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Archive for the ‘General Information’ Category

DON’T BURN BABY BURN: PREVENTING SUNBURNS IN YOUR KIDS

Friday, May 11th, 2012

Summer is such a great time to spend outside at the pool or beach, at a baseball game, on a picnic or at a playground but we never want play days to be spoiled by painful sunburns. It’s important to protect our children’s skin to avoid sunburns which damage their skin with ultraviolet light. This damaged skin can lead to wrinkles and cancer later on. Actually, one severe sunburn can potentially double your child’s risk of melanoma when they are older.
  
 Here are some simple tips to keep your kids safe in the sun this summer:

1. Once your kids are older than 6 months of age, always put sunscreen on them 15-30 minutes before going outside and reapply at least every 2 hours. If your children have been swimming then reapply sunscreen more frequently. Remember that water-resistant sunscreen wears off in the water.

2. Remember to cover with suncreen the easy to forget areas with the pnumonic “BEENS”: Back of knees, Ears, Eye area, Neck and Scalp.

3. Use sunscreen with Sun Protective Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and a sunscreen which protects from both UVA and UVB light (a “broad spectrum” sunscreen). Parents who want to use the safest products on the market should use sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These compounds are not absorbed by the skin and are less irritating than PABA or oxybenzone or retinyl palmitate containing sunscreens.

4. My children called sunscreen “SUN SCREAM” because of the less than enjoyable application process. Put some fun in the whole experience by letting older children help you to choose a scented or colored sunscreen. Avoid these fancy sunscreens if your children have sensitive skin or an allergic skin condition like eczema.

5. Wear clothing to protect exposed skin, especially with fair skinned children. Dark-colored, loose-fitting long pants and long-sleeved shirts made from tightly woven fabric offers the best UV protection from the sun. T-shirts generally have SPF ratings below 15. If you are able to see through a T-shirt then the sun can shine through that shirt and burn a child.

6. Wear a hat with a wide brim that will shade a child’s face, ears, head and back of the neck from the sun. Avoid straw hats with holes that can let sunlight through to the skin. Hats should be made of a tightly woven fabric like canvas that will protect skin from UV rays. When wearing a hat any exposed skin must be covered with appropriate suncreen.

7. Wear sunglasses which wrap around the eyes and which block close to 100% of the UVA and UVB rays. This will protect the skin around the eyes, prevent the cornea from burning and will reduce the risk of cataracts later in life.

8. Love the shade, not the sun whenever you can. If you are in the shade still protect your children with appropriate clothing and sunscreen because reflected sunlight off of concrete, hard surfaces, sand or water can still produce sunburn.

9. Any child with a bad sunburn that makes him look ill, produces fever or blisters (a sign of a 2nd degree burn) should be seen in our office. If your child develops a sunburn but remains playful and active and does not have blisters then there are several things you can do to treat the sunburn:

  • Place a cool compress over the sunburn.
  • Apply an aloe gel over the sunburned skin. If you can, place the aloe container in a refrigerator for a few minutes. A gel which is cooled will be more soothing to the skin.
  • Give ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help control pain and treat any fever or chills that may follow the sunburn.
  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids to help replace fluid losses that accompany sunburns.

Avoid over-the-counter topical pain relievers (anesthetics) that contain benzocaine. These may actually increase the pain and some individuals may be sensitive or allergic to the benzocaine.

Take these precautions and enjoy your time in the sun this summer with your family.

David Roos, M.D.

5/11/12  

 

Back to School Physicals

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

I’m sure back to school physicals are the last thing on most parents’ minds right now but now is the time. Those last few weeks of the summer are usually hectic getting ready to go back to school.  Oftentimes parents realize at the last minute that their child needs a physical or a shot before school starts. You can avoid this stressful situation by scheduling your child’s physical in the early part of the summer. Not only are you able to check that off your to-do list, but you beat the back-to-school rush in our office. We always have plenty of open appointments for physicals in May and June, however August fills up quickly. We cannot guarantee there will be an appointment available if you wait until the day before school starts. We recommend scheduling now and scheduling early!

A yearly physical exam is an important time to assess a child’s overall health, catch potential problems early, update immunizations, reinforce healthy behavior, and review normal development and safety measures. These topics are covered in depth during the physical, therefore it is not a good time to address a significant health concern (for example migraines, abdominal pain, etc.) If you do have an additional health concern, it is best to make a separate appointment in order to address the concern more thoroughly.

A physical is good for the entire year since most standard forms simply require a physical exam within the last year. Keep in mind, your child may need  a form signed for sports participation, camp, daycare and numerous other activities. It is very helpful to have that yearly physical exam completed when a form is needed. Scheduling now will ensure your child doesn’t have to miss out on his favorite activity. Don’t get caught off guard. Get that physical out of the way early!

A Quick Reminder of School Vaccine Requirements

Daycare: Requires children to be up-to-date on all recommended vaccines for age.

Kindergarten:Children need 3 booster shots: MMR, chicken pox, and polio-DTaP (diptheria, tetanus, pertussis).

6th Grade:Adolescents are required to receive Tdap, a tetanus booster that also includes protection against whooping cough.

-Jaime Fell, PA-C

 

U.S. report finds pediatric “epidemic” of smoking

Saturday, March 10th, 2012

U.S. report finds pediatric “epidemic” of smoking
Almost 1 in 5 high school seniors regularly smoke and nearly 90% of adult smokers said they started smoking by age 18, according to a report released on Thursday by U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. Although rates of cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use dropped in the last decade, the report found that more than 600,000 middle-school students and 3 million high-school students smoke. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (3/8), HealthDay News (3/8

The most important factor pushing kids to smoke or chew is their peer group. They use their smoking to fit into the group.  They know that smoking is unhealthy for them but they don’t care because they feel invincible and think the warnings do not apply to them.  Many teens who smoke want to feel ”more grown-up” and enjoy taking risks.  Once teens develop the habit of smoking they can quickly become addicted to smoking and for many teens and adults breaking the addiction can be very, very difficult.  The key for every teen is to never start smoking so they will have a lower  risk of developing lung cancer, emphysema or peripheral vascular disease  and avoid the financial burden and social ostracism that the smoking habit brings.

David Roos, M.D.

 

Study: Children get 16% of daily calories from added sugar

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

Study: Children get 16% of daily calories from added sugar
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics finds children are getting 322 calories a day from added sugar, or about 16% of the calories they consume each day. The study found 59% of added-sugar calories come from foods and 41% from beverages, with about 63% of the calories from added sugars consumed at home. USA TODAY (2/29)    

David Roos, M.D.

 

 

Infants’ Tylenol recalled over bottle design problems. Read about the precautions for the new infant tylenol dosing schedule.

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Infants’ Tylenol recalled over bottle design problems
Johnson & Johnson on Friday recalled an estimated 547,000 bottles of infants’ Tylenol following complaints from parents about its new bottle cap and dose syringe. The company’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare division said that the drug was safe and that there were no reports of adverse effects. The Wall Street Journal (2/17),ABC News/The Associated Press (2/17)

Acetaminophen is one of the most common drugs given to kids and one of the hardest to give correctly, because it’s sold in many forms. This chart can help you choose the right dose for your child, from birth to 96-plus pounds.

View and print this acetaminophen dosage chart.

Take note! As of July 2011, infant concentrated drops are being phased out in the United States and replaced with less-concentrated form of the medicine. The concentrated drops are still safe to use as long as the dose is correct. They are three times as concentrated as the new infant medicine, so use caution: Know your child’s weight and follow the dosage chart.

Find out how to tell the difference between the old and new infant acetaminophen.

Whether you’re giving your child the old infant drops, the new infant liquid, children’s liquid, or another form of acetaminophen, bear in mind these important points:

  • Don’t give acetaminophen to a baby under 3 months without the approval of one of our doctors’, nurse practitioner’s or physician assistant’s approval.
  • The proper dose for your child is based on weight, not age.
  • Always use the measuring device that comes with the medicine — not a spoon from the kitchen.
  • Never give acetaminophen to a child who’s taking other medicines unless directed by a doctor. The other medicine may also contain acetaminophen, creating a dangerous overdose.
  • Don’t confuse concentrated infant drops with infant liquid (called infant drops by some manufacturers, but not labeled “concentrated”) or children’s liquid. Concentrated infant drops are three times stronger than the infant liquid so the dose must be smaller.
    Hint: Drops come with a dropper; infant liquid (or non-concentrated “drops”) comes with a syringe; children’s liquid comes with a cup.
  • Don’t exceed five doses in 24 hours.
  • Call our office if you have any questions about Tylenol dosing.

David B. Roos, M.D.

 

Symptoms of Diabetes

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Many patients and their families may not recognize the symptoms of diabetes that can be subtle and they may not seek medical attention until their child or teen is very ill.

Symptoms for Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin dependent diabetes)

  1. Frequent urination. It may be difficult for an individual to go much more than an hour without a very strong urge to urinate. Their body pulls water from body tissues trying to dilute the high glucose (sugar) levels in the blood and there are large volumes of water lost from their body. Many new diabetics are severely dehydrated at the time of diagnosis. Frequent urination is difficult to pick up in infants because they are in diapers.
  2. Unusual Thirst. There is a very strong drive to drink constantly any fluid they can find. Unfortunately, any fluid with carbohydrate content (juice, milk, sugared soda) will continue to raise their blood sugar and this increases their urge to drink and urinate.
  3. Extreme hunger. The body is starving for glucose energy because without insulin, glucose is unable to enter the cells of the body. Individuals crave food like never before and again all of the carbohydrates they ingest will raise their blood sugar level even higher.
  4. Unusual weight loss. Many new diabetics will lose up to 5-15% of their body weight in just a few days to a few weeks by the time they are diagnosed.
  5. Extreme fatigue and irritability.Muscle cells are energy starved so there is noticeable physical fatigue. Brain cells lack glucose and this results in irritability and eventual poor mentation.
  6. Blurred vision. Water moves from inside the eyes to the blood vessels and the decreased volume of the eye leads to blurred vision when the blood sugar level gets high enough.
  7. Yeast infections. Infants may have recurrent yeast (Candida) diaper rash or thrush (Candida/yeast) in their mouth. Yeast is more likely to flourish when glucose levels are high.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes (insulin resistance) may include

  1. Any of the type 1 symptoms. These symptoms for type 2 patients generally are less dramatic than those in type 1 diabetes.
  2. Obesity. Obesity is epidemic in the U.S. and affects infants, children, teens, and adults. Currently 20-35% of adult in this country obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
  3. Frequent infections. High blood sugar levels produce a perfect environment for bacterial, viral, and yeast infections. Individuals may present with recurrent skin, gum, bladder, or vaginal infections.
  4. Cuts, wounds, and bruises that are slow to heal. This occurs because diabetes can lead to poor circulation, nerve damage, weakened immunity, and an increased risk of infection. Each of these factors contributes to difficulty healing diabetic cuts, wounds, and bruises.
  5. Tingling and numbness in hands and feet. Chronic high blood sugar levels will damage nerves and this can cause neuropathy that produces tingling and numbness in hands and feet.

Schedule an appointment with Crown Point Pediatrics if your son or daughter is experiencing any of these symptoms. Our office can do appropriate blood glucose, urine sugar, and additional blood testing to check for diabetes.

David B. Roos, M.D.

 

Influenza Season Approaching

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Influenza Season Approaching

The summer is just flying by for many of us! August is already here and the fall season is just around the corner. With the coming of fall , we prepare for the upcoming influenza season. Our office will be getting this year’s influenza vaccine in a few weeks. We will begin to administer influenza vaccine by the middle to end of August. Once again we will offer Flumist nasal vaccine for low risk patients over the age of 2 years and injectable flu vaccine for all those patients older than 6 months of age.

Influenza is a very contagious respiratory disease that can cause significant illness to infants, children, adolescents, and adults. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends immunization for all infants and children aged 6 months old through 18 years old.
Infants and children from 6 months through 8 years of age will need to receive 2 doses of vaccine separated by 4 weeks if this is the first influenza vaccine for them. If a child between 6 months and 8 years of age only received one influenza vaccine during the past influenza season, it is recommended that they receive 2 doses of vaccine the following fall.

We will be offering flu shot clinics on Saturdays during the upcoming fall season. Please watch for specific dates. They will be posted on our web site.
We often are able to offer flu vaccine to parents, depending on vaccine availability. Please remember to ask while your child is here receiving their vaccine if we have vaccine available for parents.

 

Liquid OTC (Over The Counter) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Formulations Become Standardized by 2012

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Liquid OTC (Over The Counter) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Formulations Become Standardized by 2012

Acetaminophen has become the most widely used medication for pain relief and fever control. There are currently 2 different preparations of acetaminophen liquid formulations (80 mg per 0.8 ml, 160 mg per 5 ml). Acetaminophen can also be found in multi-symptom formulations as well. Additionally, there are many different “store-brand” formulations of “fever-reducer” and “pain-reliever” products that contain acetaminophen.

Due to the different concentrations of acetaminophen and the many different products available that contain acetaminophen, there is an increased risk of accidental overdose of this product. In order to decrease the likelihood of accidental overdose, the manufacturer’s of acetaminophen will no longer make the concentrated infant formulation. The only liquid formulation that will be available is 160 mg per 5 ml. (1 tsp.). This formulation will be available for all infants and children less than 12 years of age. An infant that weighs around 7 pounds will get a dose of 1/4 tsp. and a child that weighs around 22 pounds will get a dose of 1 tsp. (5 ml.).

Please contact our office if you have any questions regarding dosing medications for your children. It is important to be familiar with the medication you are planning to use, the dosage strength of the medication and using the correct measuring device when administering the medication to your infant or child.

 

Immunizations: An Important Part of Your Child’s Health Care

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Immunizations: An Important Part of Your Child’s Health Care

We encourage a regular series of well child exams for your infants and toddlers and annual physical exams for your preschoolers, school age and middle school age children, and adolescents. These exams are a good time to discuss feeding and nutrition or weight concerns, safety and anticipatory guidance to prevent accidents and injuries, importance of exercise, etc. Additionally, vaccinations and immunizations are an important part of your child’s health care.

Immunizations help to protect you and your children from several serious bacterial and viral illnesses that many times are life threatening. We have seen a decline in many diseases, like polio, chicken pox, bacterial meningitis, and smallpox, thanks to immunizations. It’s easy to get complacent and think not all the immunizations that are recommended are necessary. However, the risk of illness is real and is still out there. Pertussis rates have increased greatly over the past 5 years. Colorado has seen many deaths and morbidity from meningitis in the past few years. Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that can lead to serious complications and death. During January 1-May 20, 2011, there have been a total of 118 cases of measles reported from 23 states; This is the highest reported number of cases for the same period since 1996.

Many parents have concerns about immunizations and the safety for their children. One such concern involoves a possible link between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism. Additionally, parents have voiced concerns regarding thimerosal (a preservative) and a possible link to autism. Thimerosal is a mercury-containing compound that has been used since the 1930s, as a vaccine preservative in multi-dose vials of vaccine. Many large studies have been conducted to investigate a possible link, and there has never been a link found between the MMR or thimerosal and autism. The causes of autism are not fully understood, but overwhelmingly, scientific evidence does not point toward vaccines as a possible cause; In 2009, after extensive proceedings that generated 5,000 pages of transcript and included 939 medical articles, the federal court that administers the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program found the scientific evidence “overwhelmingly contrary” to the theory that autism is linked to MMR vaccine, thimerosal, or a combination of the two. Now the only vaccine containing thimerosal is the multi-dose influenza vaccine and this vaccine is also available without the preservative thimerosal.

It seems like there is always something new regarding immunizations; either a new vaccine, or new or updated recommendations with current immunization guidelines. It is good to be informed about immunizations. During your child’s well child exam or physical, we will review the immunizations that are recommended and will answer all your questions related to the immunizations. We encourage parents to ask questions and be informed about immunizations. It is important to get information regarding immunizations from reliable sources like Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), or Immunization Action Coalition (IAC). Here are some websites that our practice recommends for immunization information: www.aap.org/immunization, www.cdc.gov/vaccines, www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety, www.immunize.org, www.vaccineinformation.org, www.immunizationinfo.org.

 

Parent Tips

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

Parent Tips: General Do’s and Don’ts for you child

  1. Don’t threaten your child with taking them to the doctor if they don’t behave. This can cause you child to develop a fear of coming to the pediatrician. If you don’t follow through when you say something like this your child, he or she may not trust what you say in the future.
  2. Don’t promise your child the will not be getting a shot when they come to our office. Your child may be missing a vaccine you are unaware of or may need to receive medication via injection. Please don’t say “here comes the mean nurse”. Our nurses are here to make sure your child is healthy and grows into a healthy adult. We have an excellent nursing staff that do their best to make your child’s visit, with or without shots, as painless and quick as possible.
  3. Never leave your infant or toddler in the house alone, not even for a few minutes. A lot of things can happen in a short amount of time.
  4. Don’t allow your child to wander at night. They may wander around the house (or even outside) and get hurt.
  5. We recommend that guns either not be kept in the home or be kept unloaded and locked in a safe to which your child does not have any access.
  6. When cleaning a baby girl be sure to wipe from front to back. Fecal material can get into to vaginal and/or urinary opening and cause an infection.
  7. Do not give babies under the age of 12 months honey. Honey can contain botulism spores which your child cannot digest or neutralize.
  8. Don’t use bubble baths when bathing a girl. Bubble bath is a known irritant of the vagina and urinary opening in little girls and may lead to bladder or kidney infections.
  9. It may be a good idea to leave your baby with a competent babysitter every so often so that your child will become used to being away from mom and/or dad in case you have to leave them at some point.

    10.  

 

 

 

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