Everything we've written about In the news
Jan 11, 12 | Posted by: Sharyl Paley, M.D.
Fear in kids sports
Jack Jablonski. This is a name that I have been hearing about for the past few weeks. If you don’t know about him, Jack is a high school hockey player from Minnesota. During a game a few weeks ago he was checked from behind and is currently in the hospital and paralyzed. I have heard about him, because of Facebook. The amount of prayers that are going out about him, even from those who do not know him is incredible. My 14 year old daughter came and asked me if I had heard about him since it was also all over her Facebook site. She also asked if I knew about the other teenager from Canada who was killed in a freak accident when a puck struck him in the throat. More »
Dec 1, 11 | Posted by: Bayshore Pediatrics
Pertussis – Just in time for the Holidays
Pertussis or “whooping cough” has reemerged in our community. There are now five confirmed cases of pertussis in Mequon area. We have blogged about this in the past and it seems time again.
Pertussis is highly contagious and can be dangerous for those who are not vaccinated. Surprisingly, even students that are vaccinated can acquire pertussis. Vaccinations are not 100 percent effective, and efficacy is different for each individual vaccine.
Part of why vaccines work so well is something called “herd immunity,” which means if enough people are vaccinated, they prevent the disease from reoccurring even if the vaccine itself is not completely effective. Due to the concerns with vaccine safety, fewer people are vaccinating. This allows diseases that were nearly eradicated to reemerge and infect patients.
Pertussis look like a cold at the beginning, with a runny nose, possible fever and a mild but irritating cough for 1-2 weeks. What separates pertussis from a cold is the explosive coughing that can interrupt breathing, eating and sleeping and is commonly followed by vomiting and exhaustion. Pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, gets its name from the loud loud crowing or “whooping” sound that patients make as they struggle to inhale air. The coughing spells can last for several weeks or longer. In younger children, the symptoms are usually milder and without the typical whoop.
There is no “cure” for pertussis, antibiotics can shorten the time someone is contagious and can prevent the transmission to other people.
Click here for more information about pertussis.
Please call us if you are concerned about your child’s health and pertussis.
Nov 21, 11 | Posted by: Sharyl Paley, M.D.
Tragedy in the world of Adolescence
Tragedy has happened again in our community. I say again because it was just over a year ago when a high school student from Homestead was killed in a car accident. Now two Nicolet sophomores were killed this past weekend in a car accident. Living in this community you will be touched by this in some way. Whether it is hearing it on the news, driving by Nicolet and seeing all of the news stations there (wouldn’t it be nice if they could let the kids work through this without blaring it in their faces), driving by the site and seeing the memorial put up by the teens, seeing an adolescent boy crying at the memorial, or hearing your freshman daughter talk about the girls and how many of her friends had relationships with these girls.
You are affected if you live in the community. The teens ARE affected. Even if they didn’t know the girls or know them well, like my daughter, they have friends that were friends with them or on the gymnastics team, student council or best buddies with them. We will never know exactly what was going on and we will never be able to understand these senseless tragedies, but we need to be there for the kids. I say kids because that’s what they are. Even though they can now use large words, do math problems we can no longer solve, or have a great political conversation with us, they are still kids. They are in the journey of becoming adults, but their ability to think, react and judge are not at an adults level yet.
While helping your kids through this there are some important hints to help us. http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/griefwar.pdf
Let them talk. Teenagers have many ways of talking. Many will want to congregate at friends homes and just hang out. Others will want to construct a memorial (as they already did) and go there to reflect. Many (and this problem numbers on the hundreds and thousands) will post their feelings on facebook. My daughter showed me the outpouring of people on facebook, from those who knew the girls well to those who were helping comfort their friends. Whatever your childs way, let them express it.
It is ok if they need a little extra time to themselves. I would be concerned though if this time becomes excessive or it is all they want to do, if they become withdrawn, change how they are eating or sleeping. These are the times to step in and seek professional help. Let your child know that you are there for them, but also don’t badger them with too many questions. Leave the door open, let them know you are there for them to talk when they are ready.
As things settle will be the time to discuss more. Remind them why we love them, but also remind them why parents also are so crazy sometimes. We have rules to help protect them, but no matter how much we say or do, they still will do as they want or what they see as right. So make sure you always tell them you love them and remember we do have to let them grow and we can’t protect them from everything.
Nov 18, 11 | Posted by: Sharyl Paley, M.D.
What do we say in light of Penn State?
Today during a routine check up a mom asked me such a great question I thought it was important to share. She wanted to know how in light of last weeks scandal at Penn State, how could she teach her children about inappropriate touching. It is important at a young age, as young as 1 years old, to start using the words to describe private areas and appropriate touching. Sometimes our kids have so many people caring for them, changing their diapers, cleaning them when they have accidents, that many may feel it is normal for adults to look or touch down there. But our children have a great instinct. At about 2-3 years of age, even when I examine a child they start to hold their legs closed or act shy when talking about their private areas. This must be something inbred to start to help protect them from inappropriate touching. I try to have the conversation with them that I am looking at all parts of their bodies to make sure they are developing ok. I also explain to them that they are right and that is their private place, and if mom or dad wasn’t with them in the room, then I could not look or touch there.
Our children need to know that their body belongs to them. It is not only ok but it is their right to say they don’t want someone touching them. For some this may even be they don’t want someone touching their arm or giving them a hug. As a parent we need to especially teach them that their private parts are just that- private. No one else should touch or look there unless they have asked for help and have given them the ok. Teaching kids to come to us and let us know if they were touched in a way that they didn’t like or felt uncomfortable, even if the person is someone they know and/or like.
Sep 8, 11 | Posted by: Kristin Bencik Boudreau, D.O.
Measles in Milwaukee
There has been a confirmed case of measles in a Milwaukee resident today. The patient is a child with a history of international travel. So what is measles and what does it mean for us? Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread by respiratory droplets. The only host of the virus are humans. The disease presents with a fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and three to four days later, a rash. The rash is a very red, small raised bumps that spreads from the face down to the rest of the body. There can be characteristic lesions in the mouth of 1 to 3 mm diameter blueish white bumps surrounded by a red halo. Measles can have serious complications including encephalitis, or brain infection causing permanent brain damage in 1 out of every 1000 cases. It can also cause death in 1 to 3 out of every 1000 cases.
Patients are contagious for 1 to 2 days before symptoms occur until 4 days after the rash appears (around ten days). The incubation period is around 8 to 12 days. Measles is diagnosed by a blood test, as well as nose and throat swabs. Treatment is supportive, and tailored to the age of the patient and severity of the illness.
The best protection against measles in VACCINATION!!! Children are vaccinated between 12-15 months and again at 4 years. If you have opted not to vaccinated your child, we would strongly recommend that they come in and receive their MMR vaccine. Measles has clearly been shown to be very dangerous for children, the vaccine has not. Numerous reputable medical studies have shown that there is NO LINK between the MMR vaccine and autism. Please call your physicians if you have further questions regarding the vaccinations.
If you have any concerns that your child may have measles or been exposed, please call immediately.
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