It was just before Mikaal’s second birthday that he started with a persistent cough. I clearly remembered what triggered it and was some very cold soft drink on a trip to Shakargarh. He was alright that day but woke up next morning with a heavy voice and a throaty cough. There was no fever but the cough was alarming. It got from bad to worse and soon I was rushing him to his pediatrician. He was once again prescribed with a particular third generation antibiotics ‘Cefspan’. However, to our dismay after a five day course the phlegm disappeared to leave a very dry cough behind. It was at its worst during the mornings and at night before bed time.

Each day I would see him wake up and immediately begin coughing and wheezing. My happy and healthy Mikaal seemed so helpless and weak. Then we started to try various other cough syrups. The advice from the doctor was to try on a number of cough syrups till we found one that worked. Unfortunately it grew worse and Mikaal began to have problems swallowing his milk down. He also had endless bouts of vomiting in the middle of the night.

In a matter of just two weeks time his cough aggravated to an extent that he would lean forward with rounded shoulders and continue for an endless span of time. I was worried that soon he would cough up blood.

With my trust on Mikaal’s pediatrician I never sought a second opinion but now in such a predicament I had to get him to an allergy specialist as I had a suspicion that he had milk allergies.

As I was looking for Dr. Tabish’s number I vividly recalled a very bad episode of Mikaal’s illness during the previous winters when he was constantly sick with fever and did not eat for days at end. In the entire month of December he had completed at least four courses of antibiotics. Whenever we would stop his prescription he would again have a high fever. I had started to fear stopping the antibiotics and wanted him to be on a stable diet of antibiotics for ever. During that episode I had taken Mikaal to Dr. Tabish whose recommendation was to nebulize him with Ventolin. I wanted very strong antibiotics for him and was slightly disappointed by Dr. Tabish’s prescription. My mindset at that point in time was such that his not prescribing an antibiotic made me feel he did not take my child’s illness seriously. I went back to our family pediatrician for more injectable antibiotics. The cough would get better for a few months but its relief was temporary before erupting again. It became so erratic that we directed all the people who came near him to get their throat cultures done and wash their hands millions of times.

We kept him in a room and he was not allowed to come in contact with other people. I spent hours reading books and watching TV with him in his room. This seclusion greatly agitated my husband and we would have arguments. He would want to take Mikaal out and I would resist no end. I always managed to get the last word but inside the situation made me feel very unhappy.

My whole life became so stressful that I could just not think straight or concentrate on my work. Mikaal was born after many complications. His birth was handled with much care and attention at the hospital and by my gynecologist. His first year was perfect. No illness and not a single course of antibiotics. He was a beautiful and healthy baby. Looking back I always would think that we overdid on his protection. However he was years ahead of children of his age really leap years ahead in terms of learning and growth.

After six months of this mysterious cough and fever I decided to once more to go back to Dr. Tabish. This time I listened to his advice more diligently and followed it as I had no alternative. Mikaal was diagnosed with allergies that were exacerbated by food items such as citric acid and cold drinks. I had also been informed by the doctor that the sour and tangy candies and lollipops would ignite an irritation to the condition. More importantly he had seasonal allergies that coincided with the humid weather of Islamabad. To my horror his antibiotics were stopped and he was put on preventatives, Ventolin and Clinel-A.

Mikaal’s condition began to improve and gradually he regained the health and heartiness he was born with. However, I learnt a lot from his illness that I would like to share with other parents. To begin with, the cause of any cough or cold that lingers on for more than a week has to be determined. The irritating cough that most children have cannot be simply treated by an antibiotics course. It has to be properly diagnosed by the doctor. If the condition does not go away seek the advice of an allergy specialist.

Antibiotics are no cure and should not be taken without doctor’s prescription. Even if they are prescribed you should take more than one opinion. When children are born we should assist them in developing a strong immune system and that requires that children are breastfed. Besides that the food they eat and especially the amount of vegetables and fruits is essential. Antibiotics curb the strengthening of a strong immune system. I have learnt that a child’s illness is not fatal if s/he is not prescribed antibiotics for just a fever or cold.

Another frequently used bit of advice that I can give from my experience is that prevention is better then cure. I sometimes feel like such a fool when I police around Mikaal to not have cold water and juices. I check the juice that he drinks first to see that it is not very tangy. I keep a close watch in his intake and his diet and restrict ketchup as it has vinegar. Also too many fried foods when the throat is bad are not good at all. I am also a believer of clothing children properly. Polluted environment inclusive of cigarette smoke triggers off baby asthma and allergies as well. I do not allow anyone to smoke in our house as why should a child suffer from someone’s addictions.

In a city like Islamabad you have to watch out for seasonal changes when days are warm and nights very cold. Also keep a check for air-conditioning in warmer weather, that there is not extreme exposure to hot and cold. What we feed children from the time they start to eat is important. We in Pakistan rely a lot on carbohydrates. Try as much as possible to give natural porridge, fruit juices, and pureed fruit all of which have no added sugar. It is best to include home remedies as a part of prevention. I have become a big believer of using Joshanda (green tea with honey) and cod liver oil for my child during the winters. Sugar, sweets and chocolates should be avoided at all costs. Sweets that are tangy also can trigger off very bad coughs.

My last advice to parents would be to keep both boys and girls physically active and not curtail activity when children have allergies. These days parents facilitate children to become TV addicts and computer junkies. This energy can be diverted into outdoor activities. You will certainly find a difference in the physical growth of the young ones if they are running around, cycling, swimming or playing any other outdoor sport.

I see a difference in Mikaal’s allergies which seem very much under control. I can foresee that by his fifth birthday he would be free from my policing, if not entirely. I am happy to report that he is already cycling and is quite a pro at swimming with his Dad. He is learning horse back riding as well. Everyday he goes to a park and plays there and is only allowed to watch ‘Animal Planet’ just before going to bed. It is indeed essential to have well rounded children who are physically and mentally healthy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz is the Chief Executive of Children’s Resources International (CRI), Pakistan Limited. With more than 15 years of experience in the education sector, Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz initiated a program on child-centered interactive methodologies in the public sector in 2002 and is now implementing it in a whole district. The program focuses on Basic Education with Early Childhood Education (ECE) foundation, family literacy and training of faculty in universities to improve the methodologies of teaching, pedagogy and classroom environment. The program is being translated into national policy level decisions to improve the quality of education for marginalized children.