Child Health In India

3 children die after fever in UP's Kushinagar; health dept launches probe

Three children of a family have died within 48 hours after coming down with fever in a village here, prompting the authorities to dispatch a team of doctors to the area to test other children for diseases like malaria and dengue, according to officials. Medical reports of the three children who died in Gularhiya Tola village of Nebua Naurangia block are awaited to ascertain the cause of death, the officials said on Saturday. Pintu Gaur's daughter Manju (7) took ill a week ago. She was taken to a local doctor but she did not get better. She was then taken to the district hospital, where she died on Wednesday, according to the officials. Soon after, Gaur's younger daughter Khushi (3) also developed high fever. As her condition deteriorated, she was referred from the district hospital to BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, where she died on Friday morning. In a third blow to the family, Krishna (5), the son of Gaur's elder brother Dashrath, also came down with fever. He died while he wa

Childhood hypertension has doubled globally in 20 years, Lancet warns

A major meta-analysis shows hypertension has surged from just over 3% to more than 6% among people under 19, raising urgent concerns for parents, schools, and health systems

No, paracetamol use in pregnancy is not linked to autism, confirms study

Debunking Donald Trump's recent claims, a new BMJ study finds no convincing evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy raises the risk of autism or ADHD in children

How India's vaccine programme ensures access for all, even remote areas

World Immunisation Week 2025: India's Universal Immunisation Programme targets over 50 million beneficiaries each year, with new digital tools aimed at closing the access gap

Covid in pregnancy linked to higher autism, speech and motor delays: Study

Children born to mothers infected with Covid-19 during pregnancy faced a 29% higher chance of developing autism, speech and motor delays by age three, a major US study finds

Cough syrup-linked deaths in MP rise to 22 as two more children succumb

These children from Chhindwara died due to suspected kidney failure, which is linked to the consumption of 'toxic' Coldrif cough syrup

When parents fight: How divorce, conflict shape a child's mind and health

From anxiety and depression to risky behaviour, children face long-term fallout when parents fight; experts say calm co-parenting and support can make all the difference

Confused by new US vaccine rules for kids? What Indian parents should know

A US panel has restricted MMRV shots for kids under 4 and delayed advice on hepatitis B jabs for newborns-here's how India's vaccine policy compares and what Indian parents should do

Govt plans national periodic survey to map children's welfare needs

MoSPI to collaborate with MoWCD for a periodic national child survey aimed at mapping the needs of children and creating a child index under the Mission Vatsalya scheme

Datanomics: State-wise dietary patterns mirror malnutrition gaps

Bihar reported the highest share of stunted and underweight children, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra

India cuts maternal, infant deaths: MMR, IMR and NMR show big gains

India has made progress in reducing maternal and child deaths, with SRS 2021 data showing declines in MMR, IMR, U5MR and NMR-and improving sex ratio, TFR, and SDG alignment

Just 5 minutes of junk food ads can make children eat 130 calories more

New UK study links brief exposure to junk food advertising with increased calorie intake in kids, sparking fresh calls for stricter ad regulations and parental awareness

India sees improvement in maternal, child health, says 2021 SRS report

India has witnessed a significant improvement in key maternal and child health indicators between 2014 and 2021, according to a Health Ministry statement. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 37 points from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 93 in 2019-21, the statement mentioned, citing the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021 released by the Registrar General of India (RGI) on Wednesday. Similarly, the downward trend of child mortality indicators continued. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped from 39 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 27 per 1000 live births in 2021. The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has declined from 26 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 19 per 1000 live births in 2021. Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) has also improved, dropping from 45 in 2014 to 31 per 1000 live births in 2021. The Sex Ratio at Birth also improved between 2014 and 2031, getting better from 899 to 913, respectively. Total Fertility Rate is consistent at 2.0 in 2021

Anaemic during pregnancy? Here's why your baby's heart could be at risk

UK study finds that mums with anaemia early in pregnancy have a 47% higher chance of their babies being born with a heart condition. Here's why early care matters

India's move from institutional to family-based childcare gains momentum

In the drought-prone villages in many parts of the country, seasonal migration forces families into impossible choices. When parents leave for months to work in sugarcane fields, brick kilns or construction sites, they often take their children along. But those who stay behind are left in the care of grandparents or older siblings, often facing emotional strain and the burden of household responsibilities. For both groups, the consequences are stark: disrupted education, limited access to healthcare, and exposure to child labour and early marriage. The UNICEF, in collaboration with district authorities and NGOs, is working to address this crisis through its 'Kinship and Community-Based Care Programme' in places like drought-prone Jalna in Maharashtra. The initiative, which aims to keep children in their villages under the care of relatives or community members, is part of a broader shift in India's child protection system'?s move away from institutional care toward family-based ..

Decoded: Who are zero-dose children and what does the Unicef report mean?

Acc to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) and Unicef immunisation report, India follows Nigeria in having the highest number of unvaccinated children, with 1.6 million zero-dose kids in 2023

Six kids die due to suspected Chandipura virus in a week: Cause & symptoms

Chandipura virus in Gujarat: Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said on Tuesday that the samples of 12 patients have been sent to Pune's National Institute of Virology for confirmation

Genetic defects, not lack of oxygen cause cerebral palsy in children: Study

Genetic defects underlie about a fourth of Chinese children affected by cerebral palsy, and not a lack of oxygen at birth as previously thought, new research has found. Cerebral palsy is a disorder affecting one's ability to move. It is the most common motor disability in children, with symptoms emerging in infancy and early childhood. The disability is sometimes also associated with autism and intellectual deficiencies. Birth asphyxia, or receiving insufficient oxygen at the time of being born, can cause physical harm, especially to the brain, and is considered one of the main causes of cerebral palsy. The world's largest study of cerebral palsy genetics, involving more than 1,500 affected Chinese children, found that mutations were significantly higher in a fourth of these children receiving insufficient oxygen at birth. Researchers said this indicated that birth asphyxia could be secondary to the underlying genetic defects. The results, published in the journal Nature Medicine

How sugar turned bitter for Nestle: Baby food sugar controversy explained

Nestle's baby food products in several countries, including India, contain high levels of added sugar and honey, said a report by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation

India does better for its children, improves their chance of survival

Overall life expectancy has declined compared to 10 years ago though