Pendleton Childrens Clinic

10/10/2025

Vaccination is one of the simplest, safest ways to protect children, families and communities. Childhood vaccination has been one of modern medicine’s biggest success stories. In fact, vaccines for children have been so successful that we no longer see many of the diseases that once caused severe illness, disability and death.

Thanks to vaccines, most children will never get whooping cough, tetanus, polio or meningitis—so we rarely witness how serious these infections can be. Because these threats feel distant, parents may wonder if their child needs all the recommended vaccines. The answer is yes: following the schedule protects your child before exposure, helps stop outbreaks at school and church, and shields newborns, elders, and friends with weak immune systems.

Vaccines are thoroughly tested, carefully monitored and given at the safest ages for the best protection. Immunise on time—so your child grows, learns and plays with the strongest defence possible today.

08/10/2025

Continuing Medical Education (CME) is part of the Pendleton ethos—it keeps our clinical team sharp, evidence-based and aligned on best practice for your child’s care. This week, Martin (our Laboratory Technologist) led a focused session on Vitamin D in children and how to spot and manage deficiency. Thanks to our in-clinic testing, we can check Vitamin D levels with a 20-minute turnaround, so families get answers and a plan the same day.

From our practice data, the largest share of Vitamin D–deficient children were those living with sickle cell disease (SCD). Why? Children with SCD often have:

* Higher nutritional needs and chronic inflammation, increasing Vitamin D requirements.
* Less sun exposure during illness or pain crises, reducing natural Vitamin D synthesis.
* Possible kidney and gut effects from SCD that impair Vitamin D activation or absorption.
* Darker skin pigmentation (common in SCD populations), which naturally lowers Vitamin D production from sunlight.

CME turns insights like these into action—updating our screening thresholds, refining supplementation advice, and tailoring follow-up for higher-risk groups. If your child has SCD (or other risk factors), speak to us about a quick Vitamin D check at your next visit.

06/10/2025

Roseola is a common (usually mild) viral illness in little ones. High fever first, then a pink rash as the fever settles. Care is supportive—correct fever meds, fluids, and rest. See our paediatricians if you’re unsure.

02/10/2025

Bye-Bye, Baby Flakes! ✨

Cradle cap (infantile seborrheic dermatitis) may look alarming, but it’s common, harmless and not itchy. You might see yellow-white, greasy flakes or thicker crusts on baby’s scalp .

Gentle care helps: wash with baby shampoo, loosen with a soft brush and massage a tiny bit of coconut or mineral oil—then rinse 🛁🫧. Please don’t pick the scales. Most cases clear on their own.

📅 Book an appointment with our paediatricians if it spreads widely or the skin becomes very red, swollen or you notice oozing ⚠️. Cradle cap is not due to poor hygiene, is not contagious and is not an allergy.

29/09/2025

BCG vaccine: what side effects should I expect?

In Zambia, the BCG vaccine is routinely given to newborns to protect against severe forms of tuberculosis (TB) like TB meningitis and widespread (“miliary”) TB in young children. In countries with high TB prevalence—like ours—this early protection saves lives and remains an essential part of infant care. 🇿🇲

Common, normal reactions ✅
• A small, firm bump (papule) appears at the injection site 2–4 weeks after vaccination. This can become a tiny ulcer, then heal over 2–5 months and leave a small scar—this is expected.
• Nearby lymph nodes (usually in the armpit on the same side) may swell slightly (

25/09/2025

🧪 What’s a CRP Test & Why Does It Matter?

CRP (C-Reactive Protein) is made by the liver and rises when there’s inflammation or infection in the body. Doctors use the CRP blood test to check how sick your child might be and to guide treatment.

✨ Why it’s important:
* Helps spot hidden infections or inflammation
* Monitors long-term conditions like Inflammatory bowel disease (long-term inflammation of the intestines), Juvenile idiopathic arthritis ( inflammed, swollen joints) or Osteomyelitis (infection of a bone)
* Shows if treatment is working

⚠️ When CRP is very high (>90), infection is usually bacterial (not just viral). Examples include:
* Pneumonia
* Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
* Sepsis (blood infection)
* Tuberculosis
* COVID-19 and other viral illnesses

🔍 When is the test done?
* Unexplained fever, pain or fatigue
* Checking for infections or inflammatory diseases

💡 Remember: A raised CRP tells us there’s an infection or inflammation, but not exactly where it’s coming from. Always follow up with your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

22/09/2025

🍽️ Optimising Nutrition in Kids: Understanding Feeding & Swallowing Difficulties
Mealtimes are more than just food — they’re moments of bonding, growth and joy. But for some children, eating isn’t easy. Children may experience feeding and/or swallowing disorders. Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) refer to difficulties in processing or moving liquids and food through the mouth, throat and stomach. Feeding disorders cover a broader range of eating challenges that may impact a child’s ability to get the nutrition which may or may not involve swallowing issues.

⚠️ Some signs of feeding or swallowing issues include:
• Frequent coughing or choking during meals
• Poor weight gain
• Food refusal or aversion
• Long mealtimes or signs of discomfort
• Frequent respiratory illnesses

Left unaddressed, these issues can lead to serious consequences like undernutrition, dehydration, gastrointestinal (tummy) problems, and even long-term developmental impacts — not just for the child, but the whole family.

👩‍⚕️ Who can help?
Our Speech-Language Therapist works closely with your child and a team of experts to assess, support and improve feeding and swallowing safely and effectively.

💡 Early intervention is key. Every child deserves to eat, grow and thrive with confidence.

📍Book a consultation with our clinic’s Speech Therapist today and take the first step toward making mealtimes easier and more enjoyable for your child.

20/09/2025

Love Without Reason will be conducting free cleft lip and palate surgeries at Mazabuka General Hospital from 25th -26th September, 2025. If you know of a child requiring this life changing surgery, call 0979842896 and 0966870510. www.lovewithoutreason.org

18/09/2025

🌙 Struggling to sleep, focus or feel rested? You or your child might have sleep apnea —and a sleep study could change everything! 😴

👶 In children, signs include:
* Snoring or noisy breathing at night
* Pauses in breathing while asleep
* Restless sleep or bedwetting
* Daytime irritability, hyperactivity, or poor focus

🧑‍🦱 In adults, look out for:
* Loud snoring or choking during sleep
* Morning headaches or dry mouth
* Constant tiredness or low mood
* Difficulty concentrating

A sleep study (polysomnography) also helps identify whether enlarged tonsils/adenoids are disrupting your child's sleep — giving clear evidence for whether surgery is needed.

📍 Book your CPAP titration or sleep study today at Pendleton Children’s Clinic. Let’s get those Zzz’s back on track!

📞 For more information about sleep studies, call +260 974 739 749 | Email: ilzejvr@pendleton.clinic

16/09/2025

15/09/2025

💧 How much water does my baby need?

One of the most common questions parents ask us is: “Should I give my baby water?”

Here’s what you need to know 👇
👶 0–6 months:
Your baby gets all the water and nutrients they need from breast milk (or formula). No extra water is needed at this stage.
🍼 6–12 months:
Breast milk (or formula) is still the main source of water, but you can now offer small sips of water — around 120–240ml per day, spread out in tiny amounts.
🚼 Toddlers (1–3 years):
They usually need about 1 litre per day — but this includes water from food and drinks too.

✨ Remember, these amounts are just estimates. A child’s age, weight, activity level, the weather, and their diet all play a role.

How to spot dehydration:
• Clear to pale urine → good hydration
• Yellow urine → may need more fluids
• Dark yellow/brown urine → likely dehydration

💡Tip: A thirsty child is already mildly dehydrated, so encourage frequent sips during the day.

⚠️ Avoid giving energy drinks, sodas or soft drinks — they don’t hydrate and they aren’t healthy for little ones. Water is always the best choice!

13/09/2025

Yesterday, Dr Marsden joined the wonderful parents and teachers at .sprouts.montessori to chat all things pre-school infections.

✨ Key takeaway: It’s normal for little ones to have 6–8 colds a year—tiny hands touch noses, eyes, toys… and each other! Frequent mild infections are actually a sign the immune system is learning and strengthening!

How to cut the spread of infections in class:
• Hand-washing (soap + water or hand sanitiser)
• Clean surfaces & shared toys often
• “Cough etiquette”: sneeze or cough into the elbow - toddlers can be taught this techique!
• Cough into tissues and put in the bin straight away (better than hands!)

Parents, keep up the good habits at home—wash before and after eating, and after the toilet.

We also busted myths on infections, immunity and vaccines.

Huge thank you to Little Sprouts Montessori for the invite and the chance to learn together! 🌱