Subscribe
51
Tong Peng
Pediatrics
About me
Deputy chief physician, has been engaged in pediatric clinical work since 2004, has studied in the Department of Pediatrics at Wuhan Union Hospital and the Neurorehabilitation Department of Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, and has certain experience in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric diseases.
Proficient in diseases
Have certain insights into the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric neurological disorders and cerebral palsy, as well as into the diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis and epilepsy. Rich experience in eczema, pediatric diarrhea, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, and abundant guidance experience in infant feeding and healthy nutritional development.
Voices
Does infantile colic cause bowel sounds?
Infantile colic can present with bowel sounds. First, it is important to understand that colic is associated with indigestion, or that certain components in the consumed food are not fully digested and absorbed. This leads to abnormal intestinal peristalsis, or excessive intestinal gas production that stimulates the nerves in the intestinal wall, causing symptoms of colic. The affected child often exhibits crying, limbs curling, and accompanying abdominal distension. In such cases, there is often an increase in bowel sounds, which can be assessed through auscultation. When colic occurs, it is firstly advisable to adjust the diet, such as abdominal massage to promote intestinal gas expulsion, choosing light, liquid, and easily digestible food, eating small, frequent meals, and using probiotics to aid digestion and absorption, reducing the production of intestinal gas. Additionally, it is crucial to check if the baby has any digestive system diseases or intestinal developmental abnormalities, as these conditions can lead to recurrent symptoms of colic.
How to determine if a baby has rickets
The diagnosis of rickets in infants should rely on the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the blood and the examination of the long bones through X-rays imaging, rather than early symptoms. However, due to the young age of infants, it is recommended to supplement vitamin D within two weeks after birth. If the supplementation is not timely, some early clinical manifestations may appear occasionally, such as brachycephaly, bowed legs, and pigeon chest in infants. Additionally, there may be abnormalities in the nervous system, such as unstable sleep, easily startled and crying, and increased excitability. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the condition through the aforementioned tests and then proceed with symptomatic treatment.
How is Tetralogy of Fallot classified in terms of severity?
Tetralogy of Fallot is a complex congenital heart disease in children, characterized early by cyanosis in the face. The severity of symptoms, which often correlate with the level of pulmonary stenosis, includes cyanosis primarily appearing in regions with abundant capillaries such as the lips, nail beds, and bulbar conjunctiva. This cyanosis worsens with crying or physical activity. Additionally, the presence of squatting behaviors is indicative of more severe conditions. Frequent squatting suggests a substantial disease burden, as bending the legs while squatting reduces the volume of venous return, thereby decreasing the cardiac load and temporarily relieving hypoxic symptoms. In severe cases, symptoms can escalate to paroxysmal respiratory distress and loss of consciousness, often triggered by nursing or vigorous crying. Such difficulties can lead to severe spells including unconsciousness and seizures, primarily due to spasm in the muscular area at the base of the pulmonary artery, causing stenosis. Early detection and treatment of these conditions are crucial to prevent manifestations of heart failure.
Will the frontal bossing from rickets get better?
Rickets, if presenting with frontal bossing, can recover depending on the specific condition and age of the child. Rickets is often divided into four stages, with sequelae usually occurring after the age of three. Therefore, if symptoms of rickets are present before the age of three, they can be alleviated through supplementation with vitamin D, calcium, and other trace elements. Symptoms of rickets include craniotabes, Harrison's groove, beading of the ribs, pigeon chest, everted ribs, bowlegs, and knock-knees. Frontal bossing is often a manifestation of craniotabes, which usually occurs during infancy. Supplementing with vitamin D during this period can greatly alleviate the condition. At the same time, it is important to also expose the child to sunlight and engage in outdoor activities to promote the bones' absorption of vitamin D and calcium, preventing the recurrence of symptoms.
Can children with Tetralogy of Fallot heal on their own?
Children with Tetralogy of Fallot cannot be cured, as this condition is a congenital disease, primarily involving vascular malformations, characterized by ventricular septal defects, overriding aorta, pulmonary hypertension, and right ventricular hypertrophy. Due to pulmonary atresia or near-atresia, leading to numerous collateral vessels, it might only present with a ventricular septal defect with shunting or mild pulmonary valve stenosis. The effectiveness of surgery for this type of Tetralogy of Fallot may not be particularly good, and the chances of a cure are very low. Therefore, for this category, early detection and surgical treatment are crucial, and it is important to enhance dietary nutrition and care in daily life, as it is prone to pulmonary infections, which can lead to serious conditions such as respiratory failure and heart failure.
Does infantile colic occur every day?
Episodes of infantile colic are unpredictable, yet if digestive system abnormalities occur frequently over a short period, they can lead to daily colic episodes with a variety of causes. For instance, babies tend to cry or swallow large amounts of air due to rapid feeding, leading to intestinal gas and stimulating the intestinal mucosal nerves, resulting in colic. Additionally, certain substances in breast milk or formula, such as excessive sugars or fats, can cause indigestion and excessive intestinal gas production, further stimulating colic. When such symptoms appear, parents should first rule out surgical issues like intestinal intussusception or obstruction. Colic episodes can be alleviated through abdominal massage and dietary adjustments.
What should I do about the hemangioma on the baby's face?
If the hemangioma on the baby's face affects the baby's facial appearance, or if it is located in some special areas, such as above the trigeminal nerve, then it is necessary to intervene and treat as early as possible. Hemangiomas are vascular malformations in the body and often have no impact on the body; they mainly affect appearance. However, if the location of the growth has certain specificities, it can affect future life or induce some diseases. In such cases, it is necessary for a specialist doctor to make a differential diagnosis and then select a surgical method for targeted treatment.
Should a baby's decayed front teeth be filled?
Children's front teeth cavities require filling treatment, because if the front teeth are extensively damaged, it not only affects eating and appearance but also impacts the child's psychological development. Therefore, if a child's tooth color is abnormal, it is advisable to visit a hospital for fluoride treatment as soon as possible, which is beneficial for mineralization on the tooth surface. However, if cavities have developed in the front teeth, filling treatment is needed, otherwise it will progressively worsen, affecting the child's normal eating habits. Generally, children under three years of age have poor cooperation and cannot undergo routine outpatient treatment, so it is crucial to strengthen oral hygiene care in daily life.
Does rickets cause dry skin and an absence of sweating?
Rickets does not cause dry skin or an absence of sweat. Rickets is a disorder of calcium and phosphorus metabolism caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, and it may also be associated with bone deformities. In infants, it often presents with neurological symptoms such as being easily startled during sleep, increased night sweats, and a variety of symptoms including bald patches on the back of the head. However, an absence of sweating is often a symptom of sweat gland disorders and is not necessarily related to rickets. In some cases, babies sweat less because their sweat glands are underdeveloped, so if a child with rickets has symptoms of dry skin, they are not particularly prominent. If rickets is confirmed, it is crucial to actively supplement vitamin D, spend more time in the sun, and engage in outdoor exercise to facilitate the body's natural synthesis of vitamin D. Severe cases require oral or injected high doses of vitamin D to prevent the condition from worsening and causing bone deformities.
What to do if a child's eczema does not improve?
If childhood eczema is not improving, then it is crucial to actively search for the cause, rather than merely treating the symptoms. The care for childhood eczema mainly involves moisturizing and applying eczema ointment, but treating the primary cause is most important. The causes of eczema are varied, with common factors including genetics. If a child's parents have allergic rhinitis, eczema, or asthma, it suggests that the baby might have an allergic constitution, which can lead to recurrent episodes of eczema. Additionally, diet plays a role; consuming foods that are allergens can also trigger eczema flare-ups, especially foods containing proteins such as dairy products, eggs, and seafood products. Furthermore, contact with allergenic substances like animal dander and plant pollen can also induce eczema. Moreover, certain specific pathogens colonize on the surface of eczema-affected skin, leading to repeated outbreaks. These factors make the treatment of eczema less than ideal, so it is essential to understand the specific reasons behind the baby's eczema to tailor the treatment effectively.