The Flu has arrived in our area.

Influenza, or the flu, is a very common illness that is caused by the influenza virus, which strikes most commonly in the winter.  Although children get more mild flu infections than adults, rates of flu are much higher among children. Flu symptoms usually develop 2-3 days (incubation period) after coming in contact with someone else who is sick with the flu.

The most common symptoms of the flu are the sudden onset of a runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat from post nasal drip, cough, fever, which can be either low grade or very high, chills, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, headache, nausea, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Symptoms usually worsen over the next 3-5 days, and then gradually improve over the next few days without treatments.

Although antibiotics do not work against the flu, there are some things you can do to make your child more comfortable as he recovers, including bedrest, plenty of fluids, a pain and or fever reliever, or use of a humidifier.

Remember that since the flu is caused by a virus, your child will not need an antibiotic as treatment to get better. Antibiotics do not kill the flu virus. There are some antiviral medicines that may help your child get better quicker if they are started within 48 hours of the first signs of illness.

Since the flu is spread by coming into contact with the secretions of someone who is already infected, the best way to not get the flu is to teach your children to wash their hands often, especially before eating and after using the bathroom, to not share cups or glasses, and to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. Also wash toys and other objects and surfaces after someone with the flu (or any other infection) touches them.

www.keepkidshealthy.com

Below is a link with some good ideas for rainy day activities for kids.

http://familyfitness.about.com/od/waystoplay/tp/rainy_day_activities.htm

Lice

The head louse is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect that lives among human hairs and feeds on extremely small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Although they may sound gross, lice (the plural of louse) are a very common problem, especially for kids ages 3 years to 12 years. 

Lice aren't dangerous and they don't spread disease, but they are contagious and can just be  annoying. Their bites may cause a child's scalp to become itchy and inflamed, and persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.   Though very small, lice can be seen by the naked eye.   The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is grayish-white or tan.  Lice eggs (called nits) look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look sort of like dandruff, only they can't be removed by brushing or shaking them off.

You want to treat head lice quickly as soon as you notice them because they can spread easily from person to person.  Lice are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (schools, childcare centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps).

Though they can't fly or jump, these tiny parasites have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair.  They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along. Kids are most prone to catching lice because they tend to have close physical contact with each other and often share personal items.

We recommend that you use a medicated shampoo, cream rinse, or lotion to kill the lice. These may be over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications, depending on what treatments have already been tried.  Medicated lice treatments usually kill the lice and nits, but it may take a few days for the itching to stop.

Here are some simple ways to get rid of the lice and their eggs, and help prevent a lice reinfestation:

• Wash all bed linens and clothing that's been recently worn by anyone in your home who's infested in very hot water (130° F [54.4° C]), then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.
• Have bed linens, clothing, and stuffed animals and plush toys that can't be washed dry-cleaned. Or, put them in airtight bags for 2 weeks.
• Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture (in your home or car).
• Soak hair-care items like combs, barrettes, hair ties or bands, headbands, and brushes in rubbing alcohol or medicated shampoo for 1 hour. You can also wash them in hot water or just throw them away.
• Because lice are easily passed from person to person in the same house, bedmates and infested family members will also need treatment to prevent the lice from coming back

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Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin disease that is caused by a virus. The disease is generally mild and should not be a reason for concern or worry.  Molluscum infection causes small white, pink, or flesh-colored bumps or growths with a dimple or pit in the center. The bumps are usually smooth and firm and can appear anywhere on the body. They may become sore, red, and swollen but are usually painless. The bumps normally disappear within 6 to 12 months without treatment and without leaving scars.  People with this skin disease can cause the bumps to spread to different parts of their body by touching or scratching a bump and then touching another part of the body.  The virus can also be spread from person to person.  This can happen if the growths on one person are touched by another person. It can also happen if the virus gets on an object that is touched by other people such as towels, clothing, and toys.

How to prevent spreading

• Wash hands well
• Do not scratch or pick
• Keep the bumps covered
• Do not share towels or other personal items

Treatment

There are treatments for molluscum such as…

• Surgical removal by scraping the lesions off the body
• Freezing the lesions with liquid nitrogen

However, treatment is not usually required because the bumps disappear on their own within 6 months. However, they may not go away completely for up to 4 years. In addition, not all treatments are successful for all people.

Information obtained at www.cdc.gov

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This is link to a great website to help your kids with speech issues.  Check it out!

http://mommyspeechtherapy.com/

Thank you to all the moms and daughters that came to "Girl Talk " last night. We had a great turnout and lots of good questions about growing up. Our next session will happen in May. Tell your friends!

Next week we will be hosting a session for girls ages 9-12 and their moms called "Girl Talk".  We will talk about changing body, how/what happens during puberty, and how girls can deal with these changes.  We will host these talks quarterly.  Let us know if you are interested.

We are also thinking about having a session for older teens ages 14-18.  This session will be for teens only.  We will present factual information on those hard to discuss topics such as, risky behaviors, body art, safe dating practices, sexual activity, STDs, and general safety for teens.  Is this something that you would be interested in sending your teens to?  Please let us know, we need to hear from you.

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The transition from baby to toddler brings many changes. One of the biggest changes is moving from breast milk or formula to cow's milk at 1 yr of age.  If your child has a milk protein allergy or your family does not eat cow's milk products, soy milk can be a good alternative for meeting your child's calcium needs.

The growth rate of a toddler is slower than it was when he was an infant, however a nourishing diet remains essential. Milk is an important part of a toddler's daily diet to provide calcium and vitamin D for growing bones. Your child should consume about 4 cups of milk or dairy foods per day to meet the estimated needs for calcium and vitamin D, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The fat provided by the whole milk is necessary for proper brain development and normal growth patterns.  For children who have a milk protein allergy or intolerance or whose parents have chosen to follow a vegan diet, soy milk is an alternative. A main difference between whole cow's milk and soy milk is the fat content, generally 8 g of fat in one cup of whole milk and about 4 g of fat in one cup of soy milk. Providing fat in the diet from other sources can make up the difference.

If your child does not like the taste of cow's milk, soy milk may be a good choice. Soy milk comes in many flavors, most commonly vanilla, and has a much sweeter taste than cow's milk. Look for enriched soy milk to ensure adequate calcium is available in each glass since milk products are the primary way toddlers consume calcium. Enriched soy milk may also have added fiber and iron and lower amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol and sugar.

(Info obtained from Livestron.com & The American Academy of Pediatrics)

For older children and adults, here is a good article about the different types of milk available .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43672735/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/skinny-milk-nutrition-cow-goat-rice-or-soy/

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Dating

• Get to know someone well before going on a date.  Date people that you know and trust.  Go out in groups as much as possible and to public places.  If you want to spend some time alone with the person you're seeing, wait until you've had a few dates and have set ground rules for alone time.
• Talk with your parents.   Never go on a date without telling someone else. Even if it's a little annoying, let your mom, dad or another adult know when you’re going out. Be sure to tell your parents who you're going with, where you plan to go and what time you expect to return home, too.
• It's a good policy to bring your cell phone along, and to leave your date's phone number with your parents, just in case anything goes wrong. Be prepared for the unexpected: You might need a ride home or some extra cash.
• If you feel uncomfortable about a situation on a date, say "no" clearly and confidently. You're always allowed to change your mind about something, too. If someone likes and respects you, they'll back off. Don't worry: They will most likely ask you out again. If your date doesn't respect your decision, stay safe by leaving the situation.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol while on a date.  Drugs and alcohol compromise your ability to make smart decisions and to escape dangerous situations. They can make you take risks you wouldn't usually take with your body, your car and your safety in general. They also prevent you from getting to know what your date is really like and keep your date from getting to know the real you.

Cell Phone/Internet

• Do not give your cell phone number to people that you do not know.  Don't respond to text messages from numbers and people you don't know.
• Do not take any cell phone pictures or video that are sexual in nature. First off, if they involve

nudity or partial nudity, they are illegal and classified as child pornography ‐ a felony offense in most states.  The intent of the parties does not matter, nor does whether permission was granted. Secondly, they have the tendency to get into the hands of the wrong people. Think about your reputation.

• Do not send texts or capture pictures or video on your cell phone that you wouldn't feel comfortable sharing with your parents.  Ask yourself how you'd feel if the text you sent or the picture or video you captured were broadcast all across the school, and all across the Internet. Even if you personally don't send it around, others can and often do.
• Keep your cell phone keypad locked (and the PIN or password safe and private), so that others can't grab it, unlock it, and use it to get you into trouble when you're not looking.
• Be careful with on-line chat rooms/social media.  If you do not know someone, do not communicate with them online.

Car Safety

• Texting & Driving- It is dangerous!  Parents remember to set good example for your teen.  No text is worth losing your life over, or taking someone else's. If something is urgent, pull the vehicle over to a safe place before dealing with it.
• Always wear your seat belt. 
• Never get into a car with someone who has been drinking or taking drugs.  If you have been drinking or taking drugs, do not drive!  Call a responsible person to get a ride home.  Parents - It is always a good idea to have an agreement with your teen for a no questions asked ride home policy.  If they call and are asking for a ride home, go and get them, but skip the 3^rd degree.  Sit down with your teen a couple of days later and talk about it.

• Teen should always wear a seatbelt when riding in a car. 
• They should wear helmets when riding bikes, skateboards, rip sticks, or skating.
• Talk to your teen about smoking, tobacco, drugs and alcohol use.  Also talk about the dangers of steroid and diet pill use.
• Talk with your teen about non-violent ways to handle anger or fear.
• Be aware of where your child is going and who they will be with.  It is always a good idea to have a parent close by at the mall, movies, parks, etc.  If your child wants to hang out with a friend, make sure that the other child’s parents will be home and that there will be adult supervision.
• Teen parties should always be supervised by a responsible adult.
• Encourage kids that they should  not give their cell phone number to people that they do not know.  Teach them not to respond to text messages from numbers and people that they don't know.
• Talk with kids about what is appropriate.  Do not send texts or capture pictures or video on cell phones that they wouldn't feel comfortable sharing with their parents. Have them ask “how would I feel if that text or picture/video were broadcast all across the school, and all across the Internet.  
• Encourage kids to keep their cell phone keypad locked (and the PIN or password safe and private), so that others can't grab it, unlock it, and use it. 
• Monitor your child’s cell use and online activity.  Teach kids that on-line chat rooms/social media can be dangerous.   Tell your kids that if they do not know someone, do not communicate with them online or with texting.  Cyber bullying is real and happens every day.  Parents,  be aware of what is going on.

Car Seats

• Children should remain in a 5 point harness car seat until they have reached the weight/height limits for the seat and then may move to a belt positioning booster. 
• Booster seats should be used until age 8 or when the child reaches 4 ft 9 in in height.

Stranger Danger

• Talk to your children about the dangers of strangers.  Use role play to practice different scenarios in which they may encounter a stranger.

Fire Safety

• Develop a fire safety plan for your family and practice.  Remind small children that a fire in your home is very scary, but that they should never hide under a bed or in a closet during a fire.
• Allow children to help change the batteries of the smoke detectors.  Set off a test alarm so that everyone in the family knows what sound to listen for.
• Practice stop, drop, and roll with your kids.

Water Safety

• Teach your child how to swim, but never allow them to be near a pool alone.   Even good swimmers can have accidents!
• If there is a time that you cannot find your child, check the pool or body of water first!! 

General Safety

• Helmets should always be used when children are playing on bikes, skates, skateboards, rip sticks, or any other riding toy.  Start this early so that your child gets used to always wearing their helmet.
• Teach children their parent’s names, phone numbers, and address.  Practice this with them often so that they can easily recall the info.
• Kids are very computer savvy now.  Monitor their use of computers, i-pads, and cell phones.  Use parental controls if possible.  You child can accidently access unwanted sites very easily.

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• Choking hazards are a still a danger for toddlers.  Keep an eye out for small beads, coins, larger pieces of food etc.
• Toddlers should remain rear facing in the car seat as long as possible, preferably until age 2.  
• Make sure that all outlets have protective plugs. 
• Secure all cleaning supplies and medications in upper cabinets with cabinet locks.
• Toddlers love to climb.  Be aware that they can and do, push chairs up to counters and can easily get onto your countertops.  Make sure that dressers, bookshelves, and other furniture is secured to the wall with furniture straps.
• Keep all glass/crystal picture frames in a secure place where children cannot reach them.  Remember than frames can fall/break and children can easily get injured.
• Keep children safe around bodies of water.
• Never leave your child unattended while he/she is in the bath.
• Keep stairs gated for the safety of your toddler.

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• Crib mattress should fit snugly into crib
• All crib surfaces should be smooth
• A bumper guard/pads should not be installed as this may contribute to a danger of suffocation 
• No pillows, stuffed animals, comforters or blankets  should be used in the crib
• Lower the crib mattress to the lowest level before your child can get to a sitting position on his own
• Never turn your back on the baby while changing a diaper, even if using the strap
• Infants should be placed in a rear facing infant car seat in a vehicle.   Check your car seat manufacturer guidelines on height/weight limits.  Most babies are ready to move to a rear facing convertible car seat between 6- 9 months of age.
• Always be careful with toddlers and small babies.  Toddlers do not understand how strong they are and can hurt an infant accidentally.
• Be careful of pets around infants.  A pet’s natural protective instinct is to scratch or bite and small children can accidentally get hurt.  Larger dogs can also unknowingly knock over bouncy seats, car seats, and swings. 

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Hand, foot, & mouth (HFM) disease is a virus that is common among children from 6months to 4 yrs of age. If your child has hand, foot, & mouth disease, you may see red spots and/or blisters on the hands, feet, face, buttocks. Your child may also have small ulcers or sores in his/her mouth and a low grade fever. The fever and discomfort caused by HFM usually lasts 3-4 days and mouth sores typically resolve within 7 days. The sores on the body can last up to 10 days. Feed your child a soft diet and encourage plenty of fluids. Cold drinks & popsicles are good choices for children with mouth pain. HFM is contagious. Children may return to school or daycare once they are fever free for 24hrs.

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This looks like a fun project to do with the kids.  We have not tested this one, so if anyone tries it, let us know how it turns out!

http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/2011/09/homemade-rock-candy.html

It’s 2 am. Your youngest child is upset and crying. And… they’re hot. The thermometer you have reads 102. You’re nervous. Your child is nervous. Fever can feel like your family’s worst enemy.

Believe it or not, and despite the fear often associated with it, fever is often your child’s friend.   Fever revs up the body’s immune system and activates it to fight off any viral or bacterial “invaders.”   So, when your child has a fever, it means her body is doing its job.  

Most pediatric experts agree: a fever is a temperature equal to or greater than 100.5 degrees.  That’s why when you make an appointment for your child for a “fever” we sometimes push you on the details: 100.2 you say?  Not a fever.  Felt your child and thought he was hot but didn’t take the temperature? Might have been a fever, but might not have.  We want to know, when possible, the actual temperature and how you took it (under the arm, in the mouth, in the ear, or on the skin).  Your child’s temperature depends on a number of factors, including how you take it. The closer we get to the core of the body, the more accurate it is. That’s why, when we measure the temperature of a baby, we often want to take the temperature in the baby’s bottom.  For older kids, a temperature taken in the mouth or the bottom is much more accurate than a temperature taken under the armpit.

A child’s age also matters a lot when it comes to fever.   Any child under a month of age needs to be evaluated by a doctor immediately if they have a fever, even if it only occurs once.

As kids get older and older, we are less concerned about low-grade fevers in otherwise healthy and vaccinated kids, but recommend an evaluation if your child has had a temperature for more than 2-3 days (or anytime you are concerned).  

Some things do worry us when it comes to fever. We worry when the fever lasts several days without a good explanation for it.  We worry when your child becomes dehydrated.  We worry when your child is lethargic. We worry when your child is not fully vaccinated.  Most of all, we worry about how your child “looks” overall, which is why we pay a lot of attention to this when you call or come in.  

It also doesn’t matter if the Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen you’ve been giving to treat your child’s fever makes it go away and stay away.  These medications are for your child’s comfort but don’t help to fight off the virus or bacteria your child has.  If they don’t completely eliminate the fever, it doesn’t mean they aren’t working, just that they wore off like they are supposed to.

Fever can be scary, but knowing what a fever does for the body is helpful. On average, kids will have 4 to 6 acute episodes of fever from birth to 2 years of age, so fever is here to stay, whether we like it or not. Think of it as an (often annoying, but very helpful) friend.

Most breastfeeding women can eat any foods that they want without any ill effects to their baby, but occasionally a baby will be fussy at the breast or gassy after you eat a particular food.  If you think that something you're eating is causing problems for your baby, it's usually something you've eaten two to six hours before feeding. 

If you think that a particular food is giving your baby gas or making him irritable, avoid that food for a few days.  To test whether that food really was the cause, reintroduce it once and see if there's an effect.  Here are some foods that mothers have reported to cause gas or irritability in some babies.

• Dairy (cow’s milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream)
• Chocolate
• Spices (cinnamon, garlic, curry, chili pepper)
• Citrus fruits and their juices, like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit
• Strawberries, kiwifruit, pineapple
• Veggies (onion, cabbage, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, and peppers)
• And fruits with a laxative effect, such as cherries and prunes.

A daily cup or two of coffee is fine, but too much caffeine can interfere with your baby's sleep or make him fussy. Remember that caffeine is also found in some sodas, teas, and over-the-counter medicines.

Most women will be able to re-introduce food back into their diet as their baby gets older.  Breastfeeding moms should always continue taking prenatal vitamins for the duration of breastfeeding. 

If you have any questions, please call our office. 

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