KPA Kenya Paediatric Association Tue, 23 Mar 2021 10:15:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 KPA 32 32 AAP COVID-19 Townhall:  Pediatric Clinical Updates Tue, 23 Mar 2021 10:02:01 +0000 Interim Guidance on Supporting the Emotional and Behavioral Health Needs of Children, Adolescents, and Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

In an update to its interim guidance, the AAP describes the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color and the impact of structural racism that results in inequities. The pandemic has underscored the need to continue to integrate emotional and behavioral health as part of standard care. The interim guidance update also adds information about children in the welfare and juvenile justice system and suicidal ideation.

  1. Updated Guidance: Interim Guidance on Supporting the Emotional and Behavioral Health Needs of Children, Adolescents, and Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic 
  2. AAP News: Updated guidance focuses on mental health risks, needs during pandemic 
  3. ArticleMental Health During COVID-19: Signs Your Child May Need More Support 

AAP COVID-19 Townhall:  Pediatric Clinical Updates (Recording)

The AAP is proud to continue offering a bi-weekly series of virtual town halls linking members with leading experts to discuss emerging issues related to caring for patients and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the last townhall, experts addressed questions related to a broad range of clinical topics including COVID-19 illness in children, MIS-C, therapeutics, “long COVID”, the outlook for advancing vaccines in children, and more.


Paediatricians Note Stop Pneumonia Every Breath Counts Mon, 16 Nov 2020 03:52:19 +0000


Pneumonia kills about 2 children every single minute! EVERY SINGLE MINUTE!! Pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Pneumonia can be prevented. Pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics.


What is pneumonia?

In very simple terms, Pneumonia is a form of acute disease that affects the lungs. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When a child has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing difficult and limits the amount of oxygen getting into the lungs. Oxygen is crucial for survival!


What causes pneumonia?

Microorganisms referred to as bacteria, viruses and also fungi in special populations.


What is the difference between pneumonia and covid 19?

Both of them are pneumonias, current and ongoing data shows that adults are suffering more symptomatically due to covid 19 pneumonia than children. When children develop symptoms, their clinical course is milder. The Kenya’s Ministry of health has reported that over 1000 children have contracted the virus five months since the pandemic was first reported in Kenya with five deaths related to covid 19 reported.


What are the symptoms of pneumonia?

Pneumonia in children can present with coughing, fast breathing, laboured breathing and fever. Other symptoms include inability to feed, change in colour of mucous membrane as well having head bobbing among other features your doctor will look out for.


Is it safe to take my child to hospital if they have the symptoms of pneumonia?

Yes, ensure you protect yourself, your child and your doctor by following the Ministry of Health COVID-19 protocols.


Why can’t I just go to the chemist and buy medicine over the counter?

You need a doctor to assess the severity and likely cause of your child’s cough and cold symptoms.

Antibiotic resistance is on the rise and every time you buy an antibiotic without a prescription you risk a generation not benefiting from that antibiotic.


What about cough syrups and piriton/cetirizine (commonly used antihistamine)?

Remember that coughing is a body’s own way of getting rid of foreign material. It’s okay if your child coughs. Many cough mixtures have up to 4-15% brandy! Yes you read that right and the alcohol can make your child sleepy or inactive especially if given in overdose. Similarly, there are other components of the cough syrups that are not safe to children in general. Hence we do not recommend these to children under the age of 12 years.


Does my doctor need to run some tests to diagnose my child with pneumonia??

NO!! This is one of the condition where doctors make a diagnosis based on clinical examination findings. Not doing lab tests is not equal to not doing anything for the child.


How can we prevent pneumonia?

1.Breast is Best!! I can not overemphasise the goodness of the white gold ,it is literally the greatest adjunct to medicine in the new world.Based on research we advise that you breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and continue to atleast 2 years.

2.Vaccination prevents the serious forms of pneumoia. Let thy child get that jab as recommended!!

3.Hand washing with soap and water.

4.Teach your children proper coughing etiquette especially when they are at a mingling age.

5.Ensure your chilid gets adequate treatment if they have a cough with fever and any sign of laboured breathing.


Paeditrician’s note.

Written by: Dr Aura, MbChB, Paediatric Resident

Reviewed by: Dr. Justus Simba

8 Reasons Why Babies Cry Overnight Mon, 19 Oct 2020 13:35:45 +0000

Newborns do not sleep through the night most of the time. They usually wake up a couple of times to feed. This might however be accompanied by crying spells that might causes distress to the parents. Babies mostly communicate through crying as they cannot speak. Below are some of the reasons why babies cry during the night:


1. Hunger

Babies will normally feed every two to three hours. Hunger would easily keep them up at night crying uncontrollably. This would be accompanied by smacking of the lips and sucking on a fist. Keeping the feeding intervals regular and early response to their cues to feed will have them sleeping peacefully.


2. Gas in the Stomach

When a baby is hungry and they are breastfeeding quickly, they tend to swallow in air together with the milk. The kind of stomach upset observed characteristically comes right after breastfeeding. A baby will be fussy and cry instead of settling down to sleep after a feed. Feed your baby before they become frantically hungry and take short break burp your baby during breastfeeding or after a feed.


3. A Wet Diaper

Wet diapers should preferably be changed as soon as possible to avoid irritating the child’s skin. Delay in changing the diaper could also cause diaper rash which could also keep the baby awake at night.


4. Uncomfortable Swaddling

As you swaddle your baby during their sleep, do you check to ensure that one of their fingers or toes is not stuck uncomfortably? This might keep them awake and crying during the night due to the discomfort and pain that they are undergoing. Isn’t it sad they can neither speak nor point out the place of affliction?


5. Feeling too Hot or Cold

It gets very surprising when adults are hot during the night, have their windows open but let their baby sleep under five duvets. The extremes in temperatures will make the baby irritable and thus the crying all through the night. The cold will also make them uncomfortable.


6. Feeling Tired

Your baby may be tired but finding it hard to sleep. This could be due to a noisy environment or overstimulation like too much rocking and singing. Try taking your baby to a quiet room after feeding to help her calm down and sleep.


7. Colic

Colic is frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in a healthy infant. Colic can be particularly frustrating for parents because the baby’s distress occurs for no apparent reason and no amount of consoling seems to bring any relief. Colic is usually defined as crying for three or more hours a day, three or more days a week, for three or more weeks. These episodes often occur in the evening, when parents themselves are often tired. Episodes of colic usually peak when an infant is about 6 weeks old and decline significantly after 3 to 4 months of age. Excessive, inconsolable crying may be colic or an indication of an illness or condition that causes pain or discomfort. Schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor for a thorough exam if your infant experiences excessive crying or other signs or symptoms of colic.


8. Illness

When a child is sick, they will definitely cry. This will be indiscriminate on whether it is during the day or during the night. Other indications will guide you into thinking of an illness, for example a fever (Temperature more than 37.2 degrees), convulsions, lethargy or even refusal to feed. Seeking medical attention would be the best thing.
Do you have any questions that you would like to have us answer? Would you like to share your experiences with us? Kindly leave it on the comment section. Having an opportunity to engage with our community of readers is our joy.

Written by Dr. Joan Ruguru

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