Playing Outside: Why It’s Important for Kids
By: Danette Glassy, MD, FAAP & Pooja Tandon, MD, FAAP No matter what the weather brings, playing outside is good for kids. There is scientific evidence that playing outside improves health, and children of all ages love it. Even as the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, outdoor time and nature exploration are safe for most […]
September 14, 2022
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Vaccine Preventable Diseases: POLIO
Polio For parents of an earlier era, polio was one of the most feared infectious diseases. Many were worried about letting their children swim in public swimming pools or get together at neighborhood movie theaters because they were afraid that their youngsters might become the next victims of polio. After the polio vaccine became widely available in the mid-1950s, the world saw a dramatic decline in this disease. Polio is caused by a virus that affects infants and young children more often than other age groups. It is spread through close person-to-person contact and can produce paralysis of the muscles. Some cases are mild, but others are much more severe, leaving people physically impaired for the rest of their lives. Thanks to the polio vaccine, the wild poliovirus has been virtually eliminated from the United States and much of the rest of the world. Signs and Symptoms For most people, polio may cause no symptoms at all. At times, however, it can impair and paralyze the arms and legs. It causes death in some people, most often when the muscles involved in breathing become paralyzed. When symptoms occur, they may begin with a low-grade fever and a sore throat, beginning about 6 to 20 days after exposure to the poliovirus. Some children may also have pain or stiffness in the back, neck, and legs, although these symptoms may not last long. When polio results in paralysis, the muscle pain can be severe. The most contagious period for polio is 7 to 10 days before the appearance of symptoms. It can continue for another 7 to 10 days after symptoms surface. No treatment is available for polio. Some children fully recover from polio, but others are disabled for a lifetime or may die from the disease. To protect your child from polio, make sure that he is properly immunized against the disease. Source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/vaccine-preventable-diseases/Pages/Polio.aspx
August 31, 2022
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Choose Water for Healthy Hydration
All living things need water to survive. Along with milk, plain water is the best drink choice for kids. Why? It’s super healthy with zero calories & no added sugar. It good for the body – keeps joints, bones and teeth healthy, helps the blood circulate, and can help kids maintain a healthy weight into […]
August 24, 2022
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Sunburn
Is This Your Child’s Symptom? Red or blistered skin from too much sun The redness, pain and swelling starts at 4 hours after being in the sun It peaks at 24 hours, and starts to get better after 48 hours Severity of Sunburn Most sunburn is a first-degree burn that turns the skin pink or […]
July 20, 2022
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Swimmer’s Ear in Children
Swimmer’s ear, which doctors call otitis externa, is an infection of the skin inside the ear canal or outer ear. This type of infection occurs most often after swimming or other activities that allow water into the ears. What causes swimmer’s ear? Swimmer’s ear develops because moisture in the ear canal encourages the growth of certain bacteria. […]
June 29, 2022
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Mental Health Problems
Is this your child’s symptom? Mental health problems that often need urgent help Examples are anxiety attacks, depression, substance (drug) abuse and acting out Resources include hotlines, mental health experts and your child’s doctor Types of Serious Mental Health Problems Suicide thoughts, threats or attempts Homicide thoughts or threats Child abuse Drug or alcohol abuse […]
March 18, 2022
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