Our Plano pediatricians know that informed parents are more effective caregivers. As your partners in healthcare, we want you to have all the helpful information you need. For this reason, we have created a blog to supplement the other online resources our pediatric office recommends.
We tailor our blog to issues that we believe are important to parents. Some of the topics we cover include:
Remember that our blog is only intended to supplement your understanding of your child’s health. Children are unique and our pediatric office believes that tailoring healthcare to fit their individual needs means improving the health of the entire Plano community. Never hesitate to contact our pediatric office with specific concerns about your child’s physical, mental or emotional healthcare needs.
Take advantage of our blog and learn more about your child’s healthcare. Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our board certified pediatricians.
How to identify fever in children
It’s late at night and your child is crying. You check on him and feel his forehead. He’s burning up. What now? As Plano pediatricians and parents ourselves, we’re familiar with the anxiety that fever in children can provoke. Fortunately, most fevers indicate that your child’s immune system is functioning as it should,
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Pertussis, or “whooping cough”, is a highly infectious disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It is a serious illness which can cause permanent disability or even death, particularly in very young children.
Prevent West Nile Virus by avoiding mosquito bites
Mosquitoes carry the highest amount of virus in the late summer/early fall, which is why the incidence peaks in August and September. If you find a dead bird, call the authorities – dead birds may be a sign that WNV is circulating in your area. WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.
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Summer safety tips
Summer is here, and while this is a great time for outdoor play, barbecues and swimming, it is also a time when serious injuries can occur.
Here are some tips for summer safety:
Sun Exposure
Estimates show that 60-80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs in the first 18 years of life.
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Cold viruses are spread from person to person
Colds or upper respiratory infections are viral infections of the nose and throat. Cold viruses are spread from person to person by hand contact and sneezing, not by cold air or drafts. Healthy children get at least six colds each year. Usually, fever lasts up to 3 days,
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Scarlet fever is strep throat with a rash, caused by a toxin produced by some strep bacteria. The complication rate is no different than the complication rate for strep throat alone. The red rash usually clears in 4 to 5 days.
Recommendations for Scarlet Fever include:
Antibiotics:
Your child will be given a prescription for an antibiotic.
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An ear infection is a bacterial infection of the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum). The main symptom is earache and muffled hearing. A fever is present with almost half of ear infections, due to pressure and bulging of the eardrum fro trapped, infected fluid.
In 5-10% of children, the pressure causes the eardrum to rupture and drain yellow or cloudy fluid.
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Diarrhea is usually caused by a viral infection of the intestines, although occasionally by bacteria or parasites. Diarrhea usually lasts from several days to weeks, thus maintenance of oral fluid intake is imperative. Do not expect a quick return to solid stools. Follow these recommendations:
Encourage Fluids:
Infants- continue with formula or breast feeding unless instructed otherwise.
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Croup is a viral infection of the vocal cords, voice box (larynx), and windpipe (trachea).
There is a distinctive tight low-pitched barking cough with hoarseness due to swelling of the vocal cords.. A harsh, raspy vibrating sound (stridor) is heard when your child breathes in, usually only with crying or coughing. Symptoms usually last 5 to 6 days and generally get worse at night.
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