And What To Do About It In Malaysia
Many different things can cause children to vomit. Things such as any forms of infections, intestinal blockage or even pain.
The most common cause of vomiting is usually due to a viral infection (tummy bug) and often this is accompanied by diarrhea.
Most children may have these symptoms for a couple of days but as long as they can drink and keep their fluids down and stay hydrated, they can usually be safely managed at home.
Infection is one of the most common causes of vomiting but it is CRITICAL that that you take your child to the local hospital Emergency Room (ER) if they are presenting any of the following symptoms:
Vomiting With Diarrhea
Cough And Persistently Vomiting
If your child presents ANY of the symptoms above it is critical you take them to your local hospital ER (Emergency Room) without delay.
Do NOT wait to schedule an appointment.
There are some rare occasions when your child vomits due to pain. He or she may have been injured from a fall and there may have been a significant injury, best seen by a doctor to rule out a bone fracture or any other soft tissue injury. Any child who vomits after a head injury needs to be assessed by a doctor.
When your boy has pain in his testis and is vomiting, you should take him to a child surgeon urgently, as he may have a twisted testis. There is risk of him losing his testis.
Type of vomit – non bilious (mostly milk feeds or mucus)
Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis
An Infant child (under 3 months old) who has projectile, forceful vomiting with every feed (large volumes), your child might have an obstruction to the stomach outlet (pyloric stenosis). With time your baby may become more dehydrated as none of the milk feed is kept down. You will have to take your child to see paediatrician at a hospital to assess. This is the only condition of bowel obstruction where the vomit does not contain bile.
Type of vomit – bilious (yellow or green)
Bile vomiting is usually indicative of an obstruction to the intestine therefore any child with bile vomiting should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible to be examined, ideally by a child surgeon.
These are blockages anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract from the oesophagus to the anus as the intestine is not in continuity. The child is born with this abnormality. Atresias of the intestine presents soon after birth with bile vomiting and if its further down stream, for example in the colon, there will be associated tummy distention. Surgery is the only option to repair the problem.
Malrotation happens when the intestine is not “arranged” in its rightful position and this predisposes it to twist (volvulus) on its own blood supply. When this happens it causes intestinal obstruction and more seriously it cuts off the blood supply to that part of the intestine. The intestine can die as a result. A child with green vomit and tummy pain needs to be urgently taken to hospital, preferably where there is a child surgeon. Other symptoms include blood in the poo.
This condition is identified at birth and can happen to both boys and girls. In some there is no visible opening for faeces to come through (usually in boys), in some others, the opening is tiny and slightly forward (towards the genitalia). The child will have difficulties opening bowels and hence the tummy will get distended if carried on feeding.
A paediatric surgeon will decide if they can help to improve the faeces to come out till a definitive surgery is done or to perform a temporary stoma where the poo is diverted into a bag on the tummy.
For a detailed article on Anorectal Malformation please click here.
In Hirschprungs disease, there is absence of nerve cells towards the bottom end of the bowel. The length of effected bowel can be variable but mostly no longer than 10 to 20 centimeters, from the rectum. The absence of nerve means that the effected segment of intestine does not relax and hence clamp shut. There is build up of pressure of faeces and gas upstream and these babies cannot open their bowels. Their tummies become distended and they will have bilious vomiting.
The vast majority of children with Hirschprungs disease presents within the first month of life however some present within a year and very rarely beyond this period. Symptoms are infrequent opening of bowels with tummy distention and vomiting. Diagnosis is made by taking a small biopsy (sample) of the tissue from the rectum, which can be done in the child surgeon’s clinic.
For a detailed article on Hirschsprungs Disease please click here.
These are a single finger like projections on the small bowel, which is present in 2% of the population. Only about 6% of all Meckels diverticulum will have symptoms. The inner lining of these may contain acid secreting cells and hence the acid can erode the adjacent lining of the small intestine causing bleeding. Other symptoms of intestinal obstruction are, due to inflammation or infection of the Meckels, or it can cause intussusception or obstruction when it is attached to the tummy wall inside and trap a loop of intestine (band obstruction)
The symptoms of these are tummy distention and pain, blood in the faeces or green vomit.
This condition happens when the intestine telescopes into an adjacent intestine usually the small intestine into the large. Occasionally as in Meckels diverticulum, the abnormal structure on the intestine can cause this to happen too. As the outer one is squeezing the intestine inside, this causes intermittent pain. The child often presents with pain, bloody jelly like poo, and bile vomiting.
The cause of bowel obstruction secondary to appendicitis, like in Meckels diverticulitis is the inflammation or even pus from a burst appendicitis causing the bowel movement (peristalsis) to stop. This is called paralytic ileus, secondary to inflammation or infection.
With appendicitis, the predominant symptom would be tummy pain if it were severe enough to cause an ileus. The vomit here again is bile green. With tummy pain and all the symptoms suggesting appendicitis, its best to take your child to a hospital where there is a child surgeon doing keyhole surgery.
For a detailed article on Appendicitis please click here.
A tumour is any abnormal growth, which can be benign or cancerous. Any growth in the tummy can get large enough to push on the intestine and block it’s opening from the outside. A child with a tumour blocking the intestine will probably have a visible lump on the tummy. With a lump in the tummy and bile vomiting, the child needs to see a child surgeon immediately.
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As a parent myself, I know how daunting it is when you’re faced with the dilemma of finding the best treatment for your children.
My passion is to make sure that all my patients get the best quality of care.
That involves good communication with children and parents while making the journey as pain-free as possible.
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Dr Nada Sudhakaran is a consultant Paediatric Surgeon providing specialized children surgery and based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. He has extensive experience in reconstructive paediatric surgery, with a special interest in Minimally Invasive Surgery (keyhole surgery). He is on the specialist register to practice Paediatric Surgery in UK, Malaysia and Australia
MBBS University of Wales, UK, MRCS (Glasgow, UK), FRCS (Paediatric Surgery, Intercollegiate Board, UK), CCT Paediatric Surgery General Medical Council (UK), No: 4193546, FRACS Paediatric Surgery, Australia, No: 200030, National specialist Register Malaysia: No: 129809
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Dr Nada Child Surgeon
19 Jan 2021, 17:39
The MCO in Malaysia has recently been reinstated and kids are in the safety of their homes once again.
However being indoors for extended periods brings some unexpected medical problems to previously healthy kids.
This was what happened at the end of the last prolonged MCO with bowel, urinary issues and unhealthy weight gain predominating my clinic attendance...
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Find out what potential health problems children may face and what you can do to prevent them in this new article for MCO 2021.
If you find it useful please do SHARE with your network.
Thank you and stay safe! 🤗
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MCO 2021 Malaysia - Health problems children may face being locked down at home
www.drnadachildsurgeon.com
The MCO in Malaysia has recently been reinstated and kids are in the safety of their homes once again. However being indoors for extended periods brings some unexpected medical problems to previously healthy kids...Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email
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I totally agreed Dr. Nada. My eldest have gained so much weight last year. I think 6kg in fact. He complains of being ill such as stomachaches and headaches so often during during the lockdown, and especially during zoom classes.
I we avoided Milo..tq Dr.
Dr Nada Child Surgeon
18 Jan 2021, 13:16
Happy new year to all my lovely parents and little patients!
I wish we could have started the year under better circumstances...
Unfortunately, with the resurgence in cases due to the virus, we're all back to MCO conditions similar to what we had in March last year.
While this is certainly a good thing in terms of controlling the spread, it can lead some parents to avoid or delay getting medical help for their children - especially if hospital visits are involved.
While this is understandable, it is especially important for parents to be aware of some medical conditions in their kids which would require more urgent attention and to take your child to seek appropriate medical help despite the MCO.
Common conditions like the flu or cold still do occur and Dengue is still causing issues to Malaysians during this MCO period.
Most hospitals in Malaysia are equipped and super vigilant on tracking any patients with the virus entering their premises, hence they are pretty safe to visit when you need medical help.
I work at Pantai hospital Kuala Lumpur, Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur, Prince Court Medical Centre and Tung Shin hospitals, all of which are extremely safe if you need to take your child to visit a doctor.
To help you be alert to symptoms that may be a sign of underlying health problems in children, I wrote this comprehensive 𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗬𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗘.
I hope you find it useful and please do share it with other parents who you think could benefit from it.
So remember, do not ignore or delay serious symptoms.
Early action can be hugely beneficial for the health of any patient, especially children.
I am just a call or message away for an appointment to help.
In the meantime stay safe and trust that our year will get better!
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Children Medical Symptoms to NOT ignore during MCO in Malaysia
www.drnadachildsurgeon.com
It is very important for parents to be aware of some medical symptoms in their kids which would require more urgent attention and to take your child to seek appropriate medical help despite the CMCO.Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email
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Dr Nada Child Surgeon
24 Dec 2020, 15:20
And so we reach the end of 2020...What a year it has been!
I hope all of my lovely little patients and their loving parents have been safe and sound.
From the bottom of my heart I wish you all Happy Holidays and a wonderful
New Year.
Let's have ourselves a fabulous 2021 shall we? We deserve it!
Stay safe, happy and blessed!
Dr.Nada
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PS: Am just one appointment away should you ever need my help! ... See MoreSee Less
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Dr. Nada, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
#HappyNewYear2021 Dr....