Fact Friday:Only 10 % use inhalers correctly

If you have a child who uses an inhaler this is a good time to check your technique. If you have any questions on how to use your inhaler please contact the office and speak to a nurse or next time you are in the office ask for a demonstration. This following article from Pediatrics is a great reminder to make sure our children are getting the most of the device. Here is part of that article along with two links to videos on "how to correctly use an inhaler".

Fewer than 10 percent of children with asthma use traditional inhalers correctly, but there is more success with newer inhalers, U.S. researchers say. Betsy Sleath of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Eshelman School of Pharmacy and colleagues studied 296 North Carolina patients ages 8-16, who used four different devices for their asthma.
The devices were: the metered-dose inhaler, commonly called a puffer; the diskus, a dry-powder inhaler delivering Advair; the turbuhaler, a dry-powder inhaler delivering Pulmicort or Symbicort; and the peak-flow meter, which does not deliver a drug but is used to measure lung function to determine if medicine is needed.
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found 8.1 percent of children performed all of the metered-dose inhaler steps correctly, but older children did better than younger children.
More than 21 percent of the children using the diskus performed all steps correctly, while 15.6 percent performed all of the turbuhaler steps properly and children using a peak-flow meter did so correctly 23.9 percent of the time.
"It is crucial that healthcare providers not only show a child how to use an inhaler correctly but also have the child demonstrate the device in front of a physician or pharmacist," Sleath said in a statement.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/03/29/Most-children-dont-use-inhalers-correctly/UPI-35921301442757/#ixzz1I6ssASr2
For older children here is a great video on how to use an inhaler
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/allergies-asthma/Pages/MDI-Closed-Mouth.aspx

For a child with a spacer or mask click on this link for a video link
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/allergies-asthma/Pages/Spacer-with-a-Mask.aspx

Remember tommorow is the last day to enter to win the FLIP video camera from our doctors at Willow Creek Pediatrics.

**info from Healthychildren.org and Pediatrics

AAP:Guide to Dental Health

At Willow Creek Pediatrics we not only care about your child's health but taking care of your children's teeth. Recently, the AAP had some great suggestions on pediatric dental health. If you need a referral for a good dentist, please contact your pediatrician.

A Guide To Children's Dental Health Tooth decay is the number-one dental problem among preschoolers, but it can be prevented. Starting children with good dental habits from an early age will help them grow up with healthy smiles. The following is important information about how to care for your child’s teeth from birth to 24 months of age and beyond.Baby Teeth Are Important!Tooth decay can develop as soon as the first tooth appears. It’s important to care for your child’s baby teeth because they act as placeholders for adult teeth. If baby teeth are lost too early, the teeth that are left may move and not leave any room for the adult teeth to come in. And tooth decay in baby teeth can be painful and cause health problems like infections, which can at times be life-threatening. It can also lead to teasing and speech development problems.How To Care For Your Child’s TeethBirth To 12 Months•Good dental habits should begin before the first tooth appears. After feedings, gently brush your baby’s gums using water on a baby toothbrush that has soft bristles. Or wipe them with a clean washcloth.
•Ask about fluoride. After the first tooth appears, ask your child’s doctor if your baby is getting enough fluoride. Many experts recommend using a fluoride-free toothpaste before the age of 2, but check with your child’s doctor or dentist first.
•Schedule your baby’s well-child visits. During these visits your child’s doctor will check your baby’s mouth.
•Schedule a dental checkup. If your baby is at high risk for tooth decay, your child’s doctor will recommend that your baby see a dentist.12 To 24 Months•Brush! Brush your child’s teeth 2 times a day using water on a baby toothbrush that has soft bristles. The best times are after breakfast and before bed.
•Limit juice. Make sure your child doesn’t drink more than 1 small cup of juice each day and only at mealtimes.
•Consult with your child’s dentist or doctor about sucking habits. Sucking too strongly on a pacifier, a thumb, or fingers can affect the shape of the mouth and how the top and bottom teeth line up. This is called your child’s “bite.” Ask your child’s dentist or doctor to help you look for changes in your child’s bite and how to help your child ease out of his sucking habit.
•Schedule a dental checkup. Take your child for a dental checkup if he has not had one.24 Months•Brush! Help your child brush her teeth 2 times a day with a child-sized toothbrush that has soft bristles. There are brushes designed to address the different needs of children at all ages, ensuring that you can select a toothbrush that is appropriate for your child. Encourage her to brush her teeth on her own. However, to make sure your child’s teeth are clean, you should brush them again. If your child doesn’t want her teeth brushed, it may help to turn it into a game. For example, the toothbrush can look upstairs and downstairs in the mouth for missing treasure in the teeth.
•Use fluoride toothpaste. You can start using fluoride toothpaste, which helps prevent cavities. Teach your child not to swallow it. Use a pea-sized amount or less and smear the paste into the bristles. Swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can make white or brown spots on your child’s adult teeth. If your child doesn’t like the taste of the toothpaste, try another flavor or use plain water.
•Floss. You can begin flossing your child’s teeth as soon as 2 teeth touch each other. But not all children need their teeth flossed at this age, so check with your dentist first.
•Schedule a dental checkup..

Take your child for a dental checkup at least once a year.
Eating and Tooth DecayParents, especially if they have a history of cavities, can pass germs that cause cavities and gum disease if they share food or drinks with their children. Germs can also be spread when parents lick their children’s spoon, fork, or pacifier. This is why it is important for parents to not share food or drinks with their children. The following are other ways parents can help prevent tooth decay in their babies and children:

•If you put your child to bed with a bottle, fill it only with water.
•If your child drinks from a bottle or sippy cup, make sure to fill it only with water when it’s not mealtime.
•If your child wants a snack, offer a healthy snack like fruits or vegetables. (To avoid choking, make sure anything you give your child is soft, easy to swallow, and cut into small pieces no larger than one-half inch.) Avoid sweet or sticky snacks like candy, cookies, or Fruit Roll-Ups. There is sugar in foods like crackers and chips too. They should only be eaten at mealtime.
•If your child is thirsty, give him water or milk. If your child drinks milk at bedtime, make sure to clean his teeth afterward. Don’t let your child sip drinks that have sugar and acid, like juices, sports drinks, flavored drinks, lemonade, soda pop, or flavored teas.
Thanks to the AAP for some great suggestions
**info from http://www.healthychildren.org/
**full article http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/A-Guide-to-Childrens-Dental-Health.aspx

Guest Blog : Part One Who needs Creativity

This is the first of a four-part guest posting series on creativity, written by Amanda Morgan of the child development blog, Not Just Cute. Follow along for the next three Mondays as we explore why creativity is important for our children, how it might be threatened, and what we can do to nurture creativity in the children we love. We are so excited to have Amanda share her thoughts and insights with our patients and look forward to the entire series.With our country's current emphasis on standardized test-based education, anyone anywhere can find loads of statistics on how states, districts, schools, even individual children are scoring on math and reading (both important, to be sure). But can anyone know how much creativity is being nurtured and encouraged in any one school or classroom? No one's following the creativity quotient of every schoolchild in America. But should they?

A few groups of researchers in this country are monitoring creativity in a sample of American students. One in particular, Kyung Hee Kim at the College of William and Mary reviewed nearly 300,000 samples of measured creativity and came to a conclusion almost one year ago that has left many who follow her research concerned. Typically, each subsequent generation produces higher scores on measures of both intelligence and creativity than the one before, products of their increasingly improved and enriched environments. But, as Kim discovered, creativity scores have been consistently declining for America's youngest citizens, a trend that began about 20 years ago.
What exactly is creativity, and why is it important?Some may say creativity doesn't really matter. Who cares if a kid can paint a picture as long as he can read, right? Well, creativity is more than the ability to weild a paintbrush. Creativity is what gives all the math and reading skills application, and therefore, meaning.

Creativity certainly is the source of inspiration for great works of visual art, literary novels, music pieces, and productions of stage and screen. But creativity is also the wellspring of problem-solving and inquiry. Creativity is the ability to think outside of the box, to be curious and resourceful.

Children who are creative are better prepared to be successful and thrive as children and as adults. Creativity aids in navigating social relationships and is the true source of all great professional accomplishments. Divergent thinkers not only become the painters and authors of the future, but they are the coaches who create game-winning plays, the entrepreneurs who find new ways to meet their customers' needs, and the medical professionals who develop cures for our toughest diseases.

The world is creating plenty of space for ingenuity. How will we address problems like the nation's debt? What can be done about pervasive poverty or world hunger? Who will find a better way of dealing with our mountains of garbage or with my own mountain of laundry? For those who believe in better tomorrows, all the answers lie in creative thinking. As certain as we are that our future generations need to be adept at math and reading, we can be equally sure that they will have problems to solve and will need the innovative capacity to tackle tough challenges in new ways.
Where has it gone?So, back to the research at William and Mary. Why has our nation's creativity index begun to fall? There are many theories. One I hold to is the problem of pervasive passivity. Perhaps our children suffer from being overly shielded from problems, from being taxied from one orchestrated event to another, from passive entertainment, and from passive education.

As passive passengers to their day, over-scheduling may be one factor stifling creativity in our children. Without uncharted spaces in the day, children aren't left with many opportunities for decision-making and coming up with creative, divergent ways to spend their time. Striking the balance between structure and boredom provides children with an open invitation to do some problem solving and think creatively.

Well-intentioned Tiger Mothers (and fathers, and teachers) who orchestrate every aspect of the day for their children are taking opportunities for problem-solving from their children. Solving our children's problems for them only leaves them ill-prepared to handle the inevitable life problems that lie ahead.

While few would argue that too much TV and video games can numb flexible thinking, we're doing our children an equal disservice when we allow them to have a passive role in their education. When we view education as an information in - information out process, that's all we can hope for our children to gain: information. If we want information, we can go to Google. If I want innovation, we need human creativity. Until we introduce an element of ingenuity, inspiration, and application, we've done little more than create a generation of encyclopedias.

With so much emphasis on standardized, rote transmission of facts too many teachers and parents are feeling the pressure to leave out the creative aspects of education and simply check off tasks from the curriculum list. They're eager to be sure that students know how to fill in the right bubble on their multiple-choice tests, because that is what the powers that be will look at. But in the process they may fail to light the fire of innovation and creative problem solving.
One of my favorite developmental theorists, Jean Piaget, said:
“The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things,not simply of repeating what other generations have done- men who are creative, inventive and discoverers.”

I agree.

Add your two cents.What do you think is threatening the creative capacity of children in America? What do you do to actively foster creativity in the young children in your life?
Read More:The Creativity Crisis {Newsweek}

Artificial Intelligence {Not Just Cute}
Creating Problem Solvers Who Need Answer Choices {Connected Principals}

**We are so excited and honored to have such an amazing "first" guest post! Amanda Morgan is a full time mom to three busy boys and a part-time trainer and consultant for a non-profit children's organization. She also writes at Not Just Cute, a blog full of ideas that are more than just cute, for children who are much more than cute too. Please continue to follow us NEXT Monday and continue to look at her website for more great ideas! Thanks AMANDA!

http://www.notjustcute.com/

Top photo by clix.

FACT FRIDAY: Tips for Sports Injury Prevention From the AAP

More American children are competing in sports than ever before. Sports help children and adolescents keep their bodies fit and feel good about themselves. However, there are some important injury prevention tips that can help parents promote a safe, optimal sports experience for their child.

Injury Risks
All sports have a risk of injury. In general, the more contact in a sport, the greater the risk of injury. However, most injuries in young athletes are due to overuse.

Most injuries occur to ligaments (connect bones together), tendons (connect muscles to bones) and muscles. Only about 5 percent of sports injuries involve broken bones. However, the areas where bones grow in children are at more risk of injury during the rapid phases of growth. In a growing child, point tenderness over a bone should be evaluated further by a medical provider even if there is minimal swelling or limitation in motion.

Most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) and strains (injuries to muscles), caused when an abnormal stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. Contact your pediatrician if you have additional questions or concerns.

To reduce the risk of injury:
•Time off. Plan to have at least 1 day off per week form a particular sport to allow the body to recover.
•Wear the right gear. Players should wear appropriate and properly fit protective equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups, and/or eyewear. Young athletes should not assume that protective gear will protect them from performing more dangerous or risky activities.
•Strengthen muscles. Conditioning exercises before games and during practice strengthens muscles used in play.
•Increase flexibility. Stretching exercises before and after games or practice can increase flexibility.
•Use the proper technique. This should be reinforced during the playing season.
•Take breaks. Rest periods during practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness.
•Play safe. Strict rules against headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), spearing (football), and body checking (ice hockey) should be enforced.
•Stop the activity if there is pain.
•Avoid heat injury by drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light clothing.
Sports-Related Emotional Stress
The pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many coaches and parents consider winning the most important aspect of sports. Young athletes should be judged on effort, sportsmanship and hard work. They should be rewarded for trying hard and for improving their skills rather than punished or criticized for losing a game or competition.

**info from APP and click here for more information on this article http://www.healthychildren.org/English/News/pages/Tips-for-Sports-Injury-Prevention

Screen Free Week

The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC) is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups and concerned parents who counter the harmful effects of marketing to children through action, advocacy, education, research, and collaboration among organizations and individuals who care about children.

This year they are excited to sponsor National Screen Free Week April 18-24. This is a great cause that the doctors at Willow Creek strongly support! The following is the press release from their website:


April 15, 2011
Contact: Josh Golin (617-896-9369; josh@commercialfreechildhood.org)
MEDIA ADVISORY

Screen-Free Week: April 18-24, 2011Children Around the Country to Turn Off Screens and Turn on Life!

What: It’s almost Screen-Free Week—the annual national celebration where children, families, schools, and communities turn off TV, video games, computers, and hand-held devices and turn on life. Instead of relying on screens for entertainment, they play, read, daydream, explore nature, and enjoy spending time with family and friends.

When: April 18-24, 2011

Why: Children spend far too much time with screens: an astonishing average of 32 hours a week for preschoolers and even more for older children. Time with screens is linked to poor school performance, childhood obesity, attention issues and other health and social problems.

Where: Homes, schools, libraries, faith communities, municipalities, and businesses around the country.

For a listing of Screen-Free activities, please see http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/events.html.


Who: Screen-Free Week is endorsed by seventy-five organizations including American Public Health Association, the National Head Start Association, KaBOOM!, the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity and the US Play Coalition. The City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts have proclaimed April 18-24 officially Screen-Free Week for residents. For a complete list of endorsers, see http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/endorsers.html.

Nationally recognized experts on children and media—as well as children, parents, and teachers participating in Screen-Free Week—will be available for interviews both prior to and during the week.

For more information about Screen-Free Week, please see http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/index.html.

For a fact sheet on children and screen time, please visit: http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/factsheets/screentime.pdf.

For detailed information on CCFC and Screen Free Week, you can visit their website at

http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/index.html

Fact Friday: April is Poetry Month

Reading to your children is such an important part in helping their little minds develop. Encouraging them to have love and passion for reading is a huge benefit as they continue their education. We were excited to hear that April is Poetry month and found some great resources you may want to check out or take a trip to your local library.

WCP doctors think that no educational DVD, no matter how well done, can match a book, as it makes kids think and teaches them to love reading. Reading books aloud is one of the best ways you can help your child learn to read. This can be fun for you, too. The more excitement you show when you read a book, the more your child will enjoy it. The most important thing to remember is to let your child set their own pace and have fun at whatever they are doing.

The AAP has a great article called Helping your Child Read that we would encourage you to read. We are lucky to have so many great libraries in our communities. Remember you can click on www.slcolibrary.org to see the different reading activities at your local library. They also have many resources including RIF--Reading is Fundamental an organization to encourage reading and have a calendar full of ideas for everyday of the month to encourage reading. Click here for this months calendar.

Below are 5 fun ideas to encourage reading and creative thinking.

Birth to 5 years**April is Poetry month so read Here's a Little Poem compiled by Jane Yolen **Lay a blue scarf on the floor. Tell your child it is a magical river and help them imagine ways to get across **Ask your child to tell you a story **See how many times your child can spot the number 3 today **Spend an afternoon at the library 6 years to 12 years**Check out a wordless book at the library and make up their own story **Make up your own tongue twister **Celebrate Earth day and find books about what you can do to help the environment **Go to a restaurant and write a review about what you ate **Spend time at the library Have fun learning to love reading....and try some poetry this month. **info from http://www.rif.org/ , http://www.aap.com/, http://www.slcolibrary.org/

A great tip: From the Sneaky Chef

We know that feeding your children nutritious foods at times can be very difficult. Some parents have indicated that they have very "picky eaters" and are looking for suggestions on what to feed their children. It can be a challenge on how to "sneak" those fruits and veggies into their daily meals.

Dr Jopling has recommended the book Sneaky Chef for years and author Missy Chase Lapine has been so gracious to let us post some of her recipes and ideas on our blog. She also has some great ideas about getting kids to play and sneak fitness into their daily activities.(more to come) Here are some great highlights along with several links to her website and blog. Stay tuned for a update each month on a fun and creative new idea from the Sneaky Chef .

http://www.sneakychef.com/

Tip of the week CLICK HERE

The Sneaky Chef also wanted our patients to know of a giveway that she has started today. Click on this link to enter to win a Vitamix blender

RECIPE

Mac & Cheese (Quick fixes for boxed macaroni & cheese)

There's not a kids' menu in the United States that doesn't offer some variation of macaroni and cheese - the favorite - if not the most popular - of American comfort foods. Kraft now sells more than one million boxes every day! The beauty, for the purposes of this book, of even the packaged version is that its cheesy creaminess offers ample opportunity for sneaky chefs to slip in extra nutrition that even the toughest little critics won't detect. Try to keep a straight face as your kids beg for more of these surprisingly healthy variations.

SNEAKY TIP: Yellow macaroni and cheese usually contains yellow food dye, whereas the white version does not. If your child insists on yellow, you can add a slice of yellow American or cheddar cheese and a dash of paprika to the white cheese sauce, which will help safely change the color to yellow without affecting the taste.

Each of the nutritional boosters listed here have been kid tested and have proven to be undetectable in taste, texture and color. Start by adding the least amount recommended of just one of the nutritional boosters listed below. Add a little more each time you serve this dish (which is served in our house every day!).

- 2 to 4 tablespoons White Puree (see Make-Ahead Recipe #4 below)

- 2 to 4 tablespoons Orange Puree (see Make-Ahead Recipe #2 below)

Prepare macaroni and cheese according to directions on package. Add White Puree into the cheese sauce, mixing until well blended. If sauce becomes too dry, simply add an extra tablespoon of milk and extra cheese

Prepare macaroni and cheese according to directions on package. Add Orange Puree into the cheese sauce, mixing until well blended. This one works best with an extra slice of American cheese or 1/4 cup of grated cheddar melted into the sauce to help mask the carrots, which have a bit more distinguishable taste, in the puree.

Make-Ahead Recipe #4: White Puree Makes about 2 cups of puree.

Double recipe if you want to store even more, which can be done in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze 1/4 cup portions in sealed plastic bags or the small plastic containers. - 2 cups cauliflower, cut into florets - 2 small to medium zucchini, peeled and rough chopped - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice - 1-2 tablespoons water, if necessary > Steam cauliflower in a vegetable steamer over 2 inches of water, using a tightly-covered pot, for about 10 to 12 minutes until very tender. Alternatively, place cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl , cover with water, and microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes until very tender. > While waiting for the cauliflower to finish steaming, start to pulse the raw peeled zucchini with the lemon juice only (no water at this point). Drain the cooked cauliflower. Working in batches if necessary, add it to the pulsed zucchini in the bowl of the food processor with one tablespoon of water. Puree on high until smooth. Stop occasionally and push contents from the top to the bottom. If necessary, use the second tablespoon of water to make a smooth (but not wet) puree.

Make-Ahead Recipe #2: Orange Puree This makes about 2 cups of puree. Double the recipe if you want to store another cup of puree. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze one-quarter cup portions in sealed baggies or small plastic containers. - 1 medium sweet potato or yam, peeled and rough chopped; - 3 medium to large carrots, peeled and sliced into thick chunks; - 2-3 tablespoons water; In a medium pot, cover carrots and potatoes with cold water and boil for about 20 minutes until yams, and especially the carrots, are very tender. If the carrots aren't thoroughly cooked, they'll leave telltale little nuggets of vegetables, which will reveal their presence (a gigantic NO-NO for the sneaky chef).; Drain the potatoes and carrots and put them in the bowl of food processor with two tablespoons of water. Puree on high until smooth; no pieces of carrots or potatoes should remain. Stop occasionally to push the contents from the top to the bottom. If necessary, use the third tablespoon of water to make a smooth puree, but the less water the better.

**thanks to http://www.sneakychef.com/ for allowing us to post recipe and content

A Friendly Reminder....

Is your child entering kindergarten or junior high school this fall? Or is your child playing a school sport or attending some sort of summer camp? This is just a reminder that in all of these cases, your child will need to have had a physical within the past year! If you have not already scheduled your well child exam, you will want to call in as soon as possible as some of our doctors are already booked into July!**

Don't forget....let us know when you have your appointment scheduled for (either comment on our blog or on our Facebook page) and your name will be entered into a drawing to win and Ultra HD Flip Video Camera! You have until April 30th to enter!

**The American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as the physicians of Willow Creek Pediatrics recommend all children get ANNUAL well child exams!

Measles Update as of 4/8/2011

This is the most current information that we have from the Salt Lake Valley Health Department regarding the confirmed case of measles. We do routinely vacinate for MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and if you are concerned please contact our office.

Salt Lake Valley Health Department has confirmed a case of measles in Salt Lake County. This is the first confirmed case of the disease in Utah since 2005 and the first in Salt Lake County since 1997. Individuals who have had close contact with the infected resident have been notified and encouraged to receive any necessary vaccinations. Measles causes fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. The virus is transmitted by respiratory droplets such as coughing, sneezing and/or direct contact to secretions from an infected person. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person—if they are not immune—will also become infected. Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease. Children should get two doses of the vaccine and adults born after 1957 who may not have been immunized should contact their doctor to see if they need the vaccine. Measles vaccine, which has been commonly used for more than 50 years, can safely and effectively prevent this disease. This case indicates why it’s important for people to be protected against measles. People should have their health care providers review their immunization records and get vaccinated against the measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases as appropriate. Measles vaccine is available through primary care physicians and local health departments. The measles virus kills nearly 200,000 people around the world each year, but measles was considered eliminated in the United States more than 10 years ago.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is measles?
Measles is a serious disease caused by a virus. It is highly infectious and can be serious in infants, adults and pregnant woman.

What are the symptoms of Measles?
Measles may resemble a cold (cough, fever of 101 degrees or higher, runny nose, and red watery eyes. The rash usually begins a few days later, around the ears and hairline and spread to cover the face, trunk and arms. Sometimes people become very sensitive to light.

How soon do symptoms appear?
People generally become ill from measles 8-12 days after exposure to the virus. The average time from exposure to appearance of the rash is 14 days.

How is measles spread?
The virus is highly contagious, and is found in the nose and throat secretions of infected people. Direct contact with these secretions is usually exposure to a cough or sneeze of the infected person.

How long is it contagious?
People infected with measles are contagious 4 days before the rash and at least 4 days after the rash appears.

How is measles diagnosed?
It is diagnosed based on symptoms, and confirmed by a physician by checking for measles-specific antibodies in a person’s blood.

Who is at risk for measles?
Anyone can get the measles. Those at highest risk at children less then 15 months of age who are too young to receive the vaccine; people born in or after 1957, who lack proper documentation of measles immunity; people who have not been vaccinated; and person’s vaccinated before age one. It can cause complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and death.

How do you prevent measles from spreading?
Ensure that children are vaccinated at appropriate ages. People exposed to measles should check their immunization record; consult their physician or local health department to see if they need a protective vaccination. Be prepared to show documentation of vaccine to the Health Department People with measles should be separated from non-immune people. This includes exclusion from public setting such as day care cents, school, work, sports, retail, etc. Wash hands frequently, cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing (cough into your shoulder or elbow)

What about the vaccine? Measles vaccine is safe, however people with severe allergies to eggs or people with disorders that suppress the immune system should only receive the vaccine after consulting with their physician. Children with high fever should delay getting their vaccines until they are recovered. Women who are pregnant or who are consigning becoming pregnant in the next three months should postpone receiving the vaccine. It is a live vaccine.

The initial dose of the measles vaccine is recommended for children at 12 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age. Two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR) are required for entry into Utah schools. Measles vaccine is also recommended for other groups, such as healthcare workers, international travelers, people born after 1957, and anyone without a previous history of vaccination or disease.

How do I clean?
The virus is susceptible to many disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde The virus can also be inactivated by heat (30 min at 56° C) or light The virus can survive OUTSIDE HOST: Aerosol remains infective at least 30 minutes; short survival time (< 2 hours) on objects or surfaces.

We will continue to update this blog as information becomes avalible to us
**info from http://www.slvhealth.org/

Fact Friday: 2.4 million people swallow or have contact with poisonous substance

Each year, approximately 2.4 million people – more than half under age 6 – swallow or have contact with a poisonous substance. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some important tips to prevent and to treat exposures to poison.

To poison proof your home: Most poisonings occur when parents or caregivers are home but not paying attention. The most dangerous potential poisons are medicines, cleaning products, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, pesticides, furniture polish, gasoline, kerosene and lamp oil. Be especially vigilant when there is a change in routine. Holidays, visits to and from grandparents’ homes, and other special events may bring greater risk of poisoning if the usual safeguards are defeated or not in place.

• Store medicine, cleaners, paints/varnishes and pesticides in their original packaging inlocked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children.


• Install a safety latch – that locks when you close the door – on child-accessible cabinets containing harmful products.


• Purchase and keep all medicines in containers with safety caps. Discard unused medication.


• Never refer to medicine as “candy” or another appealing name.


• Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage.


• Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.


• Keep coal, wood or kerosene stoves in safe working order.


• Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Treatment: If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If your child has come in contact with poison, and has mild or no symptoms, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222

Different types and methods of poisoning require different, immediate treatment:

• Swallowed poison – Remove the item from the child, and have the child spit out any remaining substance. Do not make your child vomit. Do not use syrup of ipecac.


• Skin poison -- Remove the child’s clothes and rinse the skin with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.


• Eye poison -- Flush the child’s eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner corner for 15 minutes.


• Poisonous fumes – Take the child outside or into fresh air immediately. If the child has stopped breathing, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and do not stop until the child breathes on his or her own, or until someone can take over. ©American Academy of Pediatrics 3/11 http://www.healthychildren.org/English/News/pages/Tips-for-Poison-Prevention-and-Treatment.aspx **info from AAP

During your spring cleaning this year, it is a great time to look very carefully at your house. If you have any questions please call your pediatrician.

Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness month. In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

What are autism spectrum disorders?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of related brain-based disorders that affect a child's behavior, social, and communication skills. They include 3 of 5 disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). These are autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, and PDD-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

Autism spectrum disorders are lifelong conditions with no known cure. However, children with ASD can progress developmentally and learn new skills. Some children may improve so much that they no longer meet the criteria for ASD, although milder symptoms may often persist. **info from http://www.healthychildren.org/

OTHER sites

http://www.autism-society.org/ http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/autism.cfm

If you have any concerns about Autism, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with your physician.

Utah Food Allergy Network Easter Egg Hunt!

We love our friends over at UFAN and wanted to let you know of the upcoming event they have planned for kids. This is the FIRST annual Easter Egg Hunt. Date: Saturday, April 23, 2011 Promptly at 10:00 am. Location is Southwood Park 6150 S 725 E--All children ages 0-12 years old welcome! This is a food/candy-free event! All eggs will be filled with miscellaneous non-food items. They are requesting plastic egg and egg stuffer donations. AND....PLEASE RSVP to Maryann at maryann@utahfoodallergy.org or 801-792-1419 so they can plan for how many kids and appropriate ages!

Fact Friday: Helpful Links to Social Media and Kids II

Here are a few great links we thought we would add to yesterdays post! The more we know the better! http://www.thatsnotcool.com/ A great site for older teens that includes ways to communicate with peers when they experience online bulling that is "not cool" http://www.wiredkids.org/ A site for younger and older teens, as well as parents, with many suggestions on Internet safety. http://www.netsmartz.org/ A site focused on avoiding cyber bulling What sites do you have that help?...We would love to hear your suggestions-Have a great weekend! **site suggestions came from Contemporary Pediatrics