| |   |  | | | Stay in touch and join our email list! You can join from the home page! Scroll down for important news, events & articles! Up and Away and Out of Sight The CDC recently published some information you should know about. Follow the link below for the story. www.cdc.govFeatures/MedicationStorage/
Happy Holidays to everyone! We hope your holidays are fun, safe and healthy! Partners in Pediatrics
Happy Thankgiving! May the good things of life be yours in abundance not only at Thanksgiving but throughout the coming year and may the feeling of gratitude live in your hearts all year long! Happy Thanksgiving! Flu season is in full swing. Our clinics were a success. Now we have opened a special flu shot schedule where you can get in and out in a hurry. Call today to schedule your time on the list. Be safe and healthy! It is not too early for the flu shot! The first flu clinic has come and gone! More scheduled in September & October. Some reports are indicating that this year's flu season could be a bad one again. We know that the flu virus is contantly changing so it is recommended to receive the flu shot each each year for the most updated vaccine available. This year's vaccine formulation is aimed at protecting against three virus strains that experts say will be the most common in the coming flu season. The flu season can begin as early as October, so it is not too early to get your flu shot. We hope you have already made your appointment for this year. If you haven't please call today as times are filling up fast. Check our website for the influenza vaccine information sheet for more facts about the flu and links to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website articles on the flu. Stay Healthy! Partners in Pediatrics, LLC www.mykidsdr.com Partners in Pediatrics is scheduling our flu clinics for this year. Call the office today at 334-272-1799 to schedule one for your child. See the attached Influenza Vaccine Information Sheet Acetaminophen Dosing Changes Recently the dosage changed for acetaminophen. Please see the attachment on our website for the new dosage schedule for determining the proper dosage. As always please call our office if you have any questions or concerns. For more information go to www.tylenol.com. Monthly Article Summer Sunburn and Insect Bites Cheryl A. Outland, MD Summer picnics, games and pool activities are fun for children and great family activities. Unfortunately, insect stings and sunburn are not so fun. Some simple precautions can avoid the pain and leave more time for fun! INSECT STINGS by bees, wasps and yellow jackets will cause pain, itching redness and swelling at and near the sting site. A minor reaction may still be 3 to 4 inches wide. If the stinger is still present gently, brush away the stinger with a credit card or a coin. Do NOT grasp and pull, this could squeeze more venom into your child. Apply an ice pack or cool compress. A solution containing water and meat tenderizer or wet baking soda placed on the bite helps to decrease the discomfort. Benadryl by mouth not the cream will lessen the symptoms, and hydrocortisone cream 1 % is available without a prescription. Rarely a severe allergic reaction occurs (very rapid or difficulty breathing, cold clammy skin or dizziness) and requires an emergency response so call 911. OTHER INSECT BITES can be annoying and numerous but will only need topical treatments. Prevention is best. Bees are attracted to bright colored clothing and perfumes. They love sugar drinks and may hide inside your open can of soda. DEET containing products up to 10 or 12 % can be used in moderation on older children but are best avoided in infants. Children who have suffered severe reactions should wear long pants, shoes with socks and long sleeved shirts when outdoors. These children need a prescribed emergency kit to be available at all times. SUN BURN is damage to the skin cause by exposure to UV (ultraviolet light) from the sun or tanning devices. UV light can reach the skin even on a cloudy day and through thin clothing like a T-shirt. UV sunlight is reflected off snow, sand, water and sidewalks causing a burn and damage to the skin even under a hat or umbrella. Sunburn is characterized by skin redness. With increasing severity, the skin can be tender and swollen then blister. If the burn is extensive, fever and chills may occur. The burn is noticeable in 6 to 12 hours but continues to worsen for another day, slowly resolving over many days. The damaged skin may eventually peel. Cool compresses help relieve the pain. A cool bath with Aveeno colloidial oatmeal or baking soda is a helpful treatment. As always, prevention is very important. Sunburn skin damage is cumulative over time but children are especially vulnerable. Skin that has seen too much burning or tanning will wrinkle much younger and look old years too soon. Skin cancer is a real potential. Sunscreens and avoidance of peak UV light between 10AM and 3PM are important precautions especially for fair-skinned individuals. Sunscreens are meant to block rays and do not promote tanning. PABA containing products are very effective but some people especially young children can be sensitive to the products-other products can be selected. The SPF number indicates the level of protection. The sunscreen should be applied generously before going into the sun and reapplied after swimming or sweating. Tanning beds or devices should be avoided. Thank you for belonging to Partners in Pediatrics. Have a fun and safe summer! Partners in Pediatrics, LLC
Catherine L. Wood, MD Lamenda N. Blakeney, MD
Susan A. Brannon, MD Elizabeth W. Diebel, MD
Cheryl A Outland, MD Rama L. Mukkamala, MD Monthly Article Obesity and our Families Elizabeth W. Diebel, MD As we know from watching the news and reading newspapers and magazines, obesity rates have tripled for American children over the past 30 years. Nearly 1/3 of toddlers over 2 years are overweight or obese according to a 2007-2008 national survey. Southern states are particularly affected. With the increases in obesity rates we also see increases in high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and weight related orthopedic issues in these children. The price of obesity can also be measured in dollars. A 2010 nutritional conference linked increased soft drink consumption with $300 - $500 million in increased healthcare costs. Not to mention the extra dollars spent at the grocery store. Advertising has given us to believe the supersized is normal. Advertisers promote snacking which one study showed amounts to 1/3 of a child’s calorie intake when snacking 3 times a day. This is not necessarily bad if snacks are high in nutrition but this is often not the case. We do know that frequent snacking is not healthy and often results in weight gain. There are several ways we can help our children to avoid obesity or to support them through the process of losing weight. We know that babies born to women who have gained excessive weight during pregnancy and/or smoked during pregnancy are more often overweight. Babies that have good sleep habits and/or breastfeed are less likely to be overweight. All children benefit from 1 hour of vigorous activity daily – regardless of how hot or cold it is outside. As a matter of fact, just going outside and regulating your own body temperature improves your metabolic rate. We as parents have to realize that we can control certain environmental factors that contribute to weight gain. Take charge of the television/computer/game station and limit their use. Cook at home and exhibit healthy eating habits for your children at regular family meals, it doesn’t have to be fancy – just sit down together. Require that children get adequate sleep nightly – not just on weekdays. Number of hours of required sleep varies for age so refer to our link to healthy sleep habits. Lack of sleep is linked to increase weight gain, increase belly fat, and increase sense of hunger. In short, this is something that we can beat. Please institute some changes if obesity affects your family and let us help you with monitoring for related health issues. Partners in Pediatrics, LLC Catherine L. Wood, MD Lamenda N. Blakeney, MD
Susan A. Brannon, MD Elizabeth W. Diebel, MD
Cheryl A Outland, MD Rama L. Mukkamala, MD Partners with parents for the health of their children. Thank you for belonging to Partners in Pediatrics! Important Update The New Car Safety Seat Recommendations
Follow the link below to see the recent updates about the health of your children! Link: www.healthychildren.org Accepting New Patients On March 1st Partners in Pediatrics began accepting new patients to the practice. Please call our office at 334-272-1799 to set up an appointment for your child. We are limiting the age from new born to 5 years old. Certain situations are taken under consideration so please ask when you call. We look forward to providing all your child's medical needs. Be sure to visit our website at www.mykidsdr.com for more information. Upper Respiratory Infection March 8, 2011 Rama L. Mukkamala, MD Upper respiratory infection (URI) or the common cold is the most common acute illness in the United States and the industrialized world. These infections are the most common cause of absences from school and work. The common cold is a viral infection characterized by nasal discharge, sneezing, sore throat, hoarseness of voice and a low-grade fever. These infections are transmitted by direct physical contact. Symptoms usually begin 2 to 3 days after being exposed to the infection and can last for 1 to 2 weeks. The incidence of URI’s is increased during winter. The most common viruses causing the infection are rhinovirus, corona virus, RSV, influenza and parainfluenza viruses. Treatment: The symptoms can be treated by acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever, headache and muscle pains. In infants, use of a cool mist humidifier, normal saline drops and nasal suction relieve some of the symptoms. Large doses of Vitamin C and Zinc have not been shown to have consistent beneficial effects. The spread of infection can be decreased by good hand washing, decreased finger to nose contact and decreased exposure to patients with a cold. Partners in Pediatrics, LLC Vomiting and Diarrhea Susan A. Brannon, MD One of the most frustrating illnesses for parents to deal with is a stomach virus attacking their child, often with the misfortune of attacking them at the same time. There are some modifications in treating different ages of children but the general approach is the same. A stomach virus, or gastroenteritis, can manifest itself as vomiting, diarrhea, or just cramping or a combination of any of those problems, and it may occur with or without fever. When vomiting occurs, hold all intake for 20–30 minutes after an episode and then initiate clear liquids. For an infant up to 18 months, Pedialyte® is the best replacement fluid in small, frequent amounts. Continue to offer your child small amounts of clear liquid even if they are vomiting, but always give their stomach some down time right after they have vomited. Avoid fruit juices and milk. Usually, breast feeding infants can continue to nurse unless the vomiting becomes severe. Often, vomiting will resolve in 8-12 hours, but then diarrhea may develop. Don’t initiate solid foods until your child is keeping down fluids for at least several hours. Significant diarrhea (a loose stool every 2-3 hours or more often) warrants continuing to give clear liquids or Pedialyte® for 24-48 hours. DO NOT GIVE WATER OR SUGAR FREE DRINKS as your child needs some calories as they fight off the virus. It is very important that you monitor how well hydrated your child is. Watch for them to urinate at least every 8 hours, watch for tears and moisture in the mouth and watch how alert they are. Of course, call us with any concerns you have. Partners in Pediatrics, LLC The Value of Immunizations
Lamenda N. Blakeney, MD
Immunizing children to protect them from potentially fatal infectious disease is one of the most important things that we do as pediatricians. Vaccines are proven to be safe and effective in fighting disease. At Partners in Pediatrics, we follow the recommended schedule for vaccinating infants and older children. This schedule includes vaccines that prevent polio, meningitis, measles and mumps and other infections that can cause fatal illness as well as illness that can require hospitalization like rotavirus diarrhea and types of pneumonia.
When your child comes to the office for a visit your pediatrician will review their records and inform you if they need any vaccinations. This will usually be part of your child’s wellness visit but vaccines can be given at any visit provided your child does not have a high fever. In this situation, your doctor may request that you return in a few days for an “Injection Only” visit. Our front office staff will schedule a time for you to return. This type of visit does not usually require a co-pay either. Your doctor or the nurse will discuss the vaccines to be given and answer any questions you have at that time.
We also recommend an annual flu shot. Flu vaccines are given in the fall and winter each year and are recommended for all children 6 months and older. If your child has not received a flu vaccine this year please call us to schedule yours today.
We wish all the health and well being to you and your children.
Partners in Pediatrics, LLC FLU CLINICS Flu clinics have been scheduled for the fall. Please call our office to make your appointment as time will fill up before we know it. See the poster below for more information.
Be sure to watch our website for upcoming news and events at www.mykidsdr.com. August 16, 2010 Fall is around the corner! School has begun and it's good to be back in a routine again, except for the homework. Hopefully you have received all the necessary immunizations for school this year. If there is anything you need be sure to call our office. Flu season is approaching. We will have our regular Saturday flu clinics starting in September. Call the office today to schedule your appointment. Times will fill up fast. We recommend all children with any chronic illness, such as asthma, to get the flu shot every year. Be sure to schedule your appointment soon to protect against the flu this year. The new Influenza Vaccine Information Sheet is now available. It can be viewed at the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm. Click on the Influenza, Updated link and see the information dated 8/10/10. Just copy and paste the above website in your web browser address bar. We hope everyone has a great and safe school year. As always please call if you have any concerns about your child's health. Tell your friends to join our website email list at www.mykidsdr.com and coming later in the year our Facebook page. Partners in Pediatrics, where we are partners with parents for the health of their children. Visit us today at www.mykidsdr.com. May 21, 2010 New Immunization Requirement for 6th Grade Entry Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a dose of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis ) vaccine will be required for Alabama students ages 11 or 12 years entering 6th grade. This requirement will escalate by one successive grade each year for the following 6 years to include sixth through twelfth grades, beginning fall of 2016. You can help minimize the rush by making an appointment for this vaccination well before the school requirement takes effect. Please call our office at 334-272-1799 to schedule your appointment today. See the files included below for more information related to this requirement. March 9, 2010 Partners in Pediatrics website goes live today! Check out all the great information available to you. Thank you for belonging to our practice and be sure to join our email list for important announcements. |
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