DocDivaTraveller: January 2020

Motherhood is a joyous experience yet very stressful at times especially when it comes to the well being of our munchkins. We hate seeing them fall sick yet we are always petrified of visiting the paeditrician, whether it's for immunity shots or for medicines. However prevention IS better than cure and vaccination is a NECESSITY. With elaborate immunisation schedules being handed over after the birth of the baby and new vaccines coming up, parents get quite confused as to which ones to go for.

Being a general physician as well as a mom of two ( a toddler and an infant), my patients come to me for immunisation advice for their children. After consulting with my paeditrician colleagues as well as my research for my little one, I have summed up a few indispensable points which should always be considered before going for a vaccine. Here I would particularly like to stress about painless DTP (Hexaxim) vaccine as a lot of questions have been coming up regarding the same.

So what are the points that we should check before choosing a vaccine for our little one?

1. WHO Prequalification:

The WHO prequalification of vaccines is a comprehensive assessment whether the product meets the requirements for safety and efficacy in immunization programmes.

The process involves:

● Review of the production process and quality control.

● Laboratory testing

● Audit of manufacturing facilities by WHO.

In short WHO prequalified vaccines are tried and tested and therefore absolutely safe.

2. Single or combination vaccine?

A combination vaccine protects the little one from multiple infections. Also it means lesser skin pricks and fewer visits to the pediatrician.

Hexaxim provides effective seroprotection from the 6 deadly childhood diseases, mainly : Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae Type B virus. It offers the convenience and efficacy of a fully liquid ready to use vaccine. One shot, multiple protection.

So which one would you prefer?

3. What about the side effects of vaccines? Painful or painless?

We mommies can hardly bear to see our babies cry... That too from pain. But vaccination is a necessity. Therefore we should always opt for the one with lesser side effects.

Thankfully this new, less painful combination vaccine is here for my little one. Post vaccination pain is almost negligible with Hexaxim.

4. What about preservatives?

Preservatives are avoidable. We should always prefer products that are preservative free including vaccines. Thankfully, Hexaxim is preservative free.

5.Global usage: We should always go for a vaccine that is well accepted all over the world. The first world countries have strict rules and regulations regarding the products used in healthcare. Hexaxim is the most used vaccine globally and hence safe and effective for our babies.

6. Fewer chances of human errors: Since Hexaxim is a ready to use vaccine, there are very less chances of human errors in its preparation and administration. That's a big bonus!

So mommies are you looking forward to a less stressful visit to the pediatrician?

Which vaccine are you going for your little one?

Issued in public interest by Sanofi Pasteur

January 27, 2020 9 comments

January 21, 2020 13 comments

So its been officially two and a half years now that we are obsessed with living in someone's else's home! Yes, staying in B n B's started in Istanbul and since then we have been booking homes. I mean what is a better way to peek into someone's culture? None! The amount of fun/ knowledge and exposure we get in staying with a foreign local is unmatched. Not to forget the spaces are much bigger than a hotel room (sometimes we have the entire apartment to ourselves) and hot locations. So in this trip too, we booked B n Bs wherever we halted.

Melbourne was our first stop in Australia and we decided to stay in the heart of the city ie Southbank. Although it was far from the airport (as expected) but that was not an issue as we wanted some place near the railway station. So after boarding the Skybus from the airport and then boarding the city train and tram we reached Southbank. We were pretty surprised from the moment we arrived in Melbourne. Everything was written in Chinese as well as in English.

The moment we came out from the tram, the city seemed more Shanghai to us! I mean we saw more Chinese and Indian faces than Caucasians! Even our host, whose home we were headed to was Chinese.

Our rental was in the heart of Southbank; just a stone's throw away from the Crown and Eureka skydeck. The name of the building was City Apartments and our place was on the fourteenth floor.

The place was really small (as could be expected from its location) and we did not have much access to the rest of the apartment except the kitchen. Our host Crystal was sweet but she hated noise which was quite a problem for us :D

The view from the balcony was amazing. On the right side one could see the Yarra river and the St Kilda beach was visible on the left. The twinkling lights at night were mesmerising.

This accommodation was probably the second costliest of our trip; although the space was the smallest! That is the downside of staying in heart of the city. We also had access to the apartment's temperature controlled swimming pool (something which I don't get here) as well as the gym. I could use the pool only once that too on our first day as rest of the days we were out by 5 AM and came back by 2 AM.

It was definitely not at all a luxurious stay but we loved the feeling of staying in Southbank for those few hours!

January 13, 2020 7 comments

God has made women very strong. Else how would have the world perpetuated? From braving labour pains to bearing the never ending responsibilities of motherhood, from tolerating period pains every month to juggling home and work everyday, it's tough to be in a women's shoe. Sadly God has made females vulnerable to few things too, including UTIs or Urinary Tract infections.

God has given friendly bacteria in the genital region of females (read Lactobacillus) to fight infections. These microbes are present only during the reproductive period of a female. Therefore little girls and older women (post menopausal) are more prone to infections because of the absence of the protective barrier.

But still UTIs are prevalent because of faulty toilet practices and other lifestyle habits. So here I am summing up briefly how to keep such infections to the minimum.

1. Drink loads of water: We women tend to skip on the glasses of water especially when we have to stay out because of the urge to visit the loo. But that plays a havoc on our system. When we take lots of water, the toxins along with the infection causing bacteria are flushed out.

2. Use a clean toilet. I know it's easier said than done. Public toilets are unclean and sometimes we have to use them. Especially if we have increased our water intake. Therefore always clean the seat before using it.

3. Use a toilet sanitizer: Everteen Instant Toilet Seat Sanitizer Spray is a boon for us women. It instantly cleans the toilet seat by killing all the germs present on it. Also it leaves a great smell which is a boon indeed.

How to use Everteen Instant Toilet Seat Sanitizer Spray?

Shake the spray can

Hold the can upright and spray on the area to be used from a distance of 10 inches.

Wait for 5 seconds.

The toilet seat is ready to use.

How does it work?

It kills the germs that cause UTIs and other infections.It deodorizes foul smell and is suitable for all skin types.

The Everteen Instant Toilet Sanitiser Spray is compact, lightweight and handy and fits easily in your purse. It can be used any public bathroom, toilet seat and cover, flush lever, faucets and doorknobs.

It's easily available on Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal and all major e commerce sites.

Price: 185 INR for a 90ml Spray can.

Now what are the symptoms of UTI?

UTI may start with burning during urination to pain in lower abdomen and increased frequency to high grade fever. You should never hesitate to consult your doctor for the same.

So girls drink lots of water and don't forget to carry Everteen toilet seat sanitiser in your purse!

January 09, 2020 6 comments

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Travel really is a wonderful thing. It broadens the mind and can open you up to new experiences that you'd never otherwise have. Which makes it all the more unusual how often people tend to get themselves stuck in something of a routine when they travel. Far too often people find a single travel destination that they fall in love with, and then they visit that place over and over again until it loses so much of what once made it so magical. It's amazing that many people can take something as wonderful and exciting as travel, and actually find a way to make it boring! Of course, things don't have to be that way! Here are a few ideas for some different things that you can do on your next trip.

Get off the grid

One of the things about traveling is that it takes you out of your comfort zone a little bit. This can be one of the very best things about it. If you go back to the same hotels and resorts time after time that feeling can fade away, leaving things feeling stale and pedestrian. If you really want to turn that on its head then why not take a trip where you're completely and totally off the grid. Strip yourself of all of the typical comforts that you associate with a vacation and get back to basics in a big way. Doing this allows you to learn more about survival, remind yourself that you don't need to be glued to technology all the time, and remind yourself of how it feels to be alive when everything isn't constantly provided for you. Sure it might not be the most relaxing trip, but it will certainly be one that you always remember.

Go somewhere where you don't speak the language

Another way to really shake things up and sweep out the cobwebs is to go somewhere where everything is completely foreign to you. Of course, there are many destinations where English isn't the dominant language, but many of those have dedicated tourist areas that make allowances for you. Instead, try going places like countries in Asia that don't make those concessions. Take a phrasebook with you and really engross yourself in a culture that's completely alien to you. It won't take long before you come to understand it better and you'll often come away with a much greater understanding of the world around you and the different cultures in it. Of course, you might find that a little intimidating so if you're looking for a more balanced approach then why not try something like Southeast Asian tours. That way you get a balance of guidance while still being able to throw yourself into the local experience.

Choose the opposite to your normal destination

If you want an immediate shake-up to your normal travel plans, but you don't really know where to start, then start with what you're used to, and flip it on its head. If you usually travel in cities and enjoy a degree of luxury, take some time out in the wilderness, if camping is usually your thing then get stuck into the incredible energy and culture that cities have to offer. By going in the exact opposite direction to what you're used to, you can discover a whole new world of possibilities that you might never have even considered before.

There's nothing wrong with wanting something a little more comfortable and familiar for your travel destination, but if you are looking to do something different then remember that there are always plenty of options available to you.