Children mostly in their neonatal period get infections or disorders from their mother some of which are curable but some can become long-term health concerns for them. It is crucial for mothers to get some tests done during the pregnancy so that the health of the baby is taken care of in the initial stage.
Let’s dig into information shared by an expert on what tests and scans are important for a pregnant mother to take. And what tests should be done in kids before the age of 10 to prevent any long-term diseases.
Before getting into tests, let’s first understand what kind of genital health problems can affect a baby from parents, during birth. To understand this, OnlyMyHealth team got in touch with Dr Gagandeep Kaur, Consultant – Paediatrics & Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Patiala.
Common Congenital Health Problems In Children
According to Dr Gagandeep, children can develop a lot of congenital health problems. Listing some common issues, she said, “Congenital syndrome, down syndrome, congenital hypothyroidism, blood disorders which are again genetic like thalassemic, G6PD deficiency, sickle cell anaemia and haemophilia. Congenital heart like atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, congenital kidney diseases, congenital infections like tetanus and rubella are common in children. Sexual differentiation disorders are also congenital.”
Nutritional And Other Common Health Problems In Kids
Dr Gagandeep talked about lack of nutrition in kids and said, “Nutritionally, if kids have less blood, it will lead to anaemia. Lack of nutrition can contribute to kids being malnutritious. Problems like being overweight and obese are also seen in kids.”
Children in their young age are fragile. If proper care is not taken, they can catch hold of diseases real quick. “Recurrent infections, common cold, asthma, sinusitis, diarrhoea, urine infections, seasonal infections, dengue, malaria and typhoid are some of the common health concerns in young children apart from inherited or genital problems.”
Tests And Care Mothers Should Take During Pregnancy
First and foremost, Dr Gagandeep emphasised on the importance of antenatal visits. Secondly, prenatal supplements are most important for the mother to keep the baby healthy. Dr Gagandeep said, “Folic acid is one of the most important vitamins which should be given for 3 months before conception and 3 months after conception. This will prevent neural tube defects and congenital disorders. Apart from folic acid, iron and calcium supplements are important as iron will keep the mother’s haemoglobin in levels ultimately reducing the risk of anaemia in the baby.”
Tests and scans to be done during pregnancy include
TORCH panel: Test for congenital infections like tetanus and rubella.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: It is important to keep mother’s glucose levels in check. High glucose levels can increase the risk of diabetes in the child in the long run.
Apart from the above two scans, Dr Gagandeep emphasised on regularly monitoring blood pressure and growth scans. She said, “There are three types of growth scans which are done in specific weeks of pregnancy. Through these scans we decipher if the baby has any genetic problIn order to prevent any complications in your little one, it is necessary for you to take some tests during pregnancy.ems or heart, kidney defects.”
Tests For Babies
According to Dr. Gagandeep, a basic panel of seven tests is performed on the newborns to determine key conditions including thyroid, metabolic disorders, G6PD deficiency, and so on. “A hearing test is also performed within a month of the baby’s birth to determine whether the child has any congenital hearing issues.”
Bottomline
Pregnancy is a delicate yet beautiful journey for a mother. Alongside, it is crucial that all the tests are performed from time to time to ensure the health of the little one. Smile ear to ear looking at your baby bump and rejoice the precious months of connection with your baby. Take utmost care of yourself to see your baby healthy.
