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Children Health - Preventive Path
General preventive measures against childhood diseases
The red arrows () and red-printed factors are the facilitating points for diseases, whereas the blue arrows () and blue-printed factors are the mitigating points.
Do now
Watch for
Get help if
- Do now: Keep routine screenings/vaccines up to date, support breastfeeding, ensure daily active play.
- Watch for: High fever, poor feeding, breathing difficulty, fewer wet diapers, regression in milestones.
- Get help if: Severe lethargy, fast/strained breathing, persistent vomiting/diarrhoea, dehydration signs.
Parent checklist (tap to expand)
Daily water guide for children (simple table + examples)
| Age/Weight | Guide |
|---|---|
| Infants | ≈ 100 ml/kg/day |
| 1–6 years (10–20 kg) | 1 litre + 5% × (weight in kg − 10) |
| ≥7 years (or >20 kg) | 1.5 litres + 2% × (weight in kg − 20) |
Examples: 12 kg → 1 L + 5% × (12−10) ≈ 1.1 L/day. 30 kg → 1.5 L + 2% × (30−20) ≈ 1.7 L/day.
Seek urgent care immediately if any of the following occur:
- Very high fever, seizures, confusion, or new rash with fever
- Fast/strained breathing, blue lips/face, or persistent cough with chest indrawing
- Persistent vomiting, blood in stool/vomit, no urine for 8–12 hours, or severe dehydration
- Inconsolable crying, severe lethargy, or sudden weakness
Children differ—aim for progress, not perfection. This information supports—not replaces—professional medical advice.
Causes
- Genetic
- Congenital
- Infections
- Injuries ↓ ↑
-
Counter factors
- Pregnant mothers should avoid people and places with illnesses associated with fever
- Harmful objects should be kept away from children and they should be properly nurtured
- Encourage and support breastfeeding
- Mothers are encouraged to use health facilities if available as soon as children fall sick
- Reproductive age women to obtain standard immunization in their locality
← Risk Factors
- Past family record of genetic disorder
- Mother's age more than 35 years during pregnancy
- Past history of nonviable (unsuccessful) pregnancy in mother
- Father's age more than 40 years during pregnancy
- Infections in mothers during pregnancy
- Mother smoking, taking alcohol, exposure to radiation or chemicals through the mouth or by inhalation
- Poor diet of mothers before and during pregnancy
- Chronic illnesses in pregnant women
← Lifestyle measures
- Regular (yearly) routine general medical screening
- People should seek knowledge and be educated about genetic diseases and how to avoid them
- Women encouraged to limit their child bearing period to 21 - 34 years
- Men encouraged to stop having children by 40 - 45 years
- Mothers encouraged to register for antenatal care at authorized health facilities when they get pregnant
- Mothers to avoid smoking, alcohol, radiation and chemicals during pregnancy
- Avoid smoking environment for children (passive smoking)
- Nutritious food should be made priority for women of reproductive age (15 - 45 years)
- Drink water liberally daily (at least 3 litres for women). For infants: 100 ml/kg/day. For 1–6 years (or 10–20 kg): one litre plus 5% of (child's weight in kg − 10) litre/day. For older or weightier children: 1.5 litre plus 2% of (child's weight in kg − 20) litre/day
- Women are encouraged to report any illness to authorized health facilities early
- Women to comply with their local recommended immunization program for themselves and their children
- Encourage and support breastfeeding
↓
Human Disease Processes
↑
- Early hospital visit when child falls ill
← Risk Factors
- Poor environmental living condition
- Poor nutrition in children
- Poverty
- Poor mothers' education
← Lifestyle measures
- Encouraging good environmental hygiene and sanitation
- Female education should be taken as a matter of priority
↓
Disability
↑
- Early visit to the physiotherapist
- Good nutrition
← Risk Factors
- Late visit to the hospital when child falls ill
← Lifestyle measures
- Prompt hospital visit whenever child falls ill
↓
Death
← Risk Factors
- Poorly nourished child
← Lifestyle measures
- Well nourished child