Archive for the ‘Trauma’ Category

Studies: Most Children Eventually Recover From Traumatic Experiences.

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

On a segment for the ABC World News (12/18, story 2, 2:40, Sawyer), correspondent Dan Harris reported, “Many of the parents of the surviving Sandy Hook students are of course worried about what kind of psychological impact this will have. However, research shows that children are extraordinarily resilient. In fact, one large study found only 1% of people who dealt with a traumatic event before the age of 16 went on to develop full-blown” post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The AP (12/19, Neergaard) reports, “Overall, scientists say studies of natural disasters and wars suggest most children eventually recover from traumatic experiences while a smaller proportion develop long-term disorders such as PTSD.” Melissa Brymer, PhD, of the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, “says in her studies of school shootings, that fraction can range from 10 percent to a quarter of survivors, depending on what they actually experienced. A broader 2007 study found 13 percent of US children exposed to different types of trauma reported some symptoms of PTSD, although less than one percent had enough for an official diagnosis.”

The events of recent at the Sandy Hook elementary school shootings have shaken us all and reached all citizens of the US. It pulls the society together as one nation. It’s important to talk with your children about these events and provide a strong frame of love and communication and a sense of safety to your children. If your children continue to show fear, trouble sleeping, anger, please contact our office. We can help to find futher help and intervention for your children.

Submitted by Vona M. Lantz, CPNP

20% of Teens May Self-injure Themselves After Losing a Parent to Cancer

Thursday, December 6th, 2012

A recent study by behavioral scientists in Sweden found that 20 % of teens who lost one of their parents to cancer cut or burned themselves compared with 10% of teens with two living parents. It is troubling that 10% of teens self-injure themselves under normal circumstances but this rate doubles when a teen loses a parent to cancer. The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that some troubled teens express their emotions by cutting or burning themselves and this may happen because they are unable to talk about their feelings, are upset or have low self esteem. The death of a parent may lead to an increased sense of emotional distress and numbness. With the death of a parent there is one less parent to help the teen navigate the loss and to notice emotional hurt to help the teen prevent self-injury. Another study from earlier this year found that some children start harming themselves as early as 3rd grade. Previous studies have found that children who have experienced the death of a parent are more likely to have psychiatric problems, depression, anxiety and/or drug and alcohol abuse. The best help for these teens are parents or caring adults who can communicate honestly with the teens while their parent is going through the cancer and then continue this communication after a death if the parent succumbs to the cancer. Kids need to know the facts of what caused the death and what is known about the cancer. They also need to know that there are adults around them to help them through their grieving and to be a sounding board to discuss all their feelings and painful emotions. Many teens that have lost a parent, whatever the reason can benefit greatly from counseling.

SOURCE: bit.ly/TLILN8 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, online December 3, 2012

David Roos, M.D.

First Aid Kit for your Car

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Summer is a time for driving trips, picnics, camping, bike rides and swimming. Certainly it’s a time when accidents might happen so now is a great time to prepare a first-aid kit for your home as well as one for each of your cars. Items for a first aid kit include:

Acetaminophen or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen)
Antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic
Prescription medications (a month’s supply)
Sterile adhesive bandages (in various sizes): bandaids or non-stick Telfa pads
Gauze pads: 2 x 2 inch or 4 x 4 inch
Adhesive tape (hypoallergenic): cloth tape, clear tape or paper tape
Scissors
Tweezers
Soap or another cleansing agent such as alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or another lubricant
Ace bandages: 2 inch, 4 inch

Carry these supplies in a small plastic container which is well labeled as a First Aid Kit. If any accidents occur during your summer activities you will be glad you prepared ahead for a possible summer injury or accident.

David Roos, M.D.

Concussion

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

A concussion is any injury to the head, caused by trauma that results in an alteration in mental status or change in brain function, of any duration. There does not need to be a loss of consciousness. The injury could be caused by acceleration or rotation of the head and does not necessarily require direct traumatic contact. For example, whiplash may cause concussion. Because this is an injury to the function of the brain, and not the structure of the brain, you will not see anything on CT scan or other types of x-rays. Most concussions go away on their own after a period of rest. Sometimes, however, more treatment and medications are required. Symptoms of concussion may include:

Headaches

Pressure sensation in head

Neck pain

Nausea or vomiting

Dizziness

Blurred vision

Sound sensitivity

Light sensitivity

Feeling slowed down, “not right”, or “in a fog”

Difficulty concentrating or remembering

Fatigue or low energy

Confusion

Drowsiness

More emotional

Irritability

Sadness

Nervous or anxious

Balance problems
Trouble falling asleep

Any child you think might have a concussion or a child experiencing any of the symptoms listed above should have an evaluation by a medical provider. If there was any unconsciousness then the child or teen should be seen immediately in an our office or an emergency room (not an urgent care center) because a CT or MRI scan might be necessary.

It is very important to recognize that your child has had a concussion and to understand how important it is to take care of the brain. First, the brain needs rest after a concussion. People used to say you should keep a child awake after he or she hits her head. However, this is generally not true. You certainly want to be sure that you are able to wake up your child, but once he or she has been seen by a doctor, then it is important to let them sleep if they are tired and to be sure that they are getting enough rest. This is the best way to treat concussions and includes physical rest from sports and other activities and cognitive rest. Your child may need to miss school or have modifications in the classroom. He or she should also take a break from reading and texting. Television, for some children with concussions, is problematic and causes more symptoms. Sometimes, however, when a child has to stop doing everything else, low volume television in a partly darkened room can be relaxing and help pass the time. Gradual, step-wise return to normal physical and cognitive activities is the goal of concussion management. Everyday more activity can be added, as long as symptoms do not return:

Day after symptoms gone: add light solo exercise/begin half day of school–>if no symptoms, next day: moderate exercise/full day of school–>if no symptoms. next day: supervised play, more challenging sports/may participate in low gym or moderate, non-contact sports–>if no symptoms, next day: non-contact sports/regular school day–>if no symptoms, next day: resume all sport activities

It is important that your child be given time to let his or her brain heal completely so that there are no long-term problems. If your child has had more than one concussion or is not recovering from this concussion, see your doctor.

Broken bones and Lacerations

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Remember to have fun but stay safe this spring and summer.

Even if you take the best safety precautions, there are bound to be some bumps and bruises. It’s a good idea to know some basic first aid, since many minor scrapes and cuts can be treated at home. However, some injuries may require a doctor’s visit. We are equipped to handle many fractures and lacerations in our office.

Fractures, or broken bones, are fairly common in children. Suspect a broken bone if your child heard or felt a snap, has difficulty moving the injured part, or is in severe pain, especially when touched. If there is any doubt about whether or not the bone is broken, bring your child in for an evaluation. We can assess the injury in our office, and get an x-ray at Parker Hospital right next door. Our new treatment room is stocked full of casting materials, splints, braces, slings and other necessities. If the bone is broken, we can put a cast on in the office. (Severe fractures may require a referral to a specialist.) Splints and braces can be helpful for sprains.

We also have the ability to do stitches in our office. A cut may need stitches if it is deep enough to see the underlying fatty tissue or if it is gaping open. Stitches help the wound heal properly and reduce the risk of infection. Usually, stitches need to be placed within 6-8 hours of the injury, so if there is any question that stitches may be needed, make sure to bring your child into our office right away.

Certainly, emergency rooms are available for severe injuries or injuries that occur after-hours.

Avoid Urgent Care Centers, Strip Mall and Retail Clinics For Physicals and Trauma and Illness Care

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Spring and early summer are a great time to schedule your child’s well exams for school, summer camps and sports teams. High school sport teams and summer camps require a yearly physical exam with an updated record for immunizations. We, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that all children receive a yearly physical after they are 2 years of age.

There has been a trend recently for children to get a “quick” physical or illness care from urgent care centers, strip mall clinics or even inside retail stores like Wal-Mart or Target. David Roos, M.D. and Jason Kalan, M.D. recommend strongly that you don’t use these clinics. Most of these clinics have doctors or nurse practitioners with limited or no pediatric experience and the nurse practitioners in stores like Wal-Mart have no direct physician supervision. Immunizations given in these clinics or in pharmacies aren’t placed in the Colorado Immunization Registry and are not available for our records. It may appear your child is behind in immunizations. Many parents are skeptical about the idea of getting a child’s checkup or immunizations where they also get their groceries, clothes and auto supplies. These clinics don’t have access to your child’s health history or immunization record. Providers in these clinics may give a brief, cursory exam that may not include blood pressure, urinalysis, hemoglobin or a head to toe physical exam. In addition, providers in these clinics are generally unfamiliar with the pediatric hospitals and pediatric specialists in town and are uncomfortable recommending specialists they don’t know for any of your child’s chronic, acute or serious conditions.

In our office we will provide your children with a comprehensive physical exam. Our nurses will obtain your child’s weight, height, body mass index, blood pressure and vital signs and administer age appropriate immunizations. Our doctors, nurse practitioner and physician assistant will complete a full medical exam and take an extensive medical history. In addition we will discuss child development, behavior, school performance, safety, prevention of accidents and injuries, methods of discipline, nutrition, exercise, street drug avoidance and abstinence education for teens.

Schedule your child’s physical exams with Crown Point Pediatrics soon because our summertime appointments fill up quickly.

Chronic Disease and Trauma Care

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

At Crown Point Pediatrics we specialize in addressing concerns unique to infants, children and young adults, including treatment of ADHD, depression, and anxiety and management of chronic illnesses like asthma, diabetes, obesity, epilepsy and heart disease. In addition we provide care for trauma, burns, fractures and lacerations. Our address is 9235 Crown Crest Boulevard, Suite 100, in Parker, Colorado.

Archive for the ‘Trauma’ Category

Studies: Most Children Eventually Recover From Traumatic Experiences.

20% of Teens May Self-injure Themselves After Losing a Parent to Cancer

First Aid Kit for your Car

Concussion

Broken bones and Lacerations

Avoid Urgent Care Centers, Strip Mall and Retail Clinics For Physicals and Trauma and Illness Care

Chronic Disease and Trauma Care

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