Filed under Pediatrics –
October 12, 2010 – 12:19 am
Does your child wheeze? Do you have a medicine cabinet for “wheezing” and aren’t sure what to use when your child is having trouble breathing? Are you frustrated by feeling like your child is constantly coughing?
Asthma is a common chronic illness in children. Chronic refers to a disease or condition that does not go away, but instead, has times when it is better and times when it is worse. The good news is that working closely with your physician will increase your chances of finding the medicines that work best for your child.
A Closer Look at Asthma
If your child [...] Continue Reading…
Filed under Pediatrics –
September 1, 2010 – 1:55 am
As fall approaches, now is the perfect time to schedule your influenza vaccine. The influenza vaccine is recommended annually for all children over 6-months-old.
Influenza is a viral infection that causes sudden onset of high fever, chills, body aches and cough. Sometimes serious infections may develop following a case of influenza, especially in infants and children with serious health conditions like lung disease, heart disease, a weakened immune system or cancer. A child with asthma who contracts influenza is at higher risk of developing a more severe and complicated illness.
An influenza infection also has serious health consequences for adults and [...] Continue Reading…
Filed under Pediatrics –
August 3, 2010 – 12:38 pm
While toilet training is an important milestone in the early childhood years, it can also be a confusing time, filled with plenty of questions. For example, you may wonder, when is the right time to toilet train my child? How do I know if he or she is ready? How long will it take? What are the best methods to use?
The first and most important thing to realize about toilet training is that no two children are exactly alike, and only you should decide what’s best for your child and your family. To make that decision a little easier, [...] Continue Reading…
Ringworm is not caused by a worm but, rather, is a fungal (yeast) infection. It may occur anywhere on the body surface or on the scalp.
Ringworm of the skin is known as Tinea corpus. It occurs from the neck down and on the face. Classic ringworm begins as a flat scaly spot that then develops a raised border. The border extends out at variable rates in all directions. The advancing edge may have a red, raised border while the central area clears.
This type of ringworm usually responds to anti-fungal creams. The spots become non-contagious after several days of treatment. [...] Continue Reading…
Playing sports can be a big part of a child’s life. Sports help kids stay active and fit and can boost self-esteem. While all sports have a risk of injury, proper preparation can help to limit that risk. Some ways to reduce injuries include:
Wear gear that is appropriate for the sport and that fits properly. This includes pads like soccer shin guards and football shoulder pads, chest and leg protection for catchers, helmets for football and batting, mouthpieces and face guards and protective cups and eyewear.
Strengthen muscles – conditioning exercises before games and during practice strengthens muscles used in [...] Continue Reading…
Do you have a picky eater at your house?
You are not alone. Read on to learn tips on how to help your child eat healthy foods.
My child is so picky! He won’t eat anything!
Many parents worry about their child’s nutrition, and it is especially common for young children to be ‘picky’ about the foods they eat. Often, youngsters like to assert their independence around food choices. They say ‘No!’ because they can. Instead of getting involved in a battle of wills with your child, try these strategies:
Sit down at the table to eat meals every day with [...] Continue Reading…
Tooth decay, also known as early childhood caries, is the most common chronic children’s disease in the country and the number one dental problem among preschoolers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that dental caries is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever in children. The good news is that tooth decay is a disease that is mostly preventable. Good tooth care can keep cavities from happening in your child
Tooth decay starts to develop when a child’s teeth and gums are exposed to any liquids or foods for [...] Continue Reading…
As the weather begins to warm, the kids want to get outside to play. Here are a few tips on how to keep your children safe during the spring and summer.
Sun and Fun
As the sun begins to shine and we increase the activity outside, remember your sunscreen. Rule number 1- Do not use expired sunscreen. If you are unable to find an expiration date on last years sunscreen, throw it away and buy new.
For babies under 6 months, it is best to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants and long sleeved shirts, and a brimmed [...] Continue Reading…
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Awareness is necessary to dealing with the challenge of colorectal cancer, and the first thing we should be aware of is our individual risk.
Risk factors for colorectal cancer include: increasing age (older than age 50); a personal history of colorectal cancer; chronic inflammatory bowel disease; a family history of colorectal cancer, adenomatous polyposis or nonpolyposis colon cancer; a diet mostly from animal sources; a physically inactive lifestyle; obesity; smoking; and heavy use of alcohol. Descendents of Jews from Eastern Europe may also be at greater risk of developing colorectal cancer.
These are risks [...] Continue Reading…
If you are one of millions of Americans who should be checked for colorectal cancer, this is a special time of year.
March has been designated National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, for some very good reasons. Based on statistics from previous years, colon and rectal cancer may cause more than 50,000 deaths in 2010. Unfortunately, some of these deaths are likely to occur in the Kalamazoo area.
The good news is that the colorectal cancer death rate has been declining for the past 15 years. This is due to many factors, including increased colorectal screening. Screening and colonoscopy help identify polyps [...] Continue Reading…
