Children are more prone to fall sick because their immune system is weaker than that of adults and their antibodies are still developing. Some ways of dealing with the issue and helping your children stay healthy are to:
- Follow their vaccination schedule
- Provide a healthy, nutritional& balanced diet, and
- Get them tested for allergies frequently.
Let’s take a look at some common tests that are run for children:
Swallow Study for Excess Spit-Up
Acid reflux is common among children. In medical terminology, the reflux is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. The swallow study is carried out by pediatricians to diagnose the presence of this illness. This digestive disorder onsets when the food, stomach juices, and fluids back up into the esophagus. The condition affects people of all ages and is particularly common among infants.
What is the swallow study?
The swallow study is basically an x-ray test where the movement of food is monitored through the esophagus. For this purpose, the baby first drinks a safe barium-laced liquid. The radiologist then uses image tracing to monitor the movement. If the study confirms the presence of reflux, the pediatrician usually recommends acid-blocking medicine.
This test is recommended if the baby has been spitting up too much lately or is not gaining a healthy amount of weight for their age. The pediatrician may also recommend the test if the child remains dehydrated and breathes heavily after having food.
CT Scan for a Head Injury
When a child is rushed to the ER for a head injury, they’re given a CT scan. The CT scan is also important if the child hits their head on a heavy object and loses consciousness or is consistently vomiting. Some other symptoms of a head injury that needs immediate attention are headache, dizziness, loss of sleep, irritability, loss of vision and hearing, and feeling off-balance. If your child shows any of these symptoms, rush to the ER immediately.
The scan helps identify the extent to which the injury has taken place. The CT scan also points out abnormalities in the skull, fractures, and any internal bleeding.
Allergy testing
Allergy testing is important because most allergy disorders are leading diagnoses of chronic illnesses among children. More than 4 to 6 percent of children in the US have a food allergy whereas around 8 to 10 percent have asthma. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is the most common form of allergy that affects as many as 15 to 25 percent of children. In short, thousands of children miss school every year because of these allergies.
Allergies are difficult to detect and many times, multiple tests need to be carried out in order to identify the trigger. Once the right tests and diagnoses are carried out, the allergist recommends the right avoidance strategies, diet modifications, and medication. As a part of the diagnosis, the allergist might also ask the parents to get tested. This helps them discover if the allergy is inherited. Some common allergy tests include blood tests, skin tests, and elimination tests.
If you’re looking for a reliable medical center pediatrics clinic in San Antonio and Stone Oak that carries out essential allergy tests, look no further than A thru Z pediatrics. Our testing services include asthma, allergic pneumonia, dermatitis, and sinusitis. Head over to our website to learn more.
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