Little Nosey Ones

Like many parents, I have also invested a fair bit on air purifiers to remove allergens in the bedroom when my children sleep at night. A three layer air cleaning process is fairly common. The first step is the carbon prefilters which traps larger particles like hair and some odours. The second layer of volatile organic compound (VOC) filters trap odors and airborne pathogens; and lastly the HEPA filters reduce indoor allergens such as dust and pollen. The icing on the cake, negative ion air purifiers which releases negative ions into the air. Negative ions are abundant in nature. Negative ions are supposed to be further clean up the air off any mold spores, pollen, pet dander, odors, cigarette smoke, bacteria, viruses, dust and other hazardous airborne particles. Negative ions are also said to increase your sense of well-being and mental clarity. At this point in time, let me caveat that yes, air purifiers does a wonderful job cleaning up allergens and pollutants in th...

I’m stunned! I never knew there were so many types of rhinitis in children. There are acute rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic simple rhinitis, chronic hypertrophic rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, dry rhinitis, caseous rhinitis and eosinophilic rhinitis. I shall spend more time researching on the other types of rhinitis by for now, let’s discuss the most common form of pediatric rhinitis: allergic rhinitis. So what is allergic rhinitis? What is Allergic Rhinitis Allergic rhinitis, also commonly known as hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose which occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, itchy, and watery eyes, and swelling around the eyes. The fluid from the nose is usually clear. Causes of Pediatric Allergic Rhinitis There are generally FOUR main causes of allergic rhinitis, namely, Genetics, Environment, Diet and Disease. Genetics – A baby with a history of fa...

An asthma attack can be a daunting experience even for those with prior experience. Potential signs of an imminent attack can include shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing. These are potential tell-tale signs of what is asthma attack. These are also signs that you need to whip out the inhaler right away to relieve these symptoms. Asthma attacks can occur anywhere, at any time, without any warning. It is therefore important for sufferers always carry or have their medications nearby. Asthma attacks can generally be classified as either Mild or Severe. A mild attack is usually more common than a severe one. In a mild attack, the symptoms usually goes away within a few minutes or within a few hours after receiving treatment. On the other hand, severe asthma attacks last longer and immediate medical attention is needed. As a suffer or caregiver, you need to recognise the symptoms and treat mild symptoms of an asthma attack in order to prevent a sev...

Asthma is a disease resulting from chronic inflammation of the airways. It is estimated to affect 20 per cent of children in Singapore. Common symptoms of asthma are recurrent wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough. Asthma Triggers and Prevention/ Avoidance Tips Asthma symptoms may be triggered by different factors, ranging from external factors such as airborne pollutants/irritants (e.g. haze, tobacco smoke) and allergens (e.g. house dust mites, animal dander) to physical activity and emotional factors (e.g. anxiety, stress). There is at present no known cure for asthma but with appropriate treatment, most children with asthma can lead normal lives. Common triggers and suggestions to avoid them are: Viral infections : Build up a healthy immune system with balanced nutrition, good sleep and regular exercise/physical activity. Basic hygiene practices e.g. hand washing. Influenza vaccination. Tobacco smoke: Smoking cessation for smok...

Meet Elderberry. A natural remedy that has a long history and may have been cultivated by prehistoric man. Elderberries are one of the top antiviral herb on earth that strengthens your immune system naturally. What Is Elderberry? Sambucus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Adoxaceae. The different species of Sambucus are commonly called elderberry or elder. The berries and flowers of the elder plant are used as medicine. Elderberry is native to Europe, Africa and parts of Asia, but it’s become common in the U.S. It has deciduous leaves, white flowers (elderflowers) and berries that turn from green to red to black when ripe. Elder is commonly found growing in woodlands and hedgerows. Sambucus nigra is the full scientific name of the most common variety used for medicinal purposes. Sambucus nigra is the species on which the majority of scientific research has been conducted. It’s a deciduous tree growing up to 32 feet tall with cream-white flowers and blue-blac...

Today I shall share a couple of easy to make hay fever remedies for children. Hay fever, or popularly known as allergic rhinitis, is a common allergic condition which causes sneezing, watery eyes, itchy throat, a blocked, itchy, or runny nose. Hay fever is caused by an allergic response to airborne substances such as pollen or other allergen, triggering an allergic response. Here are two simple remedies to help you or your child relieve the symptoms of hay fever/ allergic rhinitis. Warm Honey Lemon A cup of warm lemon honey is easy to prepare and tastes great too. Studies have shown that honey contains trace amounts of bee venom, which is clinically used for the treatment of allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma. Honey contains certain pollen grains, which often have a certain resistance to pollen allergy. Fresh lemons are rich in Vitamin C, a natural anti-histamine. 1000 mg of Vitamin C a day will help you reduce the occurrence of allergies. Ingredients : 2 ...

Quick Specifications: 52 Watts (0.7 Watts at standby) 4-Step Purification Coverage Up To 270 sq. ft. or 25sqm Semi-Permanent Built-In Ionizer ≥ 9 Million Negative Ions per cm3 novita PuriClean™ Air Purifier NAP101i novita is a very familiar brand in Singapore with a wide range of products ranging from air purifiers, water purifiers and more recently, they have come out with other products such as fans and massage devices. My novita air purifier which I bought more than three years ago is still running strong, giving me full confidence in their range of products. Back to what they do best, which is air purifier, their basic model NAP101i is by no means inferior to its bigger brothers like the NAP606 and the NAP002Hi. I would recommend the NAP101i for a typical HDB bedroom since its coverage is up to 25sqm. If you need to purify the air for the living/dining room, then you might consider the larger NAP606 which can cover up to 38sqm. The NAP101i offers the powerf...