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Oak Tree Pediatrics
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Seasonal and current medical topics
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GENERAL HEALTH TOPICS
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Posted January 13, 2010 (Sorry it took me so
long to change this. The Swine Flu is taking a lot of time.) The Winter of 2010- It is cold. For southern New Jersey. Well, for what we have become accustomed to. It is time to review the basics. First, the kids need a good breakfast more when it is cold outside
than any other time of year. I know breakfasts are hard to concoct with multiple school times and job times. But, starting
the day at a cold bus stop with a cold tummy is not conducive to good learning or good health. Oatmeal, cream of wheat, pancakes,
waffles, hot chocolate, warm cider. And don't forget the vitamines. Second, in cold weather, the humidity drops. The kids loose more fluid than you
realise from their skin. Make sure everyone everyone has a big glass of water with each meal, including lunch. We actually
see a fair amount of constipation in the Winter due to inadaquate water intake. Third, with the temperatures consistently
below freezing, frostbite is a definite problem. The parts
of the body most at risk for frostbite are the ears and nose. If the kids complain of tingling or stinging, get them inside
and warm the parts ASAP. Do not rub them. Make sure the kids' clothing is always dry. Check socks and underwear frequently.
Damp clothing can cause rapid heat loss. Fourth, be very careful around bodies of water. Do not let the kids go out on iced over ponds. There is no way
it has been cold enough long enough for ponds to have frozen enough to be able to walk on the ice safely. Got to go. The Nordic Trak is calling. Dr. D.
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