardous chemical has been linked to birth defects, premature puberty in girls and a reduction in sperm quality in males.

PBDEs (polybrominated diphenylethers): Is a group of chemicals used to slow or stop the spread of fire or reduce its intensity. The chemicals in baby products pose a threat to the development of the child’s body and brain.

Bisphenol A (BPA): Is a chemical found in many hard plastics that we use every day. It’s a hormone-disrupting chemical linked to reproductive disorders, Down syndrome, premature puberty and cancer.

Mercury: This naturally-occurring chemical element is widely used in a variety of devices and products. It can impair your child’s neurological development.

Before you plan on surprising your little ones, always do a smell test on products. Have you ever noticed that “beach ball” smell in plastic products? That is toxic softeners in plastic. The strong perfumes can aggravate allergies or asthma. Opt for products that are made with natural and non-toxic materials.

Checklist before you head to the till

  • Does it have sharp points or edges?
  • Does it look cheaply made?
  • Are the batteries easily accessible?
  • Does it have small parts that look easily detachable?

If yes, consider another toy.

Help at hand

  • Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
  • Stuffed toys should be washable.
  • Art material should read non-toxic.
  • Old toys from family and friends will hold a sentimental value, but can be a health hazard as they could further break down and cause more harm.
  • Be mindful of musical and electronic devices that may be too loud; these can damage your child’s hearing.

All said and done, don’t stress too much about getting the perfect toy: Chances are that your child will end up playing with the box anyway!

References:

Struggling at school? Your child could be having absence seizures

An absence seizure is one of those conditions that you can easily miss. The reason for this, is that the symptoms can be very subtle: a slight abnormality in your brain simply causes a brief attention-cut. It may not be the reason for your child struggling at school, but if it is, diagnosis and treatment can make a world of difference!

What is an absence seizure?

Absence seizures are caused by a short disturbance (usually 15 seconds or less) of brain function from abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Normally, the brain’s nerve cells communicate with one another by firing tiny electric signals, but with a seizure, these signals go a little wrong. About two out of every 1,000 people, are affected by absence seizures.

These are the symptoms

When someone has an absence seizure, they don’t necessarily have any actual convulsions: they usually simply stare ahead of them, and are unaware of what’s happening around them. Here are some other things that can happen during this seizure:

  • Changes in muscle activity, hand fumbling, fluttering eyelids, lip smacking, chewing, or no movement
  • Changes in alertness, such as staring episodes, lack of awareness of surroundings, sudden halt in movement, talking, and other awake activities
  • In some cases, the seizure can be triggered by flashing lights or hyperventilation

 It’s important to note with children that these episodes may:

  • Happen many times in a day
  • Occur for weeks to months before being noticed
  • Interfere with school and learning, or be mistaken for lack of attention or misbehaviour

How Are Absence Seizures Diagnosed?

The doctor will begin with a thorough medical history – including information about any birth trauma, infections of the brain such as encephalitis or meningitis, or serious head injury. There is no way to prevent absence seizures because most cases do not have a known cause.

If needed, your doctor may request an EEG, which will show characteristic, abnormal patterns during different types of seizures. X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs of the head can also help rule out specific causes of seizures.

Treatment

Luckily, most children outgrow absence seizures by their teens, especially if the seizures began before the age of nine. There is anti-seizure medication to help manage the symptoms if the problem is severe or interfering with the child’s social or academic growth.

Joanne Hart for HelloDoctor.com

Source:  http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/absence-seizure-symptoms

Give your kids these habits for life

There’s so much parenting advice out there: do this, don’t do that – it’s endless. There’s one piece of advice that remains ageless and true: teach kids healthy habits right from the start and half your work is done. The tricky bit is that you may have to learn some of these before you start passing them on! Continue reading “Give your kids these habits for life”

Starting big school!

Is your little one starting school this year? Meeting the teachers, making new friends and learning all sorts of new things makes going to school such a great time for children. We bet they’re already excited to go! In a few years they will be dreading it, but that’s another topic. Although starting school is a happy time, it’s important for you and your child to go over a few simple rules to help them cope and adjust to school-life. Here’s a handy infographic that will help:
Continue reading “Starting big school!”

Real toys for kids

Even though electronic games and gadgets are all the rage, remember that the way kids develop their motor skills has not changed. So, between the iPad and the games consoles, include some real toys that help your kids to learn and (bonus) don’t drain the power-grid! Continue reading “Real toys for kids”