Dr. Anne Lorraine Bringas - General Pediatrics

12/12/2025

Fact: Gagging is not choking and gagging does not lead to choking.

The body is designed to protect the airway and keep food out of the airway during both eating and swallowing and gagging, and even when throwing up.

When food is swallowed, more than 50 muscles work together to coordinate the motion. One is our vocal folds coming together like sliding doors in the breathing tube to tightly close off our airway and prevent anything from entering it. Amazingly, the muscles of the throat close tightly shut and the airway is pulled up and slightly forward, safely out of the way when we vomit or gag so that particles of food or liquid do not enter it.

So how does choking occur?

Choking occurs when there is a miscoordination of the swallow and food or liquid sneaks past our multiple lines of defense.

Things that can increase the risk of such type of coordination failure include:

✔️Caregiver placing finger food in a child’s mouth
✔️Caregiver putting their fingers in a child’s mouth
✔️Eating while in a reclined position
✔️Eating while laughing or coughing
✔️Eating while crying
✔️Eating while walking around
✔️Being startled while eating
✔️Lack of supervision while eating
✔️Eating while distracted

To access our free choking rescue guides for babies and toddlers download the Solid Starts App 📲

09/12/2025

It's that time of year again! 🎄🎆🎊 🥳

Don't let HEADACHES 😞🤯🤕 get you or your child down this holiday season.
Be S.M.A.R.T. and prevent a headache attack 🤓
Watch out for 🚩RED FLAGS🚩 that signal the need for more urgent care

If you or your child experiences recent or repeated headaches, visit your trusted healthcare provider.👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️🧑‍⚕️ A child neurologist and headache specialist can help guide you through this season.

To learn more about HEADACHES in CHILDREN, visit our website
https://www.childneurologysocietyphilippines.com/about-6

To find a CHILD NEUROLOGIST near you, search our directory
https://www.childneurologysocietyphilippines.com/find-a-member-1

06/12/2025

01/12/2025

It’s that time of year again when illnesses seem to pop up like whack-a-mole! 😷🫣
From October through April, pediatricians see the highest number of sick visits. Having a sick child - whether they’re six months, three years, or ten - never gets easier. The worry is real.
Swipe through to see some of the most common illness myths I hear in my practice and what’s actually true 👇
➡️ Going outside without a jacket will only make your child cold, not sick.
➡️ Green mucus doesn’t automatically mean infection - it can just mean mucus has been sitting longer.
➡️ Milk during a cold won’t worsen symptoms. In fact, if it’s their main source of hydration, let them drink it!
➡️ If your child has a fever but is playful, it’s okay to monitor. If they’re cranky or uncomfortable, treat it and keep fluids up.
➡️ And when in doubt, trust your gut and reach out to your child’s clinician.
Illness season can feel endless, but knowledge is power. Understanding what’s normal and when to worry can help you stay calm, confident, and prepared.

17/11/2025

Deaf Awareness Week 2025 reminds us that hearing loss is not a limitation, but a call to build bridges of understanding. Early detection, family-centered support, and inclusive communication open doors to language, learning, and belonging. Let’s celebrate diversity, honor lived experiences, and ensure every voice is heard — whether spoken, signed, or felt. 💙🤟

15/11/2025

Hi everyone!😀

Marami ang nagtatanong sa nangyari kay Yella at nangamba. Naoperahan si Yella last August para sa TOF repair ngunit kinaliangang operahan ulit dahil sinira ng bacteria ang VSD patch nya.

Ano ang nangyari sa kanya para humantong sa isa ulit na operasyon gayung na-repair na ang puso nya?

Si Yella ay nagsimulang magkaroon ng lagnat. Nakitaan sya ng senyales ng heart failure pagkatapos gaya ng pamumutla at paghihingal. Na-diagnose sya ng INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS.

Ang INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS ay infection sa lining ng puso (endocardium) at kadalasan sa balbula (valves). Sa mga naoperahan na sa puso, mataas ang panganib dahil sa:
1. may artificial material (patch, valve, conduit)
2. may peklat (scar tissue)
3. nagkaroon ng manipulasyon sa puso noong inooperahan

PAANO NAGSISIMULA ANG SIRA?
Pagkatapos ng operasyon, ang mga balbula at paligid nito ay may irregular surfaces (bako-bako) at peklat kaya mas madaling kapitan ng bacteria.

Kapag dumikit ang bacteria, bumubuo ng "bacterial colony" na dinidikitan ng platelets at fibrin (parang namuong dugo) na syang nagiging VEGETATION na parang maliit na bukol sa balbula.

PAANO NASISIRA ANG PUSO?
1. Nilulusaw ng bacteria ang balbula. Nagiging butas, malambot o di nagsasara ng maayos na nagiging sanhi para ito ay tumagas.
2. Pwede din itong bumara sa mga batang may RV to PA conduit, VSD patch o artificial valves

Maaari rin itong maputol at mag-embolize o mapunta sa ibang lugar gaya ng utak na pwedeng magdala ng stroke, sa baga na pwedeng maging sanhi ng pulmonary embolism o sa bato na pwedeng pagdala ng problema sa pag-ihi at eventually pagpalya nito.

NAGDUDULOT ITO NG:
> lagnat
> mabilis na tibok
> immune reaction na nagpapahina sa puso

SA MATITINDING INFECTION GAYA NG KAY YELLA, pwede nitong tunawin ang tahi at mare-open ang dating butas.

So importante na i-report agad sa inyong mga cardiologist kung may kakaibang napapansin sa inyong mga anak pagkatapos ng operasyon. Follow-up is also very important.

15/11/2025

A healthy smile starts young. 🦷💕

“Si Mommy mismo ang bumunot ng ngipin ni baby gamit ang sinulid.” Maraming nagtag sakin sa video na ‘yan, kaya pag-usapan natin kung ano ang dapat tandaan:

1. “Ang unang dentista ng mga babies ay ang kanilang parents.” Tama ‘yan! kayo ang magtuturo ng brushing at hygiene routine nila.PERO hindi ibig sabihin kayo rin ang dapat bumunot ng ngipin. Kapag may naiwan na root, puwedeng magka-infection o maapektuhan ang pagtubo ng permanent tooth.

“Baby tooth lang naman, okay lang masira.” Hindi po okay. Alam nyo ba na puwedeng magdulot ng infection ang sirang ngipin ng bata? At oo, delikado rin sa kanila ‘yan. Bukod pa doon, masakit at nakakaapekto sa pagkain at tulog ng bata.

3. “Ayoko dalhin si baby baka matrauma sa dentista.”
Baliktad ‘yan. Habang mas bata pa silang nadadala sa dentist, mas nasasanay sila. Pero kapag dinala lang kapag masakit na, doon sila madalas natotrauma.

4. “Tinoothbrush ko naman, mahilig lang talaga sa sweets.” Sugar isn’t the enemy, BACTERIA ang tunay na kontrabida. Si sugar, pagkain lang ni bacteria. Kaya kapag consistent ang brushing at hygiene, maiiwasan ang cavities.

5. “3x a day magtoothbrush si baby.” Good job, pero baka kulang sa fluoride ang toothpaste niya. Kailangan pa rin ng fluoride application sa dentista:

Every 3 months kung high risk sa cavities
Every 6 months kung low risk

Baby teeth may be temporary pero ang epekto ng pagkasira nila, pangmatagalan. Wag ipagsawalang-bahala ang ngipin ng inyong mga anak.

A healthy smile starts young. 🦷💕

11/11/2025

Tubig is life para sa inyong bato. Alamin ang 4 Tubig Tips para maging malusog ang ating bato:

1. 8 glasses a day?
Hindi naman kailangan 8 basong tubig ang inumin kada araw. May kanya-kanya tayong daily requirements. Ang pag-inom ng tubig ay unang-una sa pag replenish ng tubig sa katawan dahil sa pang-araw-araw na gawain. Magtanong sa inyong doctor para sa nararapat para sa iyo.

2. Pwede bang sumobra sa 8?
Hindi naman kadalasan mangyari pero ang pag inom ng sobrang tubig ay pwedeng maging hyponatremia, lalo na sa mga endurance athletes.

3. Dilaw ang peg.
Obserbahan ang inyong ihi kung gaano ka dilaw. Ito ay senyales ng inyong hydration levels -- light yellow, colorless ang peg or dark yellow ay senyales ng dehydration.

4. Kung well hydrated ka, maiiwasan ang kidney stones at UTI dahil hindi magbubuo ng crystals at ito rin ay nakakatulong sa antibiotics.

11/11/2025

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children globally.

🧒 It causes around 100 000 deaths & 3.6 million hospitalizations each year in children under 5. Infants under 6 months are most at risk.

🌍 97% of RSV-related infant deaths occur in low- & middle-income countries, where access to care is limited.

Now the good news, there are life-saving solutions: a maternal vaccine that can be given to pregnant women in their third trimester to protect their infant and a long-acting monoclonal antibody that can be administered to infants from birth, just before or during the RSV season.

06/11/2025

Babies need iron at 6 mos+ 🥩🥚🫘

We all know iron is important for babies, but why?

Around 6 months of age, baby’s iron stores become naturally depleted, making iron-rich foods a priority to help support baby’s red blood cells, focus, development, and energy. But don’t stress, many foods are iron-rich and really easy to incorporate.

⚠️ Remember when introducing a common allergen to baby like egg, soy, dairy, tree nuts, peanut, fish, sesame, or wheat, always start with a small amount and watch for any reactions before offering more.

✔️Keep in mind: for non heme sources of iron, like beans, nuts, and seeds, pair them with a vitamin C-rich food in the same meal to help boost iron absorption. Try vitamin C-rich foods like tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries, pineapple, and many more.

⭐️Did you know you can sort by iron-rich foods in our app? Give it try! Download the Solid Starts App to get started.

Learn more at the link in bio 🤍

30/10/2025

Poisonings in children are usually accidental and are a common cause of injury.

This JAMA Pediatrics Patient Page discusses the most common causes of poisoning in children and safety tips to prevent poisoning. https://ja.ma/48JwlVU

29/10/2025

[LOOK] Flu and Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI) are on the rise nationwide — including among children. Stay informed with these helpful reminders from the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, Inc

Stay safe and proactive this flu season!