This is the time of year that children play outside and can come in contact with different insects. Fire ants are common in this area. Fire ants are small, reddish-brown ants, & they are aggressive. They are sensitive to vibration and movement, and will sting when the object they're on moves (for example, a child running through the gras with bare feet who knocks into an ant mound). Fire ants are so named because their venom induces a painful, fiery sensation. When disturbed, fire ants are very aggressive. Because of the ant's aggressive nature, an attack usually results in several stings. The ant injects a venom when it stings that causes the release of histamine, a chemical in our bodies that can produce pain, itching, swelling and redness of the skin. Within seconds, a small red welt appears. Which enlarges rapidly, depending on the amount of venom that was injected. This reaction persists for up to an hour, and than a small blister containing clear fluid appears. Over the next half day or so, the fluid in the blister turns cloudy, and the area begins to itch. If the child scratches too vigorously, the skin can be secondarily infected.

Treatment for Fire Ant Bites

1. Remove all ants from the child's body to prevent further stinging

2. If a child is stung, apply ice to the bite site for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Elevate the extremity where the child was bit.

4. Clean and clip the child's fingernails to prevent any secondary infection that can result from scratching the bite.

5. Check our website for the correct dose of an oral antihistamine (Benadryl) to reduce itching and inflammation

6. A small percentage of children stung -- probably less than 0 .5 percent -- experience a severe reaction. These occur within minutes of a sting and vary in severity. A child who is stung and within minutes begins to experience hives, weakness, dizziness, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath or confusion should be taken immediately to the nearest emergency room.

7. Watch the area for signs of infection over the next couple of days.

8. Reaction to fire ant stings is similar to reaction to the stings of bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. The overwhelming majority of fire ant stings are medically uncomplicated and are more of a nuisance than a serious problem.

When it comes to fire ants, the best treatment is avoidance. To help children avoid fire ants, parents should regularly check their yards and their children's play areas for the presence of the ants and their mounds. Then they should either eliminate the ants or make sure children avoid them.

Information obtained from kidsgrowth.com

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We all lead very busy lives and sometimes we forget to slow down and enjoy small moments with our kids.  Here is a link that has some cute ideas that families can do with kids as we run errands and go about our day to day lives.

http://handsonaswegrow.com/2011/12/10-simple-ways-to-slow-down-make-your-childs-day.html

Here is a fun rainy day activity to do with the kids.  Make a fish bowl!  Use blue jello and sweedish fish candy to create a fun and edible treat.

Registration will begin soon for the 2012-2013 school year.  Texas schools require 4-5 yr olds to have Tetanus/Pertussis, Polio, and Varicella booster vaccines before entering Kindergarten.  Texas schools also require Tetanus/Pertussis & Meningitis vaccines before entry to 7th grade.  If your child need vaccines, please call for an appointment   (281)292-0999

Many mothers ask whether or not it is safe to have an alcoholic beverage while they are breastfeeding there baby.  Below is a link to the LaLeche webpage with  info on this topic.

http://www.llli.org/faq/alcohol.html

Colds are caused by hundreds of different viruses. When one of these viruses gets into your body, your immune system attacks. Some of the effects of this immune response are the classic symptoms of a cold, such as congestion and coughing.  The germs that cause colds are contagious. You can pick them up when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or you touch the germs with your hands.  Colds can last 10-14 days and do not respond to antibiotics.

Allergies are caused by an overactive immune system. For some reason, your body mistakes harmless substances -- such as mold or pollen -- for germs and attacks them. Your body releases chemicals such as histamine, just as it does when fighting a cold. This can cause swelling in your nasal passages, a runny nose, coughing, and sneezing. Allergies are not contagious, although some people may inherit a tendency to develop them.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s symptoms please call the office.

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By the time they're 9 months old, most babies have developed the fine motor skills — the small, precise movements — needed to pick up small pieces of food and feed themselves.

Allow your child to self-feed as much as possible, though you'll still be helping out by spoon-feeding cereal and other important dietary elements. Encouraging finger feeding helps your child learn about textures and independence.  If you have not already done so, it is time to introduce table/finger foods.  Do not limit your baby to just Gerber puffs.

By 9 months, most babies are ready to try table food and should be able to try many of the things that you eat.    Here are some suggestions.

• Zucchini, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, or other well-cooked veggies.   
• Pieces of ripe banana, soft pears or peaches, and cooked apples
• Well-cooked pasta
• Dry cereals and crackers such as cheerios, graham crackers, & ritz crackers.  Ask yourself, does it melt in the mouth? Some dry cereals and crackers that are light and flaky will melt in the mouth.
• Shredded cheeses  and  cottage cheese
• Small pieces of soft, cooked beef and chicken are other good choices

Food should be cut into small pieces. The sizes will vary depending on the food's texture.   You should avoid the following foods that can be choking hazards.

• Pieces of raw vegetables or hard fruits
• Whole grapes, berries, cherry or grape tomatoes (instead, peel and slice or cut in quarters)
• Raisins and other dried fruit
• Peanuts, nuts, and seeds
• Peanut butter and other nut or seed butters
• Whole hot dogs and sausages (peel and cut these in very small pieces)
• Untoasted bread, especially white bread that sticks together
• Chunks of cheese or meat
• Candy (hard candy, jelly beans, gummies, chewing gum)
• Popcorn, pretzels, corn chips, and other snack foods
• Marshmallows

Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn needs. Within four to six months, however, your baby will begin to develop the coordination to move solid food from the front of the mouth to the back for swallowing. At the same time, your baby's head control will improve and he or she will learn to sit with support — essential skills for eating solid foods.

Most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods as a complement to breast-feeding or formula-feeding between ages 4 months and 6 months. If you're not sure whether your baby is ready, ask yourself these questions:

• Can your baby hold his or her head in a steady, upright position?
• Can your baby sit with support?
• Is your baby interested in what you're eating?

If you answer yes to these questions your baby may be ready to start solid foods.

Continue feeding your baby breast milk or formula as usual. Then:

• Start with baby cereal. Mix 1 tablespoon of a single-grain, iron-fortified baby cereal with 4 to 5 tablespoons of breast milk or formula. Even if the cereal barely thickens the liquid, resist the temptation to serve it from a bottle. Instead, help your baby sit upright and offer the cereal with a small spoon once or twice a day. Once your baby gets the hang of swallowing runny cereal, mix it with less liquid.
• Add pureed foods. Once your baby masters cereal for about a month, gradually introduce vegetables.  Once your baby has been eating cereal and veggies for about a month, you can begin fruits. Pureed meats can be introduced at 9 months of age.  Offer single-ingredient foods at first, and wait three to five days between each new food.

Remember to spoon feed all solids to your baby.  We do not recommend putting cereal in the bottle for healthy children.  If you have any questions, feel free to call the office.

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We often do not think about moles or skin cancer in children, but everyone should be aware of what to look for.  Kids can, and do, have moles that can be pre-cancerous and children and teens are diagnosed with skin cancer.  Most moles in children are normal and cause no problems if they are of normal shape, size, and color.  Moles that are atypical or abnormal should be looked at by a healthcare provider.  Here are some things to look for on your child's skin. 

Indicators of an atypical mole in a child include the ABCDs.

• Asymmetry or irregular shape:  The mole should be circular or oval in shape and not asymmetrical.
• Borders:  The borders should be clear and defined, not blurred or jagged in shape
• Color:  The color should be uniform throughout the mole
• Diameter:  The diameter should be less than 5 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser.

It is important to remember that sun damage can increase a person’s risk for skin cancer.   Try to stay out of the sun during peak hours if 11am-3pm.  Remind teens that while tans do look nice, it is not good for the skin.  Avoid use of tanning beds and don’t forget to apply sunscreen and to reapply every 2 hours and after coming out of the water to prevent sun damage.

Here is a link to an article on skin cancer in children and teens. 

http://www.skin-cancer.org/skin-cancer-in-children/

If there is an area on your child’s skin that you are concerned about, let us know.

Many families will be taking road trips during Spring Break next week.  Here are some ideas to keep kids busy and hopefully avoid the comments "how much longer until we get there" and "I'm bored".

http://travel.kaboose.com/road-trip-keem-them-busy.html

Many parents often ask if insect repellent is safe to use on their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that repellents with DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old. Here are some helpful hints when using repellent on a child that is over 2 mo of age.

• Apply insect repellent to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their ears.
• Do not apply repellent to children's hands. (Children may tend to put their hands in their mouths.)
• Do not use insect repellent on open wounds
• Do not allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves; have an adult do it for them.
• Keep repellents out of reach of children.
• Avoid scented soaps and other things that might attract mosquitoes
• Use mosquito netting over strollers to protect
• Wash off insect repellents with soap and water once you bring your baby inside

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Here is a link to some fun ideas to make healthy foods interesting for kids.

http://littlepageturners.blogspot.com/2010/04/edible-insects.html

Mosquito Bites in kids

Mosquitos have been a big problem in our area for the past few weeks.  When a mosquito bites an individual, various chemicals are injected into the skin. The red bumps are actually the body's reaction to these chemicals.   Most insect bites result in a red bump.  Some are larger (like a hive) and some have a small water blister in the center.  These are normal reactions to an insect bite.  Mosquito bites of the upper face can cause eyelid to swell up for several days.  With bites, the swelling can be red as well as large (especially age 1-5 years).  Insect bites of the upper face can cause severe swelling around the eye, but this is usually harmless.  The swelling is usually worse in the morning after lying down all night. It will improve after standing for a few hours.  If your child develops a fever, irritability or the skin in the area of the bite is tender to touch, call the office.   If you think you've been bitten by a mosquito, wash the bite with soap and water.  Put on some calamine lotion anti-itch cream to stop the itching.  Placing an ice pack on the bite may also help.   The best way to avoid mosquito bites is to wear an insect repellent.   Since mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, it's also a good idea to empty out buckets, flower pots, toys, and other things in your yard that may have collected water during a rainstorm.  Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Let’s test your knowledge about mosquito bites. 

True or False

A large hive at the bite site means your child is having an allergic reaction. False- this is a normal reaction

The area is red and there is a clear dot in the middle.  This means that the bite is infected.  False – this is a normal reaction

Most insect bites are itchy for several days.  True

The area may be red, pink, and swollen for up to 7 days.  True

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Here is an easy way to do smores with the kids.  Enjoy!

http://www.bakersroyale.com/fast-and-easy/smores-pop/ 

Strep throat is a bacterial throat infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. Compared with a viral throat infection, strep throat symptoms are generally more severe. 

In general, signs and symptoms of strep throat include:

• Throat pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
• Tiny red spots on the soft or hard palate — the area at the back of the roof of the mouth
• Swollen, tender lymph glands (nodes) in your neck
• Fever
• Headache
• Rash
• Stomachache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children

It's possible for your child to have many of these signs and symptoms, but not have strep throat. The cause of these signs and symptoms could be a viral infection or some other kind of illness. That's why there are tests specifically for strep throat

If your child has any of these symptoms, call the office for an appointment.

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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/