When I was a paediatric resident way back between 2002 and 2005, I used to dread the monsoons and the post monsoons period! Why? Children used come with seizures, altered sensorium, and raised intracranial pressure, and would die like flies! Those who survived, would have neurological deficits, seizures for ever! It does not happen anymore! What was the GAME CHANGER? A vaccine! Japanese encephalitis vaccine! Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito borne disease caused by a virus. There is no treatment, but vaccine can prevent it completely! It is endemic in many parts of our country and the rest of Asia! So, it is important for you to discuss with the child's paediatrician, especially if you are living in an endemic area, or if you are going to travel out of your place which is not endemic for Japanese encephalitis. Parents, always take an informed decision about child's health. In the era of Social media, always we need to remember *Do not see who gives the message. See what is the evidence on which the message is based.* That differentiates fact from fiction *Popular is not necessarily true* *Popular is not necessarily right* "You are at a position where you are going to take decisions for your child. You have the responsibility to take the right ones. Let those decisions be well informed rational decisions. *Quick checklist for Parents- check the credibility of Medical information* Before trusting a medical claim or recommendation, check: 1. Is the claim based on a study, not just anecdote or “expert said so”? 2. Was it a large, well-designed trial or a meta-analysis? 3. Did they report both benefits and harms (side effects)? 4. Are participants similar to my child / family (age, region, health)? 5. Is the benefit big enough (not just “statistically significant”)? 6. Was the follow-up period adequate? 7. Has it been replicated by other studies or trusted bodies (WHO, national guidelines)? 8. Who funded or promoted the study — is there a conflict of interest? 9. Does it make sense in my context — cost, access, monitoring? If the answer is “yes” to most of these, the evidence is more trustworthy. Check with your trusted doctor and proceed If “no” or “don’t know,” proceed cautiously, or wait for better evidence. Talk to your doctor to clear your doubts. #Japaneseencephalitis #vaccine #mosquitoes #virus #endemic #seizures #raisedintracranialpressure #alteredsensorium

Sir, @narendramodi and @jpnaddaoffice @fssai @mohfw, it's a national shame that FSSAI has consented to the request by JNTL(the Indian subsidiary of Kenvue which is a spin off of Johnson and Johnson) for a stay order to dispose of it's stock of high sugar ORSL! Sir, not only now, in future also, except WHO recommended formula ORS, no sachet or tetrapack should be allowed in the pharmacies(including online), hospitals, and schools, as far as rehydrating medicines are concerned. ORS should never be allowed to be used on the labels except for WHO Recommended Formula ORS even if these liquids are being sold in the supermarkets and quick commerce platforms only! Trusting that you will ensure the October 15th order is implemented with urgency!