PRACTICE NEWS

It’s easy for you to feel powerless when your child has an asthma attack, but there are tips and techniques you can try to manage your child’s asthma. The first step in managing your child’s asthma is to have your child tested for allergies. An allergic response to a substance can often bring on an asthmatic episode. When you know what your child is allergic to, your child can try to avoid exposure to the substance. After allergy testing, your pediatrician may recommend allergy shots or sublingual immunotherapy drops to limit your child’s allergy symptoms. Along with allergy treatment, your pediatrician will also treat your child’s asthma with: Short-term rescue inhalers Long-term asthma medications Other important tips to modify your child’s environment to prevent asthma include: Using hypoallergenic sheets and pillowcases Vacuuming frequently or consider switching to hardwood floors Dusting furniture and other areas frequently Installing an air purifier in your house Keeping pets off of furniture and out of your child’s bedroom Keeping doors and windows closed in spring and summer Even with the best precautions, asthma flare-ups happen. An asthma attack can become a life-threatening emergency, so be sure to contact emergency services if your child is: Unable to speak due to breathing difficulties Severely gasping and wheezing, even with medications Breathing so deeply that their chest gets sucked underneath their ribcage Your child doesn’t have to be controlled by asthma, and it helps to have an action plan in place in the event of an asthma attack. Your pediatrician can help you be prepared. To find out more about managing your child’s asthma and how your pediatrician can help, talk with your pediatrician today.

Your child isn’t through growing and developing. Your child’s body needs help from the nutrients and vitamins contained in foods. Good nutrition plays an important role in: Your child’s immune system – a robust immune system helps protect your child from illness. Your child’s circulatory system – a healthy blood supply feeds your child’s organs and tissues, to provide optimal growth and development. Your child’s musculoskeletal system – strong bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments give your child protection against injury. Your child’s nervous system – healthy brain and nervous system function can ensure your child meets developmental milestones. These are some of the guidelines for proper caloric intake, according to healthychildren.org: If your child is 2-3 years old, your child needs 1000 calories daily If your child is 4-8 years old, your child needs 1200-1400 calories daily If you have a daughter who is 9-13 years old, she needs 1400-1600 calories daily If your daughter is 14-18 years old, she needs 1800 calories daily If you have a son who is 9-13 years old, he needs 1600-2000 calories daily If your son is 14-18 years old, he needs 2000-2400 calories daily Along with the right number of calories, your child needs to eat nutrient-dense foods like these: Lean proteins like turkey, chicken, and fish Fruits, including whole fruits, not fruit juices Vegetables, including green leafy vegetables Whole grains, including rice, whole wheat, and quinoa Low-fat dairy products including cheese, milk, and yogurt Try to limit the amount of junk food, fast food, and snacks your child eats. These foods contain calories, often in high amounts, but they have very little nutritional value. To view and print an informative Children’s Food Pyramid Coloring Page, please click here . To find out more about the importance of nutrition and how it can help with your child’s growth and development, talk with an expert. Call your pediatrician today.

Your pediatrician knows how to treat childhood illnesses and injuries and can help your child feel better. When a child becomes ill, the signs and symptoms can often become more severe than those of an adult. Children’s nasal passages and sinuses are much smaller. That means when your child acquires a virus like a cold or the flu, congestion and breathing difficulties can be severe. Your child may experience: Coughing and wheezing Sneezing and nasal congestion Fever and fatigue Your pediatrician knows how to help your child recover from an illness and feel better. Bacterial infections are another common medical condition in children. Eye, ear, tonsil, and throat infections are a frequent occurrence and can cause your child to develop signs and symptoms including: A sore throat Itchy, watery eyes Painful, draining ears Swollen lymph nodes Your pediatrician can diagnose the infection and prescribe an antibiotic regimen to eliminate the infection and help your child heal. If your child has allergies, it can cause a wide range of signs and symptoms, and make your child feel very uncomfortable. When your child has allergies, you may notice that your child is: Sneezing and coughing Having difficulty breathing Having itchy watery eyes Having a scratchy throat Your pediatrician can perform allergy testing to determine what your child is allergic to, and prescribe medication including allergy shots and sublingual immunotherapy to help your child get relief from allergies. Pediatric asthma can be scary. When your child can’t breathe, it’s difficult not to panic. Your pediatrician can prescribe short term rescue inhalers and long-term asthma medications to prevent an asthma attack. You can help prevent childhood illnesses and diseases by scheduling a regular examination appointment with the pediatrician. Your pediatrician can also provide immunizations to help ensure your child is protected against dangerous diseases. To find out more about sick child diagnosis and treatment and how your pediatrician can help your child feel better, call your pediatrician today.

Children can suffer mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and other conditions, just like adults. If your child suffers from mental health issues, a pediatrician is an important member of your child’s healthcare team. Children often deal with life’s stressful events. Adults have coping skills and experience that makes dealing with these events easier. Children don’t have the same resources to draw from. Life’s stressful events can have a huge impact on a child’s mental health. Children often suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions because of: Moving Changing schools Losing friends Death of a close family member Your child can benefit from children’s mental health services if your child is having: Difficulty in school Anxiety about going to school Anxiety about participating in social activities Frequent aches and pains Fits of temper or rage Frequent nightmares Thoughts about self-harm or suicide If you notice any of the signs or symptoms listed above, your pediatrician can perform a mental health screening for your child, to help identify potential mental health issues. These are some of the mental health issues your pediatrician can identify and help treat: Fear and anxiety disorders Sleeping and eating disorders Obsessive compulsive disorder Manic depression and clinical depression Your pediatrician can counsel your child on healthy ways to cope with stress and stressful events. There are also several effective ways your pediatrician can treat mental health issues, including: Medications to manage anxiety, depression, and other conditions Counseling about coping mechanisms to deal with stressful situations Relaxation techniques to help manage stress Children’s mental health issues can be managed effectively, with a little help from your pediatrician. Your pediatrician may also provide counseling on diet and exercise, so your child has the best chance for a healthy, happy life. To find out more about the importance of children’s mental health and how your pediatrician can help, call your pediatrician today.

You want your child to test boundaries and show independence, which are both normal milestones in a child’s development. If your child is demonstrating inattentiveness, fidgeting, not listening, and other behaviors on a regular basis, your child could have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. The Child Development Institute lists the characteristics of ADHD as: Inattention Hyperactivity Impulsivity These characteristics can contribute to some noticeable signs and symptoms, including: Repetitive motions, like clapping hands Continuous fidgeting and squirming Inability to remain seated for an extended period of time Running or climbing at inappropriate times Excessive talking and blurting out comments Inability to focus on details Problems listening and following directions Difficulty getting and staying organized Frequently losing or forgetting things ADHD can be difficult to recognize and can easily go untreated, which is why an ADHD screening from your pediatrician is so important. Your pediatrician has effective screening tools to help identify ADHD. If your child has ADHD, there are several therapies your pediatrician may recommend, including: Behavioral Therapy , which involves both child and parents; this type of therapy can help establish techniques to limit destructive, aggressive, and inappropriate behaviors. Lifestyle Modification , which involves dietary and exercise alterations; sugar intake is reduced, and vitamin and nutrient intake is increased. Exercise is increased, to help focus on healthy behaviors. Medication Therapy , which involves using medications to increase focus, improve brain function, and increase self-control. Medications may include Adderall and Ritalin, among others. If ADHD goes untreated, it can lead to problems when your child becomes an adult. Some of the ways ADHD can affect an adult include: Destructive and harmful behaviors Poor grades in school Poor performance at work Inability to form friendships Aggressive, belligerent behaviors Moodiness, depression, and frustration Physical growth issues Difficulty sleeping If you are worried about your child having ADHD, you need to consult with your pediatrician. An ADHD screening is easy, and can help identify ADHD, so it can be treated. To find out more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of ADHD, call your pediatrician today.

So, what happens when your child is very ill and is getting worse? Your pediatrician has a special option for you. It’s called a sick child visit. A sick child visit can help your child feel better and recover more quickly. You need to schedule a sick child visit with the pediatrician if your child has a fever which: Has lasted longer than 2 days Is higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for children under 2 months Is at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit in older children You also need to schedule a sick child visit if your child has: An ear infection A bacterial or viral infection Difficulty swallowing Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea and constipation Headaches and sinus problems Allergies or asthma Abdominal pain Rashes and other skin irritations Fractured or broken bones Injuries from an accident or sport When you bring your child in for a sick child visit, your pediatrician will: Record your child’s symptoms and health history Perform a complete physical examination Measure and record your child’s vital signs Your pediatrician may also order laboratory testing and x-rays to help determine the cause or extent of an injury or illness. Your pediatrician will also prescribe any necessary medications to make your child more comfortable and eliminate the illness. Medications may include: Antibiotics, to eliminate bacteria causing the infection Antivirals, to kill the virus causing illness Anti-inflammatory medication, to reduce swelling Pain medication, to make your child more comfortable Specialized medications to treat asthma, allergies, and other conditions When you bring your child in for a sick child visit with the pediatrician, you can be assured of excellent, compassionate care. A sick child visit can help your child heal and recover more quickly, and be more comfortable.

When your child has a fever, it can be especially scary, because a fever may indicate an infection. It’s good to know what to do when your child has a fever, and whether you should bring your child in for a visit with the pediatrician. In most cases, fever is easy to treat, and it usually doesn’t lead to a more serious condition. Fevers can come on due to exposure to a virus like a cold or the flu. However, fever is also a common indicator of a bacterial infection. When your child has a fever, you can try a few easy remedies to help your child feel better. Remember to: Give your child infant or children’s Tylenol to reduce pain Give your child a sponge bath or apply cold washcloths to your child’s skin Have your child suck on popsicles You should bring your child to see the pediatrician if: Your child is under four months old and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher Your child is over four months old and has a temperature of over 104 degrees Your child still has a fever after 2 to 3 days You should also bring your child to visit the pediatrician if your child’s fever is accompanied by any of these signs or symptoms: A rash or bruising Shortness of breath Nonstop crying A stiff neck Seizures Pain while urinating Decreased urine output A fever is a common health concern for children, and you can enjoy peace of mind, because you will know what to do when your child has a fever. If you are in doubt about how to care for your child’s fever, your pediatrician can help. Just a simple phone call to your pediatrician can put your mind at ease. To find out more about caring for your child’s fever, and other pediatric medical questions, talk with an expert. Call your pediatrician today.

Many of these behaviors are normal boundary testing, showing independence, and other healthy milestones you want to see. Children can also exhibit behaviors you don’t want to see, like aggressiveness, sadness, and fear. Your pediatrician is an expert on child development and can help you with your child’s behavioral health. First let’s look at normal behaviors you want to see. These include: Defiance, because your child may be testing boundaries and exerting independence Withdrawing, because your child needs to show autonomy, and wants to accomplish things without your help Acting out, because your child may be reacting to major changes in life, like moving to a new school, divorce, or death of a close family member Now, let’s look at behaviors that could be warning signs of a behavioral disorder. These include: Threatening or harming others, pets, or themselves Damaging possessions belonging to others Having difficulty forming or keeping relationships with others Showing frequent signs of unhappiness or depression Demonstrating anxiety about going to school Exhibiting defiance and hostility toward authority figures Frequently lying, arguing, stealing, or skipping school Using drugs, drinking, or smoking at an early age If you notice any of the signs or symptoms listed above, it’s time for a behavioral health evaluation from your child’s pediatrician. When you bring your child in for a visit with the pediatrician, a complete medical examination is necessary to make sure there are no underlying medical conditions which may be causing your child’s behavior or making it worse. Your pediatrician may also request additional testing including lab work and other studies. Your pediatrician will develop a treatment plan designed to help with your child’s behavior. Treatment may include: Individual, group, and family counseling Lifestyle modification including diet and exercise Medication if necessary to modify behavior Additional specialty care with a child psychologist Your child’s behavioral health is just as important as physical health. You want the best for your child, so call your pediatrician today.

School physicals are a great way to help ensure the continuing health of your child. They should be performed every year to make sure your child stays healthy. Regular school physicals can help identify, prevent, and treat acute and chronic diseases including allergies, asthma, heart issues, and more. When medical issues are identified early, your child has a chance to regain health before school begins. During your child’s school physical, your pediatrician will: Perform a comprehensive physical examination Check your child’s respiration, eyes, nose, throat, and ears Perform a vision and hearing screening Record your child’s height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and temperature Immunizations are another vitally important part of your child’s school physical. In fact, immunizations are required for your child to attend school. You must also show proof that your child is current on immunizations. Your pediatrician can give you the documentation you need. According to the Centers for Disease Control or CDC, recommended and required immunizations from birth to age 18 are: Hepatitis B Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis Haemophilus influenza type B Polio Pneumococcal conjugate Rotavirus Measles, mumps, rubella Chickenpox Hepatitis A Human papillomavirus Meningococcal conjugate Flu Covid If your child wants to play a sport, a sports physical may be combined with the school physical. A sports physical helps determine whether your child is healthy enough to play a sport. During a sports physical, your pediatrician will also check your child’s balance, reflexes, flexibility, muscle strength, and breathing, to determine how your child might react while under physical stress. Schools, sports, and exposure to other students provide a breeding ground for illness. Regular school and sports physicals, immunizations, and early treatment can help your child stay healthy during the school years and beyond. To find out more about school physicals, call your pediatrician today.