Give your baby the best by choosing Dr. Sunny

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Give your baby the best by choosing Dr. Sunny

If your child’s health is your topmost priority, you should choose Dr. Sunny as your healthcare provider. If you are wondering why keep reading this post.

We provide pediatric care for all age groups whether it is a newborn, toddler, or an adolescent. Our services are built keeping in mind the health issues that can affect children of any age group, such as:

Well baby Clinic: Our well baby clinic is specially designed to focus on improving the overall well-being of infants and toddlers. Our well baby check-ups include evaluating weight and other measurements of the baby, understanding infant dietary requirements, resolving feeding, and sleeping issues as well as managing common illnesses.

Pediatric Outpatient: We aim to detect and prevent/manage any physical, emotional, social, or developmental issues that may be present from birth in your little ones. Through our pediatric outpatient we diagnose and treat acute and chronic illnesses, injuries, and other disorders that affect children.

 

Monitoring Growth & Development: Documenting the growth and development of a baby is quite essential as missed milestones can be a sign of an underlying health issue. This is the reason you should not skip your regular appointments with the pediatrician.

Immunization Advice: Following the recommended immunization schedule is important to protect kids from a range of infectious diseases. If you are looking for immunization advice or need your child to be vaccinated you can visit our clinic.

Dietary Advice: Most of the parents often complain that their children are picky eaters. To solve this issue, you can consult our expert pediatricians about the kind of diet your children should have that would cover their daily nutritional needs to grow well. A good diet will also help them to avoid chronic diseases.

Childhood Infectious Disease: Children often suffer from common flu, ear infections, stomach flu, infectious diarrhea, throat infections and urinary infections. You can rely on our pediatric experts to cure all these infectious diseases.

Management of pediatric Asthma & Allergies: Seasonal allergies are common in kids but sometimes these allergies can create absolute discomfort hindering your child from following their daily routine. Similarly pediatric asthma can also stop your child from participating in daily activities. Such allergies need immediate medical attention, and our pediatric experts are best in such situations.

Adolescent health care: For adolescents and young adults, there are several key areas that our pediatrician may focus on before prescribing medication. These include social and behavioral health, immunization (vaccines), healthy habits, reproductive and sexual health.

If you are looking for any of the services mentioned in the post book an appointment with us today to provide the best healthcare to your child.

 

Safe Sleep Tips for Infants

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Safe Sleep Tips for Infants

Creating a safe sleeping environment for babies is a top priority for every new parent as babies sleep for about 16 hours a day. It is important for new parents, nannies or child care professionals to be informed about safe sleeping practices to reduce the risk of injuries and issues such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). If you are someone who wants to learn more about the topic keep reading this blogpost. Below are some tips for keeping your baby safe while sleeping.

Share a room with your baby: To reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death, it is recommended to share a room with your baby and sleep close by. You can place your baby’s crib next to your bed, so you are within reach but not sharing a sleeping surface.

Put your baby to sleep on their back: Always place your baby on their back while putting them to sleep. It is not safe for a baby to sleep on their side or tummy. However, if your baby starts rolling over from their back to side or tummy and back again, it is not a problem.

Use a firm surface for your baby’s crib: Make sure the mattress in the crib is firm and there are no gaps between the frame and the mattress. Avoid placing any toys or other objects in the crib as they could put your baby in danger of being suffocated.

Dress your baby in comfortable clothing: When putting your baby to sleep, avoid covering their head and remove any strings or ties from their clothing. Ensure the room is at a comfortable temperature.

Avoid letting your baby sleep in a carrier, sling, or stroller: If your baby falls asleep in a carrier or sling, be sure to transfer them to their crib as soon as possible.

No matter how much you read up on parenting or get advice on newborn baby care from family or friends you still feel under prepped. You need not worry because we are here to clear up your doubts. You can consult our children’s doctor to help you create a safe sleeping environment for your baby or even get our newborn care services to help you. Call us today to book our services.

Taking Your Newborn to the Pediatrician: How Often and What to Expect

Taking Your Newborn to the Pediatrician

Taking Your Newborn to the Pediatrician: How Often and What to Expect

As new parents you will make multiple visits to the pediatrician for the first two years, for various purposes including immunization, well-baby visits, conducting physical examinations to track developmental milestones and may be when your baby falls sick.

For all these reasons it becomes super imperative for parents to know how often they need to visit the children’s doctor and what to expect from these visits. If you are wondering where to get the overview of your little one’s check-ups and appointments, keep reading this post.

The First Doctor Visit after your Child’s Birth (Well Baby Visits)

As a new parent you will make the first visit to your baby’s doctor within 3-5 days of your newborn’s arrival. Here are a few things that the doctor would check during the first visit.

  • Do a complete medical exam which will include measuring your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference.
  • The doctor will ask how you’re doing with the new baby and how your baby is eating and sleeping.
  • The doctor will check your baby’s reflexes, vision, and hearing.

Immunization Visits

Immunization is the best way to protect children from getting several diseases. Your child will need numerous vaccinations to achieve immunity against several viral infections. Here is a list of recommended vaccines according to the age at which they should be administered.

At Birth: Within 24 hours of birth your child will receive BCG and Hepatitis B injection.

Two Months: DtaP, Hib, Hepatitis B, IPV, PCV

Four Months: DPT, Hib, OPV, PCV

Six Months: DPT, Hib, Hepatitis B, OPV, PCV

12 months: MMR, Varicella

5-6 years: DPT, OPV, MMR, Varicella

Visiting the Doctor if Your Child is Sick Or not Meeting Growth Milestones

Newborns may often face health issues such as stomach aches or a high temperature in such cases you need to make a visit to your pediatrician.  You can also visit your child’s doctor if you or your child care professional feel your child is not hitting age-appropriate milestones. It may be a sign of an underlying problem.

Choose the Best Newborn Care

Find a pediatrician who can understand your concern and someone who has ample experience to guide you properly on this journey of parenthood. If you are looking for the best pediatrician in Sharjah book an appointment with us today. If you need help with taking care of your newborn you need not go looking somewhere else, as we provide the best nurses and nannies for your little one at Maika.

Heart Health & High Cholesterol in Kids

Heart Health & High Cholesterol in Kids

Heart Health & High Cholesterol in Kids

It’s a common belief that high cholesterol is a condition that only affects adults, but the condition doesn’t discriminate by age. High cholesterol can affect young children and having more than optimal levels can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat in the blood stream that is necessary for cells in the body to function at its optimal level. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C) or ‘bad’ cholesterol is the kind that can build up in the arteries and can cause heart attacks and strokes. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) or ‘good’ cholesterol helps in lowering LDL by attaching to it and carrying it to the liver where the body can get rid of it.

Causes of High Cholesterol

Higher levels of cholesterol can be caused by eating food with too much saturated fat or cholesterol in it. In a few cases it can also be caused by hypercholesterolemia, an inherited disorder where the body is unable to remove low density lipoprotein (“bad” cholesterol).

How to Treat High Cholesterol?

If your child gets diagnosed with high cholesterol you might be wondering what’s the cure for the condition. Here is a list of various steps that you can take to get your child’s cholesterol levels back to the acceptable range.

Just like how an adult will be advised to adapt to a few lifestyle changes to lower the increased cholesterol levels, the kids also need to make a few lifestyle changes to lower the cholesterol levels.

Eat Healthy:

The most important lifestyle change that needs to be made is to eat a healthy diet. Work with your doctor or a dietitian to get the best dietary advice, so that your child can get proper nutrition while trying to lower cholesterol.

Stay Active: 

Children often learn by observing their parents and in order to make your kids stay active indulge with them in some sort of physical activity like playing sports together or going for a walk together.

If you think your child needs an assessment or have any further queries you can book an appointment with our Pediatrician.

If you need a diagnostic blood test, you can avail our health2home service that provides blood test, lipid profile test. Our nurses will reach you and give you the best service within the comfort of your home.

Recognizing and Supporting Healthy Brain Development in Children

Recognizing and Supporting Healthy Brain Development in Children

As parents, one of our primary concerns is the healthy development of our children’s brains. The brain plays a vital role in our physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being, and early childhood is a critical period for brain development. Here are some ways to recognize and support healthy brain development in children:

Provide a safe and nurturing environment: Children need a secure and predictable environment to develop optimally. Consistent routines, positive relationships with caregivers, and a stable home environment can help promote healthy brain development.

Encourage healthy habits: Nutrition and physical activity play important roles in brain development. A balanced and nutritious diet, along with plenty of physical activity, can help support brain function and cognitive development.

Stimulate the senses: The brain develops through sensory experiences. Encourage your child to explore their surroundings, engage in creative play, and experiment with different textures, sounds, and smells.

Foster social connections: Social interaction helps develop social skills, language, and emotional regulation. Encourage your child to engage in play with peers, participate in group activities, and build positive relationships with caregivers.

Read and engage in stimulating activities: Reading to your child and engaging in age-appropriate stimulating activities can help develop language skills, cognitive function, and creativity.

By recognizing and supporting healthy brain development in children, we can help set the foundation for their lifelong health and success.

If you want to learn more about recognizing and supporting healthy brain development in children, consult with our experienced and knowledgeable pediatrician at Dr. Sunny Medical Centre. We are committed to providing high-quality care and support to ensure your child’s healthy growth and development.

Simple Steps to a Healthy Heart

Simple Steps to a Healthy Heart

Do you want to start this New Year on a healthy note? If so, you should begin this year by taking care of your heart. Following a few healthy habits can reduce the risk of heart related problems. The most common heart problem is heart failure which is a progressive disease that occurs when the heart muscle becomes weakened and unable to pump blood efficiently to meet the needs of the body.

Earlier only people above 50’s were at the risk of heart attacks but now due to stress and other lifestyle changes heart attacks have become a cause of concern even in people aged below 50. If you want to have a healthy heart following these simple lifestyle changes can prove to be a boon:

Maintain a healthy weight

People who are overweight are more likely develop heart-related problems, even if they have no other risk factors. Regular exercise and healthy eating habits can help reduce your weight.

Eat Healthy

You are what you eat and a healthy lifestyle begins when you start eating healthy. Eating fried food like French fries, fried chicken can be tempting but if you want to stay healthy it is better to eat grilled, baked or steamed food instead of deep-fried food articles. Always remember to add a serving of a fruit or vegetable with each meal, ideally eating five servings of fruits and/or vegetables each day. Choose lean meats, fish and low-fat dairy products.

Stay Active

Keeping your body moving lowers the risk of heart disease. Regular activity can help to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels and maintain a healthy weight. As little as 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days is recommended. Take a walk or find an exercise program that works best for you.

Reasons Why Your Child needs Flu Shot

Reasons Why Your Child needs Flu Shot

Some people do not understand that flu can be dangerous and as a result thousands of kids are hospitalized because of it every year and the consequences can be life threatening in some cases. Though it is recommended by pediatricians for kids aged 6 months and above but still many parents are hesitant to take their children to get this extremely beneficial annual vaccine.

The health care providers have always emphasized that flu shots are absolutely safe and protect against viruses. Though there are several myths surrounding the efficacy of the flu shots given to children but pediatricians have always approved of these vaccines. A few reasons why your child needs these flu shots include:

Flu Shots are Safe:

The minimum age for a flu shot recipient is 6 months. There are few conditions that would prevent kids from getting one. For instance if your child has fever, the pediatrician may not recommend the shot. The flu shots can’t make your child sick as they are made with components of inactivated influenza or a weakened virus. The recipients may experience brief soreness and swelling at the injection site and less than 1 percent will experience fever, chills and muscle aches.

Ensures Protection to All:

Getting vaccinated doesn’t just protect your child but it is also helpful in protecting the other vulnerable people in your family and society such as immunocompromised patients and elderly.

Avoid Sick Days at School

Getting a flu shot will help your child by not missing on important days in school and concentrate on learning.

Call Dr. Sunny Medical Centre and schedule an appointment for immunization against flu and secure your child against severe illness and hospitalization.
Telephone: 06 566 8966

Make Sure Your Child Gets Their Regular Check-Ups

Make Sure Your Child Gets Their Regular Check-Ups

Regular check-ups are the best way to ensure that your child is growing up healthy and strong. If you are about to welcome a newborn, it is advisable to start your research to find a pediatrician before the baby arrives. As new parents you will need to make multiple visits to the pediatrician for the first two years for immunizations, well-baby visits, conducting physical examinations to chart developmental milestones and many other reasons.

Within the first few years of life, your child’s development is rapid and these check-ups allow our pediatrician to spot problems or developmental delays early. These check-ups are also focused on preventive care, which means providing your child with vaccines and screenings early on to prevent health problems in the future.

Baby checks are performed at 2 weeks; 6 weeks; 12 weeks; 6 months; 9 months and 1 year of age. Child health checks are performed at 18 months and 2 years. Thereafter, an annual check is suggested until your child goes to school.

What to Expect During the Check-ups?
  • Your child will be weighed and measured and his/her growth will be discussed with you.
  • Your child’s development will be checked against age appropriate milestones.
  • Your child’s doctor will carry out a general examination. These check-ups also give you a chance to ask questions about the development issues or behavioral problems that you would have noticed in your baby. The pediatrician can provide an apt solution for your concerns.
Getting Vaccinated

Immunizations are truly one of the best and most effective ways to keep your child healthy and free from potentially dangerous diseases such as measles, polio, and hepatitis B. Regular-check-ups are also important for your child so that they do not miss out any important vaccine that needs to be administered at specific time.

 

Have you considered choosing your baby’s pediatrician yet?

Have you considered choosing your baby’s pediatrician yet?

If you are about to welcome a newborn, it is advisable to start your research to find a pediatrician before the baby arrives. As new parents you will need to make multiple visits to the pediatrician for the first two years for immunizations, well-baby visits, conducting physical examinations to chart developmental milestones and many other reasons. So, choosing the right pediatrician for your little one becomes a huge responsibility that can even overwhelm new parents. To make the job easier here is a list of factors that you should consider before choosing the best pediatrician near you for your baby.

Get recommendations:

Asking for recommendations from family, friends and co-workers who already have babies might help you to narrow down on your search for the best pediatrician in town. Additionally, you can do a Google search asking ‘pediatricians near me’ and go through reviews about the pediatricians appearing in the search. This way you can create an initial list to find the best pediatrician for your baby.

Experience of the pediatrician:

An experienced pediatrician will be able to guide you properly regarding the health, nutritional requirements, and developmental milestones of your baby. With experience the doctor will make you and the baby comfortable while doing a thorough check-up of your newborn.

Location of the clinic:

Before registering your newborn at a clinic always consider the location of your pediatrician’s clinic and hours of operation. If you find a good pediatrician near your residence it can save you a lot of travel time. Always check for the office timings of the clinic and check if it matches to your schedule. Check if appointments can be booked in advance, so that you need not wait in long queues at the pediatrician’s office.

Find a pediatrician who can understand your concerns:

Look for a pediatrician who can understand your language and culture, this makes it much easier for you to explain the issues faced by you as a new parent.

If you’re looking for a new pediatrician, we’d love to be your new medical home!
Call 06 566 8966 or Whatsapp us on +971547912624

Dr. Sunny’s Approach

Dr Sunny Kurian, a renowned pediatrician in Sharjah, has a unique approach to his patients, be it a newborn or an adolescent. Both parents and children are first put at ease in a child-friendly environment before he embarks on a detailed history and examination. Rather than overwhelm the child with unpleasant examination techniques, he plays with them and uses instruments only when required. All the while observing the child and making a head to toe examination.

Only essential investigations are requested to optimize diagnosis and prescriptions are kept to the minimum. Immunization, physical activity and diet are of paramount importance to Dr Sunny and substantial time is spent counselling both parents and children regarding the same.

Adolescent Care

Adolescent care is an area of special interest and expertise to Dr Sunny Kurian. Most of his patients who he had seen as infants have now either grown up and had their own babies or are currently in their teens.

Dr Sunny finds it important that in an era of easy internet access, increased screen time and social media due importance must be given to these crucial years of a child’s development. It is equally important to advise parents on how to tackle these tricky novel situations.

‘Caring Hands, Healing Touch’

Over the last 3 decades, Dr Sunny has evolved his practice from a single doctor clinic to a multispecialty healthcare group where the entire focus is patient-oriented. Affordable healthcare with the motto ‘Caring Hands, Healing Touch’ is still his driving forces. This is the philosophy that led the Dr Sunny Healthcare group to become the largest chain of polyclinics in the Northern Emirates before merging with NMC healthcare.

Knowledge Transfer

During his 3 decades in the field of Paediatrics, he has treated patients as well given several talks at conferences and medical institutions. Over the years he has developed a penchant for imparting knowledge to his peers and junior doctors. He is a key advisor to the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) on statutory matters and he also pioneered the first overseas branch of the IAP in the UAE. He was conferred the FIAP (Fellowship of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics) in 2017 for his contribution to the field over two and a half decades.

In the current scenario of lockdowns and home e-learning, there is bound to be a surge in learning and behavioural problems that would have to be addressed. Dr Sunny urges parents to seek help when necessary.

Dr Sunny currently practices as a child specialist doctor in his own Sharjah clinic(Dr Sunny Medical Centre, Sharjah).

 

All you need to know about Infant Torticollis

All you need to know about Infant Torticollis

Have you noticed that your infant holds his or her neck tilted to one side and has difficulty in turning the head to the other side? If yes, then this may be a sign of Congenital Muscular Torticollis, also known as stiff or wry neck. In this condition the muscle that runs on both sides of the neck, from back of the ears to the collarbone (known as Sternocleidomastoid) is tight and shortened, making it difficult for the baby to turn his or her neck.

In newborns torticollis can happen due to baby’s position in the womb or because of a difficult childbirth. The good news is the condition usually gets better with simple position changes and exercises.

Signs & Symptoms of Infant Torticollis

A newborn with torticollis might:

  • Develop flat head on one or both sides from lying in one direction all time.
  • If breastfed, baby has trouble in feeding on one side or in some cases prefers feeding on one breast.
  • Tries hard to turn towards a particular side and gets cranky when unable to turn head completely.
  • Some babies might develop a small lump in neck, which is similar to a knot in a tense muscle.
  • Tilts head only in one direction.

Causes of Torticollis

This condition may happen if a fetus is cramped inside the uterus or in an unusual position. The use of vacuum to deliver a baby also increases the chances of torticollis in a newborn. Some babies with torticollis also have developmental dysplasia of the hip.

How to Treat Torticollis?

If your baby is diagnosed with torticollis, your pediatrician might suggest neck exercises for the baby that can be easily done at home. These exercises are helpful in loosening up the tight muscles and can straighten up your baby’s neck.

Sometimes the pediatrician may suggest pediatric physiotherapy in some cases. The pediatrician will check your baby every two-four weeks to see if the condition is getting better.