Pediatric Care Archives - Page 6 of 7

Parents: How much bacteria is on your baby’s “binky”?

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Sage Robinson

The pacifier is the saving grace for many new parents to soothe their crying baby. However, what parents may not know are the germs harbored on the pacifier could be causing more harm than good to their baby’s health. If you have noticed your child is more prone to being diagnosed with strep throat and ear infections, the pacifier maybe the culprit.

Germs are not just on the surface of the pacifier. The porous rubber top of the pacifier is likely to grow bacteria from the inside out. Research conducted at the Tulsa Wellness Care Center found standard lab cultures produced strep bacteria, various strains of staph and the bacteria that cause pneumonia. The pacifier samples also produced the yeast that causes thrush. Thinking you can clean or disinfect the pacifier for continual use? Not necessarily. Even after washing and boiling a pacifier, these bacterias build a resistance under a complex structure called ‘biofilm’ and continue to harbor and grow. Surprisingly, the life expectancy of a pacifier, even after continual cleaning and “disinfecting”, is only two weeks.

So after this information, what should a parent do? Quit cold turkey? Cry it out? Here are a few helpful tips to ease the distress for both parent and baby:

Take it away early- newborns have a sucking reflex due to hunger, but by three months of age, it’s non-nutritive. Instead, try soothing your baby rocking or holding them.
Make it taste bad- Once they are older, they have developed their taste buds and are biased to certain tastes. Parents have tried vinegar or lemon to make it taste bad, but once it becomes unappealing, your child may be pacifier-free.
Take it away gradually- using it only for naps can be helpful and then gradually letting go the need for it.
Cut the tops off of the pacifier- an unconventional method, but possibly helpful. Place them strategically where he or she may find them and they will realize they are no longer able to use.

A healthy, happy baby will appreciate your caution in the long run.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Juvenile arthritis, arthritis in children under 18, has been diagnosed in almost 300,000 kids in the United States.

Juvenile arthritis (JA) is usually an autoimmune disorder, meaning that it affects the immune system and the body’s ability to fight off bacteria and viruses. It targets children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, and is most often found in the knees, hands, and feet. There are various types of JA and doctors aren’t completely sure what causes this disease, but the most common symptoms are:

. Swelling of the joints

. Pain and stiffness that doesn’t go away

. Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee

. Excessive clumsiness

. High fever and skin rash

. Swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body

Arthritis in children can cause a number of issues including eye inflammation and growth problems, like uneven bones and joints.

Talk to your pediatrician or a rheumatologist if you suspect your child might have arthritis. He or she will take a family history and perform a variety of tests including a physical exam, blood work and x rays. To make an appointment with a rheumatologist, please call Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-670-5486.

Avoiding Mastitis While Breastfeeding

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Breastfeeding can be a wonderful bonding experience for mother and baby. It can also pose a few obstacles including mastitis. Mastitis is an infection caused by a clogged duct in the nipple of a nursing mother. Here is some information about mastitis and some helpful tips on how to prevent it.

Mastitis won’t hurt your baby but it can reduce the milk supply in the affected breast.It can happen to occur when bacteria enters the breast through a cracked or sore nipple. It can start as a painful area in one breast and may be red or warm to the touch or both and can be accompanied by fever, chills, and body aches.

Try to avoid mastitis by following a few of these helpful tips:

Get plenty of rest and eat a healthy, balanced diet while you are nursing.
Try your best to avoid letting your breasts become overly full or engorged.
If your breasts are not empty after nursing or pumping, or you have a plugged duct, use warm compresses and massage to get the milk out.
Avoid under-wire bras and bras that are too small.

If you are beginning to feel the symptoms of mastitis, continue to breast feed as you normally would but make sure to see your doctor. Applying warm compresses for several minutes before each feeding will help alleviate any pain. Antibiotics may be prescribed, but pain should subside within one to two days after taking you prescriptions.

If you have questions or concerns about breastfeeding, Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers a Breastfeeding Support Group where you can get advice and tips from a certified lactation specialist and meet and share experiences with other mothers that are breastfeeding.

For additional information, please call 718-670-5201.

Is Prenatal Yoga Right For You?

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Keeping active while pregnant is good for you and for your baby. Research suggests that practicing prenatal yoga offers many benefits, including helping you relax and prepare for labor.

Many childbirth-preparation classes encourage stretching, mental centering and focused breathing. Taking prenatal yoga classes in a yoga studio or using an exercise DVD can:

.Improve sleep and balance

.Reduce stress and anxiety by calming the nervous system

.Increase strength, stamina, flexibility and endurance needed for childbirth

.Ease lower back pain, nausea, headaches and shortness of breath

.Decrease the risk of preterm labor, pregnancy-induced hypertension and intrauterine growth restriction

. Helps with breathwork in preparation for labor

. Increase circulation

Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. Listen to your body and do what feels right for you. Prenatal yoga can be a great way to prepare for childbirth. Namaste!

For more health and lifestyle tips, follow us on Twitter @FHMC_NYC and like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/FlushingHospital

Are Headphones Bad for Your Hearing?

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Headphones are popular for a multitude of reasons, such as convenience and sound quality, but there is a downside to these devices. According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of teens who have experienced hearing loss has increased by 33% since 1994. Do you catch yourself blasting music while listening to your headphones for long periods of time? If so, your hearing may be at risk.

Headphones come in a variety of styles, but the two most commonly used are earbuds and around-ear headphones. While around-ear headphones can have negative side effects, earbuds are the more dangerous because they are inserted directly into your ears, providing an uninterrupted route for the music to travel through your ear and straight to your eardrum. When sound enters the ear, the eardrum vibrates. These vibrations travel to the cochlea, where fluid carries them to fine hairs that trigger the auditory nerve fibers, which travel to the brain. When a sound is too loud, the hairs can become damaged, causing permanent hearing loss.

Noise is damaging at about 85 decibels, or the volume of a hair dryer. People who tend to play music up to 110-120 decibels over a long period of time while using earbuds, which increases the sound by 7-9 decibels, can experience a significant amount of hearing loss.

Want to avoid further hearing loss? Try some of these helpful tips:
• Listen to your music for no longer than an hour and no louder than 60% of volume.
• Purchase around-ear headphones with noise-cancelling technology so you can avoid blasting music and prevent music from having direct contact with your eardrum.
• Remove earwax. Earwax builds up every time you push earbuds into your ear canal, so make sure you gently clean it out to prevent hearing loss, discomfort and infection.

If you’re experiencing hearing loss, please call Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center to schedule an appointment with an ENT at 718-670-5486.

What are the Risk Factors and Symptoms of Childhood Asthma?

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Did you know that asthma is the most common, chronic,childhood disease? It’s more commonly found in children who live in urban areas and more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasians, and in males more than females.

Asthma often runs in families. Children who have brothers, sisters or parents with asthma often will have asthma themselves. Asthma can also be caused by certain types of allergens.

Risk factors for childhood asthma include:

• Allergies – environmental or food
• Family history
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Secondhand smoke
• Living in an urban versus suburban area
• African American
• Low birth weight baby

Signs and symptoms:

• Rapid breathing
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Feeling tired or weak
• Chest pain on exertion

The Ambulatory Care Center at Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers a full range of pediatric allergy and asthma services. Please call 718-670-5486 for an appointment.

Your Child and the Battle Against Junk Food

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Childhood obesity has become a common health concern for parents. It is estimated that one in every five children is overweight. An obese child is considered well above the normal weight for their age and height. One of the contributing factors in obesity is unhealthy eating habits. Parents should introduce healthy eating to children as early as possible. For some this may be easier said than done, because children love junk food.

What makes junk food enticing to children is sugar, high sodium, the taste of fat-commonly hydrogenated oils, in addition to bright, colorful packaging, fun shapes and unnatural food coloring. Parents can win the fight against junk food by making healthy food more appealing to children’s senses.

Here are a few tips on converting kid favorites into healthier choices:

Hot dogs- instead of regular beef and pork hot dogs, purchase low sodium turkey franks and ones without added nitrates. Decorate the hot dog with colorful vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, red and yellow peppers.
Salty cheese snacks- make plain cheese fun by cutting it into quirky shapes or adding bright and sweet fruit. You can make cheese and fruit shish kebabs.
French fries- opt for baked sweet potato fries and sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C, B6, and D. They are a great source of Iron, magnesium and potassium.
Ice cream- frozen yogurt is just as tasty and contains less sugar and fat. Adding toppings such as fruit and granola is a plus.
Popsicles- freeze real fruit juices with bits of fruit into bars.
Potato chips- kale chips are rich in vitamin A and easy to make at home. Make them delicious by adding herbs and spices.
Candy- healthy alternatives to candy include raisins or strawberries and bananas lightly drizzled with chocolate.
Milk shakes- smoothies made with fresh fruit and low fat yogurt are a healthier option.
Meat lasagna- load lasagna with vegetables instead of meat, choose low fat cheese and whole-grain pasta.
Macaroni and cheese-use low fat cheese and Greek yogurt to make it creamy. Add spinach to make it nutritious.

The battle against junk food is not lost. In addition to healthy eating, keep your family physically active and make an appointment with your family doctor to ensure that everyone is at their recommended weight.

Obesity and Your Teen’s Self Esteem

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Obesity among teenagers is a growing problem in the United States. It’s estimated that 30% of teenagers are overweight and another 15% are obese.

Many parents and doctors focus on the physical effects of obesity, but what about the psychological and emotional ramifications? Obesity can lead to heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and hypertension, but its depression, low self esteem, anxiety and poor body image that should be the greater concern for most.

Recent studies have concluded that obese teens have considerably lower self esteem than their non-obese peers. The difference in the two groups is most evident among 14 year olds, which also happens to be a critical time for teens because it is when they develop their sense of self worth. It is also an age where peers can be most cruel. Teasing, taunting, and poor treatment from other kids can also contribute to depression and other psychological issues.

Teens with low self-esteem often feel lonely, nervous, or are generally sad. They are also more inclined to experiment with cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. They often become depressed, which causes them to withdraw from social activities with friends and family and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed.

There are a variety of factors that have contributed to a rise in obesity among teens. While genetics play a role for some, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are often the cause for most. Teens today consume too much junk food and sugary drinks and don’t exercise as much as in previous generations. Temptations from television, video games, and computers are often cited as the reasons for a decrease in physical activity.

Professionals suggest that parents of obese teens engage their children in an open dialogue about the issue. Together, parents and teens can work on a plan that is attainable. Efforts to fix the problem should focus on lifestyle issues rather than a calorie count because attempting to impose a strict diet could contribute to the teen’s poor self esteem. Incorporate the assistance of a medical professional, but allow the teen to take charge during visits in an effort to build confidence. Parents should encourage and participate in improving diet and increasing activity as well.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center has a variety of services to help teens facing this issue, including nutritional counseling and adolescent mental health services. Speak to your child’s pediatrician or make an appointment at the Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center at 718-670-5486 to find the best treatment options for your teen.

Protect Your Children. Get Them Vaccinated.

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Do You Vaccinate Your Children?

More and more parents are opting not to have their children immunized against serious medical diseases. Their decisions are largely based on unsubstantiated reports in the media that link vaccines to certain conditions.

April 18-25 is National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases.The fact is vaccines are safe and immunizing your children protects them from more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that were once responsible for thousands of childhood deaths each year have been completely eliminated and others are close to extinction. Unfortunately, because some parents have opted not to get their children vaccinated, there has been a resurgence of certain diseases, such as whopping cough and measles, which has led to an increase in hospitalizations and childhood death.

By vaccinating your child today, you are not only ensuring their protection against a wide variety of illness, but you are also helping to eradicate these diseases for future generations.

Toddlers and Tantrums

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Your child is throwing a temper tantrum. It’s every parent’s nightmare, especially if it happens in a public place like a store or restaurant. What is the best way to deal with the situation?

Tantrums are most common when your child is a toddler, around ages two to three. During this time your child is becoming independent and developing ideas on what they want and need. Most toddlers aren’t able to express these feelings with words and they haven’t yet learned to share. They test rules over and over by saying “No!” and “Mine!” to see how parents will react.

It is often easier to prevent tantrums than to deal with them after they get going. Try these tips:

Stick to a daily routine that balances fun activities with enough rest and healthful food.
Anticipate when your child will be disappointed, and give your child a choice in small matters. (“We won’t be buying cookies, but you can help me pick out some fruit for later.”)
Praise your child when he or she shows self-control and expresses feelings with words.

If you can’t prevent a tantrum, here are some tips for dealing with one:

Direct your child’s attention to something else. (“Wow, look at that fire engine!”)
Say what you expect from your child and have confidence that your child will behave.
Remain calm. Resist overreacting to tantrums, and try to keep your sense of humor. You are a role model for your child.
Holding your child during a tantrum may help a younger child feel more secure and calm them down more quickly.
Take your child to a quiet place where he or she can calm down safely. Speak softly or play soft music.
Some children throw tantrums to seek attention. Try ignoring the tantrum, but pay attention to your child after he or she calms down.

Despite your best efforts, you still might have to deal with a few tantrums. The most important thing you can do is remain calm and wait it out. Do not let your child’s behavior cause you to lose control.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. #NCAPM