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Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
About me
Practicing physician, graduated from the Department of Pediatrics with a bachelor's degree from university, has been working in pediatric internal medicine for twenty-five years.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in common pediatric diseases such as colds, pneumonia, diarrhea, eczema, neonatal jaundice, infant feeding, and more.
Voices
Can calcined gypsum be used for infant eczema?
If a child has eczema, in principle, we do not recommend the routine use of calamine. Calamine has an antipruritic effect, but after use, the local skin becomes particularly dry, which can exacerbate eczema. Therefore, when a child has eczema, the first thing we must do is to maintain the local skin's moisture. Apply a thick layer of moisturizer, and on top of that, under the guidance of a hospital doctor, use some mild corticosteroid creams. Although calamine can relieve the local skin itching symptoms caused by eczema, it ultimately has no therapeutic effect on eczema, so we do not consider calamine as a common medication for treating eczema. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
How to treat infant eczema?
Infant eczema is a common skin problem in infants and toddlers, also known as atopic dermatitis. The first thing to pay attention to when a child has eczema is to moisturize the affected skin. Eczema is caused by dry skin, so moisturizing is particularly important. On top of moisturizing, under the guidance of a doctor at the hospital, we can use some mild corticosteroid creams. Through such measures, eczema can generally be well controlled. However, the biggest characteristic of eczema is that it is particularly prone to recurrence, so for children, we must treat it through diet and allergens. For children who drink formula, depending on the severity of the eczema, the child should be fed amino acid formula or hydrolyzed protein formula. For breastfed children, the diet of the nursing mother needs to be controlled – beef, lamb, nuts, seafood, and foods containing distiller's grains should be avoided. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Can babies with eczema not take baths?
It is very clear that infants with eczema can take baths. If a baby has eczema, it indicates that the child has a specific type of dermatitis, which may include exudative skin damage locally, and in severe cases, even lichenoid lesions. Therefore, moisturizing plays a very important role in the treatment of pediatric eczema. After bathing the baby, it is crucial to apply a thick layer of baby moisturizing cream on the areas affected by eczema. For severe eczema, it is necessary to use mild corticosteroid ointments under the guidance of a doctor. If the child is on formula, depending on the severity of the eczema, it is advised to choose amino acid formula or extensively hydrolyzed protein formula. With active treatment, eczema can be well-managed.
Can calamine lotion be used for baby eczema?
Infant eczema is a common skin condition in babies and toddlers. Generally, we do not recommend the use of calamine lotion for eczema, as although it has an itch-relieving effect when applied locally, it can make the skin even drier. Therefore, if the skin is itchy, temporarily using calamine lotion is possible, but it is not recommended for long-term use in treating eczema. The treatment of eczema consists of 60%-70% moisturizing and 30%-40% may involve the use of mild corticosteroid creams under the guidance of a doctor. Overall, moisturizing is the main treatment for eczema, while hormone therapy can be a supportive treatment. Calamine lotion can be temporarily used to relieve itching, but it is not recommended as a standard treatment method for eczema. Additionally, for infants who are on formula, it is important to use hydrolyzed protein formula, and if breastfeeding, the mother’s diet needs to be carefully managed.
Pediatric eczema, what department to see?
Infant eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic and recurrent skin disease that is particularly common in infants and toddlers. When a child has eczema, it primarily appears on the face, and severe cases can affect the entire body. Since eczema primarily affects the skin, when a child has eczema, they can visit a dermatologist. Generally, children's hospitals have specialized pediatric dermatology departments. Even if a general hospital does not have a pediatric dermatology department, it is still possible to seek treatment there. At the same time, pediatricians also have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating infant eczema, so consulting a pediatrician in a general hospital can also provide excellent care for the child.
What should I do if a child has a cold and fever?
Children's colds and fevers are caused by viral or bacterial infections, with the vast majority being viral infections. First, we need to ensure that the child is well-hydrated and also manage the symptoms. When the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, administer antipyretic medication to the child, such as ibuprofen suspension or acetaminophen. The interval between doses of these medications should be at least six hours. Additionally, give the child cold relief granules to alleviate the symptoms of the cold. When the body temperature is below 38.5 degrees Celsius, physical cooling methods can be applied, such as using fever-reducing patches, taking lukewarm baths, or wiping the forehead, neck, armpits, and groin—areas where large blood vessels are located—with a warm towel. Throughout the process, it is very important to keep the child hydrated. If the child's cold and fever persist, a complete blood count should be performed to check for a bacterial infection. If a bacterial infection is present, treatment with antibiotics should be administered under the guidance of a hospital doctor, based on the child’s condition. Controlling the infection is essential for reducing the fever and bringing the child's temperature down, ultimately helping the child return to normal.
There are several types of childhood diarrhea.
If there is a change in frequency and characteristics of a child’s stool compared to usual, it could indicate the occurrence of diarrhea. Diarrhea can be classified into: 1. Acute diarrhea, which lasts for up to two weeks. 2. Persistent diarrhea, lasting between two weeks and two months. 3. Chronic diarrhea, lasting for more than two months. Based on the severity, it can be divided into: 1. Mild, generally without dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or acid-base imbalances. 2. Moderate, accompanied by mild to moderate dehydration, or mild electrolyte disturbance. More severe cases involve severe dehydration and obvious symptoms of acid-base imbalance. Symptoms in children include lethargy, irritability, drowsiness, pale complexion, no fever, and a significant increase in white blood cell count. Causes of diarrhea can be divided into: infectious diarrhea, caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc., and non-infectious diarrhea, including foodborne diarrhea, symptomatic diarrhea, allergic diarrhea, and other types of diarrhea.
How to prevent thrush
Thrush is a common oral disease in children, primarily caused by Candida albicans infection. Once diagnosed, it needs to be actively treated, generally with nystatin and sodium bicarbonate applied locally. It is essential to prevent thrush, starting with oral hygiene and care for the mouth. Additionally, all items that enter the mouth should be sterilized at high temperatures; bottles and pacifiers must be regularly sterilized, and for breastfeeding children, the mother's nipples should also be washed with clean water. The most critical point is to strengthen the immune system to prevent the frequent use of antibiotics and hormonal drugs, which can predispose children to thrush. Parents must pay close attention to this, so enhancing the immune system is very important to avoid illness and ensure proper care of the child. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
One-year-old baby with indigestion
If a one-year-old baby has indigestion, first we should pay attention to the child's diet to see if it is normal. A one-year-old child should ideally have three main meals a day and then drink about 500ml of milk or formula. If the child's diet is inappropriate, or the child has little physical activity, or due to illness, etc., these can lead to indigestion. In such cases, we first need to adjust the dietary structure, offering the child light and easily digestible food, and avoid foods that are too fatty or too sweet. Additionally, some medications for treating indigestion can be administrated to the child, such as gastric protease granules, multi-enzyme tablets, pediatric fel nigrum extract, etc. For children who also have abnormal stool, probiotics can be given to help regulate their digestion.
Can infantile eczema be contagious?
Pediatric eczema, which is not contagious, is also known as atopic dermatitis. It is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disease. Most children develop this condition in infancy and it can persist into childhood and adulthood, indicating a significant hereditary component that can impact quality of life. Contact with a child who has eczema will not transmit the condition to another person or child, as it is non-infectious. The occurrence of eczema is not due to exposure to someone with the condition, but rather due to individual factors and is definitely unrelated to contagion. Although the exact mechanisms triggering eczema are still unclear, they are primarily associated with genetics, environmental immunity, and biological factors, not with infectious disease. Eczema is non-contagious.