Child Health

The first 28 days — the newborn period — and the first year of life are when a child is most vulnerable. India has cut newborn deaths substantially over the last two decades, but many newborn deaths remain preventable.

Childhood vaccines are the single most effective public-health tool in history — they have saved more lives than any other medical intervention. India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provides a comprehensive schedule of free vaccines through government hospitals, health sub-centres, and Anganwadi centres.

Your family medical history is one of the most useful health records you have. Many common conditions — heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, mental-health conditions, inherited disorders — run in families.

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils — the two oval lumps at the back of the throat. It is very common in children, usually caused by viruses (which settle on their own) or sometimes by bacteria, particularly Streptococcus ("strep throat") — which matters because untreated strep can lead to rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, a major cause of heart valve disease in India.

Ear infections are very common in young children — most have at least one by age 3. They usually affect the middle ear (otitis media), often after a cold or flu.

Childhood overweight and obesity is rising rapidly in urban India — driven by energy-dense snacks and sugary drinks, less active play, more screen time, smaller households with easier access to processed food. Excess weight in childhood raises the risk of early type 2 diabetes, high BP, fatty liver, early heart disease, bone/joint problems, sleep apnoea, and — significantly — emotional distress.

Parenting is the lifelong work of raising a child — providing safety, love, structure, and the chance to grow into a healthy adult. There is no perfect formula, but decades of evidence point to a few approaches that consistently support children's physical and mental health.

Asthma is a chronic disease in which the airways become inflamed and narrow, causing wheeze, cough, breathlessness, and chest tightness. Symptoms come and go, and most children with asthma lead full, active lives with the right inhaler routine.

Chickenpox (varicella) is a highly contagious viral illness. It spreads by droplets and contact and causes fever with an itchy rash of fluid-filled blisters that crust over.

Mumps is a viral infection best known for swelling of the parotid (cheek) salivary glands — giving the classic "hamster face" look. It spreads by droplets.

Premature (preterm) babies are born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. India has one of the highest numbers of preterm births in the world.

Adenoids are lymphoid tissue at the back of the nose, above the roof of the mouth. Like the tonsils, they are part of the immune system in early childhood and usually shrink from about age 5-7.