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A fever is an increase in temperature to 37.8°C or more. If your child is feverish you can give them paracetamol every four hours as first aid; just make sure you give the right dosage based on their weight. 

However, according to Dr. Cheryl Senal, a pediatrician at Westlake Medical Center, if your child is burning with fever and had a seizure, you should start gathering information like their past medical history, family’s history of seizures with or without fever, and the symptoms they show when feverish.  

“These are red flags,” Dr. Senal says. “These are the questions that must be answered, so it’s best to take your baby to their pediatrician, especially if they continue to have a fever and recurrent seizures.”

Treating uncontrolled seizures

There is what we call febrile seizure among children, a condition when an uncontrollable fever triggers a convulsive episode, Dr. Senal says.

Usually, kids who have it have a history of febrile seizures in their family. Examination and tests on the child must be done to find out if the diagnosis is correct and to properly treat the condition. These tests will help determine if seizure disorder, meningitis, or encephalitis are to be ruled out.

Your baby would also need to undergo a stool exam if they’re having diarrhea for two weeks. The exam will determine if your child is suffering from chronic diarrhea and needs to take antibiotics and be hydrated.    

Record it down

Dr. Senal suggests that you keep a record or a notebook where you can write down the date and time when your baby had a fever, and their temperature. With that information, pediatricians can see the baby’s fever pattern and narrow down the possible cause of their ailment. 

“Some of these causes could be Urinary Tract Infection, blood infection or sepsis, ear infection or otitis media, skin disease or impetigo, childhood tuberculosis or primary complex, or rheumatic diseases,” she points out. 

“So it’s best to have your baby checked especially if their fever is recurring.”

If your child has a fever and their condition seems to be not getting any better, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok.

Parents who have second thoughts on giving their feverish infant a bath can take comfort in knowing that pediatricians actually encourage the act. 

“Babies can be bathed even if they have a fever, especially if they’re active and playful,” Dr. Cheryl Senal, a pediatrician at Westlake Medical Center, says. 

“However, if they’re feeling dizzy or have difficulty getting up, it would be better to do the sponge bath. This will help lower their fever, which could reach a temperature of 37.8°C or more.”

She also encourges parents to give their child paracetamol to help the little tot feel better. 

Phlegm but no fever

According to Dr. Senal, when a child seems to have “phlegm” but has no fever, pediatricians would like to know if the baby has cough, cold, or difficulty breathing. 

“Is the breathing fast, deep, or noisy? If your answer is “no” or you haven’t observed it, then maybe the “phlegm” you’re hearing or feeling on your baby’s chest is what we call gurgly chest or “halak,” a common occurrence among infants, especially those less than six months old,” Dr. Senal explains.

“Halak usually happens when the baby’s secretion or saliva accumulates in their mouth or upper airways and it creates a vibration or sound due to their small chest.”

She advises parents to consult a pediatrician immediately if their baby shows any of the conditions she mentioned. 

Rashes with fever

When your baby is getting a severe case of the rash and it’s accompanied by a fever, Dr. Senal suggests bringing them to their pediatrician. The doctor will determine if your child is manifesting symptoms of diseases such as measles, roseola, hand foot, and mouth disease, or chickenpox.  

If your child’s fever seems to not get any better, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or high blood pressure is alarming enough, but when you’re carrying a child, they tend to become a more significant worry.

“If you have a UTI during pregnancy, there’s a chance your baby will get an infection when they’re born,” Dr. Joyce Estela Jerus, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Westlake Medical Center, says.

“To keep that from happening, you need to complete your UTI medication. Bear in mind that your obstetrician ensures that the antibiotics for UTI are safe for the baby. Also, you should take more water, less sweet drinks, and observe proper bathroom hygiene.”

Dr. Jerus adds that preterm labor is usually caused by an infection which includes a history of UTI or vaginal infection even if medications have been completed obstetrician first. 

“If preterm labor happens to you, get examined immediately to determine what is causing it. Also, if you had histories of preterm labor in past pregnancies, and plans to get pregnant or are already pregnant, visit your trusted obstetrician at once or even before getting pregnant,” she says.

For pregnant women with hypertension, Dr. Jerus suggests adequate control of blood pressure levels to avoid a low birth weight or giving birth to a baby who’s smaller than expected. “Uncontrolled hypertension causes many complications and one of which is, it could cause the placenta to detach from the uterus which will lead to severe bleeding and may cause the baby not to survive if not detected and baby is immediately delivered from the womb,” she points out.

Controlling one’s blood pressure can also prevent convulsions, especially if the elevated protein is present in the urine. Dr. Jerus encourages those with difficulty controlling their hypertension to visit their obstetrician regularly so that they will be managed accordingly including urine examination every one or two weeks for elevated proteins.

If you’re having difficulty conceiving or want to learn more about pregnancy, you can visit

Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok.

Chronic and autoimmune in nature, psoriasis is a skin condition that has no known cure but can be controlled in several ways. 

“Treating psoriasis is based on the doctor’s assessment, taking into account the patient’s age, health, and extent of skin involvement,” Dr. Cristina Ceballos-Lacuanan, a dermatologist at Westlake Medical Center, says. 

A simple psoriasis that involves a few skin patches can be managed using creams, ointments, or lotions. If topical preparations don’t work and the involved skin is extensive, oral medications may be considered. However, because oral psoriasis meds come with side effects, patients who take them usually need to undergo laboratory exams for monitoring. 

Patients who can’t tolerate oral medications may undergo phototherapy wherein they will be placed in a cabinet and be exposed to ultraviolet A and B radiations to arrest skin inflammation. There are new psoriasis drugs such as biologicals but they’re not widely available yet and cost more. 

Dr. Ceballos-Lacuanan warns that treating psoriasis is not quick; it could take weeks or months, depending on the type of medication being used.

“When managing psoriasis, like other chronic diseases, being aware of its triggers is necessary,” she says. “Avoid stress, smoking, drinking, and if you have a medical condition, make sure you take your maintenance meds as prescribed and follow up with your doctor.” 

Dr. Ceballos-Lacuanan adds that although psoriasis is not cancerous, it bears similarities with certain types of skin cancer. The only way to distinguish psoriasis from these types of cancer is through skin biopsy wherein the patient has to consult a board-certified dermatologist. 

If you’re manifesting symptoms of psoriasis or want to know more about the disease, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and 

https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok.

Great news! You can still travel and take vacations even while you’re on dialysis treatment. You just need to keep a few things in mind. 

According to Dr. Genaro Angcao, a nephrologist at Westlake Medical Center, one should not stop seeing the world just because they are undergoing dialysis, especially if traveling is their passion. 

“We advise our dialysis patients to keep on doing the activities they loved to do before they had to undergo treatment,” Dr. Angcao says. Although he admits, that traveling, in particular, requires more than just the usual planning. 

“Before setting out, dialysis patients need to first know where to get treatment in their destination. Best if they do this with the help of their dialysis unit and nephrologist who will also identify the hospital or facilities to go to in case of emergency,” he points out. 

“Dialysis treatment is more expensive abroad, but regardless of the place, one can still have a fun and hassle-free vacation if it is planned properly.” 

Apart from kidney diseases, dialysis is also used for various conditions including sepsis, liver failure, and aggressive infections like COVID-19. Kidney disease is a “silent killer” because it does not manifest symptoms until kidney function falls below 10% of normal. He adds that if the kidney disease is already chronic, it is likely to become irreversible and difficult to treat.  

Dr. Angcao encourages dialysis patients, not just those taking a vacation, to increase their protein intake to around 1.2 grams per kilogram a day, as well as to avoid processed foods due to their high phosphorus content. Patients with high levels of phosphorus in their system are at higher risk of developing diseases linked to prolonged dialysis like heart disease, stroke, and bone disease.   

For a complete diet guide, he suggests that dialysis patients consult a nutritionist or their dialysis unit. 

If you’re manifesting symptoms of kidney disease or want to know more about it or dialysis, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok. 

A word of caution to those undergoing hemodialysis: although the procedure can help manage the symptoms related to kidney disease, it does not cure renal failure and should not be viewed as a long-term solution. 

There are two kinds of dialysis: peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. The former uses the lining of a person’s belly to naturally purify blood; the latter uses an artificial kidney machine that pumps blood out of the body and returns it.

“If a patient stays on hemodialysis for too long, they run the risk of experiencing complications associated with it,” says Dr. Genaro Angcao, a nephrologist at Westlake Medical Center.

“Soon they will have heart problems, weaker bones, or even stroke,” 

Dr. Angcao notes that kidney transplant is the recommended treatment for dialysis patients. “It’s the better option if one wants to increase their chances of living a longer and healthier life,” he notes. 

Dialysis is a treatment that filters and purifies the blood. While mainly for kidney diseases, it is also used for various conditions including sepsis, liver failure, overdose, poisoning, and aggressive infections like the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The chances of one getting off hemodialysis, which usually lasts for four to five hours, depends on the person’s reason for going through it. If the reason is acute kidney disease, like the one that results from contracting leptospirosis, their chances are great. However, if the reason is a chronic kidney disease that requires maintenance dialysis, it’s very unlikely the patient will be removed from dialysis unless they undergo a kidney transplant. 

According to Dr. Angcao, dialysis patients should increase their protein intake and avoid sodium-rich food which can cause swelling. They should also steer clear of processed food because it contains high amounts of phosphorus which can cause heart and bone disease, as well as stroke.  

Dr. Angcao warns that anyone undergoing dialysis can experience a fluctuation in their blood sugar and blood pressure. “A lot can happen during dialysis if not done right. That’s why we do it with a trained and licensed medical team,” he says. 

If you’re manifesting symptoms of kidney disease or want to know more about it or dialysis, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok. 

Sad news. If you have just been diagnosed with lupus, your days of playing under the sun may well be over. 

According to Dr. Ma. Theresa Collante, a pediatric rheumatologist at Westlake Medical Center, the first advice she gives to patients with lupus or who have just received news that they have the condition is that they should avoid the sun. 

“They cannot be exposed to the sun even if it’s cloudy or raining because it will trigger a flare, or a recurrence of their condition’s symptoms like fatigue, rashes, or falling hair,” she points out. “Being exposed to sunlight is the most common cause of flare apart from not taking one’s medications.”

To avoid the sun’s ultraviolet rays, Dr. Collante suggests that one should use an umbrella, wear long-sleeved clothings, or apply sunscreen with at least an SPF of 35. 

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system doesn’t just fight viruses and bacteria that are invading the body, it fights the person’s healthy tissues as well. It can affect any part of the body. 

Dr. Collante notes that apart from avoiding the sun’s ultraviolet rays, a person living with lupus should adopt a nutritious, well balanced diet to manage their condition. They need to eat more fruits and vegetables, avoid oily, sweet, and salty food, as well as steer clear of food packed with preservatives like canned goods. They should also exercise at least 10 to 15 minutes a day and clock in 8 hours of sound sleep every night.  

According to Dr. Collante, ways to prevent lupus remain unknown. She says people should focus more on how to avoid getting sick in general, like eating right and getting adequate rest. 

For people who have lupus and want to consider taking supplements and vitamins, Dr. Collante suggests that they consult their rheumatologist first, especially if they have comorbidities like high blood or diabetes. 

“For healthy individuals, my main advice is to eat healthy instead of taking supplements. We get the vitamins we need from the food we eat.”

If you’re manifesting symptoms of lupus or want to know more about the disease, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok.

“Yes, lupus is a lifetime disease,” says Dr. Ma. Theresa Collante, a pediatric rheumatologist at Westlake Medical Center. “Once you’re diagnosed with lupus, you’ll carry it until old age.”

But it’s not as dire as it sounds. Although there is no cure for lupus yet, there are treatments for it. Length of the treatment period depends on what part of the body is affected. 

A kidney affected by lupus is called lupus nephritis, and treatment for it usually lasts 6 to 12 months, with some lasting up to 24 months due to the medicines used. The maintenance drug for treating major organs is called hydroxychloroquine.  

People with lupus usually show symptoms that include feeling easily fatigued, recurring fever, and hair loss. The most common symptom is malar rash, or typically called butterfly rash. It appears on the face of lupus patients. 

Dr. Collante adds that the most important drug for lupus is steroids, which are also called prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone. Lupus patients who take steroids are also advised to take medications for high blood if they have kidney problems or medication for convulsion if their brain is affected.  When it comes to supplementation, lupus patients usually need calcium and vitamin D but should talk to a rheumatologist first before taking them. 

“While treatment for lupus is based on the medication being taken, it’s still very important for lupus patients to change their lifestyle to manage their condition. This means eating healthy, engaging in exercise, and getting enough sleep,” Dr. Collante notes.

“They should also remember to monitor their response to the medication, regularly visiting their rheumatologist so they can be examined personally and instructed to undergo lab tests if needed.” 

If you’re manifesting symptoms of lupus or want to know more about the disease, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok.