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Oak Tree Pediatrics

Seasonal and current medical topics

GENERAL HEALTH TOPICS
 
 

 
  Viral Throat Infections - One of the most basic drives that parents have is protecting their kids. Protection from hunger, danger, and illness. If the child is sick, the parent has an elemental need to do something to make the little one well. So when the parent is told that Johnny has a viral throat infection, and is not given a antibiotic, they look confused and wonder why they took their kid to the doctor in the first place.
This a daily topic of conversation in the office. There are two types of micro-organisms which cause most of the infections in people. They are bacteria and viruses. Examples of a bacteria are Strep, Staph, Haemophilus influenza Group B. Examples of viruses are Chicken Pox, Measles, Adenovirus. We have lots of medicine for bacteria. Antibiotic means anitbacterial. We have very few medicines for viruses. But as far as healthy kids are concerned, this is not a major problem in most cases. The reason is that little kids are equipped by nature with immunologic machinery to kill viruses. Many people think that if it's a virus, it goes away on its own There is nothing you can do for it. Actually this is not correct. Your child's immune system is throwing off the virus. It does not go away by itself. And there are things you as a parent can do to help Johnny's immune system to throw off the virus. First, if your child is old enough, gargling with salt water several times a day will kill viruses. Second, the fever is one of the body's major mechanisms for throwing of the illness. It's not the virus causing the fever, it's the body's response to the virus that causes the fever. If you child's temperature is low grade, 99F or 100F, and he's happily wolfing down ice cream to sooth his throat, don't give him Tylenol. Let the fever do its' job and kill that dratted virus. Of course if the kid is really hot, give the Tylenol. But be guided in your decision of giving Tylenol by your understanding of what the fever does.Third, vitamins are a must. Good quality multiple vitamins with trace elements keep the immune system at peak efficiency. I recommend daily vitamins to everyone.
If you have any questions, give your Doc a call.
Dr. D. 
 
 

Pertussis
This past May there were a few confirmed cases of pertussis in one of the Egg Harbor Township intermediate schools. They were reported, appropriate surveillance and treatment were initiated, and no further cases appeared.  The take home lesion is that the disease is still with us.
That means we all need to maintain our protection against pertussis. And that means that we all need to get the new adult DPT shot. Check with your Doc. If he/she can not get you the vaccine, give me a call.
I can send you to one who can.
And it is most important for brand new parents to get the adult DPT shot. Not only has the Pertussis rate gone up, but the fatality rate from Pertussis has risen. In the past fifteen years, the fatality rate has nearly tripled. And the people who are dying are kids under six months of age. They are getting Pertussis  from their parents. Parents, get the shot. 
Dr. D. 

New State regulations for vaccines to enter Sixth Grade -
The State of New Jersey has decided that all students entering Sixth Grade must get two new vaccines.
One is an adult DPT shot, the other is the newest shot to protect against Neisseria meningitidis infections.
It is a good idea to get these shots because the diseases they protect against are incapacitating and lethal. The problem is that the Adacel vaccine, one of the adult DPT shots, and the Menactra vaccine, the Neisseria meningitidis shot, can only be given on or after the child's 11th birthday. Some children will still be ten when they enter Sixth Grade, and cannot receive the shots. The state is aware of this. No child who is ten when September rolls around will be prevented from entering Six Grade for failing to get vaccinated.
The kids have a two week window after their 11th birthday to get the shots. All the parents need do is schedule their children for the shots in the two weeks after the 11th birthday. For the kids who will be 11 when entering Six Grade, just schedule them for the shots at some appropriate during the Summer.
And remember, all adults need the Adacel vaccine also. So parents, make an appointment with your doc to get the Adacel vaccine. And have you kid hold your hand when you get the shot.
If your doc cannot provide the vaccine, call me and I'll put you in touch with one who can.
 
Dr. D. 
 
Reposted June 10, 2011
It's Summertime! Well almost. The first day of Summer is the 21st, but with Atlantic City hitting 101 yesterday, I'm declaring it Summer and am now wearing shorts in the office.
 
We need to review the Summer safety tips.
First,
if the kids do not know how to swim, and they are three or older, please teach them or pay someone to teach them to swim. If you have a swimming pool, or a neighbor has a pool, or you live near water, please learn CPR. If it has been several years since your last CPR course, please re-take it. There have been some changes in the protocol. The American Red Cross office in Pleasantville gives courses. The phone number is 646 7006  
 
                                                                                                                       Second,
 
the heat is brutal. Everyone needs to drink more water. A big glass at every meal, in addition to the OJ. If the kids are not making as many trips to the bathroom as usual, bring them inside and have them drink some more.  
 
Third,
a tic has to be on you for 24 hours to give you lymes disease. If you strip search the kids once daily, and take any tics off with tweezers, they will not get lymes disease. But you must be thorough in the search. Those little critters love scrotal sacks. Also, please do not use the folk remedies to remove the tics. Do not try to make the tic back out of the kid by covering it with vasoline, etc. And do not attempt the same by touching a burnt match to the back of the tic. These actions will shock the tic. If you shock the tic, the tic vomits into the kid. As we say in the medical game, these techniques are "contra indicated". The tweezer technique is as follows. Straddle the head and mouth parts of the tic with the tips of needle point steel tweezers. Press lightly down into the kid's skin. Grasp the head, mouth parts, and a piece of tissue with the tweezers and pull up firmly. If you get a piece of tissue with the tic, you got the whole tic. If a small piece of tic remains in the skin, do not worry, the skin will spit that part out in time.
 
Forth,
Protect the kids, and yourselves, from sunburn. 50 spf block or better. And reapply frequently.
 
Fifth,
Rabies is a continuing problem. Make sure all the pets in the neighborhood are vaccinated for rabies. Make sure the kids do not go near any animals you do not know. And make sure you all steer clear of the animals which are most likely to carry rabies. Bats, foxes, skunks, racoons ground hogs, wild cats, and coyotes.
 
Have a great and a safe summer.
 
Dr. D.

                                                                                                                     


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