Monthly Archive for July, 2009

What’s that buzzing sound?

Published on July 30, 2009 in Out and About, Prevention and Safety. 0 Comments Tags: .
Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes can do a number on your child, causing itchy bites from head to toe in just a few minutes. You can avoid the bulk of mosquitoes by staying in at dawn and dusk but right now with the heat, that is the only time it is bearable to go outside. You should also spray your child (two months or older) with an insect repellent containing no more than 30 percent DEET.

If a kid has an itch, he’s going to scratch it. And with scratching can come infection.

Dirty fingernails can drag all matter of yuck into open wounds, so be vigilant. Treat the itch with topical cortisone, calamine lotion, cold washcloths, ice packs or possibly oral Benadryl or a similar anti-histamine medication.  Also, encourage your child to pat or slightly slap the irritated area rather than scratch it.

Bugs can be a big nuisance, but don’t let every pest get you down. Letting your kids loose in the yard with a magnifying glass and a bug house is what childhood summertime memories are made of. Just make sure they do not catch something on fire with the magnifying glass with all of this dry weather.

 

Hot Hot Hot

Published on July 28, 2009 in Out and About and Safety. 1 Comment Tags: , .

The talk of record high temperatures and streaks of days above 90F are enough to make all of us sweat. This hot weather is uncomfortable for many of us adults but it can be dangerous for children.

Children do not always adjust as well to hot temperatures especially when active due to a greater body surface area in proportion to their weight. They also tend to sweat less and thus have a more difficult time cooling off. They also may not drink enough liquids to keep up. This can lead to heat stroke or dehydration.

Some tips:
1. Drink liquids frequently throughout the day and especially during periods of exercise in the heat. They should be drinking liquids before, during and after an activity even if they are not thirsty.

2. Allow time for acclimation to the heat. If your child is not use to exercising, starting now in this heat is not the best idea.

3. Take advantage of shade or other opportunities to cool off.

4. Watch for signs of dehydration or overheating. The signs can include irritability, fatigue, being flush, or nausea and vomiting just to name a few.

Have fun and be safe.

Summertime Water Safety

Published on July 21, 2009 in Safety. 0 Comments Tags: , .

With all of this hot weather we have been having recently, I wanted to briefly talk about water safety.

Water Safety
It’s so important that your child learns basic water safety—swimming and playing in the water can be a lot of fun and great exercise. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that most children are not ready for swim lessons until they are at least 4 years old. Even if your child “knows” how to swim, he or she still must be watched. No one should ever swim alone—not even adults. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, drowning is second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14.

Your child should also wear a U.S. Coast Guard certified life jacket when on a boat or playing near a river or a stream. Life jackets could prevent approximately two-thirds of all boating-related drownings of children ages 14 and under.

Your older child may want to use a personal watercraft, such as a jet ski. Jet skis have gotten faster and more powerful over the last few years. Younger kids have been using them, resulting in more deaths and injuries to young kids on these vehicles. The AAP recommends that no child under age 16 use these vehicles. A younger child just doesn’t have the strength, attention span, decision-making ability and maturity to control a vehicle that can go upwards of 50 mph.

Have fun, don’t forget the sunscreen, and be safe.

Teddy Bear Clinic on Saturday

Published on July 9, 2009 in Kidsquest and Out and About. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

This weekend on Saturday at KidsQuest Children’s Museum is the Teddy Bear Clinic.  You will find me along with other colleagues having some fun examining stuffed animals.

It is a wonderful event for children where they can bring their stuffed animal to see the doctor.  It allows the children a chance have their  favorite stuffed animal get their annual physical including height and weight. Animals will get their eyes, ears and throats checked and we’ll have a mini-hospital to take care of minor animal injuries.

It is a great way to  help kids prepare for that next appointment and also helps them learn about caring for someone else.  My hope is that your child will have a great day at the Museum, learn about what doctors do, and who knows maybe even want to become one someday! 

Where: KidsQuest Children’s Museum at Factoria Mall

When: 10 am to 1 pm

Cost: Museum admission.

http://www.kidsquestmuseum.org/

My Ear Hurts

Published on July 6, 2009 in Prevention. 4 Comments Tags: .
I hope that everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July and used lots of sunscreen and cover-ups. This hot weather makes many of us want to jump into a pool to cool off. Sometimes frequent swimming can lead to a swimmer’s ear which is preventable most of the time.
 This painful condition of the ear canal is typically caused by bacteria invading the lining of the canal because of cracks in the skin there caused by moisture in the ear.  This is different than what many of us call an inner ear infection otherwise known as otitis media, where the infection is behind the ear drum.
Most times swimmer’s ear is a minor ailment and can be easily treated with antibiotic drops. 
Here are some tips  to prevent swimmer’s ear to save you a trip to the doctor and more time at the pool.  
PREVENTING SWIMMER’S EAR 
To start with, If your child has long hair, make sure that they pull it back behind the ears. This will prevent a humid environment in the ear and help prevent moisture build up.  
If a hair dryer is available, you can also carefully dry the ears with a cool hair dryer as the moisture trapped inside is what leads to problems. Most of us pediatricians are NOT fans of using Q-tips in the ears.
You can also make a home solution to prevent swimmer’s ear.  Mix 1/3 white vinegar and 2/3 rubbing alcohol.  You then put 5 drops of this mixture into each ear morning and night during the summer swimming season. This cannot be done with children who have ear tubes or a hole in their eardrum.
TREATING SWIMMER’S EAR
Swimmer’s ear classically presents itself as pain when touching the outer ear. Sometimes a child may complain of pain when they lay on the ear or if they brush their hair and brush by their ear.  If your child complains of ear pain when touching or moving the ear and has no fever, can open his mouth wide without pain and you don’t notice significant swelling in front or behind the ear- you will want to contact your medical provider and who will likely prescribe antibiotic drops. You should see an improvement in 48 hours to the medication.
Have a great Summer