Village Pediatrics
Spring Newsletter
March, 2010- Vol 2, Issue 1
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| Quick Links |
Go green suggestion: An Ecofriendly, Biodegradable Potty!
bECOpotty
Food Wisdom in a Nutshell: check out this concise, quick, practical guide to a better way to eat...
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual
Great healthy toddler recipes (remember we now allow "allergic" foods such as berries, eggs and fish after 6 months of age, as long as there is no history of food allergy, and the TEXTURE is appropriate):Wholesome Toddler Food |
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Welcome Spring!
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We hope that as this issue is sent, the sun has begun to weave its way
into our lives once again.
If your children tend to have spring allergies or asthma, remember to start their preventative medications NOW before the onslaught of pollen- call if you need medication refills now. Read below for more information on allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis for more tips.
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After-hours and Weekend Phone Calls
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Village Pediatrics takes pride in making our physicians available
to you by phone 24/7/365. We do not use a nurse triage or answering
service to answer or screen our phone calls after-hours or on weekends.
However, we ask that you use good judgment in when to contact our doctors
after-hours. You should never hesitate to call for urgent medical issues
such as respiratory difficulty, high fevers, bad ear pain, lacerations or
significant vomiting- all examples of appropriate phone calls. If you
have a more routine question regarding subjects such as feeding, behavioral problems or chronic conditions such as allergies, persistent headaches or stomach
aches, please save your calls for our routine weekday hours. A physician
will always get back to you by the end of the day. Click here for more information about our telephone policy.
Medication dosages for
Benadryl, Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen are available on our website. Also
on our website are links to two fabulous pediatric sites that offer a wide
variety of advice on medical conditions and developmental and behavioral
issues- look on the top bar of our homepage for SelfCareNavigator and
HealthyChildren@AAP.
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Allergic Rhinitis and Conjunctivitis
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Allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis is caused by things that trigger
inflammation in the nose or eyes, called allergens. These allergens can be found both outdoors and indoors. When allergic
rhinitis is caused by common outdoor allergens it is referred to as seasonal allergies, or "hayfever." Allergic
rhinitis or conjunctivitis may also be triggered by allergens that are in your house, such as animal dander (tiny skin flakes and saliva), indoor mold, or the droppings of cockroaches or house dust mites- tiny creatures found in the home.
- If
you have symptoms in spring, you are probably allergic to tree pollens.
- If
you have symptoms in the summer, you are probably allergic to grass and
weed pollens.
- If you have symptoms in late summer and fall, you
probably are allergic to ragweed.
- Dust mites, molds and animal
dander (saliva or skin flakes) cause symptoms all year.
Typical
symptoms of allergies include clear nasal discharge with sneezing,
sniffling, and nasal itching; ear and sinus congestion; headache-
particular in the facial area; a tickly or scratchy sensation in the
throat; itchy ear canals; hoarse voice; and itchy skin and/or hives. Fever is NOT a typical symptom, despite
the term "hay fever" used to describe seasonal allergies.
PREVENTION:
the best way to avoid allergies is to avoid or remove the offending
substance. - For pollen-keep
windows shut and use the air conditioner. Shower
immediately upon coming inside from the outdoors. Use a nasal
saline rinse to wash pollen out of the nasal passages, and saline
eye wash to clear pollen out of the eyes. Individual packets
of eye saline can be purchased over-the-counter to carry with you to
outdoor events.
- For dust and dust
mites- purchase plastic mattress and pillow
covers for beds/pillows (available at most home goods stores.)
WET dust in rooms. Wash bedding regularly, and limit stuffed animals
and other dust catchers in the bed area. Remove old or thick carpeting,
and vacuum remaining flooring regularly. For severe cases, consider a
room HEPA filter- a machine that can filter out small particles of dust.
ANTIHISTAMINES: these
products combat the irritating effects of histamine, a chemical released
by the body when reacting to allergens. There are many
over-the-counter products available for use. Chlorpheniramine
and benadryl work well for allergy, but are
short-acting and may cause drowsiness. See our website for dosing.
Loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine
(Zyrtec) are longer acting antihistamines that are less
sedating and work for 24 hours. They are available in liquid, dissolving
tablet, chewable and pill forms. If they do make your child sleepy, try
dosing at bedtime. Store brand loratidine works as well as Claritin at
half the price.
These products work best IN ANTICIPATION of
allergic triggers- once symptoms have begun, histamine has already been
released in the body and your child may not fully respond to the
anti-histamine. They should be used daily during allergy season for
peak effectiveness, but can be used on an as-needed basis for specific
exposures (i.e. exposure to a cat.)
Claritin-D
and Zyrtec-D are antihistamines paired with pseudoephedrine
(Sudafed), a decongestant that helps shrink congested blood
vessels in the nose.
For EYE symptoms you can purchase
over-the-counter Naphcon or Opcon,
anti-histamine eye drops or Zaditor, an anti-histamine
eye drop that also contains an ingredient to prevent histamine release.
If
the over-the-counter products are not working for your child, or have
significant side effects, schedule a visit for an evaluation by the
doctor. Underlying issues such as sinus infections can be treated, and
prescription anti-histamines such as Allegra (fexofenadine)
or eye drops can be tried.
SINGULAIR:
Singulair
is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that blocks
leukotrienes, chemicals that cause inflammation. Singulair is taken as
granules (sprinkled in food), pills or chewables, and is effective for
both asthma and allergy symptoms. This medication should be taken daily
throughout the allergy season for peak effectiveness.
ANTIHISTAMINE
nasal sprays:
Over the counter decongestant sprays such as Neosynephrine
and Afrin cannot be used frequently, due to the risk
of "rebound" (or worsened symptoms) when discontinued.
Prescription
antihistamine sprays such as Astelin, Astepro and Patanase
can be used chronically without risk. They can be particularly helpful
in relieving congestion due to cold symptoms and cold weather induced
rhinitis, in addition to allergies.
STEROID nasal sprays:
Intranasal
steroid sprays are one of the most effective treatments for allergic
rhinitis, but must be used consistently for best effect. We recommend taping the canister to your child's toothpaste to remind you
to use it daily.
Spray the medicine in a V pattern- place the
nozzle in the nostril, aiming for the eye on the same side to avoid
spraying the septum (middle part of the nose that can develop bleeding.)
Some
brands commonly used are Flonase (fluticasone), Nasonex
(mometasone), Rhinocort Aqua (budesonide) and Veramyst
(fluticasone furoate.)
Click here for some helpful allergy webistes...
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Tooth Trauma
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Trauma tip of the
season: if your child has a tooth
knocked out, immediately retrieve it if possible and replace it
in its socket until you can get your child to a dentist. This gives the tooth its best chance for survival. Do NOT rinse the tooth!
This can damage the nerve. If for some reason you cannot replace the
tooth, put it in milk for transport. If a tooth is displaced (out
of alignment) you can try to reposition the tooth gently then seek
dental help for permanent repositioning and stabilization. If a piece
of tooth is chipped off, try to
find the missing piece, which can be bonded back in place.
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Does your child need a well-child physical?
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The Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your school-aged child have a well-child exam yearly. Children grow dramatically quickly- not just physically but socially and emotionally. Their yearly physical is a time for us to moniter their growth and development, as well as touch base with how they are feeling and functioning in school and at home. We encourage you to schedule this yearly exam at the time of your child's birthday- avoiding the school/camp form rush of late spring and summer. Many insurance plans cover one exam per calendar year as opposed to one every 365 days- check with your particular company to confirm.
Please also remember to register your child on www.CHADIS.com, where you can complete a pre-physical developmental evaluation prior to your child's appointment. Teens ages 13 and older should complete these confidential questionnaires themselves.
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If you have friends who might enjoy our newsletter or website, please feel free to forward this along. Have a safe and healthy spring!
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Dr. Jenn and Dr. Nikki
Village Pediatrics LLC
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