now that cold and flu season is uppon us I think it is a good time to review some of our videos surrounding these issues:
Bronchiolitis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Teb03hEIXw
Croup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF5SxEHPGCk
Colds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcGjy--gojE
Antibiotics and their risks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYbvIaibT-c
Flu and Influenza:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DuLSdYMVFw
I hope that this helps.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
How to Take a Temperature
Now that we are in cold and flu season, it is time to review temperature taking.
In a child under 6 months of age, temperature is very important. Because of that, if you think your child is sick, take his temperature with a Rectal Thermometer. Under the arm, forehead and mouth temps are not accurate enough at this young age. Over 6 months of age a forehead (temporal artery) or under the arm (axillary) temperature is usually sufficient.
Now, I recognize that for children over 6 months of age, it is common practice to feel the child's forehead and not to actually take a temperature. This is probably okay UNLESS you are planning on seeing the doctor. If the child is ill enough to see us, she is ill enough to have her temperature taken.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you feel the child's forehead and use that to report an actual temperature to your doctor. You child's physician uses the degree of temperature to make medical decisions and this implies a false degree of accuracy which could result in harm to your child. If you only took the temperature with the back of your hand (a tactile temperature), please say so. At least we will know how to use that information safely.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
In a child under 6 months of age, temperature is very important. Because of that, if you think your child is sick, take his temperature with a Rectal Thermometer. Under the arm, forehead and mouth temps are not accurate enough at this young age. Over 6 months of age a forehead (temporal artery) or under the arm (axillary) temperature is usually sufficient.
Now, I recognize that for children over 6 months of age, it is common practice to feel the child's forehead and not to actually take a temperature. This is probably okay UNLESS you are planning on seeing the doctor. If the child is ill enough to see us, she is ill enough to have her temperature taken.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you feel the child's forehead and use that to report an actual temperature to your doctor. You child's physician uses the degree of temperature to make medical decisions and this implies a false degree of accuracy which could result in harm to your child. If you only took the temperature with the back of your hand (a tactile temperature), please say so. At least we will know how to use that information safely.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Diaper Rash
The other day one of my friends had a new baby. In my care-package to my friend and his wife I sent some stuff to help with diaper rash. What new, fancy expensive, magic compound did I send?
Well what I sent was neither new, fancy nor expensive but it does work like magic. I sent a packet of Domboro Powder. Domboro solution goes back to the 1950's. A single packet will last most newborns a lifetime and a box of 10 packets costs less than $10.
All you need to do is to mix one packet into 16 ounces of water and shake. When the child has a diaper rash, soak a gauze in the medicated water. Stick the gauze on the rashy part of your child's bottom and change with each diaper change till the rash is gone. Once resolved, apply Vaseline, desitin or zinc oxide paste to prevent a re-eruption of the rash.
Rashes that don't respond promptly may be something other than typical diaper rash so check with your doctor, some of these other rashes are dangerous so don't wait too long to seek proper medical attention.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431.
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
Well what I sent was neither new, fancy nor expensive but it does work like magic. I sent a packet of Domboro Powder. Domboro solution goes back to the 1950's. A single packet will last most newborns a lifetime and a box of 10 packets costs less than $10.
All you need to do is to mix one packet into 16 ounces of water and shake. When the child has a diaper rash, soak a gauze in the medicated water. Stick the gauze on the rashy part of your child's bottom and change with each diaper change till the rash is gone. Once resolved, apply Vaseline, desitin or zinc oxide paste to prevent a re-eruption of the rash.
Rashes that don't respond promptly may be something other than typical diaper rash so check with your doctor, some of these other rashes are dangerous so don't wait too long to seek proper medical attention.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431.
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
Monday, November 8, 2010
Breast Feeding for adopted babies?
Attention all future adoptive mom's!!! Did you know that there is a good chance that you will be able to breast feed your new baby?
Nothing in medicine is 100%, of course. Assuming that your body reacts normally to horomones and that the ductwork to your breasts is intact (ie, you did not have breast reduction surgery or mastectomy), then there is a good chance that you can breast feed your adopted baby. This is good for both mom and baby. It will provide the baby with antibodies and complement, all of which fight off infection. Breast feeding also hopes to promote bonding between mom and baby and help to limit any sense of loss that the baby might feel.
Here is how we do it.
1. Start an Herb called Fenugreek. This herb is available from GNC and Wholefoods Market. I usually recommend starting at 2 caps 4 times per day then tapering the medication off when the breast milk comes in. Fenugreek is a safe and effective herb that we all consume to some degree. It is used as the active ingredient in artifical maple syrup and used extensively in Indian cooking.
2. Place the baby to breast 10 minutes on each side every two hours. This will stimulate breast milk production and let down. If you are doing a directed adoption and the baby is not here yet, you can pump your breasts 10 minutes each side every two hours. This is not as effective as placing a baby there but given enough time will allow most women to lactate by the time that the baby arives.
3. While waiting for your breast milk to come in, Feed the baby formula. While it is true that breast milk is best, it is also true that starvation is WORSE.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
Nothing in medicine is 100%, of course. Assuming that your body reacts normally to horomones and that the ductwork to your breasts is intact (ie, you did not have breast reduction surgery or mastectomy), then there is a good chance that you can breast feed your adopted baby. This is good for both mom and baby. It will provide the baby with antibodies and complement, all of which fight off infection. Breast feeding also hopes to promote bonding between mom and baby and help to limit any sense of loss that the baby might feel.
Here is how we do it.
1. Start an Herb called Fenugreek. This herb is available from GNC and Wholefoods Market. I usually recommend starting at 2 caps 4 times per day then tapering the medication off when the breast milk comes in. Fenugreek is a safe and effective herb that we all consume to some degree. It is used as the active ingredient in artifical maple syrup and used extensively in Indian cooking.
2. Place the baby to breast 10 minutes on each side every two hours. This will stimulate breast milk production and let down. If you are doing a directed adoption and the baby is not here yet, you can pump your breasts 10 minutes each side every two hours. This is not as effective as placing a baby there but given enough time will allow most women to lactate by the time that the baby arives.
3. While waiting for your breast milk to come in, Feed the baby formula. While it is true that breast milk is best, it is also true that starvation is WORSE.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Anemia and Infants
Why worry about a low iron in an infant, you ask??? The answer is somewhat complicated. Iron is necessary to carry oxygen in the blood. If your Iron is low, so is your blood's oxygen carrying capacity. This then results in the brain, which is still growing in an infant, to be starved of oxygen. When this happens, the child is at increased risk of permenant learning disability and mental retardation.
The body recognizes that it is low in iron, so it attempts to hold on to all dietary iron. Unfortunately the body does not do such a good job of distinguishing between Iron and its close chemical cousin Lead, a poison. As a result, iron deficient children are at increased risk of lead poisoning. Lead intoxication causes lots of problems but the most profound is brain damage (made worse by the low oxygen carrying capacity of the low iron blood).
How to we prevent this? We check your child's blood for iron and lead at 12 and 24 months. If the blood is low in iron, we can begin oral iron supplementation and fix the problem before there is damage to the brain.
I hope that this sheds some light on what we do.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431.
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
The body recognizes that it is low in iron, so it attempts to hold on to all dietary iron. Unfortunately the body does not do such a good job of distinguishing between Iron and its close chemical cousin Lead, a poison. As a result, iron deficient children are at increased risk of lead poisoning. Lead intoxication causes lots of problems but the most profound is brain damage (made worse by the low oxygen carrying capacity of the low iron blood).
How to we prevent this? We check your child's blood for iron and lead at 12 and 24 months. If the blood is low in iron, we can begin oral iron supplementation and fix the problem before there is damage to the brain.
I hope that this sheds some light on what we do.
Kevin M. Windisch MD, FAAP
Sparks Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
(775) 359-7111
975 Roberta Lane, suite 101 B, Sparks, NV 89431.
www.facebook.com/sparkspeds.nv
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