Doctor Column

COUGH IN CHILDREN

Whether it’s 2’o’clock in the afternoon or 2 in the morning, parents will worry, “Why is my child coughing?” Can I ignore the cough? Does he need medication? Is it necessary for my child to be examined by a doctor?

‘COUGHING’ — IN ADULTS

Coughing can present itself in various disguises. Doctors often look at coughing through the eyes of their own specialty. To an allergist, it’s a tickle in the back of the throat and a symptom of post nasal drip. To a gastroenterologist, coughing is due to reflux disease; to a psychiatrist it’s a nervous reaction. The infectious disease specialist wants to know if the cough could be due to HIV.

HEARING AIDS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Individuals at times complain: “People mumble all the time. They don’t speak up.” Or they might say, “I can hear you, but I can’t get a grip on the words.” Adults can voice their disappointments but small children are dependent on alert parents and physicians to recognize their loss of hearing.

How To Keep A Picky Child Healthy

Some children will eat everything put in front of them, while others have a more selective palate. But what do you do when your child’s meals are so limited that they lack variety and color? You may have tried making things into cute and funny shapes and still these foods have been rejected. Here are some adjustments you can make to simple meals so that you know your child is getting as many nutrients as possible.

Vitamin D

The American Academy of Pediatrics has doubled the recommended daily dose of vitamin D for children and teens up to 400 units per day, which is equivalent to drinking four cups of milk.