What's up baby doc

05/04/2026

👏 Alright everyone, this is Sunday, and after that we’ll need to get back to talking about serious things regarding kids.
I’ve got some pretty wild topics to cover, but since I can never have enough, I’m asking for your questions and topics you’d like to see discussed on this page about little ones and their health.
Now, be warned—there are still some questions that are impossible to explain, like:
💬 Why do teenagers communicate in monosyllables and grunts?
💬 If you read the same book 78 times to a two-year-old, will the story finally change?
💬 Why do socks disappear in the washing machine?
💬 Why does the kid who seemed on the verge of death ten minutes earlier suddenly look perfectly fine in front of the doctor?
💬 Why can’t my husband find the baby’s things when I’m not there and has to call me at work—even though they’re right in front of him?
Anyway, I’m waiting for your questions and I’ll take notes for later! 🥳

22/03/2026

➡️ The re**al issue: or the revenge of the little butt!
😁 Let’s talk about the a**s 😁
It’s Sunday, we’re in the mood for topics to discuss at family meals over the weekend with Aunt Stella or Cousin Lizette, the two chief complainers at the table, and what could be better than debating the re**um?
I made a big mistake when I prepared this topic, don't search Rocket Butt on Google... Now they suggesting me 1000 different unapropriate toys.

Alright, fine, I admit there are better topics.
We could happily chat about the terrible death of Chuck Norris (who everyone thought was immortal—but actually just went to take charge up in Heaven, shhh!) or talk about the brainless man with the orange skin 🔥
After so many exchanges with you online or during check up , one question keeps coming up whenever we talk about a child’s temperature:
“But doctor, taking it in the butt… that’s, uh… not okay, right?”
A question that surprises me because, honestly, it suggests some pretty questionable ideas, ones people seem more used to bringing up in secret island than when talking about a medical act for a baby! (Yes I talk about the brainless orange man).
The problem with this fear of re**al temperature-taking is that people make a huge deal out of it on social media. and even in real life (hi daycare centers, much love), as if it were abuse or inappropriate touching (seriously!).
Let’s be clear: taking a child’s temperature this way when they seem unwell and you need to check is completely normal, in fact, it’s recommended.

According to guidelines: ✅ Use the re**al method up to 18 months–2 years because it’s the most reliable. After that, you can continue or switch methods (since it can turn into a wrestling match!).
✅ The alternative is the ear thermometer (tympanic), used when the ear ca**l is large enough—around 18 months–2 years.
⚠️ Check both ears, because earwax in one side can distort the reading.
✅ From birth, another option (less reliable) is under the armpit. Add +0.5°C to the reading.
This is a second-choice method, and if in doubt, confirm re**ally, especially in babies where knowing if there’s a fever is important.
Let’s also remember that the most basic risk of re**al measurement is causing irritation or small injuries.
But why would that happen?
Because you’re not supposed to stick a thermometer in little Djenan’s butt every 30 minutes!
Try the same experiment on yourself and you’ll end up with irritation, like after an overly spicy Indian meal.
Don’t hesitate to put a bit of vaseline on the tip of the thermometer to make it more comfortable. I have so many jokes that come to my mind but let's keep it serious for a while.
(Always remember: you can always take time to lubricate!)
Also, the effectiveness of paracetamol against fever should not be judged by whether the number goes down—but by how your child is actually feeling.

In summary: ⚕️ From birth to 18 months–2 years: re**al thermometer (first choice, most accurate) or underarm (second choice, add +0.5°C)
⚕️ After 2 years: re**al, ear, or underarm (and if in doubt, confirm re**ally)
And forehead thermometers… let’s not even go there. They’re so inconsistent and depend so much on how they’re used that they’re not recommended, especially for babies.
I’ve lost count of how many people came to the ER thinking their child had a 43°C fever—when it was actually 36.5°C with us.
P.S.
I find it pretty funny that many people make a huge fuss about one or two re**al temperature checks—but are the first to ask for medications to be given re**ally as soon as possible (because it’s too hard to give by mouth, doctor…)
So… yeah.

07/03/2026

💊 The Great Vitamin Myth: Why Your Multivitamin Isn’t a Magic Potion

Every morning, millions of people swallow a colorful vitamin pill with the confidence of someone upgrading their body to the premium version. “Today I took Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, Magnesium, Omega-3… I am basically indestructible.” If only the human body worked like installing apps on a phone.

Unfortunately, our bodies don’t say:“Oh nice, you took 500% of your daily vitamins. Let me absorb all of that immediately.”
Instead, your body is more like a picky nightclub bouncer. “Sorry, only a few of you can come in tonight. The rest… straight to the exit.”
🚽 Yes. That is the exit.

The Big Misconception
Many people think taking more vitamins automatically means better health.
But vitamins don’t work like fuel in a car. You can’t just pour in extra and expect the engine to run better.
Your body only absorbs what it actually needs, and even that depends on several factors:
• Your current nutrient levels• What food you eat with the supplement• Your digestive health• The type of vitamin (fat-soluble vs water-soluble)• The form of the supplement itself
In other words: swallowing the pill is the easy part. Absorbing it is the complicated part.

Why Food Still Wins
Here’s something supplement ads don’t love to mention: Your body evolved to absorb nutrients from food, not from a compressed tablet that looks like astronaut candy.
Real food contains:• Fiber• Enzymes• Natural co-factors• Thousands of plant compounds working together
A vitamin pill usually contains… well… the isolated vitamin. It’s a bit like trying to recreate a full orchestra using only a kazoo.

Water-Soluble vs Fat-Soluble (aka The “Expensive Urine” Problem)
Some vitamins (like B and C) are water-soluble. If you take more than your body needs, it politely says:“Thank you for your contribution,” and sends the extra directly to your urine. Congratulations. You just produced very nutritious p*e.

Other vitamins (A, D, E, K) are fat-soluble.These can actually accumulate in the body, which means too much can sometimes cause problems instead of benefits. So more is not always better.
Sometimes more is just… more.

When Supplements Do Make Sense?
Supplements can absolutely be useful when:
✔ You have a documented deficiency
✔ Your diet lacks certain nutrients
✔ Your doctor recommends it
✔ You have absorption issues
✔ Life circumstances increase your needs

They’re tools. Not magic.
Think of them like backup singers — helpful, but they’re not the whole band.
The Real Health “Hack”
The boring truth (which nobody sells in a shiny bottle): Eat real food.Sleep enough.Move your body.Manage stress. Do those consistently, and supplements become support, not life support.

So tomorrow morning when you take your vitamins, go ahead and enjoy them.
Just remember:
They’re helpers… not superheroes and if nothing else, at least your urine will look impressively neon.

Stay healthy everyone 😉

19/02/2026

🤖 Can AI Replace Pediatricians? Let’s Ask the Baby 👶
These days, AI can write essays, create art, and even tell you what’s wrong with your Wi-Fi.

So naturally, the big question appears:
Can AI replace pediatricians?
Short answer: Only if the baby agrees.

(Long answer below ⬇️)

What AI thinks it can do
AI is confident. Very confident.
It can a**lyze symptoms in seconds
It can remind parents about vaccines
It can say things like: “Based on the data, this is likely a viral infection”
Impressive? Yes.
Pediatrician-level? Not quite.

Reality check from a real child
Let’s imagine this scenario:
AI: “Please describe the symptoms.”
Baby: “WAAAAAAAH 😭”
AI: “Error. Insufficient data.”
A pediatrician, on the other hand, translates that cry into:
“Oh, that’s an ear infection mixed with teething and a missed nap.”
No algorithm can compete with that level of magic.

Things AI absolutely cannot do

Convince a toddler that the syringe is not the end of the world
Examine a child who refuses to sit still for more than 2 seconds
Reassure anxious parents at 2 a.m. with “You’re doing fine”
Read the room, the family, and the child — all at once.

Also, let’s be honest:
AI has never been vomited on 🤮
That alone disqualifies it from pediatrics.

So what is AI good for?
AI is actually a great assistant:
Answering basic questions
Helping doctors organize information

Supporting (not replacing) medical decisions
Think of AI as a very smart intern who never sleeps — but still needs supervision.
Final diagnosis 🩺
AI will not replace pediatricians.
Because pediatrics is not just about data, symptoms, and charts.
It’s about humans taking care of tiny humans, with patience, intuition, experience, and a lot of hand sanitizer.
🤖 AI is smart.
👶 Kids are unpredictable.
👩‍⚕️ Pediatricians are irreplaceable.

11/02/2026

This nasty car can be mine with your help...

Thank you for your continued support over the past 6 years. With your understanding, I would like to inform you of an adjustment in my consultation fees.
Starting 1st March, consultations will be 400k, and 600k for consultations after 6:00 pm.

30/01/2026

https://www.facebook.com/100063190271732/posts/1096239285825737/

Effective way to protect against Dengue.

🌿 Protect Yourself from Dengue with Vaccine 🌿

We had a few cases of dengue fever this week and now everyone is asking me for advice on the vaccine. I've already written several posts about this, but I love repeating myself. There is a safe and effective vaccine against dengue fever.

💉 Who is at risk?
Anyone living in or traveling to dengue-endemic areas like Central Vietnam

Children (from 4 years old) and adults who may be exposed to dengue-carrying mosquitoes

Families with young children, since kids are particularly vulnerable

People who have had dengue before — reinfections can often be more severe

✅ Why QDenga®?
Protects against all 4 strains of the dengue virus
Suitable for individuals with or without prior dengue infection
Recommended for ages 4 and above
Helps safeguard communities during peak mosquito season

☔ With the rainy season starting, now is the best time to protect yourself and your loved ones. Don’t wait until it’s too late — get vaccinated.

Hospitals and vaccination centers all around Vietnam can provide the vaccine

24/01/2026

🚬If your child is breathing like a 75 year old smoker lady, you need to worry and start monitoring.

Bronchiolitis is an infection of the small airways caused by a virus. The most common viruses that cause it are RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).Bronchiolitis is seen most often in late fall and winter months through March.

What You Can Do at Home
🫩Some children with bronchiolitis have repeated spells of wheezing later on at home. If your child gets worse or starts wheezing again after he goes home, call the child's doctor. Here are some things you can do at home to help your child:
✅Place your child on his side or back with his head to the side.
✅Use a bulb syringe to clear your child's nose, Suctioning Nose with a Bulb Syringe
✅For infants, continue breastfeeding. Breast milk is known to help fight infection.
✅Give liquids often, in small amounts
✅Encourage your child to drink more fluids than normal.
✅Clear liquids such as juices or Oresol

may be given if your child has trouble taking formula or milk. If your child is still only drinking clear liquids after 2 days, please call his doctor.

✅Feed your child slowly and let him rest often.
✅Hold your child gently and talk to him quietly.
👽Don't let anyone smoke in the house or around your child. Smoke will make it even harder for your child to breathe. It may also cause more frequent and more severe lung and ear infections.

🆘When to Call Your Doctor
Call your child's doctor if your child has any of these signs:
👉Trouble eating, Trouble sleeping
👉Trouble breathing, or is breathing very fast
👉Skin color not as pink as usual, or blue-looking, The skin below or between the ribs pulls in when your child breathes.
👉Cannot be comforted when being held or fed.
🧑‍💼If you have any questions, be sure to ask your doctor.

💊Same story, antibiotics will not help get rid of bronchiolitis. Antibiotics should be used only when children develop more serious illnesses caused by bacteria, such as an ear infection or pneumonia.

No need for Ventolin the first few weeks

19/01/2026

I will be off today and Tuesday
I will be back to work on Wednesday.
Montain trip again

31/12/2025

🎉 New Year’s Eve as a pediatrician is a magical time. where champagne dreams meet apple-juice reality.
⏱️At 11:58 p.m., while the rest of the world is counting down with glittery hats and questionable resolutions, I’m counting fevers, rashes, and the number of times I’ve said, “Yes, that’s normal.”
🌌Fireworks go off outside. Inside, a toddler is screaming because their sock feels “wrong.” A parent whispers, “Sorry, it’s New Year’s Eve,” as if time itself has caused the ear infection. Another asks if it’s okay to give ibuprofen and make a New Year’s resolution to never Chat GPT symptoms again. (It won’t stick. They never do.)
🌛🌜The TV shows people kissing at midnight. I’m explaining again that green snot is not, in fact, a holiday emergency. Somewhere, someone pops champagne. Somewhere else, I pop a bubble wand to distract a two-year-old who just learned the word “no” and is using it like confetti.
🧧By midnight, my wish for the new year is simple:
Fewer mystery rashes
More sleep (for everyone)
And parents who start sentences with “I already checked with poison control…”
😜Still, there’s something special about it. Because while the world celebrates a new year, pediatricians are already helping start it with patience, stickers, bad jokes, and the unshakable knowledge that at 12:01 a.m., someone will ask:
🔁“Doctor… is it normal if my baby sneezes in the new year?”
Yes. Yes, it is. 🎉🩺

15/12/2025

We’re going to talk about a sad story 😥
The story of Nona, who lives in a real dump. No window, no ventilation, an absent husband, and a crappy night job.
Nona is young....too young.
And yet, every day, she sacrifices herself to go to work.
Nona itches to go outside, to see other people.
But it’s not easy for her with all the kids and Tonio, who’s never around. The bastard—she’s sure he’s cheating on her! 😡
The most tragic part of this story is that one day, while Nona is working hard, a huge object appears in the sky. Something insane 😱😱
Like a monstrous metallic spaceship that lifts her off the ground.
A UFO? An angry god? An X-Man?

No. Worse than that: a pair of tweezers.

Because Nona is actually a 1-cm-long parasitic worm, and she has just gone once too often onto the a**s of Djenan, 3 years old, who had been really restless for several nights!
Poor Nona. Poor Djenan 😁

You’ve guessed it.... we’re going to talk about something very (very) common: pinworm infection (oxyuriasis) ⚠️

What happens when Djenan, 3 years old, who goes to daycare, unknowingly swallows microscopic eggs when he puts his hands in his mouth? 👄

Well, some funny little residents from the Enterobius vermicularis family settle into his intestines to enjoy their summer vacation!

These tiny worms, measuring 5 to 12 mm, have the annoying habit of reproducing like rabbits and bothering Djenan until something is done about it.
So first: how do you spot it? 🔎

➡️ Option one: spelunking 👷🏻
Djenan’s a**s will itch in the evening or at night. Gather your courage and take a look at that charming are. you might see small worms coming out at night to lay eggs, which causes the itching.
Sometimes you’ll find them in the stool or in the underwear.
Sometimes you won’t see any worms at all, just scratch marks or nail marks on the a**l skin.

➡️ Second option: guess it from symptoms
A child who suddenly becomes very irritable, especially at night, who has nightmares or insomnia, or episodes of abdominal pain with diarrhea 💩

➡️ Finally, in little girls
The classic v***ar itchin, so Djenanne, Djenan’s sister, scratches her private parts like a lottery ticket, or ends up with a urinary tract infection by dragging germs from the a**s to the v***a.
If you suspect all this, there’s only one solution 💪

1️⃣ Like with Clochette, your poodle 🐩, you give the child a dose of deworming medication (flubendazole, from age 1), and repeat it 15 days later to kill worms that escaped the first massacre (eggs that hatched in the meantime, actually).
RIP Nona, Tonio, and their 10.000 children 🪦

If you forget the second dose, you’re good to start all over again. Bad luck.

2️⃣ At the same time, treat other family members, especially those with symptoms.
Don’t share bath items, wash everything at 60°C (underwear, clothes, stuffed toys, towels… not the child!), cut nails short, wash hands very frequently, especially after diaper changes and toilet use, clean the toilet seat, potty, etc.

You got it: to prevent infection, wash hands regularly and keep nails short.

One last clarification: pinworm infection is NEVER an emergency ❌❌❌
It NEVER requires a trip to the ER.

Running to the emergency room at 3 a.m. and taking the dewormer immediately will NOT make all symptoms disappear within the hour, it often takes several days.

You can go to the pharmacy the next day or the day after to get the medication, which is over the counter and does not require a prescription.

⚠️ Only breastfeeding women, pregnant women, and children under 1 year need medical advice before treatment, still WITHOUT rushing to ER .

Let’s take a moment to honor the life and work of Nona, hoping others won’t replace her.

10/12/2025

I repost it because we have 300 cases since the 1st December and already 20 severe cases.

🌿 Protect Yourself from Dengue with Vaccine 🌿

We had a few cases of dengue fever this week and now everyone is asking me for advice on the vaccine. I've already written several posts about this, but I love repeating myself. There is a safe and effective vaccine against dengue fever.

💉 Who is at risk?
Anyone living in or traveling to dengue-endemic areas like Central Vietnam

Children (from 4 years old) and adults who may be exposed to dengue-carrying mosquitoes

Families with young children, since kids are particularly vulnerable

People who have had dengue before — reinfections can often be more severe

✅ Why QDenga®?
Protects against all 4 strains of the dengue virus
Suitable for individuals with or without prior dengue infection
Recommended for ages 4 and above
Helps safeguard communities during peak mosquito season

☔ With the rainy season starting, now is the best time to protect yourself and your loved ones. Don’t wait until it’s too late — get vaccinated.

Hospitals and vaccination centers all around Vietnam can provide the vaccine

09/12/2025

As a doctor., specifically, a pediatricia
Meningitis is the word that gives us goosebumps. It's the one diagnosis you can't afford to miss, as it can kill a child in just a few hours.
And then, bingo. I found it.
The patient was me. A 20 days of fever and doubts
It started subtly: a high fever and headache . But over a few days, a deep, radiating pain moved into my spine and shoulders. Within hours, I lost the ability to move my right arm.
I had developed a severe brain and spine infection from a nasty, resilient bacteria. the kind often spread after a flood. It was Leptospirosis, and it landed me right in the middle of the devastating disease I constantly screen my young patients for.
A Critical Lesson in Vulnerability
I don't have the meningitis vaccine. The recommendations target children and people over 50. I'm not the target demographic, and I'm a healthy person... or so I thought.
My harrowing experience is a stark reminder: Infectious diseases don't care about statistics, age, or health status. This bacteria is freaking strong and it affects anyone.
My Recommendation to You
We are living proof that even the "rare" things happen.
If you are over 50 years old, please, take a moment to talk to your doctor about the Meningitis vaccine. Even if you think you are not at risk, even if you are perfectly healthy. this is a brutal illness, and the vaccine is your shield.