Summertime is time for fun for children but insects can make things miserable, which is why insect bite treatment and prevention are important to know. Not only can insects cause itchy, painful bites, but they can also cause allergic reactions, Lyme disease, impetigo, and infections. It's important to be prepared for the onslaught of insects [...]
Summer water safety is incredibly important because drowning is the second leading cause of death in pediatrics. About 4,000 people drown each year in the USA with about 1,000 deaths in children less than 15 years of age. The male-to-female ratio is 3:1. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the swimming pool [...]
Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a chronic and relapsing skin disorder characterized by itching, rash, scaling, thickening, and inflammation of the skin. INCIDENCE: Atopic dermatitis is the most common skin disorder in children. It affects 10%-15% of all children and adolescents. Over 60% of children who have atopic dermatitis will have their first [...]
With summer just around the corner, sun safety and protection is incredibly important. Suntans are generally associated with good health and beauty. The sun, however, can cause a lot of damage. The first 20 years of life are the most important time to avoid excess sun exposure. Most skin cancers develop because of sun exposure [...]
What is an upper respiratory infection? It's just a common cold! The peak season for the common cold is during the fall and winter seasons but you can actually catch a cold during springtime as well. Some people are more susceptible to catch a cold during the spring season due to the dramatic changes in [...]
ASTHMA DEFINITION: Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs that causes wheezing and/or difficulty breathing. SYMPTOMS: Coughing Wheezing Shortness of breath Chest pain Abdominal pain Vomiting CAUSES: Asthma tends to run in families where there is a history of asthma or allergies. Many people who have asthma will have a trigger [...]
What is croup? DEFINITION: Laryngotracheobronchitis, or croup, is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract causing difficulty breathing and cough. SYMPTOMS: Fever Congestion Hoarseness Noisy inspiration Barking cough Difficulty breathing CAUSES: Viruses such as: Parainfluenza virus Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Human metapneumo virus Influenza virus CONTAGION: The viruses causing croup are contagious. The symptoms [...]
What is Whooping Cough (Pertussis)? DEFINITION: An intense cough with difficulty breathing caused by the pertussis bacterium. SYMPTOMS: Congestion Cough Cold symptoms The cough is mild at first but gradually worsens to the point where the child is coughing so hard and so quickly that they have to forcefully inhale, making a whooping sound. CAUSES: [...]
What is sinusitis? DEFINITION: Inflammation and infection of the sinuses (small cavities in the facial bones). SYMPTOMS: Headache Congestion Cough Bad breath Facial pain Fever Sore throat CAUSES: Bacteria including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae non-typeable and less commonly, staphylococcus and anaerobes. Viruses including adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus, and rhinovirus. CONTAGION: Sinusitis [...]
When the fall season comes around it is not uncommon for certain illnesses to spike. Many of the illnesses that peak are allergies, common colds, noroviruses, sore throats, ear infections, pink eye and the flu. It’s important to know the illnesses that thrive in fall and winter to help prevent the spread of them. COMMON [...]
