Dr Maureen King'e

26/11/2020

MedicScan -Africa invites you to a Webinar next week on 26th November (Thursday) 2020 at 8:00 PM EAT | 7 PM CAT

Topic: “FEVER MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS AT HOME AND ITS GLOBAL LANDSCAPE”.

Link to Register for the Webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9uzOcqxYSOCQOoewo9BKiA

Presenter:
Professor Tomohiko Sugish*ta, MD, PhD, MPH
Chair
Department of International Affairs and Tropical Medicine
Tokyo Women’s Medical University

Panelist:
Dr. Ombeva Malande
Vaccinologist and Senior Consultant (Paediatric infectious diseases)

Dr. Maureen King'e ShRgz
Paediatrician, Dept of Paediatrics, University of Nairobi.

Dr. John Masina
Specialist Emergency Medicine Physician
Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka
WHO COVID-19 Case Management Consultant.

Co-hosted:
Dr. Lyndzie Wanjiku
Obstetrician/Gynaecologist Resident
Convener KMA National Social Responsibility and Welfare Committee.

Moderated by:
Patrick Miruka.
Business Development Manager
AfricasScan Inc | MedicScan-Africa

23/08/2020

21/08/2020

Feeling overwhelmed and swallowed by the rat race/homeschooling/parenting? Snapping unnecessarily or just checked out completely? Consider scheduling some adult time into this weekend. You cant pour from an empty cup.
So, whether it's a lazy drive/ road trip/ alone time or even putting the kids to bed and dressing up for date night (you can enjoy the album launch from the comfort of your sofa this weekend). Just make sure you plan to let loose, have fun and refill your cup.
⠀
Remember, you are doing great!

21/08/2020

Every street vendor is selling lemons now because word on the street is that vitamin C prevents colds and flus especially the dreaded COVID 19. But should you be sharing your vitamin C tablets with your kids?
⠀
💪Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and even better it helps regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin E. It is also important for your immune system younger looking skin and Iron absorption from the tummy.
⠀
🥗We all know about citrus fruits but other great sources include red and green hohos, tomatoes, broccolli and potatoes (yeai for team waru!)
⠀
🔥It is not heat friendly. The longer you cook foods the more it is destroyed by heat so boiling those lemons to death for your dawa is not the best idea.
⠀
🤢Stick to supplementing through diet, even a quarter of your vitamin C tablet can lead to nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps in your child under 10 years. Remember, it is an acid.
⠀
😪Vitamin C prevents colds in those who are under extreme physical stress, but for otherwise healthy people it will only lower your chances by 3%.
⠀
🤧If you already have a cold, symptoms typically last between 7 and 10 days. Supplementing with vitamin c will only reduce that duration by about a day for you or 2 for your child, but will make the period slightly more comforable. Dont expect so don't expect a miraculous recovery.
⠀
🤷‍♀️There are still studies going on regarding its effect on COVID symptoms, but my opinion is, if it makes you feel better then by all means keep taking it (within the recommended dose).
⠀
Remember, you are doing great!

20/08/2020

⠀Keep your mask on...⁣ Over the nose, under the chin and snug enough to keep germs in.
⁣
⁣
⁣ ⁣
⁣

18/08/2020

Now that these young legends are not going to school or socialising outdoors as much as they used to, are you still ensuring they get enough time outdoors to absorb Vitamin D?
⠀
☀ over 80% of vitamin D comes from sun exposure and it's extremely difficult to get decent amounts even from rich foods such as eggs and seafood.
⠀
🌤Breastmilk is a very poor source of vitamin D so breastfed babies need their daily dose of sunlight to develop health bones and teeth and achieve their motor milestone on time.
⠀
⛅You need 20-30minutes of sun exposure about 5 days a week to meet the daily requirements of vitamin D. The darker the skin, the longer it takes to make the same amount from the UVB rays.
⠀
🌥The younger the child the smaller the surface area, so while you can get by with exposing your face neck and arms, your baby will require to expose the thighs and chest too.
⠀
☂Location matters. You get less than half the uvB rays while sitting in the shade and none if you bask throgh glass such as behind a window.
⠀
🕶However, don't get carried away. Excessive sun exposure can lead to sunburn and increases the risk of skin cancers. The best time to sunbathe is just before 10am and just after 4pm. Dont forget the SPF especially if spending the day in the hot midday sun.
⠀
If for some reason you are not able to expose your child to the sun, speak to your doctor about vitamin D supplements.
⠀
Remember, you are doing great!

15/08/2020

Cut yourself some slack.
⠀
Remember, you are doing great

09/08/2020

Your child suddenly wakes up screaming and crying with wide eyes, thrashing their hands and legs in panic,sleepwalking or mumbling to themselves. They don't let you hold them and don't even seem to acknowledge your prescence. As dramatically as it started, your child drifts off into a deep sleep and seems oblivious the next day.This is a night terror and is different from a nightmare where your child looks to you for comfort or cuddles, may try to describe what they dreamt about and have trouble getting back to sleep. They may still be upset the next day and remember the dream they had.
Here is how you can help your child through a night terror;

👻 Speak to your child in calm soothing tones, try to sooth them back to sleep. Hold them if they will let you.

👾Despite your child's eyes being open, they are not aware of your presence. Do not shake or yell at your child as it may aggravate them more.

😱 Protect your child from injury. If they get out of bed they could break glass, run into objects or tumble down the stairs. Make sure they are completely asleep before you leave them.

👽 Night terrors can be triggered by in a child who is overtired. Try moving up bed time or reintroduce a nap for younger children.

👹 Consult with your paediatrician if your child drools, stiffens or jerks during an episode; episodes happen regularly; episodes last over half an hour; your child has daytime fears or develops any other symptoms.

Remember, you are doing great!

04/08/2020

If you are an expectant mum, a nursing mum or are a support system for one, then this one is for you. I would like to grab a virtual cup of tea as I discuss with you why breastfeeding should not hurt and how to trouble shoot common breastfeeding challenges including low supply. Kindly join me on Friday at 5pm using the link below:
https://meet.google.com/des-nksc-nkq

Tell a fellow mum/mum to be; and remember, you are doing great!

03/08/2020

It's world breastfeeding week. I personally love the experience for the bonding time that comes with it but sometimes it can be a pain, literally. With my younger baby, he had recurring thrush the first 2 months and would keep passing the infection to me which meant cracked, painful ni***es. I also had to constantly fight the feeling that he wasn't getting enough because of how much he would cry around growth spurts (despite the fact that he has constantly been above his curve😂). What are some of the biggest challenges you have experienced with breastfeeding or supporting someone who is?

Remember, you are doing great!

29/07/2020

We love our children, but every once in a while we need a break from them. Your toddler however, does not feel the same and will have you crying from guilt before you get to the gate with their wails and screams. Separation anxiety can be draining and heartbreaking, but understanding it may help you navigate the storm.

🌟 Separation anxiety starts to show up somewhere between 6 and 9months but it doesn't really peak until about a year to 18months then resolves at 2 years.

🌟 Your child has just learnt that things that dissapear from their view still exist but feels overwhelmed by the lack of your presence to protect them or by the unfamiliar faces that threaten to take them from you.

🌟 Start small: If your child wanders from your view at home, fight the urge to run and pick them up. Instead observe them from a distance so they learn that they can be fine without you for a brief period.

🌟 Let your child get used to the nanny or babysitter in your presence before you leave. This may mean asking whoever is babysitting to come 30 minutes before you leave or spending that time before you drop them off so they get used to the new face.

🌟 Communicate. Children understand language before they can speak it. Warn your child that you will be leaving, narrate the activities they will do in your abscence and tell them when you will be back.

🌟 Monkey see, monkey do: If you look anxious before you leave and make a big fuss of it, your child will read that there IS something to worry about. Also be kind and comfortable with whomever you are leaving them with.

🌟 Short goodbyes big hellos: limit goodbyes to a kiss, hug and quick pleasantries. Save all the cuddles and kisses for when you get back to give them something to look forward to.

🌟 Stay away: This may be really hard, but avoid popping back into the house to check in on them. It starts the process of being anxious each time.

***That said, if your child is extremely anxious around a particular person and place, observe your child's interactions closely and consider changing the caregiver if your gut says something is off.

Remember, you are doing great!