Don’t rush to doctor if your child is not eating well
Dr Harshinder Kaur

One of the most common problems that a paediatrician is confronted with is feeding of a child. Almost every mother has the same complaint: her child is not eating well. A mother is never satisfied by her child’s diet. But the worry is genuine.

It is a fact that no psychologically healthy child can starve himself. So, the mothers should not feel unduly perturbed even if a child is eating less. In any case, the dietary pattern of a whole week should be supervised before labelling a child as having decreased appetite.

In a newborn, causes of refusal of feed are not always worrisome. The newborn may not be hungry when the mother has offered feed or may be feeling sleepy or crying because of wind in the stomach or nasal blockage, or the child may be wet. These simple causes must be ruled out and the child made comfortable and feed, if offered, at a later time may be easily accepted by the child.

Excessive worrying of the mother may even affect the amount and quality of breast-feed. A mother must always feel relaxed while offering feed to the child.

A bigger child may be more interested in playing during the feeding time. So, he or she may like to avoid eating at that time even if feeling hungry. An over enthusiastic mother starts fighting with the child which leads to further aggravation of the situation. This cycle goes on and the situation worsens.

The solution is simple. Let the child play and after some time, even after missing one meal, the child automatically demands something to eat if the mother doesn’t do compulsory feeding.

If this situation is not controlled in time, it becomes a war scene at home at the time of feeding a child. The child always tries to run away from food and the mother always pushing something in the child’s mouth.

Food should not be given to the child too often. The meal-time should be fixed with no additional feeds like milk or juices in between foods. Unfinished food should be left without forcible feeding of the child. The meal-time should be fixed to 20-30 minutes and never to be prolonged too much.

TV watching and newspaper reading by parents should be avoided during meals so that proper attention can be given to the child. Efforts should be made to involve the child in table talk. He or she should not feel ignored in the adult conversation. As the whole of the family is usually present at the meal-time, it is the best opportunity for praising the child for his good deeds and correcting any odd day-time behaviour.

The child’s meal-time should be structured but made pleasant and interactive e.g. discussing the child’s school-time. It is at this time that parental responses play an important role in exacerbating or preventing subsequent feeding problems. Parents should play a model role in good eating behaviour so that the children can follow them.

Junk and packaged foods should be avoided. Home-made food rich in nutrients with a wide variety should be offered so that the child can make his or her own choices. If the child rejects one type of food, it should be offered at variable periods again so that the child tries it at least once more before totally rejecting it. Try to make food tasty and nutritional. Leaving the table only on the completion of food should not be made a rule.

Self-feeding of the child should always be encouraged even if it is too messy.

If the child is active as usual and growing well but does not seem to eat enough, the mother need not get panicky. The eating habits of the child must be watched for at least a week before starting any medication. Over-feeding and forced feeding have to be avoided.

The writer is a Consultant Paediatrician, Govt. Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala.

Save your ears from common cold
Neelam Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh: Winters can prove harsh for the ears. The common cold infection can enter the ears from the throat to cause ASOM which entails severe pain in the ears, especially among the children below the age of 12 years.

ENT specialists says that there is a sudden increase in the cases of Acute Superative Otitis Media, in short ASOM, especially among children, who complain of severe pain in their ears. The pain shoots up especially during nights and the affected children are unable to bear it.

"The children initially complain of running noses and sore throat. Then they start having problems in the ears, which begin aching very badly, especially during the nights. This happens when common cold is not treated in time and the infection enters the ear through the throat,’’ says ENT specialist Rajesh Dhir of General Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh.

An aggravated form of common cold, ASOM, if not treated properly, leads to CSOM for Chronic Superative Otitis Media, resulting in perforation in the ears and a hole in the ear drums. The condition then becomes chronic and the pain is difficult to subside.

"The best remedy for any cold infection, especially for the people with upper respiratory infections, is the inhaling of steam. What should be kept in mind is that steam should only be inhaled through the nose and never through the mouth. The addition of eucalyptus is just cosmetic as it does not make steam more effective,’’ says the doctor.

In ASOM, too, the best remedy is administering steam. Doctors say if the person complains of sudden pain in the ear, he should be given steam first which should then be followed by a dose of medicines.

Those suffering from sinus should take extra precaution in winter as their infection can aggravate in the season due to chill. "For such people relief lies in keeping themselves warm and cozy. Again, steam should be inhaled by these persons on a regular basis,’’ adds Dr Dhir.

"As a general rule, stay away from chill in the winters to avoid all the winter ailments,’’ sums up the doctor.

Ayurveda & you
Healthy lifestyle can delay aging of skin
Dr R. Vatsyayan

Though aging is a physiological phenomenon, nobody wants to look old. Beauty products and anti-aging creams and lotions available over the counter are now a billion-dollar industry. According to ayurvedic beliefs, if a little caution and effort are put together, measures to keep the skin good looking and healthy do not cost much. Here are a few guidelines which, if followed scrupulously, can go a long way in keeping our skin beautiful, healthy and youthful.

Adopt a nutritious diet: Fresh and leafy green vegetables, which are rich in vitamins and minerals and high in anti-oxidant properties, provide all the essential principles of healthy nutrition to the skin. This can be supplemented by taking sweet juicy fruits like grapes, melons, pears and apples preferably during the breakfast. Eat a variety of grains and favour light and easy-to-digest proteins. Women going through the menopausal phase while giving extra care to their skin should also take any of the anti-oxidant herbs like amla, ashwagandha, shatavar or giloy.

Ayurveda believes that the balanced use of milk and milk products helps to lubricate, nourish and create lustre in the skin, especially in "vata"-dominated persons. Turmeric, cumin, coriander and black pepper are some of the spices available in our kitchen which improve the digestion, nourish the skin and cleanse it of impurities. Certain dry fruits like almonds, dates and dry grapes also support the skin. Drink a lot of water and try to stay away from packaged, canned, frozen and processed food.

Avoid chemicals: Harsh chemicals in skin care products and excessive use of cosmetics, shampoos and soaps make the skin to become dry and rough. Strong preservatives and antibacterial agents also destroy enzymes that trigger absorption and maintain lubrication. Be cautious of a number of "herbal" products being sold in the market for skin care, as how much herbal they are nobody knows. Every type of skin needs proper cleansing and maintenance of hygiene. For this purpose a careful study should be made about the individual suitability of the skin care products. Use oil massage or water-based skin packs suitable to your skin by incorporating herbs which are detoxifying and are known to remove obstructions in the fine channels of the body.

Soothe away stress: Our emotions have a direct bearing on the quality of our skin. Excessive worrying and negative and sad emotions make the skin appear lifeless and lustreless. While experts relate the occurrence of a number of skin problems to the stress factor, it is for everybody to see that unmanageable mental and physical stress and chronic anxiety and depression invariably result in dark circles under the eyes, early wrinkling and sagging of the body. Happy and balanced personalities stay young and more often have beaming and beautiful skin.

Follow a healthy daily routine: Irregularity in daily chores and following a disorderly lifestyle can put our health in jeopardy. Over-work, lack of rest and improper sleep pattern has a telling effect on our skin. One should adopt a balanced exercise schedule, including yoga and mediation, in one’s daily plan. Get adequate sunlight as in most of the cases over-protecting the skin from sun is not a good idea, and some gentle sun is nourishing to the skin.

Ayurveda is known to believe that apart from a wholesome and balanced diet, adherence to a proper daily and seasonal routine and a disciplined lifestyle is the best anti-aging support for every organ and system of the body, including the skin.

The writer is a noted ayurvedic physician based at Ludhiana.