Kaur Inderjeet and Pandey Reena.
Discussions and debates have recently emerged on the potential positive and negative effects of cow’s milk in the pediatric community, also under the pressure of public opinion. Although feeding cow’s milk to an infant is more than thousand year old tradition in India, it is unsafe practice in modern context. There seems to be significant compromise being made on infant’s health as mother’s milk is being substituted for variety of reasons in the 1st year itself, when the child is most vulnerable to infections noted by experts.
Nutrition experts are worried that infants in the country may be silently suffering from reduced nutrient content in their milk due to common household practices such as boiling, adding water, removing the layer of milk cream, strip milk of its essential nutrients and vitamins. The most important of these is in some infants cow’s milk may be sensitive and sometimes strains the digestive system of babies.
Ayurveda gives lots of importance on good nutrition at every stage of child’s life, in order to preserve their health. To make the most health benefits of cow’s milk and to boost its digestive properties in children, one should recommend aushadhasiddhadugdha (herbs infused milk) to infants. Milk when digested properly, nourishes all the tissues, promote balanced emotions and help to balance all the doshas in child as well as in an adult.
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Iyevhobu K. O., Airefetalor A .I., Abinokhauno, S. O., Ken-Iyevhobu B. A. and Oseni D. I.
Diarrhoea can be defined as the occurrence of three or more loose, liquid or watery stools or at least one bloody loose stool in a 24h period. Cholera is worldwide problem, especially in developing countries. It has been very rare in industrialized nations for the hundred years, however, the diseases is common today in other part of the world, including the Indian sub-continent and sub-Sahara Africa. This study is to ascertain the prevalence of Escherichiacoli and Vibriocholera in infants 0 – 5 years with diarrhoea attending some private hospitals in Ekpoma. The study population consisted of children between the ages of 0-5 years, presenting with diarrhoea, whose parents gave consent and the exclusion criteria were children under the ages of 0-5 years, whose parents did not give their consent and those above the age range in study. Fifty (50) stool samples were collected from children under 5 years of age visiting some selected hospital in Ekpoma due to acute diarrhoea. Stool samples were collected using sterile stool containers and transferred to the microbiology laboratory of St Kenny Research Consult, Ekpoma on ice packs for laboratory analysis. Stool samples collected from all of the children enrolled in the study were tested for E. coli and Vibrio cholera during the period of the study. There were altogether 50 stool samples processed for Vibrio choleraeand Escherichia coli. Out of 50 diarrhoeal patients (children) studied, 22 (44%) were male and 28 (56%) were female. Majority of the children with diarrhea were between 13 – 24 months 16 (32%), followed by 25 - 36 months 12 (24%), 0 – 12 months 10 (20%), 37 – 48 months 8 (16%) and 49 – 60 months 4 (8%). Among the 4, children within the age of 0 – 12 months had a prevalence of 1 (5.6%), those within the age range of 13 – 24 months had a prevalence of 2 (20%) while those within the age range of 25 – 36 months had a prevalence of 1 (16.7%). While for Vibrio, out of the fifty (50) stool samples examined, three (3) were positive to Vibrio cholerae. Among the 3, one (1) child from within the age of 13 – 24 months, 25 – 36 months and 37 – 48 months. None was found among children within the age range of 0 – 12 months and 49 – 60 months. This study suggests that E. coliare an important diarrhoea pathogen in subjects in Ekpoma. The implication of this is that our health inspectors in the local government areas of the state must be vigilant and ensure that campaigns are mounted to educate our citizens on ways of improving on the unsanitary environment. The presence of antibiotic
resistant strains of the E. coli and V. choleraeisolates in the study population indicates the often unnecessary and uninformed use of these drugs in the treatment of most infantile diarrhoea cases.
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Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu, Getrude Uzoma Obeagu and Sarad Pawar Naik Bukke
In many newborn infants, neutropaenia is a self-resolving condition. Nevertheless, it is thought that in premature infants, neutrophil formation and function are a little different. Since neutrophils play a crucial role in innate immunity, neonatal neutropenia in premature infants needs to be quickly identified and treated according to the risk factors, especially those of clinical infections. Numerous factors, including maternal and prenatal conditions, congenital syndromes, immune-mediated processes, nosocomial infections, and idiopathic conditions, can contribute to neutropenia in premature infants. However, not all premature infant neutropaenia is clinically significant and frequently does not increase the risk of infection. In this review article, we\\\'ll talk about the birth of neutrophils, neonatal neutropenia causes, how premature infants and neutropenia are related, and some effective ways to treat the condition.
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Esther Ugo Alum, Okechukwu P. C. Ugwu, Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu, Obasi Uche Orji, Nzubechukwu Edwin and Michael Ben Okon
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)during a baby\'s first six months of life is still a vital worldwide public health approach that UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) support. The numerous advantages of early brain feeding (EBF) include decreased rates of morbidity and mortality in children, healthcare cost savings, improved mother-child bonding, and decreased risks of a variety of childhood illnesses. Nevertheless, the global incidence of EBF is below desired levels, especially in East Africa, despite these well-established benefits. The present publication provides a complete review of exclusive breastfeeding practices in East Africa, focusing on mom knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Research indicates notable deficiencies in mothers\' comprehension and compliance with EBF guidelines within the area. While there are several obstacles to optimum breastfeeding practices, including cultural views, HIV worries, a lack of awareness, and societal influences, interventions such as counseling and educational campaigns have not demonstrated much success, especially when it comes to young moms. The article also investigates the possible function of religious authorities as powerful proponents of exclusive breastfeeding. Considering the significant impact that religious leaders have on East African communities, enlisting their support seems to be a viable way to improve EBF practices and close current gaps. Using the power of religious leaders in conjunction with current initiatives may be a crucial way to promote and maintain the best possible breastfeeding practices, which would eventually improve the health and well-being of infants in the area.
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Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu and Getrude Uzoma Obeagu
Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) plays a crucial role in ensuring a HIV-free start for newborns born to HIV-positive mothers. This review highlights the significance of EID in pediatric HIV care, emphasizing its role in timely identification of HIV infection, prevention of morbidity and mortality, facilitation of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs, reduction of HIV transmission, and promotion of long-term health outcomes. Despite its importance, EID faces challenges such as limited access to testing services and logistical constraints. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening health systems and leveraging innovative approaches to expand access to EID services. Investing in EID programs is essential for achieving global HIV elimination targets and advancing towards an AIDS-free generation.
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