Stanford University School of Medicine has an excellent website with explanations, pictures and videos on the do's and don'ts of breastfeeding.
I don't think it can replace a live lactation consultant, but it's very instructive and free.
http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/
Other newborn issues (especially dermatology) are also reviewed with excellent images and explanations.
http://newborns.stanford.edu
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Sunday, May 20, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
An update on pediatric concussions
Think of a concussion as a blow or jolt to the brain that causes (temporary) brain dysfunction. In the acute setting, the symptoms usually include at least one of the following: confusion, memory loss (amnesia), or loss of consciousness (LOC). LOC is NOT a requirement to diagnose a concussion.
As an avid sports fan and a parent of two young children, I have been particularly disturbed by the recent data on head injuries in sports. As we learn more about both the short-term and long-term effects of concussions (aka minor traumatic brain injury or mTBI), parents, health care providers, coaches and especially young athletes themselves need to learn how to prevent concussions, how to recognize the concussions that do occur, and how to resist the temptation of too rapid return to learn (RTL) and play (RTP). Not knowing enough about these brain injuries can have catastrophic consequences. For example, failure to follow the guidelines for appropriate return to play can result in death by a process known as "second impact syndrome".
There are many resources on this topic, but one of the best places to look is www.cdc.gov/concussion. This is a rich resource (partially funded by the NFL) of written and multimedia information on concussion prevention, recognition, and appropriate management.
For individual stories about concussions and concussion management, check out: www.cdc.gov/concussion/sports/stories.html
Other sources of quality and continually updated information on this topic are: www.healthychildren.org; www.uptodate.com/patients; and www.chop.edu/service/concussion-care-for-kids/home.html.
Fortunately, we have a growing number of resources for the management of concussions in Houston, West Houston, and Katy. Contact our office at 713-467-1741 for more info on local pediatric sports medicine, neuropsychology, and neurology resources that focus on the age-appropriate management of these potentially life-altering injuries.
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March 26, 2013
Here is an interesting addendum to my original blog post above. The link is to a November 2012 blog entry on youth football safety by Dr. Jorge Gomez, a Sports Medicine Specialist at TCH West Campus and an assistant team physician for the University of Houston Cougars. www.texaschildrensblog.org/2012/11/is-youth-football-safe/
As an avid sports fan and a parent of two young children, I have been particularly disturbed by the recent data on head injuries in sports. As we learn more about both the short-term and long-term effects of concussions (aka minor traumatic brain injury or mTBI), parents, health care providers, coaches and especially young athletes themselves need to learn how to prevent concussions, how to recognize the concussions that do occur, and how to resist the temptation of too rapid return to learn (RTL) and play (RTP). Not knowing enough about these brain injuries can have catastrophic consequences. For example, failure to follow the guidelines for appropriate return to play can result in death by a process known as "second impact syndrome".
There are many resources on this topic, but one of the best places to look is www.cdc.gov/concussion. This is a rich resource (partially funded by the NFL) of written and multimedia information on concussion prevention, recognition, and appropriate management.
For individual stories about concussions and concussion management, check out: www.cdc.gov/concussion/sports/stories.html
Other sources of quality and continually updated information on this topic are: www.healthychildren.org; www.uptodate.com/patients; and www.chop.edu/service/concussion-care-for-kids/home.html.
Fortunately, we have a growing number of resources for the management of concussions in Houston, West Houston, and Katy. Contact our office at 713-467-1741 for more info on local pediatric sports medicine, neuropsychology, and neurology resources that focus on the age-appropriate management of these potentially life-altering injuries.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
March 26, 2013
Here is an interesting addendum to my original blog post above. The link is to a November 2012 blog entry on youth football safety by Dr. Jorge Gomez, a Sports Medicine Specialist at TCH West Campus and an assistant team physician for the University of Houston Cougars. www.texaschildrensblog.org/2012/11/is-youth-football-safe/
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) and infant vaccines.
I've had a lot of questions on this topic lately so I thought I should make a quick post.
Basically, there was a European study published in 2009 that investigated the response to acetaminophen after vaccination in young infants. The investigators compared the fever rate and the antibody immune response of infants who did and did not receive acetaminophen after the shots. They found that the infants who got 3 doses of acetaminophen in the first 24 hours after receiving vaccines had lower rates of fever, BUT their antibody immune response was lower than the response of the infants in the study who did not get acetaminophen.
Take home message: giving acetaminophen will reduce fever risk, but it also lowers the immune response. It is not clear if this "blunted" immune response is clinically significant. I have not advised that parents pre-medicate with acetaminophen (or ibuprofen for children 6 mo or older) even before this study. At least until more information is available, I would only give acetaminophen after the vaccines are given if the infant is more than mildly uncomfortable.
Check out this link: http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/news/20091015/tylenol-may-weaken-infant-vaccines
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Basically, there was a European study published in 2009 that investigated the response to acetaminophen after vaccination in young infants. The investigators compared the fever rate and the antibody immune response of infants who did and did not receive acetaminophen after the shots. They found that the infants who got 3 doses of acetaminophen in the first 24 hours after receiving vaccines had lower rates of fever, BUT their antibody immune response was lower than the response of the infants in the study who did not get acetaminophen.
Take home message: giving acetaminophen will reduce fever risk, but it also lowers the immune response. It is not clear if this "blunted" immune response is clinically significant. I have not advised that parents pre-medicate with acetaminophen (or ibuprofen for children 6 mo or older) even before this study. At least until more information is available, I would only give acetaminophen after the vaccines are given if the infant is more than mildly uncomfortable.
Check out this link: http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/news/20091015/tylenol-may-weaken-infant-vaccines
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Useful nutrition/healthy foods website
I just discovered the website www.eatright.org/kids while browsing on the AAP's parent website (www.healthychildren.org).
In my brief survey so far I think it will be a useful resource for families.
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In my brief survey so far I think it will be a useful resource for families.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
2011-12 Flu Information
This is a quick post to re-iterate that all families should strongly consider having their child(ren) get the influenza virus (flu) vaccine each flu season (aka academic school year).
Of course, there are many details that determine which vaccine to get and how many doses are necessary. Although young infants are particularly vulnerable to flu-related complications, infants under 6mo cannot get the vaccine. Therefore, we specifically recommend that all caregivers of infants less than 6mo get the flu vaccine themselves (we offer the vaccine for such caregivers).
Useful Internet links:
- The AAP's parent-oriented website has a great summary of the flu illness and the flu vaccine specific to the 2011-12 season: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/The-Flu-Seasonal-Influenza-2011-2012.aspx .
- The Blue Fish website has details on our upcoming Family Flu Vaccine Saturdays: http://www.bluefishmd.com/9-6-2011-flu-clinic-paperwork-now-available/ .
- The CDC has a comprehensive and frequently updated flu website with details on the virus, its usual symptoms, current national flu virus activity, and the vaccine itself: www.cdc.gov/flu .
- The Texas Department of State Health Services has a website similar to the CDC's, although it does not appear to updated for the 2011-12 season yet: http://www.texasflu.org/ .
Please contact the office if you have questions.
Of course, there are many details that determine which vaccine to get and how many doses are necessary. Although young infants are particularly vulnerable to flu-related complications, infants under 6mo cannot get the vaccine. Therefore, we specifically recommend that all caregivers of infants less than 6mo get the flu vaccine themselves (we offer the vaccine for such caregivers).
Useful Internet links:
- The AAP's parent-oriented website has a great summary of the flu illness and the flu vaccine specific to the 2011-12 season: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/The-Flu-Seasonal-Influenza-2011-2012.aspx .
- The Blue Fish website has details on our upcoming Family Flu Vaccine Saturdays: http://www.bluefishmd.com/9-6-2011-flu-clinic-paperwork-now-available/ .
- The CDC has a comprehensive and frequently updated flu website with details on the virus, its usual symptoms, current national flu virus activity, and the vaccine itself: www.cdc.gov/flu .
- The Texas Department of State Health Services has a website similar to the CDC's, although it does not appear to updated for the 2011-12 season yet: http://www.texasflu.org/ .
Please contact the office if you have questions.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
New infant crib standards
Here is a link to a good article summarizing the latest infant crib recommendations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/New-Crib-Standards-What-Parents-Need-to-Know.aspx
As of June 28, 2011, these newest recommendations prohibit the sale or manufacture of drop-side rail cribs along with other specific safety-related changes.
www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/New-Crib-Standards-What-Parents-Need-to-Know.aspx
As of June 28, 2011, these newest recommendations prohibit the sale or manufacture of drop-side rail cribs along with other specific safety-related changes.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Chickenpox deaths nearly eliminated for vaccinated children in the US
If you are thinking about postponing or not having your child receive the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine, please consider the following.
Chickenpox has been preventable by vaccination in the US since 1995. From 1990-1994, the total number of annual US deaths where chickenpox was determined to be the "underlying cause" was 105. (This is not a high number, but devastating event for those families).
In the first 6 years after the vaccination program there was a 66% decline in chickenpox-attributed mortality.
The 12 year data was recently published and shows an 88% mortality reduction for all ages and a 97% mortality reduction in persons 19 and younger.
Lastly, this data is based on the 1-dose vaccination program. With the current 2-dose program, there is potential for even greater mortality reduction.
If you want more details on the varicella (or any other vaccine), check out the CDC's website: www.CDC.gov/vaccine.
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Chickenpox has been preventable by vaccination in the US since 1995. From 1990-1994, the total number of annual US deaths where chickenpox was determined to be the "underlying cause" was 105. (This is not a high number, but devastating event for those families).
In the first 6 years after the vaccination program there was a 66% decline in chickenpox-attributed mortality.
The 12 year data was recently published and shows an 88% mortality reduction for all ages and a 97% mortality reduction in persons 19 and younger.
Lastly, this data is based on the 1-dose vaccination program. With the current 2-dose program, there is potential for even greater mortality reduction.
If you want more details on the varicella (or any other vaccine), check out the CDC's website: www.CDC.gov/vaccine.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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