We asked our Mumblers to submit questions to Juno’s lead clinician, Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Shruti Ganatra. Here in this video, Dr Shruti answers them for us. If you would like to try the Juno App yourself then you can download it for free from the App Store or by visiting hellojuno.co.uk.
You can read the full transcript of the Q & A session below.
Q1. My son won’t eat a huge variety of meat, or some carbohydrates such as pasta or rice? He is 4, how do I encourage him to eat these food sources? It’s completely natural as a parent to be worried about whether your child is getting the right food. It’s completely common in this age group. As long as he/she is gaining weight and appears well, it’s likely they are getting enough of the right food. So, the next question that arises is how can I enourage them to eat a variety of food. So, my first tip would be don’t force it. As frustrating as it is, if they don’t want to eat a certain food, take it away without fuss. Some studies have shown, you need to offer a food at least 10 times before children accept it. My second tip is to try and make meal times as fun as possible. He’s more likely to eat food that is colourful or cut into exciting shapes. It is really key to avoid using food as a reward or disciplinary system.
Q2. My 9 year old daughter is suffering terribly with Molloscum and has done for around 5 months. Is there anything that can be done to stop the spread? That is an excellent question. Molloscum Contagiosum is a really common problem we see in children. Where you get small warty, pearl-like bumps on the skin. It is caused by a virus and although not serious, there are a number of things you can do to stop the risk of it spreading. First of all, you should avoid sharing towels, clothes, soft toys and even bath water with other children in your household. Secondly, avoid skin to skin contact. It can be helpful to cover the area that is affected if possible. And finally, scratching can increase the risk of spreading so keep nails short and discourage it. Often, we see lots of different kinds of rashes in children. If you are worried about a rash, why not take a picture of it and send through the app for us to help.
Q3. If you’ve just given your baby calpol and they’ve immediately been sick can/should you give them another dose? I am sure many of you have found yourself in this situation and I’m pleased to say that the solution is very simple. The safest thing to do is not to give the dose again. This is because it it is difficult to know how much of the medication is still in the stomach and how much has been absorbed. There might, however, be alternative solutions depending on your individual circumstances. If you find yourself in this scenario, why not contact one of our junior paediatricians on Juno and we can advise you further.
Q4. Would you advise vaccinating your child against chickenpox? This is another really interesting question. Many might say that although a safe and effective vaccination against chicken pox exists and has done for many years, it is still not part of the UK vaccination programme. Well actually there are many reasons for this. It could increase the number of cases of Chicknpox in adults and in this age group it’s a far more serious illness with more complications. It could also increase the number of adults that go onto develop shingles. So, what does this mean for your child? Well serious consideration is required depending on your own circumstances. If your child is likely to come into contact with someone who is ‘vunerable’ or has a dampened immune system i.e. someone who is undergoing chemotherapy. Your child is eligible for a free vaccination under the NHS. It is also available privately. It is important to remember when weighing up your decisions, although chicken pox is not a pleasant illness, it is short-lived and generally uncomplicated. And having the vaccine doesn’t mean that they won’t necessarily get it when they are older. It does mean that if they do, it will be milder with a much quicker recovery. Sometimes, these answers aren’t that straight-forward so if you do want further information, please do get in contact with us via Juno.
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