About Pediatrics

Swine Flu News

2009-11-24T00:03:41Z

Even as swine flu activity continue to decrease, which may indicate a peak in swine flu cases, it is important to remember that we are still seeing widespread flu activity in forty-three states.

And with some experts predicting another wave of swine flu cases this winter, this decrease in swine flu cases doesn't mean that you shouldn't get your kids vaccinated against the flu, especially as the swine flu vaccine is just now becoming more available.

Swine Flu News originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 00:03:41.

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Car Seat Safety Reminders

2009-11-21T17:58:24Z

Car seat safety recommendations and car seat models have changed over the years, which makes it important for parents to keep up with all of the latest information on car seats to help keep their kids as safe as possible when riding in the car.

For example, did you know that most experts recommend that:

toddlers continue to ride rear-facing as long as possible and until they reach the height and weight limits of their car seat, which may be well after their first birthday and they reach 20 pounds
older toddlers and preschoolers, even after they are 4 years old and forty pounds, continue to ride in a harnessed seat as long as possible if they have a car seat with a harness that has high weight and height limits, keeping in mind that many parents move their kids out of their harnessed car seats and into a booster seat too soon
school age children ride in a booster seat until the car's seat belts fit them correctly, when they are about 4'9" tall, which may not be until they are between 8 and 12 years of age, keeping in mind that many parents move their kids out of their booster seat and start using regular seat belts too soon
avoid having your child wear heavy clothing, like a winter coat, that may interfere with proper harnessing

To keep your child safe, in addition to choosing the right type and model of car seat, it is important that you use your car seat correctly by following the above car seat best practices.

Car Seat Safety Reminders originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 17:58:24.

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Swine Flu News

2009-11-14T11:32:58Z

The CDC updated there estimates of H1N1 (swine flu) counts this week, now stating that there have likely been about 22 million cases of 2009 H1N1 since April 2009, about 98,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations, and about 3,900 2009 H1N1-related deaths, including about 540 deaths in children.

We got some good news too though, as the CDC also reported that 'influenza activity decreased slightly,' although there is still widespread flu activity in forty-six states. Hopefully that means that swine flu activity will continue to decrease over the next few weeks, but that doesn't mean that we are out of the woods yet and that your kids don't need to get a swine flu vaccine. Many experts are still concerned that we could see another wave of swine flu cases later this winter, so getting a swine flu vaccine and a seasonal flu vaccine now, or whenever you can, can protect your kids for the rest of this flu season.

Although swine flu vaccine has been hard to get, the CDC also reports that there is now just over 40 million doses available, with more and more vaccine available each week. That should make it easier to get a swine flu vaccine for your child now and in the weeks to come.

Swine Flu News originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 11:32:58.

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Maclaren Stroller Recall

2009-11-09T13:12:33Z

Maclaren USA, Inc. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced the recall of about one million Maclaren strollers because the 'stroller's hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.'

There are reports of at least twelve fingertip amputations in these Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers that were sold nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360. Strollers involved in the Maclaren stroller recall have the word 'Maclaren' printed on the stroller, including the Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller Maclaren strollers.

Consumers should stop using the recalled Maclaren strollers until they can fix them with a free repair kit.

Maclaren Stroller Recall originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 13:12:33.

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Beef Recall

2009-11-02T19:07:37Z

Fairbank Farms has voluntarily recalled about 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef because it may be contaminated with the E.coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the CDC discovered the possible link while investigating a small cluster of E. coli infections which may have already sickened 28 people and caused at least one death.

Recalled ground beef was sold at grocery stores in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont, with a sell-by date from September 19 through 28, 2009. Although already past their expiration dates, consumers who have the recalled ground beef in their freezer should not eat it and can return it for a refund. Recalled ground beef products include those sold by ACME, BJ's, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Lancaster and Wild Harvest, Price Chopper, Shaw's, and Trader Joe's.

Parents should keep in mind that in addition to people with weak immune systems, the very young can be very susceptible to food poisoning, including E. coli infections, which makes it very important that they watch for these types of recalls.

Beef Recall originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 19:07:37.

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Daylight Saving Time To Do List

2009-11-01T19:44:35Z

In addition to turning your clocks back one hour last night, some good things to do when daylight saving time changes can include:

changing the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
in addition to replacing the batteries, you should consider replacing smoke alarms that are more than ten years old and carbon monoxide detectors that are more than five years old
cleaning out your medicine cabinet to get rid of expired and unused medicines

And this can be a good time to make sure your kids are getting enough sleep, as the changes during daylight saving time can sometimes interfere with their sleep routines.

Daylight Saving Time To Do List originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 19:44:35.

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Halloween Safety

2009-10-31T09:46:40Z

Halloween is always a fun holiday for kids. I still remember the year that I had to miss Halloween because I was sick with chickenpox, but hopefully too many kids don't miss out on the fun because of swine flu fears.

Of course, kids who are actually sick with swine flu should stay home on Halloween so that they don't get other kids sick. Most others should be able to enjoy Halloween and trick-or-treating though.

Keep these Halloween safety tips in mind, including that your kids:

wear a safe costume
go trick-or-treating with supervision in safe neighborhoods
only eat Halloween candy that has been inspected by an adult to make sure it is safe
don't overdo it with Halloween candy

Halloween Safety originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 09:46:40.

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Tamiflu Shortages

2009-10-29T17:47:45Z

There have been a lot of reports of Tamiflu shortages as swine flu cases continue to increase across the United States.

It is important to remember that according to current CDC guidelines, Tamiflu is only recommended for high-risk patients with swine flu, including children under age two to four years, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical problems, such as asthma, diabetes, and problems with their immune system, etc. Early treatment with Tamiflu is also recommended for patients with severe symptoms and those requiring hospitalization. Most other healthy children and adults, especially if they have mild symptoms, don't need Tamiflu or Relenza, the other flu medication.

In a media briefing today, Anne Schuchat, MD, the director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases again confirmed the CDC guidelines about Tamiflu when she stated that 'for the vast majority of people who have an illness that isn't severe and who don't have the underlying factors like very young age, pregnancy, or chronic health conditions, probably just bed rest, fluids and a little TLC is the right way to go.'

In addition to decreasing the chance that the H1N1 virus will become resistant to Tamiflu, like the seasonal flu viruses did last year, following the CDC guidelines and only using Tamiflu for high-risk patients will help to decrease the shortages, so that high-risk patients can get Tamiflu when they need it.

Tamiflu Shortages originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 17:47:45.

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Swine Flu Emergency

2009-10-26T13:26:45Z

There has been a lot of fear surrounding the swine flu pandemic this year. The declaration of a National Swine Flu Emergency by President Obama may increase fears for some parents, but it is important to realize that the move simply allows hospitals to better deal with the rising number of patients they are seeing, especially in their emergency rooms.

Other parents have a greater fear that the swine flu vaccine may come too late, as we are already seeing widespread flu cases in most of the United States. It is important to keep in mind that some experts think that another wave of swine flu may come later this winter and so getting vaccinated next month, even if cases seem to have peaked, can still be a good idea.

So get your kids vaccinated with a seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine when it is available to them. It may not be as easy to get a flu vaccine this year as we have all become accustomed to, but it will be worth it to avoid getting sick.

Swine Flu Emergency originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 13:26:45.

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Baby Food Recall

2009-10-20T10:27:00Z

Plum Organics has announced the recall of one batch of its 4.22 ounce Apple & Carrot Portable Pouch baby food because of possible contamination with the Clostridium botulinum bacteria that causes botulism.

Affected baby food has been sold at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us, has a best by date of May 21, 2010, and a UPC code of #890180001221.

Although no illnesses have been reported, consumers who have the affected baby food should not use it. They can return it to Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us for a refund or can contact Plum Organics for more information.

Baby Food Recall originally appeared on About.com Pediatrics on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 10:27:00.

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