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Do you have a question about children’s health? Ask Dr. Pixie McKenna here and you could win a £150 Love2Shop voucher! ANSWERS NOW BACK

223 replies

AnnMumsnet · 26/01/2016 12:21

Dr. Pixie McKenna is here to answer any questions you may have on children's health, specifically cold and flu, fever, teething and earache. As a mum of one to daughter Darcey, Pixie is more than a medical expert – she's a parent who's had first-hand experience looking after her own child and is here to share her top tips and advice.

Here’s a little bit more about Dr. Pixie:

Dr. Pixie has strong family background of medicine (she is the third generation of doctors in her family!) and has a lifetime of knowledge with over 13 years medical experience since qualifying. She's currently a practising GP at London’s Harley Street.

Post your questions to Dr. Pixie by the 1 February 2016 and we will pick 20 for her to respond to. Everyone who posts a question will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnetter will win a £150 Love2Shop voucher. A link to her responses will be posted by 29th February 2016.

Please note, Dr. Pixie is here to give advice but cannot mention, discuss or endorse any brands or products.

This Q&A is sponsored by Nurofen for Children.

Thanks,

MNHQ.

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Do you have a question about children’s health? Ask Dr. Pixie McKenna here and you could win a £150 Love2Shop voucher! ANSWERS NOW BACK
OP posts:
greathat · 30/01/2016 22:10

Is there anything you'd recommend when kids have had a dodgy tum? I've read your should give probiotics to help get things back in balance (and to stop the stinky trumps)

PegsPigs · 30/01/2016 22:12

HI Dr McKenna. My DD 2.11 always has a lower than Google says it should be ear thermometer reading. Google says 36.4C is the lower end of normal but she is regularly sub 36 so around 35.4-35.7. I even bought a fabulous ear one rather than the underarm one we had as it had never recorded her with a temperature over 38 even at her most poorly with colds. (She has actual recorded over 40 which 111 recommended a trip to A&E for but she was fine) So my questions are: are there dangers associated with having a lower than average resting temperature? And if her resting temperature is lower, does a 'fever' start at a lower temperature? Thanks for reading this.

StarOnTheTree · 30/01/2016 23:34

My 9 year old DD has developed hard ridges along the inside of her finger joints. Any idea what has caused this?

slbhill42 · 30/01/2016 23:43

My little boy has a great imagination and loves making up stories. Which is great until those stories are "my tummy hurts, my ear hurts and I feel dizzy".

He's only 3 so he doesn't really "get" my explanations that this isn't a topic for stories. He had a spell of saying once or twice a day that his tummy hurt but he was easily distracted so I dismissed it - is that the best strategy, or do you have any better suggestions.

backinschool · 31/01/2016 01:24

My daughter has had a hacking cough for almost 3 weeks. It only really bothers her at night or when she goes out in the cold air but she is shattered from all the disturbed sleep and wakes up crying that her stomach, chest and cheeks hurt. We've tried warm drinks, honey, lemon and glycerin, cough medicine, calpol, sleeping propped up on a pile of pillows, lots of blankets.......nothing helps her to get some sleep. Do you have any tips to help her cope with the cough?

ogio9988 · 31/01/2016 05:23

Hello Dr Pixie,

My son has some sensory difficulties. Our family tend to have a deficiency in Vitamin B. I wa thinking of giving him some - would it help or harm him?

imustbemadme · 31/01/2016 08:06

Dr Pixie, my 16 yr old suffers with anxiety to the point where she feels sick every day. She even says herself that she's had enough of it. I don't know how to help her, she has seen various 'specialists' to try and teach her techniques to improve it and she's been put down as special needs at school now too. She's recently been told she has hyper mobility which is being looked into and explains the pain in her hips and hands when she's writing. Her GCSE's are approaching fast and I'm worried she'll have a complete meltdown. Do you have any advice?

windowmouse · 31/01/2016 08:54

Does honey and lemon really help a cold?

samcornfield · 31/01/2016 09:21

My son is asthmatic and ibuprofen always states that is should not be given to children with asthma. This limits us to using paracetamol when he has a fever. Why can ibuprofen not be given to asthmatics?

nerysw · 31/01/2016 09:37

i have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis - what are the chances that my children will also get this when they are older?

purplepandas · 31/01/2016 10:22

Do you have any tips for making life a little easier for an incredibly anxious six year old? Many small issues can be a real stress to her and that is hard work and not pleasant at such a young age.

BellaVida · 31/01/2016 11:29

My DS is 12 and gets sporadic sharp ear pain, which he says 'stabs in his ear and into the side of his head'. No redness, temp or other symptoms. It can happen, then he can go days or weeks without the pain. Could it be his molars? Something else?

AutumnElla · 31/01/2016 11:38

My little girl, who's just turned 2 has a problem with her ears. When the doctors have looked in them they have said they can't see anything wrong just lots of ear wax. One doctor could tell there was something wrong as something he seemed in a lot of pain when he looked in them and prescribed antibiotics but she still scratches at her ears a lot and seems in pain with them. I was told by a doctor at A & E just to use eardrums to melt the wax and that would sort the problem, but when I did use eardrums she was in a lot of pain off it. Do you know what could be wrong? I've been to the doctors twice and A &E once and am getting nowhere.

kerryanna · 31/01/2016 12:03

Is it possible for children to get chicken pox more than once? My 4 yr old son has been diagnosed on 2 separate occasions which was slightly confusing as I thought that children only got it once. Admittedly both times have been fairly mild (around 10 spots the first time on Torso, and maybe 15 the 2nd time again on his torso). Grateful for any advice. Many Thanks.

emmav6 · 31/01/2016 12:50

my 3 month old suffers with a blocked nose atnight, is there anything i can do to help her?

Lasplin84 · 31/01/2016 13:40

What kind of thermometer is best for babies?

balloon66 · 31/01/2016 16:22

Hi Dr Pixie, Id also be interested in your opinion of 'growing pains'- if they are real, what causes them and how can I help when my son is saying 'his bones hurt' in the night.

Lauzipop1 · 31/01/2016 18:00

My 3 year old constantly chokes on food. She's getting to a point where she will not eat anything and it's more psychological now. How can we help her and encourage her to eat?

skyeskyeskye · 31/01/2016 18:59

My daughter is almost 8 and is overweight. She eats cereal for breakfast, school dinner every day and sandwiches/yoghurt/fruit for tea.

She is quite active, and I have tried to limit her sweet intake, she never eats crisps.

What more can I do to help her lose weight, without discussing it with her as I don't want to give her a complex at the age of 8!?

badgermum · 31/01/2016 19:00

My son age 9 is continually suffering from mouth ulcers he eats a good range of fruit and vegetables and is otherwise healthy, our GP sent him for a blood test two years ago and everything showed up fine but he still suffers with the ulcers, any advice please

matphil · 31/01/2016 19:42

My 3 year won't eat any vegetables or salad, the only fruit he eats are apples and bananas. His diet is therefore very limited so should I be giving him any supplements.

Clairemike21 · 31/01/2016 19:50

I still can't get a 12 year old to swallow a painkiller tablet, any suggestions

cluckyhen · 31/01/2016 19:53

My son has ASD and often complains that it hurts to pass urine. He has had multiple dip tests for infection, all of which are clean - what can I do as I think my GP thinks he is making it up.

sarah3875 · 31/01/2016 20:10

My baby is 3 months old now and he has always been very congested. By about 4am he can barely breath laying down let alone feed. It can be a bit upsetting for us both. Not a lot seems to help. Is it normal?

smit23 · 31/01/2016 20:18

Hello Dr Pixie.
My question is about teething..
Is there anything I should do or worry about? Or will it just take it's own course?
Thank you!