Learning from 2023: Challenges and Priorities in Child Care for This New Year from Your Trusted Pediatrician.

As we begin 2024, within our families, our children grow and face multiple challenges. My goal this year is to keep our children healthy and help them tackle any issue while always keeping their 'defenses high'.

Our children deserve to grow up healthy and happy.

Regarding acute respiratory diseases, 2023 saw an increase, especially in cases of bronchiolitis caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), affecting not only the youngest but also school-age children and adults. Fortunately, in my practice, there were few children who developed severe forms. Read more: Addressing Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Current Times - August 07, 2023.

Several respiratory viruses affected our children in 2023. RSV causing bronchiolitis was one of them.

However, there is a high frequency of patients with allergic respiratory problems, such as asthma and rhinitis. I always recommend prevention through diet and allergen elimination.

In 2023, we also faced gastroenteritis and various digestive viruses. In the face of vomiting, calmness is essential. I recommend fasting for at least an hour before offering any food or medication.

We also had some accidents, including head traumas. Prevention at home is crucial to avoid these incidents. With each new milestone in their development, children are exposed to new risks. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant.

Many children fall out of bed each year and suffer head trauma with severe consequences. Prevent accidents.

Regarding viral infections, such as hand-foot-mouth disease and herpetic stomatitis, promoting hygiene and avoiding sending children to school or daycare when they are sick is vital.

Nutritional diseases, such as child malnutrition and overweight, were also concerning in 2023. An adequate diet from the first months is fundamental to prevent anemia and micronutrient deficiencies.

Anemia and malnutrition are nutritional diseases with high prevalence in the child population in Ecuador and Latin America.

As your trusted pediatrician, my commitment is to strengthen ties with you, parents, and continue offering professional, warm, and humane care. Through my blog Punto y Salud, my social networks on Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok, and in consultation, I will continue to provide relevant information and quality care.

My commitment is to keep preparing myself every day to ensure the care that you and your children deserve. I hope you trust my recommendations, knowing that each of them seeks to improve and prolong the health of your children.

Dr. Franklin Fernández Torres.

Specialist in Family Medicine & Pediatrics Postgraduate in Pediatric Nutrition