Dr Siew Pin Tan

Tourette’s syndrome is often associated with other Co morbid conditions eg OCD or ADHD so these have to be addressed and managed . There is no real cure only management of symptoms and only in those where it is deemed to interfere with life . Different drugs are available to manage . Behavioral therapy also is supportive.

There must be a specific reason your child was prescribed prednisone for the cough so it’s not possible to discuss alternatives without knowing the diagnosis and best discussed with the doctor who saw your child . One reason could be for Croup.

There are certain facts one needs to establish eg how old is your child ? Age appropriate behavior is something you need to be aware of - meaning at a different age we expect maturity to take place and hence this concern is best answered in discussion with a doctor who can then observe your child and interview more extensively to come to a conclusion .

As the question posed is very generic I will just state some guidelines which warrants a hospital visit. Usually in Singapore there isn’t an issue to bring your child to see a regular GP or Paediatrician for the above symptoms unless it’s a public holiday or after office hours. In which case for practical reason you have only the option of going to the hospital.

It depends on several facts: Is the baby premature? Is the baby sick with other medical conditions Does the baby have G6 PD deficiency? Is the baby on breast milk, formula, or a mix? How many days old is the baby? Does the baby have a blood group incompatibility with the mother's blood group? Is the baby on medication? Is baby feeding well? Or is the baby lethargic? So it is not possible to base the decision on a single value, but interpreted in the context of the above factors. It is best for the baby to be seen and their condition discussed with a doctor.

As soon as the diagnosis is confirmed please make an appointment to see the Paediatric surgeon who will then assign a date for the surgery . Usually it’s done between 9 months to a year . So before that - there is hope that the testes will descend spontaneously .

I’m assuming your child is between 1-2 years old. With these symptoms there is definitely a need to see a doctor to establish the degree of dehydration and to rule out serious causes for the incesssnt vomiting. If the symptoms have just begun and your child doesn’t have fever nor other symptoms and isn’t listless, you can try slow and low volume rehydration with diluted formula milk, watermelon carrot or coconut juice, or medical grade fluid replacement like hydralyte or pedialyte. If vomiting persists please seek medical attention.