New data shows that the chicken pox vaccine (Varivax®) prevents illness even better than we knew. Death from chicken pox declined 88%, from 4.1 in ten million people to just 0.5 per ten million. The study by the CDC was published in the August 2011 issue of the AAP journal Pediatrics, comparing death rates in [...]
At this time of year, kids start getting colds and coughs. Parents don’t like it! For decades, cough and cold medications were sold freely, over the counter. Drug stores and pharmaceutical companies sold brands like Dimetapp, Pediacare, Delsym, Robitussin, and many others; there was a huge market for these medications, and companies competed fiercely. They [...]
On March 2, the FDA removed about 500 cold and cough prescription medications from the market. The move is aimed at prescription medications that contain Chlorpheniramine, Brompheniramine, Phenylephrine, Dextromethorphan, Guaiafenesin, Pseudoephedrine, and a couple of similar ingredients. I have prescribed these medications for my patients for many years, and never heard of any serious problems. [...]
A new study shows that parents can protect their infants from getting sick, by getting flu shots themselves. Over a thousand mothers and their infants on an Indian reservation were studied. Infants whose mothers received flu vaccines were 40% less likely to catch influenza themselves, and 40% less likely to be hospitalized for it. The [...]
Every few years, the CDC surveys the rate of ADHD in American children. Last week, in the edition of MMWR dated 11/12/10, the CDC reported that 9.5% of American children under 18 had been diagnosed with ADHD in 2007, a 22% increase since 2003. (Apparently it took 3 years to collect and report the data.) [...]
Did you just bring your newborn home? You might feel a bit overwhelmed. Night feedings, unwanted advice, and the sense of being on-call “24-7″ can be exhausting. The last thing you need is to be worried that jaundice in your newborn will make everything worse. If jaundice is a concern, please have a look at [...]
We always try to prescribe the least expensive medication available that will treat your child effectively. And we usually use generic medications, which are just as effective as the branded drugs for most children. But medications can be expensive! Your insurance plan’s drug benefit should help cover the cost, but sometimes there’s a problem. If [...]
Everyone is asking me about the Swine Flu vaccine. We don’t have it in stock yet! But I expect a shipment from the Delaware Division of Public Health any week. When we receive it, I’ll post a note here. People ask if I recommend the Swine Flu vaccine. Yes, I certainly do! When we receive [...]
As of October 7, 2009, these are the regular (“seasonal”) flu vaccines we have in stock: For patients with “Commercial” insurance (Blue Cross, Aetna, Coventry, etc.): we have all “regular flu” vaccines: - shots for all children under 3 - nasal spray for all children over 2 (EXCEPT those with asthma) - shots for all [...]
Nosebleeds are not usually dangerous, but they are messy and alarming. In order to stop the bleeding, a clot must form. The quickest way is to have the child sit calmly, with the head tilted slightly forward (as if looking at the floor at the far end of the room). Pinch both nostrils closed, and [...]
