Dr Mohamed Rashid El Nadoury, MD, Specialist Paediatrician at Zia Medical Center
Dr Mohamed Rashid shares a list of concerns for new and existing parents - from flu shots to child abuse
Published: Fri 12 Jul 2019, 10:14 AM
If your child complains of headaches, has trouble swallowing, feels nauseated, experiences stomach pain and loss of appetite, among others, chances are that he or she may be suffering from a streptococcal infection.
Children between the ages of 5 and 15 are more at risk of developing complications from the infection, including rheumatic arthritis and rheumatic heart disease, according to Dr Mohamed Rashid El Nadoury, MD, Specialist Paediatrician at Zia Medical Center, a multi-speciality hub set in the heart of Jumeirah.
"In the UAE, children are exposed to extreme hot and cold environments - from being outdoors to walking into a very cold air-conditioned room. This fluctuation in temperature weakens their immunity, giving the microbial agent a chance to attack the body," he said.
It is important to know that the most common cause of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) is viral in origin and does not need any antibiotics.
"This knowledge is essential, which is why the paediatrician will decide the best course of action to reduce the abuse of antibiotics by parents," he said.
Dr El Nadoury, who possesses almost 32 years of experience in the field of paediatrics and child development, including 12 years of practice in the UAE, further shared that influenza is the most common preventable viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infection by getting children vaccinated yearly.
"This year alone, we have experienced many cases of influenza - either A or B, and limited cases of H1N1, and administered vaccinations. As a preventive measure, there is a new vaccine every year that we give between mid-September and February," he added.
Raising awareness
Recently, Zia Medical Center organised an interactive workshop to help modern-day parents reconnect with the essentials of parenthood.
"In today's era, new parents are drifting away from the nature of things, due to technology and busy lifestyles, which is why we hosted a session with mothers-to-be (with few supportive fathers in attendance) to inform them of the expectations and responsibilities involved with a new baby and how to deal with them," he said.
Topics also featured the benefits of breastfeeding and proper nutrition.
"Research shows that an early introduction of food at the age of four months, not beyond six months, reduced the chances of developing allergies, and can help the child be accepting of more food items," he added.
Digital distractions
Interestingly, Dr El Nadoury highlighted that child neglect is the most common form of child abuse, and has become a topic of great concern around the globe.
"We do not want to scare parents, but we do want to give them proper facts and scientifically proven studies done by Harvard University, which show that children who are subjected to child abuse have poor cognitive development, lack of creativity, low self-esteem and confidence compared to other children," he said.
Dr El Nadoury added that a child using an electronic device such as a tablet or mobile phone dramatically affects the development of children and leads to problems later in life.
"We live in a hectic world, but parents need to spend quality time with their children in order to help them grow into better adults of tomorrow. If the father and mother are not ready to create this balance, then they should reconsider having children."
Escaping the digital world is inevitable as we live in an era that requires the use of new technology and handheld devices. But where children are concerned, parents should monitor their time usage and content. If the use of such devices is not monitored, it may result in addiction and abnormal behaviour.
Dr El Nadoury suggests setting a limited time a child spends using the digital screens and to encourage them to do more of reading, sports, social and outdoor activities, as this will guarantee normal, healthy physical and mental development in the future.
Dr Mohamed Rashid El Nadoury is also a member of the American Academy of Paediatrics and the European Academy of Paediatrics.
We live in a hectic world, but parents need to spend quality time with their children in order to help them grow into better adults of tomorrow. If the father and mother are not ready to create this balance, then they should reconsider having children.
- farhana@khaleejtimes.com
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