Category Archives: Pediatrics

Do YOU (and your kids) really need the flu vaccine?

The low-down on this is that influenza often kills those who are otherwise well. Also, the flu can be fatal to children. The CDC found that 830 kids died from flu-related complications between 2004 and 2012 and most of those … Continue reading

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Should you give Tylenol before vaccines?

  No. Pretreatment of vaccines with Tylenol could actually BLUNT the immune response to the given vaccine. The CDC has released a statement that there are no good studies to support GIVING Tylenol before vaccines. So, I would advise refraining … Continue reading

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Appendicitis. What to watch for…

Why do we have an appendix?  We do not know the function of this part of your intestine.  The appendix is located in the lower right side of the abdomen and when it becomes inflamed immediate medical care is needed to prevent a … Continue reading

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Recognizing and treating teen depression

October is national Mental Health Awareness month.    No one is immune from mental illness.  Adolescents are especially vulnerable to mental illness and are a major at-risk population for developing severe depression.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that … Continue reading

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Warts. Do I need to treat them?

No.  There was a study of 1100 children. 1 of 3 of them had at least one wart.  One year later (without any treatment) 1/2 of all the warts were gone.  This was especially true in younger and nonwhite children. … Continue reading

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Head lice

I know…it’s hard to NOT be disgusted if you  or your child gets head lice.  But, don’t overreact.  It’s benign.  It’s treatable. And, it’s nothing to feel dirty about. The head louse (the plural of louse is lice) is a … Continue reading

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Teething medications to avoid…

Teething medication .  It sounds like a good idea. . . to make the mouth numb.  But, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the topical pain relievers are not effective because they wash out of the child’s … Continue reading

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Measles.

I wish measles were a disease of the past.  I have been a practicing physician for 19 years and I have never seen measles outside of a journal.  But, I am on the lookout! The CDC reports that the U.S. … Continue reading

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Measles outbreak?!

Oh no!  The Centers for disease control and Prevention (CDC) is warning us physicians to remain alert for symptoms of measles. Yes, this was once considered an “eliminated” infection.  But, as of May 30, 2014, a total of 334 confirmed … Continue reading

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Antibiotic use may be related to developing asthma later in life.

We know that the number of people with asthma has significantly increased over the last three decades. In addition, a recent study out of the United Kingdom found that children who were given antibiotics during infancy were at a higher … Continue reading

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