Dr. Wenji Dai, the epitome of a nonjudgmental listener, brings nearly 20 years of experience and a wealth of expertise in a wide variety of mental health issues in children and adolescents to Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU). Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing her on her specialty – children and adolescents. We can all agree that parenting is tough. Whether you’re a first-time parent navigating the early years or juggling multiple teens at home, there comes a point when we all wonder if we’re doing something wrong or if there’s more to our child’s moodiness than meets the eye. This is where Dr. Dai steps in.

In a recent interview, Dr. Dai shed light on the collaborative nature of child psychology and stressed the importance of close collaboration with other healthcare professionals. She emphasized the pivotal role of psychologists in complementing medication treatments, highlighting the seamless coordination between psychologists and psychiatrists in patient care.

Let’s kick off with a quick vocabulary lesson:

What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

So, how do you decide whether to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist? Dr. Dai advises choosing one and working closely with them to determine the best path for your specific needs. Often, the two professionals collaborate closely to devise the optimal treatment plan based on the severity of the individual’s condition. “When a psychologist feels that a patient’s condition warrants further assessment or medication treatment, we work hand in hand with psychiatrists to ensure comprehensive care,” Dr. Dai explained.

To my surprise, Dr. Dai mentioned that seeking mental health support may not be a lifelong commitment for everyone. She takes pride in discharging many patients after guiding them through the appropriate course of treatment.

The child psychology department at BJU offers a diverse range of services tailored to the unique needs of young patients. Dr. Dai stressed the importance of involving parents and caregivers in the therapeutic process, emphasizing the significant role of family support in a child’s mental health journey.

“Treating children often involves close collaboration with their parents, families, and schools,” Dr. Dai noted. “Collaboration among all stakeholders is essential for effective intervention.”

Dr. Dai works with individuals across a wide age range, from adults and teenagers to children as young as five years old. She shared insights into her approach to working with children of different age groups. For younger children, she emphasized the importance of creating a comfortable and playful environment to facilitate communication and assessment. “Play therapy can be incredibly effective when working with young children,” Dr. Dai explained. “Engaging in playful activities helps children feel at ease and allows us to observe their behavior and assess their needs.” Through these playful interactions and “casual conversations,” Dr. Dai gains valuable insights into the children’s mental and emotional states.

When working with adolescents, Dr. Dai highlighted the importance of respecting their privacy while involving parents in the therapeutic process. She emphasized the need for open communication and understanding between parents and teens. “It’s crucial to respect teenagers’ privacy and autonomy while also providing them with the support they need,” Dr. Dai emphasized. “Listening to teenagers and understanding their perspectives is key to building trust and rapport.”

During our conversation, Dr. Dai emphasized a commonality she has noticed among children in Beijing: their stress levels. Amid our own daily stresses, it’s easy to overlook the stress our children experience. Whether it’s their concerns, achievements, or anxieties, Dr. Dai reminds parents not to dismiss or belittle them. In addition to individual therapy sessions, the department offers support groups and educational resources for parents, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to better support their children’s mental health.

Dr. Dai underscored the importance of early intervention and urged parents to seek help if they notice any signs of behavioral or emotional difficulties in their children. “Early detection and intervention can make a significant difference in a child’s mental health journey,” Dr. Dai emphasized. “We encourage parents to reach out for support if they have any concerns about their child’s well-being.”

With a dedicated team of psychologists and psychiatrists, BJU is committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care for children and adolescents facing mental health challenges. Dr. Dai’s expertise and compassionate approach reflect the hospital’s commitment to promoting the mental well-being of young patients and their families.

Outside of her professional life at BJU, Dr. Dai enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with her family and pets. To get in touch with Dr. Dai, simply scan the QR code to make an appointment through BJU.

Images: courtesy of Dr. Wenji Dai

Allergies affect most of the population daily; whether it be from the environment, food, medications or other substances. While most of us are lucky enough not to experience severe allergic reactions, complications and even death due to anaphylaxis from allergies are a genuine threat for one out of every thousand people according to the 2022 Critical Allergy Stats.

So I was truly surprised when I found out that you can’t buy EpiPens in China. Even if you don’t suffer from allergies yourself, I’m sure you’ve heard of EpiPens. An EpiPen is a hypodermic device that administers a dose of epinephrine, used for the emergency treatment of an acute allergic reaction.

To find out more about why EpiPens aren’t available here, and what alternatives there are, jingkids spoke to Dr Kim John Ly from Beijing United Family Hospital.

Dr. Ly is a licensed general practitioner/family physician and pharmacist from the United Kingdom with over 20 years of healthcare experience in both the private and public sector. He received his Master of Pharmacy Degree from the UCL School of Pharmacy, his MBChB from the University of Leicester, and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. He also holds a diploma in sexual health and reproductive healthcare (DFSRH) from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He became a fellow of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health in 2007.

Q: I understand that epi-pens are not allowed in China? Why is that?

Dr Ly: EpiPen (licensed by Mylan) is one of many branded epinephrine/adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) devices on the global market for treating anaphylaxis. Currently, there are no AAIs registered in mainland China, so they are not available due to exclusive licensing rights.  However, last year a Denmark based allergy company, ALK, planned to launch its AAI called Jext in China via a collaboration with Chinese company Grandpharma, who paid for the right to sell Jext. This is expected to be the first AAI to market in China.

If patient is to carry their own AAI from abroad, a prescription or medical certificate from the prescriber will be necessary to prove that it is for patient’s own medical use.

Note: Adrenaline (is the British approved name in UK) and epinephrine (is the WHO’s recommended international non-proprietary name and USA adopted name) are both the same active pharmaceutical ingredient. USA use the term epinephrine instead of adrenaline because Parke, Davis and Co marketed the extract under the proprietary/brand name Adrenalin, and so epinephrine became the generic name in America.

Q: What are the available alternatives here?

At Beijing United Family Healthcare we have an epinephrine anaphylactic kit available for our patients with a history of anaphylaxis. The kit consists of epinephrine 1mg/ml ampoules, ampoule cutter, syringe and alcohol swabs. Our experienced pharmacists teach the patient and their parents/guardians how to open the ampoules, draw up the appropriate dose of the medication and administer it correctly when dispensing the medication. Adrenaline is a prescription only medication and cannot be purchased over the counter.

Q: What is your advice on dealing with allergies, especially in kids, in Beijing? 

Allergy is an abnormal hypersensitive reaction mediated by our own immune system in response to a substance, which we call the allergen. It consists of a spectrum of symptoms of varying severity. At the severe end of the allergy spectrum we have anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency, and defined as a “severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction characterised by rapidly developing life threatening airway and/or breathing and/or circulation problems usually associated with skin and mucosal changes” following exposure to an allergen.

Children with suspected anaphylaxis should be referred to an allergy specialist, and prescribed an epinephrine/adrenaline kit by their family medicine doctor or ER doctor as an interim measure before their allergy specialist appointment. Patients can make an appointment to see one of our clinical allergist at Beijing United Family Healthcare.

Indications for prescribing an AAI include:

• People with a severe allergic reaction involving the airway and/or low blood pressure
• People whose reaction is triggered by an unavoidable allergen
• People with a localized reaction (not involving the airway) in a person who is considered high risk (e.g. people with asthma)
• Likely repeated exposure to allergen
• Lack of access to emergency care

On the less severe end of the spectrum, allergy symptoms can present as sneezing, watery eyes, irritated nose, itchy rash and more. These symptoms are annoying and often make it hard to focus, concentrate and sometimes hard to get a restful night.

At United Family Healthcare our family medicine doctor can prescribe allergy tests to explore potential allergens including, but not limited to, cat dander, dog dander, tree pollen mixture, grass pollen mixture, mould mixture, egg, nut mixture, fruit mixtures, wheat, sesame, crab, shrimp, milk, penicillin and more.

Measures to reduce or minimise exposure (e.g using air purifier, wearing face mask, keeping windows shut when pollen count is high), or avoiding the known allergen (e.g. not eating foods that trigger the allergy) can help limit the symptoms experienced. Also medications such as antihistamines, allergy eye drops, allergy nasal sprays and nasal douches can be prescribed by a family medicine doctor to provide symptomatic relief.

There is evidence that vitamin D deficiency is positively correlated with an increased prevalence for allergies. Vitamin D is also an important hormone for child growth due to its effect on calcium homeostasis and bone mineralization, but also for the proper functioning of the immune system.

In view autumn is here and winter is approaching soon, less sunshine and increased indoor activity means our exposure to sunshine is decreased and our ability to generate vitamin D is reduced. To maintain an adequate level of vitamin D, foods rich in vitamin D such as eggs, salmon fish, fortified cereals and fortified milk, or vitamin D supplementation is recommended.

KEEP READING: Navigating Allergies in Beijing’s International Schools

Images: Pexels, Beijing United Family

April 25 is National Child Vaccination Awareness Day, but what do you know about getting your child vaccinated here in Beijing? It can definitely be a bit unnerving coming to China, especially with young kids, and trying to figure out how to make sure you have all the right vaccines. Here to demystify it all are two Family Medicine physicians and one pediatrician from Beijing United Family Hospital.

Bringing us the German perspective is Family Medicine physician Dr. Reinhard Krippner, who previously worked as the German Embassy Clinic doctor. Here with the US angle is Family Medicine physician Dr. Lijun Liang, who was educated in China and trained in New York City. Providing more information specifically for kids is pediatrician Dr. Jet Caligagan from the Philippines.

What vaccines are not readily available in China?

Combination vaccines

“In China, there are constant shortages of imported vaccines, and the Chinese-made vaccinations are limited in their combinations,” says Dr. Krippner, explaining that the more diseases you can cover in one vaccine, the fewer injections needed, and the better the result – especially for children. “In Europe, we have the five-in-one and the six-in-one vaccines. Quite a number of these don’t exist in China, and there is a distrust of Chinese vaccinations because of previous scandals,” explains Dr. Krippner.

So, if you’d like to follow a typical Western vaccination schedule with as few vaccinations as possible using all Western-made medications, Dr. Krippner suggests getting as many vaccines as possible back home. “Of course, when your child is born in China, you have no choice,” he adds, “but any follow-up vaccinations that you can plan, it’s best to do them back home.”

Typhoid

“Living in Beijing, typhoid is not a very big risk. It’s only if you’re living in or traveling to very remote areas,” says Dr. Liang. “We don’t have that vaccine because China hasn’t approved it yet and China doesn’t make their own.” She adds that you need to get a booster shot every three years to maintain immunity.

UPDATE: Tetanus and rotavirus vaccines are now available in China.

Which vaccines are needed in China that aren’t on most Western vaccination schedules?

Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B

The reason some vaccines aren’t available in China is that some diseases just aren’t such an issue here. But, conversely, there are certain diseases that do exist in China that Western vaccination schedules may not account for. “That includes Japanese encephalitis,” says Dr. Krippner. “The disease is now rather rare comparatively, but that’s because every Chinese child is vaccinated. If all Chinese children are vaccinated, it means it’s still an issue,” Dr. Krippner cautions. He also recommends getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and B if you haven’t already gotten these shots.

Getting all the vaccines you need before you come to China is ideal, as it allows you and your family to have a full level of immunity upon arrival. However, if the full course of vaccines recommended really can’t be completed before your relocation, Dr.Caligagan advises that you can still get these vaccines once you arrive in China as a last resort. If you need to move in the middle of your child’s vaccination schedule, Dr.Caligagan advises talking to your pediatrician to ensure a smooth transition of your child’s care.

I’ve heard that vaccines in China can be unsafe. Is this true?

“Vaccines, in general, are safe, especially when they are manufactured by reputable pharmaceutical companies who adhere to the highest ethical and evidenced-based standards,” says Dr.Caligagan. Our pharmacists run the BJU pharmacy according to worldwide service quality and patient safety standards. We are committed to ensuring medication safety and improving patient care.

What vaccines can my child get in China?

Below is BJU’s recommended childhood immunization schedule:

For more information about vaccines for children, please contact the BJU Family Medicine Department or the BJU Pediatrics Department.
Operating Hours, Family Medicine Department:
Monday, Tuesday, Friday 8 AM – 7 PM
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday 8 AM – 6 PM
Operating Hours, Pediatrics Department
Monday – Sunday 8:30 AM – 5 PM.
To make an appointment, book through the BJU WeChat portal (ID: BeijingUnited) or call the 24-hour service center at 400 891 9191.

Dr. Reinhard Krippner is a German Family Medicine physician at the United Family Liangma Clinic. He speaks German, English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Indonesian.

Dr. Lijun Liang is an American Family Medicine physician at Beijing United Family Hospital. She speaks English and Mandarin.

Dr. Jet Caligagan is a highly experienced pediatrician from the Philippines. He has over 20 years of clinical experience.

Photos: Beijing United Family Hospital, Unsplash

Online classes have gone from supplemental lessons to fully replacing traditional classrooms as schools have postponed onsite learning until further notice. With that, an unintended consequence is the damage incurred to eyes while staring at a screen, as students are spending upwards of seven hours a day working on the computer.

In order to find out how to prevent damage to the eyes, Dr. Wu Yunyan from the Ophthalmology department of Beijing United Family Hospital provided suggestions and advice on how to protect your children’s eyes as they conduct their studies online.

Dr Wu Yunyan Ophthalmologist, Associate Chief Physician

1. It is important to use proper reading and writing posture when studying.  You can follow the three “ones” to correct your posture:

• The finger should be an inch away from the tip of the pen
• Eyes should be at least a foot away from the book
• Keep your chest about a fist’s length from the edge of the table (have a space a big as your fist between your chest and the desk)

Make sure not to let children study while lying down or leaning on the desk.

2. Try to read from physical copies instead of digital reading via computers and iPads. Strictly control the screen time and encourage children to take a ten-minute break once every 30-40 minutes after using an iPad or computer, reading, writing, drawing, playing with Legos, or playing the piano. Children should take a break while engaging in any activity that requires them to be near any object they’re using.

Due to the epidemic, try to stare at a distance from the window or a yard during the ten minutes. Parents can also accompany the children to play games for ten minutes such as throwing darts together.  Because it might be boring for children to play by themselves, parents can accompany the children and do things together to ensure they relax their eyes effectively.

3. Watch TV for less than 30-40 minutes at a time. Only watch TV once or twice a day. Watch TV from a distance of at least three meters, and preferably five times the distance from the screen.

4. Make sure to have some physical exercise every day. You can choose some home exercises, such as rope skipping, push-ups, hacky sack, or even play table tennis at home.

5. Keep a regular daily schedule to ensure your child gets eight to ten hours of sufficient sleep.

6. Keep a reasonable and balanced diet. Try to have more fruits and vegetables, less sweets, and eat more whole foods. Chewing is known as an alternative “eye exercise” and can prevent the occurrence of Myopia. If you are exposed to less sunlight, try to consume at least ten micrograms of vitamin D3 a day.

7. For the children who wear the orthokeratology lenses, they should keep wearing them. Do not take them off often just because they are not going outside as much. If they have any discomfort, you should communicate with your doctor as soon as possible to solve the problem.

Dr. Wu said, to protect the eyesight and prevent myopia, children and parents need to work together, especially during the period of e-learning from home.

Ultimately, parents should help children control the time that they use digital products, guide their children to finish the courses, and divert their attention to other things they are interested in. At the same time, parents should also lead by example; reduce time on mobile phones and iPads in front of their children, and increase emotional interaction with their children, to allow for more spiritual company.

Dr. Wu Yunyan has nearly 20 years of clinical experience with diagnosis and treatment of children strabismus, amblyopia, ametropia, visual fatigue diagnosis, and treatment; She has years of knowledge dealing with every kind of glasses, soft corneal contact lens, hard corneal contact lens (RGP), orthokeratology lens (OK lens), and low vision lens. In addition to the diagnosis and treatment of common ophthalmic diseases, Dr. Wu can independently complete most of the external eye surgery and strabismus surgery.

Photos: courtesy of Beijing United Family Hospital, unsplash

Whether it’s an anxiety-inducing onset of coronavirus-like symptoms, or simply succumbing to the cabin fever borne from weeks’ long quarantine, a few of Beijing’s international hospitals have created English online support hotlines to help expats cope with the current situation.

Photos: unsplash, Hong Kong International Medical Clinic Beijing, Beijing United Family Hospital, Oasis International Hospital, Raffles Medical

Whether it’s grocery stores, schools, banks, or restaurants, it’s tough to keep track of who’s open, which locations, and their current operating hours. Add to that list hospitals, the most vital cog in our city’s operations, and you’ve got a perfect storm for, if not a physical pandemic, then certainly a mental one.

As it happens, over the last few weeks, the government has required some hospitals to make certain upgrades to their fever clinics, which resulted in facilities shutting down for a day or two while they implemented the necessary changes.

Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) was one such hospital, and their fever clinic was thus closed from Jan 27 to Jan 30. Ultimately however, these upgrades were necessary to ensure improved patient identification and screening.

While their fever clinic was temporarily closed, all other services at BJU remained, and continue to remain, open. This includes ER, OB inpatient/outpatient, GP inpatient/outpatient, as well as ENT and eye clinics.

Unfortunately, without knowing the whole story, news that clinics were closed spread fast, and it’s been somewhat tough for folks to ascertain the current operating status of the city’s medical facilities.

Moreover, starting today, BJU has opened a free advice hotline for people, whether you’re part of the BJU network or not, to call in and speak with a Family Health physician regarding any health-related questions.

You can reach the BJU hotline at 010-5927 7053.

BJU’s main campus is located at 2 Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang District (北京和睦家医院中国北京朝阳区将台路2号)

For more information, and to find a BJU location near you, click here.

Photos: courtesy of BJU

Avery Katharine Dracz

Canadian/American. Born on October 19 to Stephanie Anne Dracz and Curtis Dracz at OASIS International Hospital

Gilbert Li

American/Chinese. Born on August 4 to Ruth Shen and Yan Li at White Memorial Hospital

Yuxuan Ma

Chinese. Born on September 11 to Lulu and Ares Ma at Peking University Third Hospital

Pippa Joan McMath

New Zealander. Born on April 5 to Tor McMath and Sinclair McMath at OASIS International Hospital

Wusi Kong

Chinese. Born on May 4 to FanRong Kong through IVF at Beijing United Family Hospital

This article appeared in the beijingkids November 2019 Beijing Baba issue

It’s time to talk about health. We are already in the thick of 2019; New Year resolutions may have fizzled into oblivion and that new wellness hobby of yours has already caught the bus back to the land of good intentions, so what could you really get your teeth into and feel like you’re taking the right steps to a healthier you? The 2019 International Running Festival Beijing Half Marathon of course!

Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) is the exclusive healthcare provider for this year’s Beijing Half Marathon and foreign competitors can register for the run through their offline registration channel. The registration process is easy peasy and your future self will be thanking you for taking the initiative to jump (or run) on board. Registration takes place at BJU between March 18-22.

Just prepare the following!

• Prepare your ID and a copy of your marathon certificate and payment in cash
• Go to the 2019 Beijing Half Marathon registration location: BJU
• Fill out the registration form
• Provide a copy of your ID and a copy of your marathon certificate
• Sign the participation declaration and pay the fee of RMB 120

After completing all the necessary registration steps, you will receive a text message of acceptance from the 2019 Beijing Half Marathon and then all that needs to be done is the filling out of the registration form on the Beijing Half Marathon website. You’ll then be able to pick up your participation equipment at the Beijing Half Marathon EXPO. Yay!

Starting point will be at Tiananmen Square on April 14 and the finish line is at Olympic Park. For more information contact info@beijing-halfmarathon.com. Dust off those sneakers, add some electrolytes to your bottle of water, don’t forget to stretch, and we’ll see you at the finish line! Good luck. RMB 120. March 18 -22 (registration). 10.00am -12.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm. Beijing United Family Hospital, Building 2, Lobby 2, Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang District (010 6716 7482).

Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) psychologist Dr. Bojun Hu is launching a support group for adult female survivors of rape and sexual assault and survivors of childhood sexual abuse/incest.

This is a confidential group to help women cope with difficult emotions such as fear, grief and loss, shame, self-blame, and anger. We will together share and discuss issues pertaining to power and control, body image, healing and self-care, and trust and intimacy in relationships. The group provides therapeutic conversations and yoga practices combined together for strength, emotional processing, relaxation, and reconnecting the mind and the body. The body holds memories of trauma and opening the body to sensations and experiences helps healing and enables one to let go of those emotional and behavioral patterns that are no longer serving. The group is open to women seeking support from others as they invite in a new sense of power and wholeness of mind, body, and spirit.

Session topics will include and are not limited to:

• Managing disclosure
• Emotional regulation
• Self-esteem and body image
• Intimacy and sexuality
• Seeking support
• Self-care

When: Mar 21-May 9, every Thursday from 6-7.30pm (eight sessions in total, 1.5h each session).
Where: United Family New Hope Clinical Center, 9-11 Jiangtai Xilu, Chaoyang District
Group size: 8-10 people
Cost: RMB 600 per session, RMB 1,200 for a one-hour pre-group interview (mandatory, to be held mid-February until early March)
Language: English
Sign up: Please email fc-rec@ufh.com.cn to express your interest in joining the group or to ask any questions you may have
.

Read this Q&A with Dr. Bojun Hu to find out more about her background, practice, and approach.

This post is provided by BJU
Photos courtesy of BJU