The Kids Info

The first looks of your New Born Baby

2011-02-23T01:00:00.001-08:00

Few newborns look picture perfect at birth. They have many variations in normal appearance - from color of the skin to its texture to the shape of the head. Some of these differences are just temporary, part of the physical adjustments a baby goes through. Mentally, mostly all babies are awake and alert during the first few hours after birth.

Physical Appearance

Head
The head may look pointed due of pressure during birth. It would become normal in two weeks. When you touch on the top of your baby's head, you can feel a soft spot. This is the part where the bones of the skull have not joined together. It becomes normal when your child is 16-18months.

Skin
You will find little marks, spots and rashes, red or greenish blue on the skin of your new born baby. This is completely normal and some babies may have more than others. Skin may be peeling on the hands and feet and some babies may have noticeable downy body hair. But all these will disappear on their own accord.

Hands and Feet
The fingernails of the baby seems long at birth. The legs look bowed as he had been lying curled in the womb.

Eyes
The eyes may look as if they are squinting. This is very common in the first months. Puffy or blood shot eyes should be checked by the doctor.

Nose
The nose may appear flat as the bone hasn't yet fully developed.

Genitals
Most of the babies genitals look large. There may have a milky discharge from the breasts and sometimes blood or discharge from the vagina in a baby girl. This is because of an infusion of mother's hormones from the placenta, just before birth. This is perfectly normal and will soon disappear.

Mental Ability :
Mostly all babies are awake and alert during the first few hours after birth. They are attracted to human sights especially faces and human sounds. They have a grasp reflex and sucking reflex. If an object is placed in his palm he involuntarily clenches his fists around it, likewise if the newborn is placed near his mothers breast, the baby will seek the nipple and begin to suck. Babies can see now, although objects may be blurred. They may respond to a sudden loud noise and to human voice, but not to ordinary sounds.

What to Do When Babies Cry

2011-02-23T00:51:00.001-08:00

It's your job to try to figure out what your baby needs and fulfill those needs until he/she is developed enough to fulfill them him/herself.

"Colic" is a term used by doctors to define crying with no known cause. This doesn't mean that there isn't a cause. It just means that we don't know what the cause is. This term doesn't apply to babies that are simply fussy. A fussy baby can usually be calmed down by taking steps to alleviate discomfort and interaction. With colic, babies cry for hours, often during the same time every day, and their cries sound as though they are scared and/or in pain. It adds a major deal of stress to everyone's life. Without knowing what the cause is, it is almost impossible to get a colicky baby to calm down. If you find yourself doing everything on this list and anything else you can think of, but your baby is still crying, it is best to see your pediatrician to rule out any known underlying cause, such as illness. Then find a support group for parents with colicky babies; you'll be surprised by what you can learn from what other parents have tried.

Common Causes of Discomfort

Uncomfortable Position Imagine being in an uncomfortable position and not having the ability to move around to get comfy. Try just changing her position. If she's on her tummy, put her on her back. Sometimes babies just want to be held, because in mommy or daddy's arms is often the most comfy place of all. (Notice if she acts as though any part of her body is tender and fusses even more when you touch her. Sometimes an arm or leg will fall asleep, giving them that pins and needles feeling if you touch it. If it doesn't get better after a couple of minutes, she might be injured or ill.)
Hunger Offer baby something to eat or drink. If baby takes the food/drink and immediately quiets down, this may be the solution. (This is easiest if you're breastfeeding because you don't have to make up a bottle only to discover that your baby isn't hungry.) If you were already feeding your baby with a bottle, check the nipple to make sure it isn't clogged. If baby refuses to eat, move on to the next step.
Needs to Suck Babies have a strong need to suck. It's an important urge because it allows them to feed, but sometimes a kid needs to suck even if he's not hungry. Try giving your baby something to suck on, like a finger, a toy, or a pacifier, if you're not opposed to it. (Don't abuse the pacifier. If baby is hungry, continually forcing the pacifier on her will just make her so upset that she won't be able to eat.)
Wet or Poopy Diaper Yes, they really do mind sitting in their own filth sometimes. Change diapers as soon as you realized they are soiled, especially if baby has diaper rash, to avoid frustrated fits. (Always be sure to treat diaper rash to reduce pain that would otherwise cause additional crying after the diaper is changed.)
Gas Work out any gas bubbles baby may have. Hold your baby upright and try to burp her. Feel her stomach to find out if it is distended. Hold your hand on her stomach to feel for gas bubbles moving around or gurgles. Move babies legs to help work out gas from the back end. Also try gently massaging the stomach. If gas comes out from the top (burp) and baby is still crying, try offering food again. If gas comes out from the bottom, check the diaper for poopies. You can also try try infant simethicone drops (anti-gas drops). Mylicon did wonders for our gassy baby.
Boredom I know it doesn't seem like they do much, but babies really do play. Learn how to play with your baby and start entertaining her.
Tired Babies don't always know that they need to sleep when they're tired, so it's your job to calm them down for nap time. Try soothing techniques.
Too Hot / Too Cold Feel her hands, feet, and head. Look for signs of shivering or sweating. Bundle baby up or remove some layers to keep baby at a comfortable temperature. If your child seems unusually warm, take her temperature with a non-invasive thermometer (such as a ear thermometer, pacifier thermometer, or underarm thermometer). If the reading comes out a bit high, go ahead and take a rectal temperature.
Uncomfortable Clothes Change baby's clothes. Sometimes clothes can just be uncomfortable. The fabric could be itchy. There could be a small pointy object poking at her (such as the plastic from a tag or a tiny splinter stuck in the fabric). Try putting baby in a different outfit or have some "naked time". Sometimes a kid just needs a little naked time. Take off all his clothes, keep him warm with a blanket or in a warm room, put him on an underpad, and let the naked time begin. It's amazing how well it works sometimes when you don't know what else to do.
Itchy There were times when my baby would cry frantically, and I didn't know why. One day I decided to just scratch her all over, and I must have scratched an itch because it worked, and she stopped crying.
Stress Babies get stressed out too, and we all know how uncomfortable stress feels. They have a lot to learn and adjust to, so it's easy for them to get over-stimulated or overwhelmed, which leads to frustration and crying. Try to soothing techniques. Sometimes children, even babies, are very sensitive to their parents emotions. If you've been stressed out lately, your baby may have picked up on it. Try calming yourself at the same time that you try to calm your baby. If you are relaxed, you have a much better chance of helping your baby relax.
Sadness / Anxiety / Fear Babies have emotions too. Sadness, anxiety, and fear often occur from separation from a primary caregiver, not being able to play with something they wanted to play with, being scolded, or being left alone. Sometimes sadness, anxiety, and fear are just a part of life, but that doesn't mean they should have to learn how to deal with it during their first year of life. Keep situations that may trigger such emotions in your child to a minimum.
Allergic Reactions If you're breastfeeding, did you eat something within the last day that could produce gas or that your baby is allergic to? Did you switch baby's formula or introduce any new foods? Do you smoke, drink, or take drugs or medication? Did your baby just start eating a new food? Keep a food diary and check your baby for diaper rash or unusual stools which may indicate food allergies. Eliminate possible problem foods to see if it fixes the problem in the future.
Illness / Injury / Pain We all get uncomfortable when we're sick, and pain is never much fun. Assess if baby looks ill or injured (e.g. pale, vomiting or excessive spitting up, discharge from nose or eyes, excessive drooling, dry eyes, sunken fontanel, unusual swelling, not moving limbs normally, straining more than usual to poop, wheezing, etc.). Check your baby's temperature. A fever is an indicator of infection or inflammation. Babies will also cry because they're teething, or their diaper rash is bugging them. Quickly look for anything external that might be causing pain, such as a diaper pin that popped open, hairs tangled around fingers or toes (it happens a lot), a rough or sharp edge that she's laying on, etc. If you find such a situation, fix it immediately. Make sure that you address any possible symptoms of illness or injury by calling your pediatrician (that's what you pay them for).
G.E.R. (Gastroesophageal Reflux) After eating, does your baby cry, spit up forcefully, or scrunch up and writhe as if in pain? Does your baby suddenly burst out in a painful cry during the middle of the night? Discuss this with your doctor. Your child may have gastroesophageal reflux (baby heartburn) which is painful and can cause damage to the esophagus over time. Try to keep your child upright or hold her slightly forward, give her smaller, more frequent feedings, and try to sooth her as much as possible until your doctor can see her and possibly prescribe medication for the problem. Some mothers swear that giving their baby rice cereal in a bottle helps too.
U.T.I. (Urinary Tract Infection) If your baby cries whenever she urinate, she might have a urinary tract infection, especially if she has a fever. UTIs happen more in girls than in boys because girls have a shorter urethra. UTIs can be caused by lack of hygiene, introducing bacteria into the urethra from the anus by wiping back to front during a diaper change (always wipe front to back), and even soaps, bubble bath, and bath toys like soap crayons. Call your doctor and have her seen immediately for treatment. It won't go away on it's own and could develop into a kidney infection.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

2011-02-22T04:24:00.001-08:00

What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia (lazy eye) is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normally during childhood. It commonly affects one eye but may also involve both eyes. It is generally caused by lack of use of one eye, when brain 'favors' one eye over the other.

What causes amblyopia?
The visual system of the child is not fully developed at birth. The visual brain cells of a child are developing during their first decade of life. Any insult to the child's vision during this time period can lead to amblyopia.

Following are the common causes of amblyopia:

Squint: This is the commonest cause of amblyopia. The brain to avoid double vision ignores the image from the deviating eye. This leads to poor visual development of the deviating eye and hence amblyopia.
Unequal refractive error (anisometropia): In this condition, the two eyes have different refractive errors. Because the brain can not "balance" this difference, it picks the eye that is "easier" to use and develops a preference for this eye only. The eye with greater refractive error is suppressed and thus gets amblyopic. An early treatment by giving the right glasses for correction can prevent and correct this problem.
Stimulus deprivation: Any form of stimulus derivation to either one or both eyes in early childhood may lead to a severe form of amblyopia. These causes for stimulus deprivation may be ptosis, cataract, glaucoma, patching or any other obstacle that blocks the vision in the eye.

How can we detect if the child has amblyopia?
Detecting amblyopia in child is difficult, as the child may not be aware of having one strong eye and one weak eye. If the child has a squint or some other abnormality, the parents may notice that something is wrong. The vision of the child can be tested by the ophthalmologist by special tests. Poor vision in an eye may point towards a possibility of amblyopia. Remember, poor vision in an eye does not always mean amblyopia. It is important to rule out other causes of poor vision in child.

Is it treatable?
Yes. In most of the cases the amblyopia is treatable. The treatment involves 'forcing' the brain to use the weaker eye and thus stimulating its visual development. This is done by patching the better eye. The schedule of patching is decided by the ophthalmologist depending upon the degree of amblyopia and the age of child.

When should it be treated?
As soon as possible. The earlier the amblyopia is detected and the treatment started, the better are the results. The aim is to stimulate the brain to use the suppressed eye before permanent change has occurred, so that it gets a chance of normal development. Generally speaking, an amblyopia that is not treated by 10 years of age has a poor chance of recovering the vision.

Why is it important to treat amblyopia?
If an amblyopic eye is not treated by 10 years of age, the amblyopic eye may permanently stay weak. This has many disadvantages like:

Both eyes can not be used simultaneously and hence depth perception (three-dimensional vision) is not present. Many occupations are not open for people who have good vision in one eye only.
It is important to give best possible vision to the amblyopic eye even if the other eye is seeing well. The importance of this becomes obvious, in case the person loses the other (better) eye, sometime later due to some injury or disease.

What are the factors that determine the success of treatment?
The success of amblyopia treatment largely depends upon the motivation of parents and the cooperation of the child. Patching of the better eye, especially when the amblyopic eye has very poor vision is not tolerated well by the child. The parents have to understand the importance of this treatment and should explain the same to the child to ensure better cooperation.
The other factors that determine the success of treatment are:

The severity (depth) of amblyopia
The age at which the treatment is started: The earlier the treatment is started, the better are the results
Any other complicating factor in the eye preventing sufficient gain of vision, e.g., glaucoma, cataract, retinal or optic nerve disorders

My child has squint and amblyopia. Which should be treated first?
Amblyopia has to be treated first in all these cases. Once the amblyopia has been taken care of, the surgery may be done for squint correction.

Breast Feeding Myths

2011-02-22T03:36:00.001-08:00

These things are heard from the neighbors or from the elders and have no scientific basis. Some of these are explained below-

More milk is to be drunk to produce more milk
This is not true. Any type of food taken in sufficient quantity is enough for the required milk production. The more the baby sucks the breasts, more is the flow of milk.

Small breasts do not give sufficient milk
Successful breast feeding does not depend upon size of the breasts. The size of breasts depends upon the layer of fat beneath the skin. Milk production depends upon special glands in the breasts, which are sufficient in all women.

During breast-feeding you have to stop eating certain food products
You can eat your favorite dishes during breast-feeding. Certain people may have some problems with some food products but others may not. If a certain thing causes some problems to your child, you can try eating it in small quantities. If it causes a problem always then you can stop eating it.

Using cold water while you are breast feeding is harmful
This belief does not have any scientific basis. It can only be proved wrong by experimenting on yourself. The belief that the baby can catch cold if mother works in cold water, is not true.

If you have not breast-fed your first baby, you will not be able to feed your second baby
This is wrong and you can rest assured that you can feed your second baby even if you have not breast-fed your first baby.

Mother's milk production starts after three days
This is not true. The initial yellowish, thick milk called 'colostrum' is very important and good for the baby; and is sufficient for the baby for the first three days.

Breast Feeding Tips

2011-02-22T03:24:00.001-08:00

Are fruit juices, soups etc. recommended in the initial few months after birth?
No, after birth for 4 months nothing else except mother's milk is required. Other things can be harmful.

Should gripe water, ghutti etc. be given?
No, their use is unscientific and can be harmful.

Does my child need vitamins?

Breast fed babies do not need vitamins or tonics; but babies having top-feed might require some form of supplementation.

My baby is exclusively breast-fed, but he passes frequent loose stools. Is that OK?

It is normal in a breast-fed baby. But be observant regarding his hydration and whether he is passing enough urine.

Even after breast-feeding my baby, milk continues to flow. What should be done?
This is temporary problem. You can press your breasts and keep a clean soft cloth inside your bra.

Can I feed my baby if I am sick or if I am taking medicines?
Baby can be breast fed during any kind of sickness, even T.B. or Heprosy. Except anti-cancer drugs, most of the medicines are safe.

If my milk is not sufficient for the baby, then?
Almost all mothers can produce milk in sufficient quantity for their baby. You must breast-feed your baby more frequently, which will increase the milk production. Keep on taking nutritious diet in sufficient quantity, and fed the baby on demand. If the baby is passing urine 6 times in 24 hours, then it denotes sufficient milk production.

Can I feed my baby if I have a Caesarean section?
Yes you can. You can feed your baby, once the effect of sedatives and anaesthesia wears off. If might be difficult to feed initially but you can turn to your side, take someone's help and feed your baby.

Can I and my baby sleep on one bed?
Yes, you should make your baby sleep with you. It will be helpful in establishing an emotional bond with your baby, and also increase milk production.

My nipple hurts, when I breast-feed. What should I do?
This is because of faulty position of the body. The baby should be close to your body; his mouth and the chin should be close to your breast and he should be sucking on most of your arola and not only the nipple. Breast feed your baby frequently, and in correct position for small durations. Let some drops of your milk, to dry on your nipple. Do not use any creams or lotion.

Occasionally my breasts feel very hard and heavy. What should be done?
If there has been a long time gap between feeds or you have not breast-feed your baby, then you might get this feeling. You must feed your baby or express your milk with your hand.

If I have to go out, then is there any harm in giving one or two bottle-feeds?
Giving a top-feed substitutes for your breast-feed and so next time your milk will decrease in quantity. Also chances of contracting an infection are increased. You can express your milk in a clean utensil, which can later be given to the baby using a katori.

What is the harm in bottle feeding is properly boiled & used?
Firstly the child will stop taking breast feed; secondly while preparing a bottle of milk various other things like a spoon, sugar, bottle, lid, nipple and your hands are used which may not be clean and may introduce infection.
If a bottle has to be used, then remember
- To boil the bottle , nipple & lid for 20-25 minutes.
- Wash your hands properly before before touching the bottle.
- Do not dip your finger into the milk for checking the temperature.

Can I feed my babies if I have twins?
More breast-feeding leads to more milk production. You can feel both your babies together alternating them between the two breasts. If it is required you may feed them additionally using fresh milk.

How is milk expressed from the breasts?
Sit comfortably and gently massage your breasts. Using your thumb and index finger, press on the margins of the arola and collect milk in a clean & boiled katori. A breast-pump may also be used for this purpose.

How to store the expressed breast milk?
It can be stored in a closed lid utensil for 8 hours at room temperature & for 24 hours in a refrigerator. Do not warm the milk as it will kill the disease-preventing properties of the breast-milk.

Can top-feed be combined with breast milk?
If it is not possible to express the milk and keep then while the mother is away it is better to give fresh cow's/buffalo's milk using a katori, rather than a powder milk. When the mother comes back from work, she should breast-feed her baby as frequently as possible.

When & how to start food products other than milk?
You must start semi-solid food when the baby is 4-6 months old. Starting earlier than this can be harmful because the baby may not be able to digest it. The baby might then refuse to take breast-feeding leading to a excessive weight gain. Start from giving small quantity of a single kind of food. Gradually start giving mashed and semi-solid food of different variety preferably whatever is being cooked at home except spicy foods. Introduce new dishes, so that by twelve months, child starts eating and liking almost everything which is being cooked at home. Do not force him to eat, what he does not like. Keep on breast-feeding till the child himself stops breast-feeding.

Breast Feeding

2011-02-22T03:19:00.001-08:00

Breast feeding practice is followed everywhere in India, except among higher socio- economic groups, who tend to look for alternatives to breast-feeding. Ignorance of the advantages of breast-feeding and the proper method often leads to discontinuation in most cases.

Basic Facts:

The ability of the breasts to produce milk diminishes soon after childbirth, without the stimulation of breast-feeding.
The immunity factors in breast milk can help the body fight off infections.
Breast milk contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes, which aid the baby's digestion.
Breast and formula feeding can be used together.

Advantages of breast-feeding.

It is the simplest way to feed the baby.
It increases the period of lactation amenonhoes after childbirth.
Breast milk also contains infection-fighting anti-bodies from the mother.
Breast feeding in the initial 4- months of the baby's life reduces the chances of infection and increases the immunity of the baby.
The amino acids in breast milk, the building blocks of proteins, are well balanced for the baby. These proteins best aid the baby's intestinal tract.
The emotional bonding between the baby and mother is strengthened & gives a feeling of satisfaction and achievement to the mother.
It is much cheaper than artificial feeding.

The baby should be put to the breast as soon as possible after birth. The initial yellowish and thick fluid (colostrum) is rich in proteins and protective antibodies. The practice of giving ghutti should be discouraged, because the nourishment of the baby is delayed, increasing chances of infection and delaying the stimulation for milk production.

Some important points:

The mother should sit in a comfortable position, hold the baby in her arms and offer the baby her whole breast & not just the nipple.
The baby should be fed from a different breast each time so that both breasts produce the maximum amount of milk.
The baby should be fed, whenever she is hungry. Before offering the second breast to the baby, it should be ensured that the baby sucks the fat rich hind milk from the first breast.
A daily bath is sufficient to keep the breasts clean.
Frequent cleaning with soap removes the natural oils from the breasts, predisposing the nipples to develop fissures.
Burping the baby after every feed by holding her against the shoulder is advisable.
A mother who is feeding her baby should eat healthy foods to keep up her strength & feed the baby letter.
At times the breasts may feel hot, heavy and hard, due to accumulation of milk.
The mother should be encouraged to let the baby continue to suck as for as possible.
If still enough milk is not removed, the milk should be expressed in a clear (preferably) boiled cup using the thumb and the finger.
A warm compress on the breast or a warm bath is also helpful.
It the baby is fed frequently both during the day and night this condition (engorgememt of breast) is uncommon.
If nipples are cracked and painful, the mother is advised to leave a drop of hind milk on, the nipple after feeding as this helps in healing. Malai can also be can applied.

Jaundice in Newborn

2011-02-22T03:16:00.001-08:00

Definition :
Jaundice refers to the yellow coloration of the skin and white of the eye. When it occurs in a newly born baby its called as Newborn jaundice.

What causes it:
It is caused by high amount of bilirubin ( a pigment formed as a result of the break down of the Red cells in the blood. Bilirubin is eliminated from the body by the liver. The Liver of the newborn usually takes some time to adjust to excrete all the billirubin and until then the bilirubin builds up in the body and produces jaundice.

Types of newborn jaundice :

Physiological jaundice:
Some degree of jaundice is evident in a lot of newborns usually on the 2^nd day of life. It peaks around the 4^th to 5^th day & the yellowness disappears by the end of the 1^st week.Technically speaking the bilirubin levels are between 10-16 mg%.

Pathological jaundice:
If the bilirubin builds up too high in the body that is more than 17mg% within the first week then it may be toxic to the brain and it can cause permanent brain damage. This can occur due to some infection to the baby, mismatch between the baby's and mother's blood group or due to some structural defects in the liver.

Jaundice of prematurity:
It occurs frequently in premature babies because the liver takes much more time to be able to handle the bilirubin levels.

Breast milk jaundice:
A particular compound in the mother's milk can lead to jaundice in a few babies. It usually occurs the 4^th day onwards. However sometimes it can reach high levels be prolonged.
Stopping breast feeding & feeding only formula for 2 days subsides the jaundice and then breast feeding can be resumed .

Treatment:
In case of physiological jaundice no specific therapy is required. The infant should be watched for any complications or a sudden increase in the jaundice . Simply putting the baby in the sun for half an hour or so in the morning & evening is sufficient. Care though must be taken to avoid putting the baby in too strong a sunlight and for too long because then the baby can become dehydrated quickly and also can get sun burnt.

Phototherapy:
Fortunately the bilirubin is converted to a water soluble type by the fluorescent or natural light and this then can be easily excreted by the baby. Eye patches one worn to protect the baby's eyes.

Exchange transfusion :
In extreme cases of jaundice which is not controlled by phototherapy an exchange transfusion is performed this involves removing the blood containing high levels if bilirubin and replacing it with blood with very little bilirubin.

Vaccine Preventable Diseases

2008-11-29T03:44:00.000-08:00

DPT Vaccine
Preventable Disease VaccineThis is given when your child is 1 1/2, 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 months old with a booster at the age of 1 1/2 years. It protects against three diseases viz : Diptheria, Polio and Tetanus.

Diphtheria
It is an acute infectious disease of childhood caused by a bacteria. It usually manifests with sore throat and quickly progresses to fever, headache & loss of appetite. It can damage the heart, the nervous system and in severe cases it can kill. Through the incidence of diphtheria has greatly reduced but it has not yet completely wiped out.

Pertussis
Also associated with Whooping Cough is a highly contagious disease of the respiratory tract.
It starts with features of a common cold but quickly progresses to a severe exhausting cough. The cough comes in prolonged bouts during which the child appears unable to breathe & looks anxious.It lasts for upto 6 - 8 weeks and leave the child extremely weak & malnourished because of vomitting associated with cough & the disinclination to eat because of the fear of precipitating bank of cough.

Tetanus
The germs of tetanus are found in soil. They can enter the body through a cut, a bruise or a prick of thorn. To toxim of tetanus acts on the nervous system which then affects the muscle causing severe stiffness of spasms. It is a very painful & distressing illness which if not treated promptly can lead to death. It can start inocuosly as stiffness in the neck or spasm of the jaw and thin rapidly progresses to lead to breathing difficulties & severe painful spasms of the limbs or the back etc.

Polio Vaccine
It is given at the age of 1 1/2, 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 months, usually along with the DPP vaccine. Booster doses are given at the age of 18 months. Additionally for the last few years the Searchvt. of India has been running the Pulse Polio Program in all children under the age of 5 years are given Polio drops twice a year in addition to their vaccination schedule.

Polio
Polio is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent muscle paralysis or weakness. When the virus affects the muscles of the chest, it can kill because of the paralysis of the muscles used in respiration.

BCG Vaccine
The vaccine can be administred right after the birth and if not taken then, then it can be taken as early as possible with other vaccines. This vaccine affords protection against Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis
It is a disease which primarily affects the lungs, through it can involve virtually any past/system of the body. It usually manifests or cough of long duration, loss of weight & night sweats.

Measles Vaccine
It is a given at a age of 9 months.

Measles
It is a disease of the respiratory tract which begins with fever, cough, running nose & watery eye. The rash of measles is very characteristic of the disease, starting on the neck and quickly spreading to the trunk & limbs. Measles is very infectious. The complications occur in a fair percentage of children who feel it. These include chest infectious, fits, brain damage etc.

Cataract in Child

2008-11-29T03:40:00.000-08:00

What is cataract?

Cataract is a clouding or opacity of the normally transparent lens inside the eye. Cataract is a common cause of poor vision in older adults, but it may also occur uncommonly in infants and children.

What causes cataract in children?

The child may either be born with cataract or may develop cataract early in life after birth. It may be caused due to some disease in mother during pregnancy or due to some problem with child's general health, or injury to the eye. Sometimes it may be hereditary, being passed to the child, usually from a parent who has the same problem. The ophthalmologist or pediatrician generally runs a few tests to find out the cause of cataract. In many cases, though, no cause may be found.

How to know if one's child has a cataract?

The child may have cataract in both the eyes or in only one eye. At birth, each child is examined by the pediatrician to rule out any congenital abnormality, including cataract. If the child has significant cataract in both the eyes, the family members can usually notice that the child does not see well. The child may not be able to recognize mother (normally recognizes by 2 months of age), may not respond to visual stimuli etc. Sometimes when it involves only one eye, it may be difficult to detect, as the child may be seeing normally. The cataract may make the black pupil of the eye look white or gray. Sometimes the eye with cataract may wander out of line causing squint, or may show a jiggling movement (nystagmus). Presence of nystagmus and squint are poor signs in cataract, as they may signify that vision may not return fully after surgery.

Note that the child may have poor vision due to other reasons also besides cataract. Moreover, cataract in child may be associated with other diseases of the eye as well. Therefore it is mandatory to see an ophthalmologist in case you notice the child has any of the above problems.

My child has a cataract. Would he be able to see?

It is very important to treat this condition as soon as possible to get the best results. Most children who are treated for cataract at the right time end up seeing well. Though there might be certain conditions in which the vision is low even with the best possible treatment. Your ophthalmologist will keep you informed about this.

Why is it important to treat childhood cataract early?

The presence of cataract in a child does not let the eye get proper visual stimulus to develop. This prevents the normal development of the eye, especially if the cataract is present in only one eye. This condition is known as amblyopia or lazy eye. Therefore it is important to treat this condition at the earliest to prevent and to treat amblyopia.

What are the methods of treatment for childhood cataract?

The treatment options are:

* No surgery with periodic follow up
* Cataract removal without intraocular lens implant
* Cataract removal with intraocular lens implant

What factors decide the treatment option and the timing of surgery?

The treatment option and the timing of surgery will be decided by the ophthalmologist, based on the following factors:

* Age of the child
* Density of cataract
* Whether cataract involves one eye or both eyes

If the cataract is not very dense and the child is able to see through it, then the surgery may not be required or it may be deferred till the child reaches a age where a cataract surgery with lens implant can be done safely.

Generally the lens implantation is not preferred in a child below 2 years of age because these eyes are still in growing stage, moreover there is a tendency for severe inflammation (uveitis) in these young children and the chances of aftercataract (opacification of the capsule of lens) is almost 100%.

Cataract involving only one eye has to be treated more urgently because the chance of amblyopia is greater in these cases.

What are the complications of surgery?

Cataract surgery is very safe, but as in any surgery, complications are possible. There is a very small risk of serious bleeding or infection after the surgery. If a lens has been implanted, there is a very high chance of aftercataract formation, which may require laser treatment or even a small surgery. Even years after surgery, related eye problems such as retinal detachment can develop and threaten sight. For this reason it is very important to have a regular follow up even after the surgery is done. To examine the eye properly in an uncooperative young child after cataract surgery, the ophthalmologist may occasionally give sedative medicine or even general anesthesia.

What to do after surgery?

The care of the eye after surgery is the most important part of treatment. As we remove the lens of the eye, the refractive power of the same has to be compensated in some form to enable the eye to see properly. Also, because the lens is not there, the eye can not change the power for near work (accommodation). For this reason, the child will require to wear an additional near addition (like in presbyopia) for doing near work. The various options available for this purpose are:

* Glasses
* Contact lens
* Intraocular lens implant

The advantages of glasses are that they are very convenient and simple to use and there is no chance of harming the eye. The disadvantages are that they are very thick and heavy, and the child (especially teenagers) may not like to wear them because of poor appearance and because it hampers in sports. Moreover, they are unsuitable for children who have cataract in only one eye, because the vision from the two eyes cannot be properly combined in the brain, when one eye focuses in the normal way and the other looks through a very strong spectacle lens.

Contact lenses provide both vision and appearance that is normal. But the main disadvantage is that they have to be properly cleaned and maintained, or else there is a small risk of infection. It may be difficult to place them in the eye and to remove them for cleaning especially in small children between 1 to 5 years of age. Also the chances of losing the contact lens is also very high in this age group.

Intraocular lenses are a very good option, as they do not require any maintenance. But these are not preferred in children below 2 years of age. They also have a higher chance of developing aftercataract.

The best form of visual rehabilitation for child is a very complex decision and the ophthalmologist will decide after discussing these issues with the parents.

Amblyopia therapy: In some cases of cataract in children below 5-6 years of age, especially in those where only one eye is involved, the child may have to be treated for amblyopia.

Poor Vision in a Child

2008-11-29T03:34:00.000-08:00

How to know if my child has poor vision?

Normally a child should be able to recognize mother and have a social smile by 6-8 weeks of age. If the child has poor vision in both the eyes, then he/she may not recognize the mother or may not respond to the visual stimuli. Once the child starts walking, he/she may frequently bump into objects.

If the child has poor vision in only one eye then it may be difficult to notice it. The eye with poor vision may not be aligned properly with the other eye, thus causing squint (strabismus). The child may also have rhythmic jiggling movements of the eyes (nystagmus).

Sometimes the cause of poor vision may be visible as a whiteness of the cornea or whiteness behind the pupil. In some cases the eyes of child with glaucoma may be watering and very sensitive to light.

The poor vision may also be noticed incidentally when the child is being examined by a doctor or during vision screening in the school.

What are the causes of poor vision in a child?

These causes are:

* Refractive error
* Cataract
* Glaucoma
* Squint (strabismus)
* Injury to the eye (sometimes the child may not tell about the injury to parents)
* Diseases of cornea
* Diseases of retina and optic nerve
* Inherited disorders
* Tumor (Retinoblastoma)
* Other eye abnormalities

What to do if I suspect that my child does not see properly?

As we see, there can be many causes for poor vision in a child. Some of these are very simple and treated easily, while others may be very difficult to manage and sometimes may even be life threatening. Therefore it is prudent to contact an ophthalmologist at the earliest if you suspect poor vision in your child. He or she will confirm poor vision and then look for the cause of the same. A timely treatment is very crucial in saving the sight and sometimes the life of the child.

How can one determine the vision in a small child who will not cooperate for vision testing?

There are many special tests available which help the doctor in determining the visual acuity of children in all age groups. The ophthalmologist will decide which tests to use and will get an idea of the visual loss and the chances of getting good vision after treatment.

Developmental Milestones in Children

2008-11-29T03:15:00.000-08:00

As a parent you are in best position to note your child's development and milestones given below can be used as guidelines

6 WEEKS

Gross Motor
When child is pulled to sit, his head lags considerably but not completely
Yes / No

Does your child intermittently raise his chin off the couch in prone position?
Yes / No

Hands
Does the child keep his/her hands open most of the time?
Yes / No

Vision
Does your child fix eyes on objects and follows a moving person up to 90 degrees?
Yes / No

General understanding
Does your child smile at the mother in response to overtures?
Yes / No

12 WEEKS

Gross Motor
When your child is held upright is he able to support his head for few minutes?
Yes / No

Does your child hold chin and shoulders off couch and weight is borne on forearm in prone position?
Yes / No

Hands
Does your child keep hands frequently loosely open?
Yes / No

Vision
Does your child follow-dangling toy from side to side (180 degrees)?
Yes / No
Does your child promptly looks at object in midline?
Yes / No

Hearing
Does your child turn head to sound?
Yes / No

Vocalization
Does your child respond when spoken to and makes squeaks of pleasure?
Yes / No

16 Weeks

Gross Motor
When your child held in sitting position does he hold his head constantly up?
Yes / No

Hands
Does your child bring hands together when he plays?
Yes / No

Does your child play with rattle when it is placed in his hand?
Yes / No

Hand HeldVision
Does your child have immediate regard of dangling object?
Yes / No

Vocalization
Does your child laugh aloud?
Yes / No

20 WEEKS

Gross Motor
Does your child put his/her weight on forearms when lying in prone position?
Yes No

Does your child put his feet to mouth in supine position?
Yes / No

When child is pulled to sit, there is no head leg.
Yes / No

Hands
Is your child able to grasp object voluntarily?
Yes / No

General understanding
Does your child smile at his/her mirror image?
Yes / No

24 WEEKS

Gross Motor
Does your child put weight on hands and not forearms; chest and upper part of abdomen are off couch when made to lie prone?
Yes / No

Does your child roll prone to supine?
Yes / No

When your baby is held in standing position is he able to put most of his weight on his legs?
Yes No

Hands
Does your child hold bottle or grasp his feet?
Yes / No

Vision
Does your child see small objects such as crumbs?
Yes / No

Hearing
Does your child turn his head to sounds that originate out of his immediate area?
Yes / No

General understanding
Does your child smile and vocalize at his/her mirror image?
Yes / No

28 WEEKS

Gross Motor
Does your child sit with hands on couch for support?
Yes No

Does your child roll from supine to prone?
Yes / No

Hands
Does your child feeds self with biscuit?
Yes / No

Cubes
Does your child transfer cube from hand to hand?
Yes No

Hand Eye CoordinationGeneral understanding
Does your child imitate simple acts?
Yes / No

Does your child respond to name(s)?
Yes / No

Speech
Does your child speak syllabels like da,ba,ka
Yes / No

32 WEEKS

Gross Motor
Does your child sit momentarily on floor without support?
Yes / No

Does your child bear whole weight on leg when supported?
Yes / No

Imitation
Does your child imitate sounds?
Yes / No

Speech
Does your child combine syllabels like da-da, ma-ma
Yes / No

36 WEEKS

Gross Motor
Can your child sit without support for few minutes?
Yes / No

Does your baby crawl?
Yes / No

Hands
Does your child pick up objects of size of currant between tip of finger and thumb?
Yes / No

Cubes
Does your child compare two cubes by bringing them together?
Yes / No

40 WEEKS

Gross Motor
Can your child pull self to sitting position?
Yes / No

Can your child stand holding on to furniture?
Yes / No

Hands
Does your child go for objects with index finger?
Yes / No

Index Finger approach to objectCubes
Does your child allow objects to let go off (release)?
Yes / No

Imitation
Does your child wave bye-bye? Plays pata-cake?
Yes / No

44 WEEKS

Does your child creep with abdomen off couch?
Yes / No

Does your child put object in and out of container?
Yes / No

Does your child say one word with meaning?
Yes / No

Dressing
Does your child hold arms out for sleeve or feet out for shoe?
Yes / No

48 WEEKS

Does your child twist around to pick up object (pivots)?
Yes / No

Stand holding on to furnitureDoes your child walk holding on to furniture?
Yes / No

Does your child say one word with meaning?
Yes / No

Does your show interest in picturebook?
Yes / No

Does your child release toy when asked to?
Yes / No

1 Year

Gross Motor
Does your child walk one hand held?
Yes / No

Does your child say two or three words with meaning?
Yes / No

Does your child walks on hands and feet like a bear when prone?
Yes / No

Does your child understands the meaning of where is book? where is shoe?
Yes / No

16 Months

Does your child walk without help?
Yes / No

Can your child get into standing position without support?
Yes / No

Cubes
Does your child build tower of two cubes?
Yes / No

Feeding
Does your child feed self-picking up cup , drinking, putting it down etc?
Yes / No

18 Months

Does your child walk upstairs one hand held?
Yes / No

Does your child make tower of three cubes?
Yes / No

Does your child take off his shoes by himself?
Yes / No

Does your child feed himself without much spilling?
Yes / No

24 Months

Does your child go up and down stairs alone?
Yes / No

Does your child run?
Yes / No

Does your child make towers of 6 cubes?
Yes / No

Does your child put on shoes, socks, pants, and takes off shoe and socks?
Yes / No

Does your child join two or three word in sentences?
Yes / No

Does your child turn pages of book singly?
Yes / No

Does your child tell you what he wants?
Yes / No

Does your child repeat words others say?
Yes / No

Does your child look at picture in a picture book?
Yes / No

Does your child point to atleast one named body parts?
Yes / No

2½ Years

Does your child jump with both feet?
Yes / No

Does your child know full names?
Yes / No

Does your child know whether he is a boy or girl?
Yes / No

Does your child help to put things away?
Yes / No

Does your child name at least one colour?
Yes / No

Does your child make a tower of eight cubes?
Yes / No

3 Years

Does your child go upstairs one foot per step?
Yes / No

Does your child stand on one foot for few seconds?
Yes / No

Does your child ride tricycle?
Yes / No

Does your child dress and undress fully if helped with buttons?
Yes / No

Does your child copy a circle?
Yes / No

Does your child make a tower of nine cubes?
Yes / No

4 Years

Does your child go downstairs, one foot per step?
Yes / No

Can your child button clothes fully?
Yes / No

Can your child name pictures in books?
Yes / No

Can your child tell you what action is taking place in a picture?
Yes No

Does your child use action words(Verbs)?
Yes / No

Does your child copies cross?
Yes / No

Does your child play imaginative plays with doll?
Yes / No

5 Years

Does your child skip on both feet?
Yes / No

Can your child tie shoelaces?
Yes / No

Can your child copy a triangle?
Yes / No

Can your child name four colours?
Yes / No

Does your child react well when you leave him with a friend or baby sitter?
Yes / No

Can your child name a coin correctly?
Yes / No

Sitemap

2008-09-18T05:39:00.000-07:00

Tips for Healthy Children and Families

2008-09-16T03:33:00.000-07:00

The information was made possible by a grant from PepsiCo and was published as part of the AAFP's Americans In Motion (AIM) initiative.

Eating Better

For Children and Families

* Start the day with a healthy breakfast. It refuels your body and gives you energy for the day.
* Let kids help plan one meal each week and eat together as often as possible.
* Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full.
* Eat more vegetables and fresh fruits. Aim for a total of 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables every day.
* Eat more whole grains (e.g., oats, brown rice, rye, crackers, whole-wheat pasta). Try to eat at least 3 ounces of whole grains every day.
* Drink plenty of fluids. Choose water, low-fat or nonfat milk and low calorie or diet beverages.
* Serve a variety of foods.

For Parents

* Reward children with praise rather than with food.
* Serve food in smaller portions. Do not demand or reward “a clean plate.” Let your child ask for more if he or she is still hungry.
* Read nutrition labels for serving size and calorie information. The information on the labels can help you select foods that best fit into your family’s meals and snacks plans.
* Bake, broil or grill foods to reduce fat. Rather than cooking with butter or vegetable oil, try healthier versions like olive, canola or sunflower oil.
* Snacks should provide nutrients and energy, which are essential for active, growing children.
* Children imitate their parents, so set a good example by eating healthy.
* Keep a variety of snacks in the house, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, whole-grain cereals and crackers. Try lower calorie or lower fat foods, like baked chips, reduced-sugar cereals or low-fat dressings.

Being More Active

For Children and Families

* Move more. Try to get between 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Several 10 to 15 minute sessions of moderate activity each day add up.
* Include regular physical activity into your daily routine. Walk as a family before or after meals.
* Limit TV, computer and video game time to a total of one to two hours per day. Encourage physical activity instead.
* Balance energy calories with activity calories. The energy you get from the foods and beverages should equal the calories you burn in activity every day. Read our handout on daily calorie needs for more information.
* Increase household activities (e.g., walking the dog, dusting, vacuuming, gardening). These activities are good ways to burn calories.
* Include an activity like hiking or bike riding when you go on vacation.
* Make playtime with your family more active by shooting hoops or walking to the park.

For Parents

* Move more. Walking is an easy way to be more active every day.
* Park the car in a spot farther away from the store or your office and walk.
* Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
* Get off the bus one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way.
* Use an exercise machine or lift weights while watching television.
* Walk to do errands.
* Be a role model for your children. Do something active every day.

Healthy Habits for Life

* Write down what you eat: how much, when and why. For example, what do you eat when you're stressed out? Learn more about keeping a food diary here.
* Record your physical activity: how long, how often and how hard do you work out?
* Eat only at the kitchen table. Don't drive, watch television or talk on the phone while you eat. This helps you focus on how much you are eating, which can prevent overeating.
* Put out your exercise clothes the night before as a reminder to walk or work out in the morning.
* Set goals you can achieve. For example, aim for eating more vegetables and fewer high-calorie foods.
* Don't "up size" your favorite drink — 32 oz. of regular soda has up to 400 calories! Choose a diet drink instead.
* Eat only until you're not hungry and push the plate away. Don't stuff yourself.
* Eat only because you're hungry, not because you're bored, tired or stressed. Use alternatives to eating when you're not hungry: take a walk, play a game, read a book or call a friend.
* Do your grocery shopping on a full stomach. This will help you make healthier food choices, rather than grabbing over-processed high-calorie foods, which can be hard to resist when your stomach is empty.

Safe Sleep for Your Baby

2008-09-16T03:07:00.000-07:00

Ten Ways to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

What is SIDS?

SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. This term describes the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age.

Some people call SIDS "crib death" because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs. But, cribs don't cause SIDS.

What should I know about SIDS?

Health care providers don't know exactly what causes SIDS, but they do know:

* Babies sleep safer on their backs. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their backs.

* Sleep surface matters. Babies who sleep on or under soft bedding are more likely to die of SIDS.

* Every sleep time counts. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs, like for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS. So it's important for everyone who cares for your baby to use the back sleep position for naps and at night.

Fast Facts About SIDS

* SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age.

* Most SIDS deaths happen when babies are between 2 months and 4 months of age.

* African American babies are more than 2 times as likely to die of SIDS as white babies.

* American Indian/Alaskan Native babies are nearly 3 times as likely to die of SIDS as white babies.

What can I do to lower my baby's risk of SIDS?

Here are 10 ways that you and others who care for your baby can reduce the risk of SIDS.

Safe Sleep Top 10

1. Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.

2. Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet. Never place your baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces.

3. If you use a blanket, place the baby with feet at the end of the crib. The blanket should reach no higher than the baby's chest. Tuck the ends of the blanket under the crib mattress to ensure safety.Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area. Don't use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, and pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby's sleep area, and keep any other items away from your baby's face.

4. Do not allow smoking around your baby. Don't smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and don't let others smoke around your baby.

5. Keep your baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep. Your baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room as you. If you bring the baby into bed with you to breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside cosleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed) when finished.

6. Always place your baby on his or her Back to Sleep.Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep,
but don't force the baby to take it. (If you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.)

7. Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.

8. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.

9. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk to your health care provider.

10. Your baby needs Tummy Time! Place babies on their stomachs when they are awake and someone is watching. Tummy time helps your baby's head and neck muscles get stronger and helps to prevent flat spots on the head.
Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby's head: provide "Tummy Time" when your baby is awake and someone is watching; change the direction that your baby lies in the crib from one week to the next; and avoid too much time in car seats, carriers, and bouncers.

Babies sleep safest on their backs.

One of the easiest ways to lower your baby's risk of SIDS is to put him or her on the back to sleep, for naps and at night. Health care providers used to think that babies should sleep on their stomachs, but research now shows that babies are less likely to die of SIDS when they sleep on their backs. Placing your baby on his or her back to sleep is the number one way to reduce the risk of SIDS.

But won't my baby choke if he or she sleeps on his or her back?
No. Healthy babies automatically swallow or cough up fluids. There has been no increase in choking or other problems for babies who sleep on their backs.

Spread the word!

Make sure everyone who cares for your baby knows the Safe Sleep Top 10! Tell grandparents, babysitters, childcare providers, and other caregivers to always place your baby on his or her back to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs, even for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS—so every sleep time counts!

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

2008-09-16T02:47:00.000-07:00

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant and there also does not appear to be a safe time to drink during pregnancy either. Therefore, it is recommended that women abstain from drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy. Women who are sexually active and do not use effective birth control should also refrain from drinking because they could become pregnant and not know for several weeks or more.

What are FAS and FASDs?

Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause a range of disorders, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). One of the most severe effects of drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects. If a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, her baby can be born with FAS, a lifelong condition that causes physical and mental disabilities. FAS is characterized by abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system (CNS) problems. People with FAS might have problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, hearing, or a combination of these. These problems often lead to difficulties in school and problems getting along with others. FAS is a permanent condition. It affects every aspect of an individual’s life and the lives of his or her family.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. The term FASDs is not intended for use as a clinical diagnosis.

FASDs include FAS as well as other conditions in which individuals have some, but not all, of the clinical signs of FAS. Three terms often used are fetal alcohol effects (FAE), alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). The term FAE has been used to describe behavioral and cognitive problems in children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol, but who do not have all of the typical diagnostic features of FAS. In 1996, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) replaced FAE with the terms ARND and ARBD. Children with ARND might have functional or mental problems linked to prenatal alcohol exposure. These include behavioral or cognitive abnormalities or a combination of both. Children with ARBD might have problems with the heart, kidneys, bones, and/or hearing.

All FASDs are 100% preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant.

How common are FAS and FASDs?

The reported rates of FAS vary widely. These different rates depend on the population studied and the surveillance methods used. CDC studies show FAS rates ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births in different areas of the United States. Other FASDs are believed to occur approximately three times as often as FAS.

What are the characteristics of children with FAS and other FASDs?

FAS is the severe end of a spectrum of effects that can occur when a woman drinks during pregnancy. Fetal death is the most extreme outcome. FAS is a disorder characterized by abnormal facial features and growth and central nervous system (CNS) problems. If a pregnant woman drinks alcohol but her child does not have all of the symptoms of FAS, it is possible that her child has another FASD, such as alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Children with ARND do not have full FAS but might demonstrate learning and behavioral problems caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Examples of these problems are difficulties with mathematical skills, difficulties with memory or attention, poor school performance, and poor impulse control and/or judgment.

Children with FASDs might have the following characteristics or exhibit the following behaviors:

* Small size for gestational age or small stature in relation to peers
* Facial abnormalities such as small eye openings
* Poor coordination
* Hyperactive behavior
* Learning disabilities
* Developmental disabilities (e.g., speech and language delays)
* Mental retardation or low IQ
* Problems with daily living
* Poor reasoning and judgment skills
* Sleep and sucking disturbances in infancy

Children with FASDs are at risk for psychiatric problems, criminal behavior, unemployment, and incomplete education. These are secondary conditions that an individual is not born with but might acquire as a result of FAS or a related disorder. These conditions can be very serious, but there are protective factors that have been found to help individuals with FASDs. For example, a child who is diagnosed early in life can be placed in appropriate educational classes and given access to social services that can help the child and his or her family. Children with FASDs who receive special education are more likely to achieve their developmental and educational potential. In addition, children with FASDs need a loving, nurturing, and stable home life to avoid disruptions, transient lifestyles, or harmful relationships. Children with FASDs who live in abusive or unstable homes or who become involved in youth violence are much more likely than those who do not have such negative experiences to develop secondary conditions.

If you think your child might have an FASD, contact your doctor who might be able to refer you to a specialist who can assess your child.

How can we prevent FASDs?

FASDs are completely preventable—if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant or could become pregnant. If a woman is drinking during pregnancy, it is never too late for her to stop. The sooner a woman stops drinking, the better it will be for both her baby and herself. If a woman is not able to stop drinking, she should contact her doctor, local Alcoholics Anonymous, or local alcohol treatment center. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility locator. This locator helps people find drug and alcohol treatment programs in their area. If a woman is sexually active and is not using an effective form of birth control, she should not drink alcohol. She could become pregnant and not know it for several weeks or more.

Mothers are not the only ones who can prevent FASDs. The father’s role is also important in helping the mother abstain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy. He can encourage her not drinking alcohol by avoiding social situations that involve drinking and by not drinking alcohol himself. Significant others, family members, schools, health and social service organizations, and communities can also help prevent FASDs through education and intervention.

In February 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy to raise public awareness about this important health concern. To reduce prenatal alcohol exposure, prevention efforts should target not only pregnant women who are currently drinking, but also women who could become pregnant, are drinking at high-risk levels, and are having unprotected sex.

Simple Steps for Kids’ Smiles

2008-09-16T02:32:00.000-07:00

Brush Up on Healthy Teeth

1.Start cleaning teeth early

As soon as the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is 2 years old. Use toothpaste with fluoride earlier if your child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

2.Use the right amount of fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride is important for fighting cavities. But if children younger than 6 years old swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. To keep this from happening, use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea). Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and to rinse well after brushing.

3.Supervise brushing

Brush your child’s teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone. Then continue to closely watch brushing to make sure the child is doing a thorough job and using only a small amount of toothpaste.

4.Talk to your child’s doctor or dentist

Check with the doctor or dentist about your child’s specific fluoride needs. After age 2, most children get the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains fluoride and brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day.

Parents of children older than 6 months should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement if drinking water does not have enough fluoride.
Do not let a child younger than 6 years old use a fluoride mouth rinse unless the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

A Quiz for Parents About Simple Steps for Kids’ Smiles

Learn more about keeping your child’s teeth healthy with this true or false quiz.

1. All children older than 6 months should receive a fluoride supplement every day.
False. Check with your child’s doctor or dentist about your child’s specific fluoride needs. Parents of a child older than 6 months should discuss the need for a fluoride supplement with the doctor or dentist if drinking water does not have enough fluoride to help prevent cavities.

2. Parents should start cleaning their child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.
True. Start cleaning as soon as the first tooth appears. Wipe teeth every day with a clean, damp cloth. Switch to a small, soft toothbrush as more teeth come in.

3. Parents should start brushing their child’s teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride at age 3.
False. Parents should start using toothpaste with fluoride to brush their child’s teeth at age 2. Toothpaste with fluoride may be used earlier if the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

4. Children younger than 6 years should use enough toothpaste with fluoride to cover the toothbrush.
False. Young children should use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is important for fighting cavities, but if children younger than 6 years swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. Using no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride can help keep this from happening.

5. Parents should brush their child’s teeth twice a day until the child can handle the toothbrush alone.
True. Children usually do not have the skill to brush their teeth well until around age 4 or 5. Parents should brush their young child’s teeth thoroughly twice a day until the child can handle the toothbrush alone.

6. Young children should always use fluoride mouth rinses after brushing.
False. Fluoride mouth rinses have a high concentration of fluoride. Children younger than 6 years should not use fluoride mouth rinses unless the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it. Young children tend to swallow rather than spit, and swallowing too much fluoride before age 6 may cause the permanent teeth to have white spots.

Child Whooping Cough

2008-09-04T04:07:00.000-07:00

Whooping Cough

Highly communicable, vaccine-preventable disease that lasts for many weeks and is typically manifested in children with ... more about Whooping Cough.

An infectious condition caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Whooping Cough is available below.

Symptoms of Whooping Cough

o Cold-like symptoms
o Cough
o Mild fever - or no fever at all in early stages
o Running nose

Child Rash

2008-09-04T04:04:00.000-07:00

Rash

Further information about Rash is below, or review more specific information about these types of Rash: itchy rash, eczema, hives, hemorrhagic rash, leg rash, face rash, underarm rash, red spots or other types.

There are many possible causes of a rash and any rash needs prompt investigation by a doctor or a dermatologist. Rashes can be caused by illnesses such as viruses (e.g chicken pox) or systemic conditions (e.g. lupus), by allergies such as hives or eczema, parasites like lice in scabies, by reactions to chemicals, and by numerous other causes. One of the most feared but less common rashes is that caused by meningococcal disease, which is a characteristic hemorrhagic rash, caused by bleeding of capillaries just under the skin (see hemorrhagic rash for more details). Any type of hemorrhagic rash is a medical emergency.

Causes of Rash:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Rash. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

* Blisters - see the causes of a blistering rash
* Scaling - see the causes of a scaly rash
* Scabbing - see the causes of a scabbing blister rash
* Hemorrhagic rash - see the causes of a hemorrhagic rash
* Allergic conditions
o Allergies
o Hives
o Eczema
o Contact dermatitis
o Food allergies
o Egg allergy
o Peanut allergy
o Wheat allergy
o Milk allergy (type of Food allergies)
o Soybean allergy
o Fish allergy (type of Food allergies)
o Poison ivy
o Latex allergy
* Infections
o Impetigo
o Chicken pox
o Measles
o Fungal infections
o Athlete's foot
o Meningococcal disease - causes a characteristic hemorrhagic rash
* Parasitic conditions
o Scabies
o Lice conditions
* Systemic conditions
o Lupus

Child Meningitis

2008-09-04T04:03:00.000-07:00

Meningitis

Meningitis is a serious infection of one of the membranes that surrounds the brain. This section addresses what conditions meningitis can be a symptom ... more about Meningitis.

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes (called meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Encephalitis and Meningitis Information Page: NINDS) ... more about Meningitis.

Dangerous infection of the membranes surrounding the brain. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Meningitis is available below.

Symptoms of Meningitis

o High fever
o Severe headache
o Nausea
o Vomiting

Child Measles

2008-09-04T04:01:00.000-07:00

Measles

Measles, mumps, and rubella were once very common diseases in the United States, but they have become rare because of the use of vaccines to ... more about Measles.

Once common viral infection now rare due to vaccination. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Measles is available below.

Symptoms of Measles

* Cold-like symptoms
* Cough
* Runny nose
* Sneezing
* Conjunctivitis

Child Fever

2008-09-04T03:56:00.000-07:00

Fever

A fever usually means the body has raised its temperature to fight an infection or condition. The most common causes are infectious viruses such as cold or flu. Also possibilities include gastroenteritis, hepatitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, urinary tract infections, measles, roseola, prostratitis, mononucleosis, dental abcess, TB, and drug reactions. The most common causes of fever in children include cold, flu, otitis media, throat infection, UTI, or roseola, but there are numerous other possibilities. Less commonly, fever can be caused by extremely serious conditions such as meningitis, meningococcal disease, and others.

Chronic cases of mild fever can indicate various conditions. Some possibilities are hepatitis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, and reactions to drugs (so-called drug fever). But there are many other possibilities and there is a long list of conditions with fever as a symptom. For comparison, see the list of conditions with cold-like symptoms or flu-like symptoms.

Causes of Fever:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Fever. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

* Numerous conditions can cause fever including infections or afflictions of the entire body or almost any organ or body location
* Infections
o Common cold
o Flu
o Viruses
o Upper respiratory tract infection
o Chest infection
o Ear infection
o Mononucleosis
o Meningitis
o Acute bronchitis
o Tuberculosis
o Urinary tract infection
o Mastitis
o Tonsilitis
o Roseola
o Pneumonia
o Chicken pox
o Measles
o Rubella
o Mumps
o Scarlet fever
o Acute appendicitis
o Typhus
o Tropical disease - especially if recent travel to a tropical country.
o Viral infection
o Malaria
o Typhoid
o Chronic infections - some can cause recurring fevers.
o Acute kidney infection - see kidney infection

Child Common Cold

2008-09-04T03:55:00.001-07:00

Common cold

Almost everyone is familiar with the feeling you get when you start a common cold, such as a sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, or tearing. Colds are very common but are more common in children and decline with age. They are rarely dangerous to healthy adults or children, but may occasionally be dangerous to infants, the elderly or other at-risk groups.

Correct diagnosis of a cold usually means distinguishing between cold and the more serious flu, which is not always easy, but is important because of newer antiviral medications for the flu. There are also other conditions that start like a cold (e.g. rare but serious whooping cough) and numerous conditions that have cold-like symptoms or flu-like symptoms. Although there are numerous different subtypes of colds, diagnosis of the specific subtype of cold is rarely performed and not usually important for treatment.

Symptoms of Common cold

* Runny nose
* Sneezing
* Tearing
* Blocked nose
* Sore throat

Child Chickenpox

2008-09-04T03:52:00.000-07:00

Chickenpox

Common viral infection.

Symptoms of Chickenpox

* Early symptoms - often preceding the rash symptoms
o Aching
o Tiredness
o Headache
o Fever

Child Autism

2008-09-04T03:46:00.002-07:00

Autism

Autism is not a disease, but a developmental disorder of brain function. People with classical autism show three types of symptoms: ... more about Autism.

Childhood mental condition with social and communication difficulties.

Symptoms of Autism

* Impaired social interaction
o Not responding to name
o Not look at people
o Not smiling - note that normal newborns do not smile for several weeks
o Avoid eye contact

Child Asthma

2008-09-04T03:46:00.001-07:00

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition with ongoing airway inflammation that results in recurring acute episodes (attacks) of breathing problems such as coughing, wheezing, ... more about Asthma.

Asthma: Repeated attacks of breathing difficulty.

Symptoms of Asthma

* Symptoms of an asthma attack:
o Coughing
o Wheezing
o Shortness of breath
o Chest tightness

Child Allergies

2008-09-04T03:43:00.000-07:00

Allergies

An allergy is an over-reaction by the immune system to a particular substance. Although the term is often used to refer to dust allergies or airborne allergies (pollen allergies/hay fever), any possible substance can cause allergic reactions in different people. Thus there are also animal allergies, dust allergies, food allergies (e.g. peanut allergies, shellfish allergies), drug allergies (e.g. penicillin allergy), insect sting allergies, mold allergies, and many others. Allergies causing skin conditions may result in eczema or dermatitis. The effect of an allergy ranges from mild to very severe, and prompt profesional medical advice is required. Many types of allergy are difficult to diagnose and thus may be both over-diagnosed and under-diagnosed at different times.

Symptoms of Allergies

* General symptoms possible from allergies:
o Allergic dermatitis
o Itchy rash
o Eczema
o Hay fever

Child Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

2008-09-04T03:37:00.000-07:00

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also previously called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), is a behavior disorder that can manifest as hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, inattention, or a combination. There is a well-known controversy about the frequency of the use of the drug Ritalin for treatment of behavior disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and hyperactivity. There is a strong tendency for doctors to diagnose a child as having ADHD, when in fact there may be other behavioral problems, or even nothing wrong with the child beyond merely normal childhood or teenage behavior. Because it is a behavioral disorder, ADHD is inherently difficult to diagnose. Part of the problem is that parents and teachers have been pressing for the particular drug, even before any attempt at medical diagnosis is made.

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

* Inattention
o Poor attention span
o Easily distracted
o Failure to listen to instructions
o Getting bored too easily

Child Abdominal Pain

2008-09-04T03:23:00.000-07:00

Abdominal pain

Further information about Abdominal pain is below, or review more specific information about these types of Abdominal pain: stomach cramps, stomach ache, abdominal discomfort, heartburn, upper abdominal pain, kidney pain, liver pain, biliary colic or other types.

Abdominal pain causes can range from extremely severe life-threatening conditions (e.g. acute appendicitis, abdominal aneurysm), to various less serious conditions (e.g., heartburn, reflux, gastroenteritis, etc.) Any symptom of abdominal pain needs prompt professional medical advice. Sudden and/or very severe abdominal pain should be treated as a medical emergency.

It is often helpful to categorize abdominal pain into more specific types such as lower abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, left abdominal pain, right abdominal pain, epigastric pain (pain behind the breastbone, such as in heartburn, reflux, or GERD), side pain, and other types of abdominal pain.

Abdominal pain is a very common symptom, and also common in children. Unfortunately, because there are so many possible causes of abdominal pain, and many cases are not serious, many cases of acute appendicitis are misdiagnosed each year as gastroenteritis or some other similar condition, especially in children and infants. Although appendicitis is an uncommon condition, it can be fatal. And there are many other serious conditions that may cause abdominal pain.

Causes of Abdominal pain:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Abdominal pain. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

* Gas
* Gallbladder disease
* Colon cancer
* Diverticulitis
* Diverticulosis
* Appendicitis
* Gastroenteritis

How to Floss

2008-02-15T01:30:00.000-08:00

Use about 18 inches of floss wound around one of your middle fingers,
with the rest wound around the opposite middle finger.

Hold the floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers and gently insert it between
the teeth.

Curve the floss into a “C” shape against the side of the tooth.

Rub the floss gently up and down, keeping it pressed against the tooth.
Don’t jerk or snap the floss.

Floss all your teeth. Don’t forget to floss behind your back teeth.

How to Brush

2008-02-15T00:44:00.000-08:00

Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.

Move the brush back and forth gently in short strokes.

Brush the outer surfaces, the inside surfaces and the chewing surfaces
of all teeth.

To clean the inside surface of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make
several up-and-down strokes.

Heart Transplants in Infants and Children

2008-02-13T23:28:00.000-08:00

When do infants and children need heart transplants?

The two major categories for potential recipients are

* patients with complex forms of congenital heart defects. These are defects existing since birth.

* patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The heart cavity is enlarged and stretched, so the heart is weak and doesn't pump normally.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is the most common complex congenital heart defect for which a heart transplant is a potentially useful treatment. In this condition the heart's lower left pumping chamber (the left ventricle) and the large artery that carries blood to the body (the ascending aorta) are too small to support normal blood flow.

Overweight in Children

2008-02-13T23:24:00.000-08:00

AHA Recommendation

Overweight children are more likely to be overweight adults. Successfully preventing or treating overweight in childhood may reduce the risk of adult overweight. This may help reduce the risk of heart disease and other diseases.

When defining overweight in children and adolescents, it's important to consider both weight and body composition.

Among American children ages 6–11, the following are overweight, using the 95th percentile or higher of body mass index (BMI) values on the CDC 2000 growth chart:

* For non-Hispanic whites, 16.9 percent of boys and 15.6 percent of girls.
* For non-Hispanic blacks, 17.2 percent of boys and 24.8 percent of girls.
* For Mexican Americans, 25.6 percent of boys and 16.6 percent of girls.

Among adolescents ages 12–19, the following are overweight, using the 95th percentile or higher of BMI values on the CDC 2000 growth chart:

* For non-Hispanic whites, 17.9 percent of boys and 14.6 percent of girls.
* For non-Hispanic blacks, 17.7 percent of boys and 23.8 percent of girls.
* For Mexican Americans, 20.0 percent of boys and 17.1 percent of girls.

The prevalence of overweight in children ages 6–11 increased from 4.0 percent in 1971–74 to 17.5 percent in 1999–2004 The prevalence of overweight in adolescents ages 12–19 increased from 6.1 percent to 17.0 percent. (NHANES, NCHS)

How do you prevent and treat overweight in children?

Reaching and maintaining an appropriate body weight is important. That's why recommendations that focus on small but permanent changes in eating may work better than a series of short-term changes that can't be sustained.

* Reducing caloric intake is the easiest change. Highly restrictive diets that forbid favorite foods are likely to fail. They should be limited to rare patients with severe complications who must lose weight quickly.
* Becoming more active is widely recommended. Increased physical activity is common in all studies of successful weight reduction. Create an environment that fosters physical activity.

* Parents' involvement in modifying overweight children's behavior is important. Parents who model healthy eating and physical activity can positively influence their children's health.

In treating most overweight children, the main emphasis should be to prevent weight gain above what's appropriate for expected increases in height. This is called prevention of increased weight gain velocity. For many children this may mean limited or no weight gain while they grow taller. Recommendations for maintaining weight should include regular physical activity and careful attention to diet to avoid too many calories. Factors predicting success are:

* including parents in the dietary treatment program

* strong social support of dietary intervention from others involved in preparing food

* regular physical activity prescription including social support

The importance of continuing these lifestyle changes well past the initial treatment period should be emphasized to the entire family. The healthiest way to change weight is gradually.

How is body fat measured?

The body mass index (BMI) formula assesses weight relative to height. It provides a useful screening tool to indirectly measure the amount of body fat. Weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2), or, multiply weight in pounds by 703, divide by height in inches, then divide again by height in inches. In children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines BMI-for-age at or above the 95th percentile as being overweight. It is important to assess the trend of the child’s BMI as this is an indirect measure of body fat.

The CDC recommendations for screening and assessing for obesity and overweight in children and adolescents mention the use of the triceps skinfold test for further evaluation when the BMI-for-age is assessed above the 95th percentile. Importantly, while triceps skinfold thickness can be unreliable, evidence suggests that children and adolescents assessed to have a skinfold measure greater than the 95th percentile are more likely to have excess body fat as opposed to increased lean body mass or large frame size.

High Blood Pressure in Children

2008-02-13T23:22:00.000-08:00

AHA Recommendation

Children, even very young babies, can have high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends that all children age 3 and older have yearly blood pressure measurements. Early detection of high blood pressure will improve health care of children. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke in adulthood.

High blood pressure in children can be caused by other diseases — usually heart or kidney disease. This is called secondary hypertension. If the other disease is successfully treated, blood pressure usually returns to normal. Some medicines can cause high blood pressure, but when they're discontinued, blood pressure usually returns to normal.

A small number of children have higher blood pressures than others, but researchers don't know why. These children are said to have primary or essential hypertension.

Children who are overweight usually have higher blood pressure than those who aren't overweight.

Some children inherit the tendency from one or both parents who have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is more frequent and more severe in families of African Americans than among Caucasians. Researchers don't fully understand the reasons.

A prescribed special diet and regular physical activity may lower high blood pressure in overweight children. The doctor may also prescribe medication.

What are the classifications of high blood pressure in children?

In childhood, blood pressure normally rises with age.

A child's sex, age and height are used to determine age-, sex- and height-specific systolic and diastolic blood pressure percentiles. This approach provides information that lets researchers consider different levels of growth in evaluating blood pressure. It also demonstrates the blood pressure standards that are based on sex, age and height and allows a more precise classification of blood pressure according to body size. More importantly, the approach avoids misclassifying children at the extremes of normal growth.

Fiber and Children's Diets

2008-02-13T23:12:00.000-08:00

AHA Recommendation

Children older than 2 years should gradually adopt American Heart Association dietary recommendations. That means saturated fat intake should be less than 7 percent of total calories, trans fat intake should be less than 1 percent of total calories, and dietary cholesterol should be limited to no more than 300 mg daily. Children should also get the majority of calories from complex carbohydrates high in fiber.

Both children and adults should consume 14g of fiber per 1,000 calories consumed*. Read the nutrition facts panel on the food label to determine how much fiber is in the food you are choosing. The table below provides an estimation of the amount of fiber children should eat each day.

Gender/Age	Fiber (grams)
1–3 years	19
4–8 years	25
9–13 years
Female	26
Male	31
14–18 years
Female	29
Male	38

Cigarette Smoking and Children

2008-02-13T23:07:00.000-08:00

AHA Scientific Position

Cigarette smoking by children and teenagers is a major public health problem.

If not controlled, later in life it will become a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack. Among young men and women — who are otherwise at very low risk of developing coronary heart disease —cigarette smoking may cause as many as 75 percent of the cases of coronary heart disease. The longer a person smokes, the higher the risk of coronary heart disease. More than 80,000 people die each year from coronary heart diseases caused by smoking.

Most adult smokers started when they were preteens or teenagers; smoking habits in youth seem to determine lifetime cigarette consumption. There's also evidence that those who begin smoking before they're 20 have the highest incidence and earliest onset of coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. Autopsy studies of smokers have raised questions about the effects of smoking in childhood and adolescence on the development of fatty buildups in arteries in adulthood.

What about passive or secondhand smoking?

About 59 percent of American children ages 4–11 are exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Studies have shown that children (especially infants) of parents who smoke have more lung illnesses, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and can develop asthma. And because smoking parents are more likely to cough and spread germs, their children are more likely to develop chest illnesses. Exposure to tobacco smoke also increases the risk of heart disease.

Exercise Physical Activity and Children

2008-02-13T23:03:00.000-08:00

AHA Scientific Position

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease. It also increases the risk of stroke and such other major cardiovascular risk factors as obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol and diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.

Why is exercise or physical activity important for my child?

Increased physical activity has been associated with an increased life expectancy and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Physical activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits. Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults. And physical activity helps with

* controlling weight

* reducing blood pressure

* raising HDL ("good") cholesterol

* reducing the risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancer

* improved psychological well-being, including gaining more self-confidence and higher self-esteem

How do I promote physical activity in my child?

* Physical activity should be increased by reducing sedentary time (e.g., watching television, playing computer video games or talking on the phone).

* Physical activity should be fun for children and adolescents.

* Parents should try to be role models for active lifestyles and provide children with opportunities for increased physical activity.

What if my child is uncoordinated or overweight?

All children, even less-coordinated ones, need to be physically active. Activity may be particularly helpful for the physical and psychological well-being of children with a weight problem.

The American Heart Association recommends:

* All children age 2 and older should participate in at least 30 minutes of enjoyable, moderate-intensity physical activities every day that are developmentally appropriate and varied.

* If your child or children don't have a full 30-minute activity break each day, try to provide at least two 15-minute periods or three 10-minute periods in which they can engage in vigorous activities appropriate to their age, gender and stage of physical and emotional development.

Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis in Children

2008-02-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

AHA Scientific Position

There is compelling evidence that the atherosclerosis (ath"er-o-skleh-RO'sis) (fatty deposits of plaque in artery walls) or its precursors begins in childhood and progresses slowly into adulthood. Then it often leads to coronary heart disease, the single largest cause of death in the United States. Furthermore, there is evidence that

* Elevated cholesterol levels early in life may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis in adults.
* Eating patterns and genetics affect blood cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease risk.
* Lowering levels in children and adolescents may be beneficial.

Many laboratory, clinical, pathological and epidemiological studies have clearly established that high blood cholesterol levels play a role in developing coronary heart disease in adults. Several studies also have shown that fatty buildups in arteries begin in childhood and are more likely with higher blood cholesterol levels.

To reduce fatty buildups in arteries in children (and adults):

* Cigarette smoking should be discouraged.
* Regular aerobic exercise that lasts at least 30–60 minutes on most days of the week should be encouraged.
* High blood pressure should be identified and treated.
* Obesity should be avoided or reduced.
* Diabetes mellitus (di"ah-BE'teez or di"ah-BE'tis meh-LI'tis) should be diagnosed and treated.

Children age 2 years and older should be encouraged to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily as well as a wide variety of other foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Doing this will help them maintain normal blood cholesterol levels and promote cardiovascular health.

Cholesterol levels in children and adolescents 2–19 years old

Category	Total Cholesterol (mg/dL)	LDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)
Acceptable	less than 170	less than 110
Borderline	170–199	110–129
High	200 or greater	130 or greater

HDL levels should be greater than or equal to 35 mg/dL and triglycerides should be less than or equal to 150 mg/dL

The American Heart Association endorses these guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol in Children and Adolescents.

NIH Parents' Guide: National Cholesterol Education Program; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; National Institute of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH Publications, No. 93-3102, September 1993

Statistics of Cardiac Disease in Children

2008-02-13T21:43:00.000-08:00

American Heart Association Statistics of Cardiac Disease in Children

Thousands of infants born each year have congenital cardiovascular defects. Of those who have these defects,

* 4–10 percent have atrioventricular septal defect.
* 8–11 percent have coarctation of the aorta.
* 9–14 percent have tetralogy of Fallot.
* 10–11 percent have transposition of the great arteries.
* 14–16 percent have ventricular septal defects.
* 4–8 percent have hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Other children will develop acquired heart disease. This includes...

* Arrhythmias. The projected incidence estimate for supraventricular tachycardia alone is 1–4 per 1,000.
* Cardiomyopathies.
* Kawasaki disease.
* Rheumatic fever.
* Familial hypercholesterolemia will affect the future of an unknown but probably large number of children.
* Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) with its myocarditis.

FBI Safety Tips For Kids

2008-02-12T23:27:00.000-08:00

There are some very important things that you need to keep in mind when you're on your computer at home or at school.

> First, remember never to give out personal information such as your name, home address, school name, or telephone number in a chat room or on bulletin boards. Also, never send a picture of yourself to someone you chat with on the computer without your parent's permission.

> Never write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.

> Do not meet someone or have them visit you without the permission of your parents.

> Tell your parents right away if you read anything on the Internet that makes you feel uncomfortable.

> Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Someone who says that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could really be an older man.

Have you ever found yourself separated from your mom or dad?

It's scary, isn't it? Then you know how your parents feel when they can't find you! You might not think that it's a big deal to wander off while you're in the store with your mom or dad, but think how scared they will be when they can't find you. Most of the time, you wander back and everything is okay. There are some times when kids are abducted. This means that they are taken against their will. Abduction involves people doing bad things to you or asking you to do things to them that make you feel uncomfortable.

Here's the hard part: Could you spot an abductor on the street? Could you tell which person in a crowd is a kidnapper? Unfortunately, kidnappers don't always look or act differently. They may try to give you candy or presents and offer to be your friend. Just remember that they could harm you.

The good news is that most kids or young adults who are abducted are returned home safely. If one of your friends was ever taken, know that they have a team of the toughest, most intelligent and resourceful law enforcement personnel trying to find them: the police. The FBI helps the local and state police investigate the kidnapping.

Remember that child abduction is very rare. However, it is important to use your good sense in all situations.

Here are some good rules to follow to protect yourself.

1. Share a secret code word.

You and your parents should agree on a code word that is easy for you to remember. This way, if anyone tells you that you need to come with them because your parents were hurt or are in the hospital, you can ask them for the code word. If they really are a friend, they will know the code word that you and your parents share. If they do not know the code word, you should run away from them as fast as possible.

2. Stay away from strangers.

Who is a stranger? If you've seen someone hanging around your playground at school or in your neighborhood, this does not mean that you know him or her. Although he has a familiar face, he is still a stranger to you!

3. Grownups should NOT ask kids to do things that other adults can
do for them.

This means that you should not go, or get in a car, with an adult who, for example, asks you for directions. Grownups should not ask you to help them find a lost puppy or kitten, either. If someone does ask for your help, say, "Wait here and I'll check with my mom." Then go get your mom.

4. If you lose your parents in a public place like a store or a park
do not go looking for them.

Immediately ask someone who works there to help you find them. Tell them you have been separated from your parents and you need help finding them.

5. Always ask your parents or a grownup in charge before:

* going anywhere with anybody;
* leaving the yard, play area, or going into someone's home;
* getting a ride home with someone other than your bus driver or your usual ride; and/or
* getting into a car or going somewhere with somebody even if it's someone you know!!

6. Once you have permission from your parents:

* Tell them where you are going
* Tell them how you will get there
* Tell them who will be going with you
* Tell them when you will be back
* And get back on time or call to let them know when you will be back!

7. If someone follows you on foot or in a car, STAY AWAY.

You do NOT need to go near the car to talk to the people inside.

What should you do when you see a gun?

DO NOT PICK UP THE GUN.
DO NOT EVEN TOUCH THE GUN.

Remember, you must have special training to know that the gun is safe and empty.

If something like this happens to you -- tell an adult right away. Tell your mom, dad, teacher, or neighbor. Guns should be locked up after they have been used.

GUNS ARE DANGEROUS. THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO BE TOUCHED BY SOMEONE WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING.

2007's 10 Best Childrens Hospitals

2008-02-12T01:19:00.000-08:00

1. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

Current Research Studies: 1,536

Cutting-Edge Treatments: Developed a newly approved vaccine for rotavirus, a virus that causes high fever, severe vomiting, diarrhea, and hospitalizations in up to 70,000 American kids under age 5 annually; pioneered new therapies to treat neuroblastoma, the most common cancerous solid tumor occurring during early childhood; and opened the world's first center to collect and analyze DNA profiles on as many as 100,000 children to understand the genetic causes of childhood diseases.

Compassionate Care: Provides weekly movie nights with popcorn; a Sony PlayStation in 125 new rooms; an in-hospital TV station featuring shows like CHOP Idol (patients compete and vote in a singing competition � la American Idol); and more than 30 family support groups.

Community Focus: Offers a complete child-abuse and maltreatment center, establishing one of the nation's first fellowship programs for the specialty; makes housecalls to pinpoint possible allergens for certain children with severe asthma; and checked more than 1,000 car seats in 2005 and trained 30 technicians how to do so.

2. Children's Hospital Boston

Current Research Studies: 751

Cutting-Edge Treatments: Reconstructed defective bladders of kids using their own cells, marking the first time tissue engineering has rebuilt a complex internal organ in humans; successfully operated on 22-week-old fetuses diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (a condition in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped and can hold very little blood), paving the way for surgeries after birth to go more smoothly; and detected abnormalities in the brain stems of babies who'd died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which may lead to a test to determine infants at risk for the disease.

Compassionate Care: Provides a "Puppy Pre-Op" clinic, where kids are prepared for a procedure by watching a stuffed animal go through it; a supervised outdoor playground; Big Apple Circus clowns; one of the nation's oldest pediatric palliative (end-of-life) care programs; and free meals for breastfeeding mothers.

Community Focus: Runs one of the U.S.'s most comprehensive pediatric obesity clinics; distributes free bike helmets in schools; and successfully advocated for the creation of a statewide pediatric mental health commission.

3. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Current Research Studies: 668

Cutting-Edge Treatments: Established the Center for Pediatric Outcomes and Quality to study practices that may reduce medical errors and determine which treatments for specific conditions are most effective in children; designed a cushion-like device to simulate crawling and build upper-body strength in infants with spina bifida and other conditions that impede motor skills; and is refining a gene therapy that may in the next decade cure hemophilia A, a disorder that can cause internal bleeding with the slightest bump.

Compassionate Care: Provides a floor-wide party for a patient's birthday; pet-assisted therapy; a Mardi Gras costume party complete with fun floats (decorated red wagons); and massages for parents.

Community Focus: Gives training to school nurses; developed a physical-exam form to better identify high school athletes at risk for sudden death on the field from undiagnosed heart problems; joined with the state to boost immunization rates in Atlanta; and successfully lobbied for a state law to ban smoking.

4. Texas Children's Hospital, Houston

Current Research Studies: 795

Cutting-Edge Treatments: Identified the entire series of genes responsible for an increasingly common strain of staph infections that are resistant to often-prescribed antibiotics, paving the way for the development of more targeted treatments; was selected as the only U.S. training center for the Berlin Heart, a mechanical device that may be implanted in children who are waiting for a heart transplant; and developed a technique to reduce the time it takes to perform one type of scoliosis surgery by more than an hour, thereby reducing complications.

Compassionate Care: Provides DVD players and video game systems in every patient room; a playground with a wheelchair-accessible swing; classes to prepare kids who have a sibling in the NICU; and teen and preteen playrooms.

Community Focus: Set up a pediatric clinic in the Astrodome, which in 12 days treated more than 3,000 children who were victims of Hurricane Katrina; established three "medical homes" in low-income sections of Houston where children can receive free checkups and immunizations and be registered for nominal- or no-cost health insurance; and trained 40 technicians to check car seats. They performed more than 2,700 inspections in 2005.

5. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Current Research Studies: 1,076

Cutting-Edge Treatments: Analyzes genetic codes to determine which seizure medication is best suited to an individual child; reduced the rate of hospital-acquired infections in babies on a ventilator more than sixfold from 2004 to the first seven months of 2006; and identified a protein that could be used to predict whether patients receiving kidney transplants need dialysis within the first week of surgery.

Compassionate Care: Provides knitting, scrapbooking, and ice cream socials for families and a clinical concierge nurse to coordinate outpatient appointments to multiple departments.

Community Focus: Has established a comprehensive weight-management program for kids as young as age 5; improved the percentage of children with chronic illness who receive a flu shot from 17% in the 19992000 season to more than 60% four years later; and runs the Psychiatric Intake Response Center to quickly link at-risk children to mental health services.

6. Columbus Children's Hospital, OH

Current Research Studies: 655

Cutting-Edge Treatments: Was the first U.S. hospital to use gene therapy to treat a child with a form of muscular dystrophy; is working on a vaccine to prevent ear infections; and is home to the Center for Injury Research and Policy, a program that identifies causes of injury-related deaths and disabilities in kids and offers practical suggestions for preventing children from getting hurt.

Compassionate Care: Provides sleeping accommodations for parents in 93% of patients' rooms; a supervised sibling clubhouse for brothers and sisters of patients; an expanded family resource center with laundry, fitness, and kitchen facilities; and plush dolls for children having an interventional procedure in the ER.

Community Focus: Offers a child-abuse prevention and treatment program; successfully lobbied for state legislation that allows moms to breastfeed in public; and offers free smoking-cessation classes for teens.

7. St. Louis Children's Hospital

Current Research Studies: 405
Cutting-Edge Treatments: Is home to the world's largest pediatric lung-transplant program; helped discover that a deficiency of copper may cause birth defects, opening the door for women planning to conceive to be screened before pregnancy; and is one of a handful of pediatric centers in the nation with a program to surgically repair the eyesight of kids with special needs, such as children with cerebral palsy.

Compassionate Care: Has a rooftop garden with more than 7,000 plants and flowers, waterfalls, and two ponds filled with goldfish; music, art, and horticultural therapists; a newly designed NICU featuring private rooms with bedside sleeping accommodations for parents; game shows for patients to play via the hospital's closed-circuit TV station; and free meals for mothers who are breastfeeding.

Community Focus: Constructed 32 new playgrounds throughout the city; advocated for the recently passed state legislation requiring the use of booster seats from the time children outgrow their toddler car seat to age 8; and piloted an innovative program in three of the city's public schools that reduces absences due to asthma by as much as 30%.

8. Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland

Current Research Studies: 169

Cutting-Edge Treatments: Develops techniques and designs equipment for minimally invasive neurosurgery for brain tumors, reducing recovery time and increasing safety; was awarded the highest designation in the care of epilepsy from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers; and co-founded the world's only school focusing on providing safer alternatives to pediatric blood transfusions.

Compassionate Care: Provides a session with a psychologist and social worker for every cancer patient; a mental health care program for parents with babies in the NICU; and an outdoor playground with giant flower canopies for shade.

Community Focus: Launched the Children Who Witness Violence program to break the cycle of domestic violence often learned in the home; promotes the safe storage of firearms in homes and distributes free trigger locks; and trained 24 technicians to check car seats and gave a refresher course to another 71 in 2005.

9. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Current Research Studies: 753

Cutting-Edge Treatments: Administers a long-acting injection of insulin so some children newly diagnosed with diabetes can be treated in the hospital's outpatient clinic rather than be admitted; has received national acclaim for rabies treatment and research; and at press time, planned to open a state-of-the-art research facility in January to study important pediatric conditions including middle-ear infections, kidney disease, and hemophilia.

Compassionate Care: Provides a visiting artists program, which includes creative projects that patients receive help making; a sibling day every year for brothers and sisters of cancer and transplant patients; an on-site dry-cleaning service for families; and custom-designed freezers in the NICU to allow the storage of breast milk for a long period of time.

Community Focus: Teaches an injury-prevention class for preschools and kindergartens; offers a weight-management program for local children; and distributed 1,000 free bike helmets at area events in 2005.

10. The Children's Hospital in Denver

Current Research Studies: 643

Compassionate Care: Provides yoga therapy for cancer patients; teen karaoke nights; a patient art gallery; an outdoor playground with a padded floor; and camps for siblings of patients.

Community Focus: Offers a nationally renowned weight-management program for kids; lends specially designed car seats to families whose kids have a cast; and sponsors clinics to distribute free flu vaccines.

Tips to Help Overweight Kids

2008-02-12T00:58:00.000-08:00

The 10 Tips to Help Overweight Kids

Obesity is a problem not only in the old age, but among kids too. It affects the kid mentally and also predisposes the child to many other diseases. The following tips help to reduce weight of obese children.

1. Get kids moving. To lose weight, kids must burn more calories than they take in. No one physical activity is better than another for calorie expenditure. So let kids find the type of activity they enjoy.

2. Start babies off slim and fit by restricting their diet during the first year to breast milk. There is really no solid scientific evidence that babies need anything other than formula or breast milk during the first five months. When carbohydrates (cereal) are introduced too early, they are not digested efficiently because the protein in milk and carbohydrates are digested in completely different ways leading to maldigestion. Excessive maldigested foods lead to excess weight.

3. Feed kids alternatives to commercially produced cow's milk. At five times the protein content of breast milk, cow's milk and the bovine growth hormone it contains make kids bigger and fatter. Instead use soya-milk fortified with calcium or Rice Dream, a milk created from rice.

4. Get high-risk foods out of the house. Don't buy snack foods high in calories; they're fattening for the entire family.

5. Establish family meal schedules. Get kids accustomed to eating at specified times with small snacks in between, rather than all day long.

6. Buy organic health foods. The additives in our foods are chemicals, not nutrients, and are therefore neither utilized nor eliminated by the body. The preservatives, steroids and growth hormones in our foods, particularly in meat, chicken, milk and other dairy products, become stored in our bodies, adding to our weight.

7. Encourage your child to take part in extra curricular activities, not necessarily sports only, but music or arts or anything the child is interested in. This will change the focus of the child on it being obese and provide mental relaxation.

8. Teach children conscious food combining. Fruit should be eaten alone on an empty stomach for quick absorption. If introduced into the digestive system when other foods are present, it will just sit there. Mixing carbohydrates and proteins should be minimized. Once animal protein is eaten, it should be followed primarily by protein.

9. Never nag children about eating and being fat. Criticism only raises stress and anxiety levels, making the problem worse.

10. Don't over control what your child eats. Don't make the entire family focus on controlling the overweight child's food intake. Instead, put the emphasis on being healthy and involve the children in attaining that goal.

Good Snacks for Child

2008-02-12T00:48:00.000-08:00

What snacks are good for my child?

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low- or nonfat dair also make great snacks for children. Here are some ideas for ways to serve these foods to your kids:

Fruits:

* Bits of fruit stirred into nonfat yogurt
* Strawberries
* Raisins
* Grapes
* Pineapple chunks
* Orange or grapefruit sections
* Bananas cooked lightly in apple juice
* Apple slices with all natural peanut butter
* Dried fruit mixes

Vegetables:

* Carrot sticks
* Celery sticks with all natural peanut butter
* Raw broccoli and cauliflower florets with a low-fat dip or salsa

Protein:

* 1% fat or fat-free cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
* Water-packed tuna mixed with fat-free mayonnaise on top of celery sticks or whole-grain crackers
* Fat-free yogurt topped with sunflower seeds, chopped dried fruit or a spoonful of oat bran

Whole grains:

* Cereals or cereal bars that are low in sugar and fat, and high in fiber and protein
* Whole-grain crackers, breads or bagels

Sweets and desserts:

* Fat-free frozen yogurt
* Juice bars
* Sherbet and sorbet

How to Talk to Your Kids

2008-02-12T00:41:00.000-08:00

10 Tips for talking with kids about tough issues

Introduction

Raising a child is probably the most gratifying job any of us will ever have -- and one of the toughest. In large part, that's because times have changed. We live in an increasingly complex world that challenges us everyday with a wide range of disturbing issues that are difficult for children to understand and for adults to explain.

We believe this booklet can help. It offers practical, concrete tips and techniques for talking easily and openly with young children ages 8 to 12 about some very tough
issues: sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, drugs and alcohol.

Some parents and caregivers may question the appropriateness of talking about such sensitive topics with young children. Maybe you're one of them. But consider this: our kids are already hearing about these issues from TV, movies, magazines and school friends. If we don't talk with them early and often -- and answer their questions -- they'll get their facts from someone else. And we'll have missed an important opportunity to offer our children information that's not only accurate, but also in sync with our own personal values and moral principles.

Make sense? We think so. So let's get started.

1. Start Early

Kids are hearing about and forced to cope with tough issues at increasingly early ages, often before they are ready to understand all aspects of these complicated ideas. Additionally, medical research and public health data tells us that when young children want information, advice and guidance, they turn to their parents first. Once they reach the teenage years, they tend to depend more on friends, the media and other outsiders for their information. As a parent, you have a wonderful opportunity to talk with your child about these issues first, before anyone else can confuse your child with incorrect information or explanations that lack the sense of values you want to instill. We need to take advantage of this "window of opportunity" with young children and talk with them earlier and more often, particularly about tough issues like sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, alcohol and drugs.

2. Initiate Conversations With Your Child

While we want our children to feel comfortable enough to come to us with any questions and concerns -- and thus give us the opportunity to begin conversations -- this doesn't always occur. That's why it's perfectly okay -- at times even necessary -- to begin the discussions ourselves. TV and other media are great tools for this. Say, for instance, that you and your 12-year-old are watching TV together and the program's plot includes a teenage pregnancy. After the show is over, ask your child what she thought of the program. Did she agree with how the teenagers behaved? Just one or two questions could help start a valuable discussion that comes from everyday circumstances and events.

Also, when speaking with your child, be sure to use words she can understand. Trying to explain AIDS to a 6-year-old with words like "transmission" and "transfusion" may not be as helpful as using simpler language. The best technique: use simple, short words and straightforward explanations.

If you have more than one child -- and your kids are widely spaced -- try to speak with them separately, even about the same subject. The reason? Children of varied ages are usually at different developmental levels, which means that they need different information, have different sensitivities and require a different vocabulary. What's more, older children will often dominate the discussion, which may prevent the younger ones from speaking up.

3. ...Even about Sex and Relationships

If you feel uncomfortable talking about such sensitive subjects -- particularly sex and relationships -- with your young child, you're not alone. Many parents feel awkward and uneasy, especially if they are anxious about the subject. But, for your kid's sake, try to overcome your nervousness and bring up the issue with your child. After all, our children are hearing about it both through the media and on the playground, and that information may not include the values that we want our kids to have.

4. Create an Open Environment

Young children want their parents to discuss difficult subjects with them. However, our kids will look to us for answers only if they feel we will be open to their questions. It's up to us to create the kind of atmosphere in which our children can ask any questions -- on any subject -- freely and without fear of consequence.

How do you create such an atmosphere? By being encouraging, supportive and positive. For example, if your child asks, "How many people have AIDS?" try not to answer with, "I don't know. Please just finish your lunch." No matter how busy you are respond with something like, "That's an interesting question, but I'm not sure. Let's go look it up." (FYI: Don't worry that if your children learn that you don't know everything, they won't look up to you. That's simply not true. Kids accept, "I don't know," and "let's go find out," and they are better responses than any inaccurate or misleading answers you may be tempted to offer.)

One more point: You don't need to answer all of your children's questions immediately. If your 10-year-old asks, "Mom, what's a condom?" while you're negotiating a tricky turn in rush-hour traffic, it's perfectly okay for you to say something like, "That's an important question. But with all this traffic, I can't explain right now. Let's talk later, after dinner." And make sure you do.

5. Communicate your values

As a parent, you have a wonderful opportunity to be the first person to talk with your child about tough issues like drugs and violence before anyone else can confuse him with "just-the-facts" explanations that lack the sense of values and moral principles you want to instill. Likewise, when talking with your child about sex, remember to talk about more than "the birds and the bees," and communicate your values. Remember: research shows that children want and need moral guidance from their moms and dads, so don't hesitate to make your beliefs clear.

6. Listen to Your Child

How many times do we listen to our children while folding clothes, preparing for the next day's meeting, or pushing a shopping cart through the supermarket? While that's understandable, it's important to find time to give kids our undivided attention. Listening carefully to our children builds self-esteem by letting our youngsters know that they're important to us and can lead to valuable discussions about a wide variety of sensitive issues.

Listening carefully also helps us better understand what our children really want to know as well as what they already understand. And it keeps us from talking above our youngsters' heads and confusing them even further. For example, suppose your child asks you what crack is. Before you answer, ask him what he thinks it is. If he says, "I think it's something you eat that makes you act funny," then you have a sense of his level of understanding and can adjust your explanations to fit.

Listening to our children and taking their feelings into account also helps us understand when they've had enough. Suppose you're answering your 9-year-old's questions about AIDS. If, after a while, he says, "I want to go out and play," stop the talk and re-introduce the subject at another time.

7. Try to be Honest

Whatever your children's age, they deserve honest answers and explanations. It's what strengthens our children's ability to trust. Also, when we don't provide a straightforward answer, kids make up their own fantasy explanations, which can be more frightening than any real, honest response we can offer.

While we may not want or need to share all the details of a particular situation or issue with our child, try not to leave any big gaps either. When we do, children tend to fill in the blanks themselves, which can generate a good deal of confusion and concern.

8. Be Patient

Often it can feel like forever before a youngster gets his story out. As adults, we're tempted to finish the child's sentence for him, filling in words and phrases in an effort to hear the point sooner. Try to resist this impulse. By listening patiently, we allow our children to think at their own pace and we are letting them know that they are worthy of our time.

9. Use Everyday Opportunities to Talk

It's important to try to talk with your kids about tough issues often, but there isn't always time in the day to sit down for a long talk. Also, kids tend to resist formal discussions about today's toughest issues, often categorizing them as just another lecture from mom and dad. But if we use "talk opportunities," moments that arise in everyday life, as occasions for discussion, our children will be a lot less likely to tune us out. For instance, a newspaper item about a child expelled from school for carrying a gun to class can help you start a discussion on guns and violence. A public service TV commercial can give you an opportunity to talk about AIDS.

10. Talk About it Again. And Again.

Since most young children can only take in small bits of information at any one time, they won't learn all they need to know about a particular topic from a single discussion. That's why it's important to let a little time pass, then ask the child to tell you what she remembers about your conversation. This will help you correct any misconceptions and fill in missing facts.

Finally, in an effort to absorb all they want to know, children often ask questions again and again over time -- which can test any parent's nerves. But such repetition is perfectly normal, so be prepared and tolerant. Don't be afraid to initiate discussions repeatedly, either. Patience and persistence will serve you and your child well.

Sleep Tips for Your Children

2008-02-12T00:39:00.001-08:00

1. Set a regular time for bed each night and stick to it.

2. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine, such as giving your child a warm bath or reading him or her a story.

3. Make after-dinner playtime a relaxing time. Too much activity close to bedtime can keep children awake.

4. Avoid feeding children big meals close to bedtime.

5. Avoid giving children anything with caffeine less than six hours before bedtime.

6. Set the bedroom temperature so that it's comfortable – not too warm and not too cold.

7. Make sure the bedroom is dark. If necessary, use a small nightlight.

8. Keep the noise level low.

CuteKid of the Year 2007

2008-02-11T20:03:00.000-08:00

Kennedy from Houston, TX as 2007 CuteKid of the Year!. Her family is so proud! Read what Mom has to say about her Cutie-

“Kennedy is a fun-loving ball of energy and beautiful in so many ways. She loves to sing, read, and learn new things. Whenever she isn't running behind us with a book begging us to read to her, she is running after her golden retriever, Bentley begging him to let her ride him. Kennedy is extremely considerate and caring for her age and loves animals. She is also extremely athletic. Her father always jokes that she will be a comedian because she makes our days full of laughs. She truly is an inside and out CuteKid.”

Kennedy will receive these fabulous prizes:

-$25,000 College Tuition Fund
-Her own 2007CuteKidoftheYear.com Website
-A Canvas Portrait with the CuteKid of the Year Seal
-National Media Exposure

Great Job, Kennedy and congrats to all our 2007 finalists!

National Childrens Dental Health Month

2008-02-07T01:35:00.000-08:00

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!

The American Dental Association is pleased to provide you with the February 2008 National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) program planning kit. This month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated dental professionals, health care providers and others to promote the benefits of good oral health to children and adults, caregivers, teachers and many others.

On Friday, February 1, the ADA will highlight the sixth annual Give Kids a Smile® day, a national initiative to focus attention on the epidemic of untreated oral disease among disadvantaged children. For more information on how to get involved with your local GKAS event, e-mail gkas@ada.org or visit the ADA’s web site:
http://www.ada.org/prof/events/featured/gkas/index.asp.

This year’s NCDHM campaign features a two-sided, eye-catching poster with the slogan “Fight Tooth Decay 24/7!” with messages for young children on one side and, on the opposite, oral health messages with an anti-tobacco theme for teens. This versatile poster will help speakers, teachers and others who want to address both age groups. Posters are available boxed in quantities of 25, 50, 100 and 500.

Where to start

Create increased oral health awareness in your community with special promotional activities or events. Don’t know where to start? Think about:
What oral health issues affect your community most? Access to care? Early childhood caries? Sealant education? Tooth decay? Tobacco use? Sports injuries? Junk food? School vending machines? Methamphetamine use?

To start planning your local event:

> Identify the community’s oral health needs.

> Determine how you might address those needs.

> Involve others—educators, health professionals, and religious and political leaders.

> Decide whether to provide information, preventive or restorative treatment, or all three.

20 Ideas for Easy-to-Do Activities

1. Sponsor a coloring contest.
This kit contains coloring and activity sheets that may be duplicated for a contest. Contact administrators of local childcare centers and elementary schools to encourage school participation. In the past, some dental societies have offered contest winners a savings bond, gift certificate or tickets to sporting events, concerts or the movies.

2. Sponsor a dental health poster contest.
Select a poster slogan and choose a grade level to target. Determine where to display the posters, who will judge them and what you’ll provide as the award. You may wish to use this NCDHM theme, “Fight Tooth Decay 24/7!” Contact local schools and prepare and distribute poster guidelines. One state dental society reproduces the winning poster art on a free bookmark made available at libraries.

3. Sponsor a dental health essay contest.
Essay contests encourage originality and are challenging for older children. To conduct a school contest, contact the school nurse, health or physical education instructor or the school administrator. Invite children or teens to write a persuasive essay on a dental topic, such as diet and soft drinks, or brushing, etc. Encourage children to visit www.ada.org to research their topic. Define contest rules (such as age/grade, number of words or paragraphs, deadline, prizes, and where to submit the entry). Take a photo of the winner(s) and, with their permission, send it to local papers with an announcement.

4. Offer school presentations.
A classroom visit is the cornerstone of many NCDHM programs. Choose your target audience: preschool, elementary or high school. Contact the school nurse, health or physical education instructor or the school administrator to make arrangements. You may wish to solicit corporate donations of toothbrushes, toothpaste or dental floss. For presentation ideas, see: http://www.ada.org/public/education/teachers/ideas.asp

5. Sponsor a display or exhibit at the local library or museum.
Dental societies often display NCDHM posters, simple dental messages, photos of children receiving oral health exams, dental equipment, dental care products and models or charts of the mouth in educational displays. Contact the library or museum administrator several months in advance.

6. Create an oral health bulletin board.
A simple bulletin board with brochures, tips, health messages and a list of resources or referrals is a simple way to promote oral health at schools, libraries, clinics and community centers.

7. Conduct a dental health screening.
Schools, clinics, churches and community centers are good places to hold dental health screenings. Once the details are confirmed (who, what, when and where), announce the screening in a press release to local newspapers, radio and television stations. Provide children with “oral health” report cards that they can take home.

8. Participate in a health fair.
Your local mall, community centers, hospitals, schools, park districts, clinics and banks are good locations for small health fairs. Approach a local business, hospital or clinic to co-sponsor a community health fair. Dental health exhibits can feature posters, mouth models, literature and hands-on demonstrations. Show a dental health video for children. Offer a toothbrush trade-in or provide visits with the tooth fairy or local dental society mascot if you have one.

9. Give a talk at a community center.
Some shopping malls and banks have space set aside for community use. Contact the management office to make arrangements and to publicize the presentation. Talks can be geared to children or adults. Some dental societies use DVDs or videotapes, hand puppets, tooth costumes and mouth models for presentations. Distribute brochures or activity sheets that promote children’s oral health.

10. Work with community and civic groups.
Offer presentations about children’s oral health to local groups like the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions’ Clubs, women’s clubs, and local businesses (supermarkets, pharmacies, etc.).

11. Reach out to youth groups with dental career information.
The Scouts, YMCA, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and other groups have young members who can distribute dental health materials, benefit from programs and screenings, and assist in various phases of implementing your NCDHM activities. Information on dental career resources may be found in this kit. Also check the ADA’s web site, www.ada.org.

12. Prepare an oral health article for a school newsletter.
Contact the local PTA or PTO and offer to submit an article about children’s dental health for their newsletter. See sample articles in this section.

13. Reach out to parents.
Reach parents by speaking at childbirth classes and parent-teacher organization meetings. Provide new parents with dental health packets (literature, bib and gauze) for newborns. Distribute pamphlets and posters to obstetricians and pediatricians for use in reception areas. This is a good way to reach parents and enlist support from other health-care professionals.

14. Participate in local Give Kids a Smile®, Head Start or other Access Programs.
There are very few communities in which all families can afford dental care. Some needy children may not even have toothbrushes or toothpaste. The local school district administrator can direct you to a Head Start program or similar children’s program. For information on February’s Give Kids a Smile program, visit www.ada.org.

15. Work with the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Conduct tobacco cessation presentations; create a display for high school students. Contact the American Cancer Society (ACS) at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the ACS web site at www.cancer.org for more information or to find a local ACS chapter.

16. Ask dentists and pediatricians to promote NCDHM.
NCDHM messages on recall notices, statements and answering machines are just a few of the ways that health professionals can give oral health pointers to patients.

17. Contact hospitals, public service organizations and businesses.
These organizations may use oral health messages, announcements and events in their newsletters, bulletin boards, web sites, electronic signs or mailings.

18. Call the local post office about cancellation dies.
There may be an opportunity to have your dental society name and dental health message appear on the local postal cancellation die (the device used to cancel stamps). Post offices generally prepare the cancellation dies and will feature your message for a nominal fee. Check with the local post office supervisor for more information.

19. Get in the news.
Dental societies can send out press releases (see enclosed sample releases and articles) to local newspapers, radio and television stations. Do this before and after events. If you have photos of health fairs, school presentations, screenings, sealant applications, etc., you can send them with a press release or a simple note to the editor for additional coverage.

20. Offer a spokesperson for radio or television programs.
Contact local news producers and offer to provide a spokesperson to be interviewed or to participate in a “call-in” segment on dental health.

Program Planning Timetable Tips

October – Invite volunteers to a planning meeting. Define campaign goals and select spokespersons, mascot and/or tooth fairy.

Determine important community dental health issues. Determine a budget (if necessary); appoint subcommittees and select activities for February.

Contact the local post office for information on how to get a postal cancellation die for use in February.

Contact fast food restaurants to see if they would print NCDHM messages or coloring sheets on their February tray liners.

Contact grocery stores and pharmacies to see if they would print the enclosed grocery bag art on their bags or flyers. Art is also available online at www.ada.org.

Contact possible co-sponsors (schools, hospitals, libraries, etc.). Consider conducting a coloring, poster or essay contest.

November – Send confirmation letters to participating organizations.

Contact the local mayor’s office about signing a February proclamation.

Develop a list of media contacts and prepare press releases about dental health issues and local events.

Follow up on arrangements for displays, health fairs and school presentations.

December – Distribute press releases about dental health issues and special events and activities.

January – Make final confirmations with speakers, facilities and your tooth fairy. Distribute posters to schools, clinics, libraries, etc.

February –Follow up press releases with phone calls inviting local newspaper, radio and TV reporters to cover your dental health events.

March – Distribute thank-you letters and certificates of appreciation. Prepare a summary report of activities, expenses and any other meaningful data for future campaigns. Watch your email for ADA evaluation forms.

Resources

Grocery stores, dairies, pharmacies and fast food restaurants often support National Children’s Dental Health Month by printing oral health messages on tray liners, grocery bags, milk cartons and flyers. (See enclosed reproducible art sheets.)

Grocery Bags and Tray liners

Identify independent and franchise grocery stores, supermarkets and fast food restaurants (a phone book or Chamber of Commerce directory may be helpful). Contact store managers and ask them to print the NCDHM message on paper products that will be used in February.

Regional sales or marketing offices often handle the paper supplies used by major businesses. The local store manager may provide you with the name and address of the appropriate representative.

Milk Carton Messages

Milk carton art also is enclosed in this kit and an electronic file is available on the ADA’s dental society resources web site. You can also email nchdm@ada.org to request electronic files. Contact your local dairy’s sales or marketing representative to find out how to get your NCDHM messages printed on small cartons distributed to schools in January and February.

Important Copyright and Trademark Information

The National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) slogan and accompanying artwork and all collateral material are the property of the American Dental Association and are protected by U.S. trademark and copyright laws.

The slogan/artwork is intended to be used to support, recognize or acknowledge the observance of National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCHDM) and other special promotions of the ADA. It may not be used for any other purpose.

The slogan/artwork may be used by constituent and component societies, dental schools, state and local departments of public health, armed forces dental clinics, and teachers without further notice to or permission from the ADA for the purposes outlined above (see Rules for Use below). In addition, the ADA may grant permission to representatives of the dental industry, recognized dentally related groups, and other special interest groups for use in approved cooperative activities. For more information, e-mail ncdhm@ada.org.

Rules for Use

The use must be in good taste.
No modifications will be made to the slogan or characters, including the copyright notice ©.

The copyright notice: “© 2007 American Dental Association” must be used with each use of the promotional slogans and artwork in this kit.
Direct or implied sponsorship or ownership of the NCDHM slogan or accompanying artwork by the user is strictly prohibited. No right or ownership is or will be transferred with this notice and authorization. All benefits and rights of use accrue solely to the American Dental Association.

ADA Resources

The ADA produces a wide variety of educational materials, including pamphlets, posters, teaching packets and audiovisuals. Because of limited resources, there is a fee for these materials. Discounts are available for large orders.
To purchase materials, call 1-800-947-4746. Also visit www.adacatalog.org for product information.

Dental career information also is enclosed. If you are looking for Power Point presentations, posters or brochures designed for Career Events, contact: Beverly Skoog, Career Guidance, Council on Dental Education and Licensure, 1-312-440-2390.

Publicity

There are many ways to publicize your oral health messages, events and activities. Here are ideas that will help you get your messages placed:

Develop a list of the local newspapers, radio and television stations. Many libraries have media directories (such as Bacon’s), which include addresses, phone numbers, names of editors or producers, and circulation or broadcast information. The local phone directory is a good resource for locating news outlets. Don’t forget community news or “free” papers, which often feature community events.

Press releases are bulletins that provide general information about a specific topic (sealants, mouth guards, early childhood caries, etc.) or an upcoming event, such as a dental health screening. The enclosed sample press releases can be tailored to your dental society’s needs. News articles should be typed, double-spaced, on organization letterhead or sent by email.

Good outlets for news releases include:

> daily and weekly newspapers and Sunday newspaper supplements
> newsprint shopping guides
> hospital newsletters
> library bulletin boards
> health club newsletters
> church bulletins
> chamber of commerce newsletters

Creating Your Own Press Release

A press release should always include the five W’s: Who, What, When, Where and Why. The spokesperson or contact’s name and phone number should appear in the upper right corner of the release. Date the release and include the city and state to indicate when and where the release was issued.

Press releases should be typed and double-spaced. At the bottom of each page indicate if the release continues onto another page (-more-) or if the release has ended ( # # #).

Check the local newspaper websites. Many papers accept e-mails or faxes announcing local community events. They generally prefer at least three weeks notice before the event.

Sample Newspaper Articles

The sample articles in this kit may be published as a public service to the community by the ADA’s state or local dental societies, chapters of the Alliance to the American Dental Association, departments of health or the armed forces’ dental clinics. You may wish to add quotes from your spokesperson and expand on the contents in the samples.

Send a brief letter or email to community affairs editors informing them that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Explain that the newspaper articles were prepared as a public service to the community. Follow up with a call to the editor to determine if and when the articles might be placed, or whether more information is desired.

Placing the society name and the spokesperson’s name in the copy will customize the enclosed samples. The articles may be useful when promoting your society’s events. For example, an article on sealants can help publicize an upcoming presentation or screening.

While a dental society may be credited as the source for these articles, it is inappropriate for an individual to have the articles published under his or her name, implying authorship. Such an insinuation violates an advisory opinion, developed by the ADA Council on Bylaws and Judicial Affairs (Section 5A of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct).

Announcer-Read Copy

Sample scripts are enclosed for use by local radio stations. Type the scripts on dental society stationery, inserting the society name (and spokesperson if there is one). Send the scripts to public service directors at local radio stations. Public service announcements are broadcast without charge. Consequently, stations schedule them at their own discretion. Following up with a letter or call to the station may give you an idea of the broadcast date.

Broadcasting

Local radio and TV programs often have talk shows, call-in segments or special features, such as consumer interest spots. Contact the show’s producer, program director and/or the host regarding your dental topics and to offer a spokesperson.

Many dental societies participate in “ask the dentist” programs on local radio stations. Begin contacting the media in December to make arrangements.

Copyright Information

If you have questions about the use of copyrighted material, please e-mail ncdhm@ada.org.

Sample 15-Second Public Service Announcements for Radio Broadcast

(Date) Contact: (Your Dental Society name/number/address/contact)
Public Service Announcements To Air: Through February 2008

: 15 Seconds
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The ______________ Dental Society reminds parents that their children can avoid cavities. A balanced diet, limiting snacks, brushing and flossing each day and regular dental check-ups are the keys to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

: 15 Seconds
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The _____________ Dental Society invites parents to bring their children ages _____ to _____ for a free dental screening from _____ to _____ at the _____________________ located at ______________. For more information call the ___________ Dental Society at ___________________.

: 15 Seconds
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Dental sealants can help protect your child’s teeth and save money. Sealants form a protective barrier that helps prevent bacteria from causing tooth decay. Ask your dentist about sealants. A message from the _________________ Dental Society.

: 15 Seconds
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The __________________ Dental Society says that mouth guards are an important piece of protective face gear. They cushion blows that might otherwise cause broken teeth, injuries to the lips and face and sometimes jaw fractures. Ask your dentist about a mouth guard to protect your child’s smile.

Sample Press Release – modify as needed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
January 2008 (Your Spokesperson’s name)
(Society name)
(Phone number)

The ________ Dental Society Presents “Healthy Smiles for Your Children”
(City, State) – February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. If you have a baby or toddler, you may have questions about thumb sucking, your child’s first dental visit or how and when to clean your child’s teeth. If so, the _____________
Dental Society invites you to attend a free program that will be held on ___(date)______ from _____ to ______ at the ___(location)______ .

During the program, parents will learn about when children should have their first dental visit, ways to prevent early childhood caries, when to expect changes from primary to permanent teeth, proper brushing and flossing techniques, thumbsucking, dental sealants, choosing the right mouth protector for active children and adolescents, and teaching their children to say no to tobacco. Parents will also learn about the importance of regular dental examinations.

“Children’s teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and a healthy smile is important to a child’s self-esteem. With proper care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits, their teeth can remain healthy and strong,” said Dr. (name/dental society affiliation).

To register for the program, call __________ at ________________________.
# # #

Sample Articles

Are you prepared for a dental emergency?

Thousands of dental emergencies—from injuries to a painful, abscessed tooth—take place every day. Would you know what to do if your child broke a tooth or had a tooth knocked out while playing outdoors? What if you had a bad toothache in the middle of the night and couldn’t get to the dentist until the next day? Knowing what to do can lessen the pain and save a tooth that might otherwise be lost.

Keep your dental office phone number and an emergency number where the dentist can be reached after hours with other emergency numbers, such as your family doctor, and fire and police departments. Some families post these numbers on the refrigerator or inside a kitchen cabinet door near the phone. Call the dentist immediately for instructions on how to handle a dental emergency.

Toothache: Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to remove any food or other debris that may be caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth. This could burn gum tissue. If the toothache persists, try to see the dentist. Don’t rely on painkillers. They may temporarily relieve pain but your dentist should evaluate the condition.

Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth: Try to find the tooth! This may not be as easy as you think if the injury took place on a playground, basketball court or while skateboarding, so try to stay calm. Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse the root in water if the tooth is dirty. Don’t scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If it’s possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket while you head to the dentist. If that’s not possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and bring it to the dentist. Time is critical for successful reimplantation, so try to get to your dentist immediately.

Broken tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the outside of the cheek to help reduce the swelling.

Tongue or lip bites or wounds: Clean the area gently with a clean cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding can’t be controlled, go to a hospital emergency room or clinic. You may able to reduce bleeding from the tongue by pulling it forward and using gauze to put pressure on the wound.

Objects caught between teeth: Try to gently remove the object with dental floss. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth.

If you can’t dislodge the object with floss, contact your dentist.
Possible broken jaw: Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Get to the hospital emergency room immediately.

Sipping, Snacking and Tooth Decay

Many parents across the country will issue a common refrain at dinnertime tonight: “You’d better eat that--it’s good for you!” There’s another old favorite in the parental arsenal of dietary admonitions: “Don’t eat that—it’ll rot your teeth!” Now more than ever, kids are faced with a bewildering array of food choices -- from fresh produce to sugar-laden processed convenience meals and snack foods. What children eat and when they eat it may affect not only their general health but also their oral health.

Americans are consuming foods and drinks high in sugar and starches more often and in larger portions than ever before. It’s clear that “junk” foods and drinks gradually have replaced nutritious beverages and foods for many people. For example, the average teenage boy in the U.S. consumes 81 gallons of soft drinks each year! Alarmingly, a steady diet of sugary foods and drinks can ruin teeth, especially among those who snack throughout the day. Common activities may contribute to the tendency toward tooth decay. These include “grazing” habitually on foods with minimal nutritional value, and frequently sipping on sugary drinks.

When sugar is consumed over and over again in large, often hidden amounts, the harmful effect on teeth can be dramatic. Sugar on teeth provides food for bacteria, which produce acid. The acid in turn can eat away the enamel on teeth.

Almost all foods have some type of sugar that cannot and should not be eliminated from our diets. Many of these foods contain important nutrients and add enjoyment to eating. But there is a risk for tooth decay from a diet high in sugars and starches. Starches can be found in everything from bread to pretzels to salad dressing, so read labels and plan carefully for a balanced, nutritious diet for you and your kids.

Reduce your children’s risk of tooth decay:

- Sugary foods and drinks should be consumed with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.

- Limit between-meal snacks. If kids crave a snack, offer them nutritious foods.

- If your kids chew gum, make it sugarless – Chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay-producing acid.

- Monitor beverage consumption – Instead of soft drinks all day, children should also choose water and low-fat milk.

- Help your children develop good brushing and flossing habits.

- Schedule regular dental visits.

Mouth guards: Sports equipment that protects the smile

It’s easy to take some things for granted until they’re suddenly gone. Have you ever thought about how it would feel if you lost one or two of your front teeth? You’d probably avoid smiling. It would be uncomfortable talking with someone face-to-face.

It wouldn’t be easy pronouncing certain words. And how about eating an apple? Until your teeth are gone, you might not miss them.

Each year, thousands of teens get hurt on the playing field, the basketball court, or while skateboarding, biking or during other activities. Blows to the face in nearly every sport can injure your teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue.

A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can protect your teeth and smile. You may have seen them used in contact sports, such as football, boxing, and ice hockey.

However, you don’t have to be on the football field to benefit from a mouth guard. New findings in sports dentistry show that even in non-contact sports such as gymnastics, rollerblading, and field hockey, mouth guards help protect teeth. Many experts recommend that a mouth guard be worn for any recreational activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth.

There are three types of mouth guards: The ready-made, or stock, mouth guard; the mouth-formed “boil and bite” mouth guard; and the custom-made mouth guard made by your dentist. All three mouth guards provide protection but vary in comfort and cost.

The most effective mouth guard should have several features: It should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean, and not restrict your speech or breathing.

Generally, a mouth guard covers only the upper teeth, but in some cases the dentist will instead make a mouth guard for the lower teeth. Your dentist can suggest the right mouth guard for you.

Here are some suggestions for taking good care of your mouth guard:

Before and after each use, rinse it with cold water or with an antiseptic mouth rinse. You can clean it with toothpaste and a toothbrush, too.

When it’s not used, place your mouth guard in a firm, perforated container. This permits air circulation and helps prevent damage.

Avoid high temperatures, such as hot water, hot surfaces or direct sunlight, which can distort the mouth guard.

Check it for tears, holes and poor fit. A mouth guard that’s torn or in bad shape can irritate your mouth and lessen the amount of protection it provides.

Have regular dental checkups and bring your mouth guard along so the dentist can make sure it’s still in good condition.

Don’t take your teeth for granted. Protect your smile with a mouth guard.

Oral Piercing: Not as safe as you think

Piercing, like tattooing, is just one of today’s popular forms of “body art” and self-expression. Piercing may seem daring, cool and totally safe because some celebrities use piercing to flaunt their particular style or attitude. But piercing the tongue, lips, cheeks or uvula (the tiny tissue that hangs at the back of the throat) is not as safe as some would have you believe. That’s because the mouth’s moist environment—home to huge amounts of breeding bacteria—is an ideal place for infection.

An oral piercing can interfere with speech, chewing or swallowing. That may seem like a mere inconvenience until you consider that it may also cause:

- Excessive drooling (something you won’t see in hip fashion magazines!)

- Infection, pain and swelling

- Chipped or cracked teeth

- Injuries to the gums

- Damage to fillings

- Increased saliva flow

- Hypersensitivity to metals

- Scar tissue

- Nerve damage

These harmful effects can happen during the piercing, soon after, or even long after the procedure.

An infection can quickly become life threatening if it’s not treated promptly. For example, oral piercing carries a potential risk of endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart valves or tissues. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the piercing site in the mouth and travel to the heart, where it can colonize on heart abnormalities. This is a risk for people with heart conditions and, in the worst of cases, results in death.

After a piercing the tongue may swell. There have been reports of swelling serious enough to block the airway. And it’s very possible to puncture a nerve during a tongue piercing. If this happens, you may experience a “numb” tongue—nerve damage that is sometimes temporary, but can be permanent. The injured nerve may affect your sense of taste, or how you move your mouth. And damage to the tongue’s blood vessels can cause serious blood loss.

In addition, piercing jewelry can sometimes cause allergic responses to the pierced site. The jewelry can even get in the way of dental care by blocking x-rays.
Don’t pierce on a whim. The piercing will be an added responsibility to your life, requiring constant attention and upkeep. Talk to your dentist for more information.

Quitting Tobacco: You can do it!

Do you smoke or use chewing tobacco? Rarely a day goes by without a magazine, newspaper, or TV news report carrying a message about tobacco-related medical problems —the dangers of lung disease, cancer, heart problems and low-birth weight babies. Perhaps you even tune out those messages because you don’t want to quit just yet—or you think you can’t.

Tobacco is harmful to your mouth, not to mention your social life. Here are just a few reasons why: Smelly breath, stained teeth, loss of teeth and jawbone, loss of taste, gum recession, outrageous cost, oral cancer, mouth sores and wrinkles!

Tobacco's negative effects on the body, particularly the mouth, are well documented. Smoking impairs the body’s defense mechanisms and makes users more susceptible to infections like gum disease. Smoking also interferes with healing, a particular problem for patients who need treatment for periodontal disease. Once the ingredients in tobacco get into the bloodstream, they reduce the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to mouth tissues.

Chewing (spit) tobacco is not a safe substitute for smoking. It can cause oral cancer and lead to addiction. The bloodstream quickly absorbs the extremely addictive nicotine. Chewing tobacco users have similar or even higher levels of nicotine than the smoker who uses a pack or more a day. Chewing tobacco users are more susceptible to tooth decay due to the product’s higher sugar content. And, chewing tobacco contains at least 28 known cancer-causing chemicals.

It’s no secret that tobacco use is difficult to stop—it takes willpower and determination. Tobacco use is not just a habit; it’s an addiction. You have to be ready to face this challenge before you commit to quit.

Remind yourself of the benefits of quitting. You’ll reduce the risk of cancer. You’ll taste and enjoy food again. You’ll feel more relaxed without the jitters of nicotine. You won’t be plagued by “smoker’s breath.” Your sense of smell will be sharper. Your family and friends will thank you.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Get help from loved ones, friends and co-workers when going through the quitting process. Ask another smoker to quit with you. Call organizations such as the American Cancer Society for support groups in your area. Get ready by setting a date to quit. Get help by talking to your dentist or physician about nicotine cessation aids.
For more tips on quitting, call the American Cancer Society’s toll-free number at 1-800-4-Cancer.
17

Sippy Cups and Your Child’s Teeth

As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur. One of the risk factors for early childhood caries (sometimes called baby bottle tooth decay or nursing mouth syndrome) is frequent and prolonged exposure of a baby’s teeth to liquids, such as fruit juice, milk or formula, which all contain sugar.

Tooth decay can occur when a baby is put to bed with a bottle. Infants should finish their naptime or bedtime bottle before going to bed. Because decay can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child, you should encourage your children to drink from a cup by their first birthdays.

Many training cups, also called sippy or tippy cups, are available in stores. Many are “no spill” cups, which are essentially baby bottles in disguise. “No spill” cups include a valve beneath the spout to stop spills. However, cups with valves do not allow your child to sip. Instead the child gets liquid by sucking on the cup, much like a baby bottle. This practice defeats the purpose of using a training cup, as it prevents the child from learning to sip.

Don’t let your child carry the training cup around. Toddlers are often unsteady on their feet. They take an unnecessary risk if they try to walk and drink at the same time. Falling while drinking from a cup has the potential to injure the mouth.
A training cup should be used temporarily. Once your child has learned how to sip, the training cup has achieved its purpose. It can and should be set aside when no longer needed.

Tips

For sipping success, carefully choose and use a training cup. As the first birthday approaches, encourage your child to drink from a cup. As this changeover from baby bottle to training cup takes place, be very careful:

- what kind of training cup you choose

- what goes into the cup

- how frequently your child sips from it

- that your child does not carry the cup around

Talk to your dentist for more information. If your child has not had a dental examination, schedule a “well baby checkup” for his or her teeth. The American Dental Association says that it is beneficial for the first dental visit to occur within six months of the appearance of the first tooth, and no later than the child’s first birthday.

National Children’s Dental Health Month Fact Sheet

National Children’s Dental Health Month began as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 3, 1941. During that year, February 3 – 7 was designated as Children’s Dental Health Week in Akron, Ohio.

The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single day observance became a weeklong event in 1955. And in 1981, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Since 1941, the observance has grown from a two-city event into a nationwide program. NCDHM messages reach millions of people in communities across the country and at numerous armed service bases. Local observances often include poster, coloring and essay contests, health fairs, free dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations and dental office tours.

The theme for this year’s campaign is “Fight Tooth Decay 24/7 !” The American Dental Association produces a program planning kit for its state and local dental societies, dental alliances and armed forces dental clinics to assist them in local health campaign efforts.

The ADA distributes press kits and public service announcements for television and radio to educate the public and enhance promotional efforts. Additional information appears on the ADA’s Web site, www.ada.org.

Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life. By participating in the annual celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, members of the dental team, parents, teachers and others can help keep children’s smiles beautiful now and for years to come.

Proclamations for National Children’s Dental Health Month

A proclamation officially launches National Children’s Dental Health Month in an upbeat, newsworthy way. Proclamation signings usually take place in a city hall or civic center. Contact the elected official’s press secretary well in advance to inquire about scheduling such an event. Once scheduled, invite other dignitaries and the media to witness the signing.

A state dental society often works with the governor’s office to have a proclamation signed. Local dental societies can make similar arrangements for mayoral proclamations.

The official’s office staff may prepare the proclamation using official stationery. Fill in the blanks below with appropriate information.

Sample Proclamation

WHEREAS, the future is, to a large measure, dependent on the good health of our families;
WHEREAS, good health can be achieved in part through good dental habits learned early and reinforced throughout life;
BE IT RESOLVED, that I ______________________ (Governor/Mayor) of _____________________ thereby proclaim the month of February as Children’s Dental Health Month and urge that all citizens and community organizations join in this observance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of (City/State) to be affixed this _____ day of February, 2008.
___________________________________________
(Signature of Official)
2008 Program Planning Kit
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
www.ada.org

Kids Health Problems

2008-02-05T21:20:00.000-08:00

Click the below links and you can easily get the health problem details for your Kids.

Allergies and Immune System

Asthma

Birth Defects & Genetic Problems

Bladder, Kidneys, & Urinary Tract

Blood

Bones, Muscles, & Joints

Brain & Nervous System

Cancer

Diabetes

Glands and Hormones

Heart & Lungs

Infections

Learning & Emotional Problems

Sight, Speech, & Hearing

Skin

Stomach, Intestines, & Liver

Teeth & Mouth

Find A Doctor

2008-02-05T03:13:00.000-08:00

Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center Seattle, Washington

Last Name

First Name

Location

Specialty

Language

Children's Hospital Boston

Specialist's Last Name
Departments and Divisions
Specialty
Clinical Program
City
Office Location

Children's Hospital

You may search for children's hospitals by geographic region, programs, services, research, and more. To view all NACHRI member profiles, select the "Show All" button. To select multiple items within a single search category, hold down the "Ctrl" (control) key on your keyboard while selecting the items. Hospital profiles are completed and maintained by member hospitals.

Search for Hospitals
Hospital Name:
Hospital Type:
State/Province:
Country:
Board-Certified Specialties:
Care Delivery Programs:
Community Outreach Programs:
Camps for Children with Special Needs:
Current Research:
Enter Keyword:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
British Columbia
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Ontario
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Quebec
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Adolescent medicine
Cardiology – heart
Child and adolescent psychiatry
Clinical and laboratory immunology
Critical care medicine – intensive care
Dermatology – skin
Developmental-behavioral pediatrics
Emergency medicine
Endocrinology – glands
Gastroenterology – digestive system
General pediatrics
Hematology-oncology – blood, cancer
Infectious disease
Medical toxicology – poisons, toxins
Neonatal-perinatal medicine – newborns
Nephrology – kidneys
Neurodevelopmental disabilities – nervous system/brain
Otolaryngology – ear, nose and throat
Pathology – study of disease
Pediatric surgery
Pulmonology – lungs
Radiology
Rehabilitation medicine
Rheumatology – joints and connective tissue
Sleep medicine
Sports medicine
Transplant hepatology

Allergy/asthma
Burn care
Child abuse and neglect
Child life
Conjoined twins separation
Day care for children with special health care needs
Dentistry
Developmental pediatrics
Diabetes and obesity
Eating disorders
Family counseling
Fetal medicine
General pediatrics/wellness
Genetics
HIV/AIDS therapy
Home health care
Hospice
Medical transport unit
Mobile health unit
Neonatal intensive care
Neurology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain management
Palliative care
Pediatric intensive care unit
Prenatal care
Radiology/MRI/CAT
Reconstructive surgery
Rehabilitation/physical therapy
Respite care
School-based health
Sick day care (public)
Speech therapy
Substance abuse
Support groups
Transplant surgery
Trauma center
Urgent care services

Bicycle safety
Child abuse prevention
Child passenger safety
Choking prevention
Culturally specific programs/services
Fall prevention
Family resource center
Fire and burn prevention
Gun safety
Health education
Home safety
Injury prevention
Literacy program
Motor vehicle safety
Nonpartisan voter education
Nutrition and weight management
Parenting classes
Playground safety
Poison prevention/poison control center
Public insurance enrollment programs (Medicaid, SCHIP, Title V)
Shaken baby syndrome prevention
Sports/recreation safety
Tobacco and substance use prevention
Water safety

Asthma/respiratory
Behavioral health/ADHA/ADD
Blood disorders
Burns
Cancer/oncology
Cardiac/heart
Cerebral palsy
Diabetes
Digestive/Crohn’s/colitis
Eating disorders
Epilepsy
Grief
Health care careers
Hearing impaired
Kidney/dialysis/renal
Neurology/brain injury
Orthopedic/limb disability
Preschool/kindergarten
Rehabilitation/physical therapy
Rheumatology/arthritis
Special needs (several types)
Spina bifida/spinal cord injuries
Sports
Transplant
Vision impaired

Adolescent medicine
Cardiology – heart
Child and adolescent psychiatry
Clinical and laboratory immunology
Critical care medicine
Dermatology – skin
Developmental-behavioral pediatrics
Emergency medicine/traumatic injury
Endocrinology – glands
Gastroenterology – digestive system
Genetics/genomics
Hematology/oncology – blood, cancer
Immunology/vaccines
Infectious disease/virology
Medical toxicology – poisons, toxins
Neonatal-perinatal medicine – newborns
Nephrology – kidneys
Neurodevelopmental disabilities – nervous system/brain
Obesity/diabetes
Otolaryngology – ear, nose and throat
Pathology – study of disease
Pediatric surgery
Pulmonology – lungs, asthma, allergies
Radiology
Rehabilitation medicine
Rheumatology – joints and connective tissue
Sports medicine