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Category "Pediatrics"

8Feb2022

Stomachaches in Children

All children have been faced with stomachaches at some point in their young lives. They can range from mind and infrequent to severe and constant. Stomachaches can also be something as simple as a digestive upset to something much more severe like appendicitis. It can be difficult to pinpoint what may be causing your little one’s symptoms, but these suggestions below may help you find a good starting point and know when to seek medical attention for something more serious.

Watch Out for Specific Severe Symptoms

When children complain of a stomachache, it’s essential to first assess for any signs that may warrant an emergency room visit. Severe right-sided abdominal pain, a significant fever, vomiting, or blood in a bowel movement should be evaluated promptly. If none of these are present, try to identify what may be triggering the pain. Does the pain get worse or better after eating? Is it in the upper part of the abdomen, lower abdomen, or on the left or right side? These questions and answers may help your child’s doctor narrow down a diagnosis.

Your child’s eating and toileting habits are also helpful in trying to figure out stomachaches. A food diary – consisting of what is eaten at each meal, along with notations of if the pain is better or worse, will be helpful to your pediatrician. Likewise, a toileting log should help you keep track of your child’s bowel movements, frequency, and consistency. Both of these can be brought to your child’s appointment with your pediatrician to discuss any abnormal findings.

Pay Attention to Trends and Consult a Pediatrician

If stomachaches have been a regular occurrence for several months and have interfered with daily activities, your pediatrician may want to order further testing to rule out any serious medical conditions. This may include bloodwork, x-rays, or ultrasounds. An elimination diet may also be helpful in trying to identify any triggers that may be making the pain worse. This includes eliminating certain food groups for several days to see if those specific foods either alleviate or aggravate the symptoms.

Sometimes, stomachaches can be attributed to school avoidance, anxiety, or other emotional stressors. Talking to your child about these situations may help you identify if this may be the source. If there is a physical reason behind their symptoms, such as constipation, reflux, or any other diagnoses, working with your pediatrician will help your child get their stomachaches under control.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
24Jan2022

Keeping Your Newborn Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

Cold weather season is also the peak of cold and flu season, and if you have a new little one, it’s even more important to keep them healthy during this time of the year. Many loved ones will be eager to meet your new little bundle of joy, so make sure you take every precaution to keep them protected from illnesses. Below are a few important steps you can take to try to keep them as healthy as possible!

Protect Against Illnesses During Flu Season

  • First, try to limit visitors during your baby’s first six to eight weeks of life. Anyone who visits should be free from any sick symptoms and should wash their hands with soap and water and use hand sanitizer before holding your baby. Adults and children alike should also avoid kissing babies on their faces or hands. There are many respiratory illnesses that are transmitted by close contact, and as much as we want to shower them with kisses, it’s best to keep them safe by kissing toes instead!
  • If you need to get out and about, visit stores or shops during times of day when they are less likely to be busy, and avoid peak shopping times to limit exposure to larger crowds. Avoid places with large gatherings of people – a quick trip to the grocery store is a necessity. Still, you may want to forego events like concerts, festivals, and larger indoor gatherings until your baby’s immune system has become more developed.
  • Finally, trust your instincts and watch for any early signs and symptoms of illness. If your baby is unusually fussy or irritable, not feeding as well as they normally do, has any respiratory symptoms, or you have any concerns, contact your baby’s pediatrician. Minor illnesses sometimes require nothing more than just symptomatic care and support, but it is always best to have your baby examined for further concerns.

Cold and flu season can be daunting and overwhelming, but by taking precautions and practicing good health and hand hygiene, we can all do our part to keep our youngest and most vulnerable safe and healthy!

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
17Jan2022

Healthy Sleep Habits for Kids

Sleep is an integral part of every person’s life – we absolutely can’t function without it. But when kids have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, it can wreak havoc on their daytime routine as well.

Establish a Bedtime Routine

Babies and young toddlers thrive on routine. So when it comes to falling asleep at night, a bedtime routine will help them drift off to sleep quickly and effortlessly. This should include a nighttime feeding (a bottle or sippy cup), bath, diaper change or toileting, a bedtime story, or other calming activity, such as rocking or snuggling, then transitioning to the crib or bed when they are drowsy for “lights off.”

Older toddlers and children benefit from the same type of structured routine, but simply modified for their age. Bath time, teeth brushing, and storytime or reading in bed for a set number of minutes before “lights out” is ideal. This is usually the age where parents may want to put a television in a child’s room – this is usually done with good intentions, but will inevitably lead to insomnia if the child is allowed to watch television in order to fall asleep or gets up in the middle of the night to turn the TV on. TVs provide both visual and sound stimulation, which keeps little brains active!

Limit Visual Stimulation Before Bed

Teens essentially follow the same evening routine as older children, most importantly adhering to the same bedtime each night. Limiting the amount of screen time (tablets and cell phone use included) prior to bedtime will help cut down on the amount of visual stimulation and make falling asleep easier. Also, ensure that your teen has at least an hour of “transition time” before bed each evening after completing homework to rest and unwind – it can be hard for minds to shut down quickly after focusing on homework.

With time and consistency, many sleep troubles can be overcome, leading to much more peaceful nights and pleasant days ahead. Contact your pediatrician if your child still struggles with falling asleep and staying asleep after implementing these bedtime routines.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
30Dec2021

Dealing with Holiday Sniffles

As the holidays approach, a number of potential group gatherings will come along with them. While many will find themselves gathering with friends and family for the first time in quite a while, it’s important to remember that these events are pretty common vectors for spreading illness. As a parent, it’s essential to know how to deal with the holiday sniffles when they occur and when to bring in a doctor.

The good news is that most of the sicknesses picked up by children during this time of year are the same illnesses that have plagued people for centuries. The same kinds of colds and viruses are floating around that existed pre-Covid, and it’s essential for parents to remember that it’s far more likely for a child to get a simple cold than it is for them to pick up something more serious. As such, the first thing to remember when you start to see your child getting sick is that panicking is the wrong response.

Steps to Take if Your Child Might be Sick

One of the most important things you can look at right now is your child’s temperature. If your child isn’t running a fever or only has a mild fever (sub-100, for example), you can generally feel a bit safer about handling the problem at home. However, with that said, even a child who doesn’t have a fever might need to get tested if they have more than one other Covid symptom.

It is, however, vital that you keep your sick children home. While not every illness is Covid, it’s important to remember that spreading sickness is never a good idea. It’s always better to be safe than to be sorry, after all, and most people will appreciate it if you are able to stay home with a sick child instead of spreading their illness around the group.

So, how do you deal with holiday sniffles? Stay calm, monitor your child, and stay home if they aren’t feeling well. If you are concerned, call your pediatrician and make sure to make an appointment to get your child checked out. Even if the problem is mild, it’s sometimes better to get a professional opinion.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
23Dec2021

How to Deal with Sports Injuries

Encouraging your child to participate in athletics can have a host of benefits. Not only can sports be fantastic for helping kids to keep in shape and to form excellent exercise habits, but most school sports also encourage teamwork and can even help keep students accountable when it comes to their grades. Unfortunately, though, students who participate in sports can still be as prone to injury as any other athlete. So, as a parent, it’s essential to understand what to do if your child gets injured playing a sport.

Immediate Action After Sports Injuries

First and foremost, make sure that you get your child checked out after they are injured. As helpful as on-field officials can be, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion about the extent of your child’s injury. While schools have become significantly more responsible when it comes to issues like concussions, nothing beats an actual physician when it comes to diagnosing the severity of an injury.

It’s also vital that you make sure that your child follows any orders from a doctor when they are recovering. It’s very possible that your child might feel ready to get back on the field before they are actually fully healed, and doing so might lead to more severe injuries in the future. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to make your child sit down and rest.

Take Necessary Time to Recover

Finally, make sure that you and your doctor set the timeline for your child’s return to the field. Unfortunately, many students feel pressured to get back to practicing sooner than is necessary, something that’s even tougher if your student is a significant part of their team. If you feel like a coach is pushing your child to get back too quickly, it’s vital that you push back.

Remember, most sports injuries are relatively minor and won’t impact your child forever. Taking the time to get your child checked out and following your doctor’s orders can help to ensure that your child will be able to keep competing for years to come. If you can help your child to exercise a bit of restraint, they will have a safer athletic career.

Kids Staff
Pediatrics
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