Dengue Formula of 20 - Remember the Formula of 20 to identify high risk patients:

Dengue Formula of 20 - Remember the Formula of 20 to identify high risk patients: o Rise in pulse by 20 o Fall in upper blood pressure by more than 20 o Rise in hematocrit by more than 20 percent o Rapid fall in platelets to less than 20,000 o More than 20 hemorrhagic spots on the arm in one inch after tourniquet test o Difference between upper and lower blood pressure is less than 20 Start fluid replacement at 20 ml/kg/hour immediately in such patients, and shift to nearest medical center for observation. • The best way to reduce chances of getting the infection is to eliminate the places where the mosquito breeds. Plastic containers, buckets, drums etc. that hold water in and around the home should be kept covered or discarded properly. Outdoors, water containers like pet and animal water containers, flower planter dishes should be emptied and scrub cleaned at least once a week.

India Vaccine Parent Queries - Hepatitis A vaccine

Q: My daughter is due for HEP A vaccine & she is 12 months old now. Pls suggest me the brand & product name of the same(preferably PFS vaccine). Pls mention the doses also. 

A: I prefer to use BIOVAC A (Wockhardt) as it is a Single dose Live Vaccine.

The more well known option is HAVRIX (GSK) & AVAXIM (Sanofi) , which are very good vaccines, but require 2 doses at a gap of 6 months.

Warm regards

How to Battle the Infections this Monsoon? Guest Blog by Dr Hema

Dear Parent,

The rains are here and how!!! How is the monsoon treating your area - lots of showers or just drizzles? We're having intermittent showers that are certainly a respite from the heat, but are also bringing along their evil friends - infections! So how do you help your little one stay happy and healthy this monsoon?

One of the biggest effects of the changing weather is decreased immunity. Improve your kids' immunity by making sure they eat well, drink lots of water, get proper sleep and stay active.

Here are some posts about the kind of food you can feed your child this season.

• Healthy Monsoon Recipes for Kids
• Immunity Boosting Soup for Kids
• 15 Super Foods to Boost Immunity

And it's not just food, drinks are also important! Avoid chilled beverages and opt for warm ones like these:

• Masala Milk Recipe
• Sprouted Ragi Malt Drink
• Multigrain Health Drink

Another common problem is infection of the skin and eyes. Let kids wear full sleeve clothing to stay protected from insects. Teach them to wash hands properly and not to keep touching their eyes, face or mouth. For more practical tips regarding health care during monsoons, check out this post.

Most infections that occur during monsoons are viral and antibiotics may not help. Here is more aboutwhy you should skip the antibiotics this monsoon.

And when it's pouring outside, the little bundles of energy can't go out and are likely to get bored! Keep them occupied and happy with a boredom box; go here to find out how you can make one for your child

Take care