Littleton Pediatric Offices Warn Parents of Dangers of Whooping Cough

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the Bordatella pertussis bacterium. Unfortunately, a report from The Weston Forum has indicated that cases of pertussis have been rising steadily in the past few years:

"Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, was considered an eradicated childhood illness until recently. It is now re-emerging as a serious, and potentially fatal, health risk to infants less than 12 months of age and older adults.

More than 48,000 cases were reported nationwide in 2012, including 15 infant deaths."

Bordatella pertussis spreads like most other respiratory diseases, by travelling through saliva droplets expelled by an infected person who coughs or sneezes without covering his or her mouth. These droplets float around the air until someone inhales it and becomes infected as well.

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Children Should See a Littleton Pediatrician to Avoid the Flu Outbreak

The flu is one of the most infectious diseases in the world. It is contracted when a person becomes infected with the influenza virus, usually coming from an already-infected person who fails to cover his or her mouth when coughing or sneezing. According to health experts, roughly 5 to 20 percent of the American population comes down with the flu every year.

Children are especially vulnerable to the disease. Parents should pay close attention when their child complains of a fever, fatigue, body pain, chills, headaches, and a sore throat. If a child complains of these symptoms, it is probably for the best to bring him or her to a Littleton, CO pediatrician, such as Dr. Michael Frand and colleagues, to have the symptoms properly diagnosed, since the common cold and the flu share several symptoms.

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Pediatrics Can Help Children with Their Asthma

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, and while not as debilitating as other illnesses, it can still be fatal if left untreated. The worst part about asthma is that even young children can start showing symptoms of the respiratory ailment. Asthma attacks in children can be so bad and sporadic that it can severely affect their school, play time, and inevitably, their over-all growth and development.

Parents need to address their child’s asthma attacks as soon as they manifest. Asthma typically occurs when the child comes into contact with an allergic trigger, such as dust, pollen feathers, molds, chocolate and so on. It’s not enough to keep a child away from these elements to prevent asthma; they’ll need proper medications in order to keep their inflammations under control. It should also be noted that asthma can sometimes surface even without an allergic trigger.

Many pediatricians are equipped to handle cases of children afflicted with asthma. To this day, there’s still no known cure for the illness, though there are ways to mitigate its harmful effects. Pediatricians can supply kids and their parents with suitable, child-friendly medications that can help stave off the deadly symptoms of asthma. The medical experts can also prescribe anti-histamines to prevent allergic attacks, which in turn could trigger asthma.

Does Your Child have Allergies? Read to be Sure

Humans are most vulnerable to diseases during their childhood years because their immune systems have not yet developed well at this point in their lives. As such, it should be no surprise for you to know that the many allergies that currently affect 50 million Americans are usually contracted before puberty. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, allergic rhinitis is the most common allergy among children.

“Hay fever”, as the allergy is popularly known, is characterized by itchiness, watery eyes, and ear problems. The name is also a misnomer because it doesn’t really cause a fever. Allergic rhinitis can be acquired by coming into contact with furry animals, inhaling dust or spores, or taking part in strenuous physical activities. Children with asthma are more likely to develop this allergy than others.

However, it’s not just hay fever you should worry about. Food allergies are also quite common among children, particularly among infants, since their bodies are still accustomed to their mothers’ milk. This is why cow’s milk is a well-known allergen, despite its large protein and calcium content. Other common food allergens are eggs, peanuts, soy, and certain varieties of fish, although the allergies that they cause typically go away once your child reaches five years of age. 

Whooping Cough: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention

Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. The illness typically targets a person’s respiratory system. Whooping cough is a common illness in very young infants and children that have not been vaccinated.

It is difficult to diagnose whooping cough during the early stages of the illness because the infection shares many symptoms with the common cold: a runny nose, fever, cough, and sneezing. However, the mild cough progresses into full-blown coughing after a week or two. The more serious coughing fits can last for over a minute, making it difficult to breathe. After a coughing fit, the sick person typically makes a “whooping” sound as he or she gasps for air.

If your child starts to exhibit symptoms of whooping cough, be sure to bring him or her to a pediatrician. The pediatrician will then confirm the disease by taking a history of symptoms or taking fluid samples for a laboratory test. If the presence of whooping cough is confirmed, the pediatrician will prescribe antibiotics.

Fortunately, the disease can be prevented by having your child vaccinated with the DTaP vaccine. Public health officials advise parents to make sure their children have received all five doses of the DTaP vaccine before the child reaches six years of age. The vaccine is readily available in all pediatric practices.

Important Childhood Vaccinations Your Child Needs

Vaccinations are important in preventing the spread of deadly diseases. In fact, they are the reason why the world no longer has to worry about smallpox.

Seeing as the immune systems of young children are still developing, it is important to have them vaccinated for certain diseases that tend to affect children. Here is a short list of the most important childhood vaccinations:

MMR

The MMR vaccine protects children from three different diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles). All three are highly dangerous and highly infectious, but can easily be prevented. Recently, cases of measles have been increasing in the United States due to a low vaccination rate, making it even more important for children to get vaccinated.

Varicella

The varicella vaccine protects a child from contracting chickenpox. It is advised that a child be vaccinated for chickenpox before he or she reaches 13 years of age. Many schools require parents to show proof that their child has been vaccinated for chickenpox before admitting the child to the school.

Flu

The flu can cause dangerous complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Although the flu vaccine does not guarantee a child will not contract the flu, studies have shown that the vaccine significantly reduces the chances of a child developing flu complications. According to officials from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, everyone six months of age and older should be vaccinated for the flu every year.

Important Childhood Vaccinations Your Child Needs

When Pinkeye Needs Medical Attention

Conjunctivitis, also known as pinkeye, is a highly contagious medical condition that is common in children. Pinkeye develops when the conjunctiva becomes inflamed due to a bacterial or viral infection. Common symptoms of the infection include itchy or burning eyes, a redness in or swelling of the white of the eyes, and a crusting of the eyelids.

Once you notice that your child has developed these symptoms, it’s best to bring him or her to a trusted pediatric clinic to determine the cause of the infection. Although a pediatrician will prescribe house rest for both bacterial and viral infections, bacteria-based pinkeye clears up faster because of the antibiotics that pediatricians prescribe. The infection will typically last 7 to 10 days after the development of symptoms.

During the period of house rest, be sure to follow any instructions from the pediatrician to ensure an uneventful, yet effective, recovery. However, if your child experiences moderate or severe pain in the eyes or increased sensitivity to light, contact a pediatrician immediately. The latter symptoms are not typical of pinkeye cases and may be a precursor for pinkeye complications or a more sinister disease.

Likewise, contact a doctor if your child has a preexisting immunity issue, or bring him to a pediatrician immediately if symptoms are only getting worse after using antibiotics for 24 hours.

When Chickenpox Needs Medical Attention

Chickenpox is one of the most infamous childhood viral infections. Caused by the varicella-zoster virus, chickenpox causes red, itchy blisters to develop on the skin. For the most part, chickenpox is not a serious disease, with many cases lasting for 10 to 12 days only. In fact, pediatricians recommend letting the disease run its course.

When your child develops the trademark blisters of the disease, bring him to a pediatrician immediately to confirm the presence of chickenpox. If chickenpox has been confirmed, you can prepare home remedies like oat baths and bergamot oil to relieve your child’s itching throughout the duration of the disease.

However, if your child experiences severe headaches, an oversensitivity to light, breathing difficulties, or the development of rashes on the eyeball, call a pediatrician immediately. These are not typical chickenpox symptoms and may indicate the presence of a more serious disease.

After fully recovering from chickenpox, the chances of contracting the disease a second time is quite rare. However, a dormant version of the varicella-zoster virus can hide within the body and reappear years later as shingles, an infection similar to chickenpox that affects the nerve area. As such, people who have had chickenpox should closely monitor themselves for symptoms of shingles: severe pain and rashes on one side of the body, high fever, and tender lymph nodes.

Flu Vaccines Options for Children

Once children reach the age of six months, influenza vaccinations become a viable option for fighting against the flu. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children be given the annual influenza vaccination once they are old enough. Seasonal flus are one of the most common illnesses in the country due to their highly contagious nature, affecting both children and adults. As such, getting vaccinated every year can drastically reduce the risk of becoming infected with the flu.

The problem with flu vaccinations is that many young children are afraid of needles and injections, with many children dreading or resisting pediatricians administering the shot. Fortunately, advances in medical technology has allowed vaccinologists to create more flu vaccine options available to the general public.

While the traditional flu shot is still available, vaccinologists have come up with annual influenza vaccine formulations that protects people from four dominant strains of the virus, which is a great improvement from the older trivalent vaccines. In addition, the use of nasal spray vaccinations has been growing in popularity, particularly for children who are afraid of needles. Children who couldn't get flu vaccines in the past due to egg allergies (the use of chicken embryos was the traditional methodology in producing flu vaccines) can now get vaccinated due to a new egg-free flu vaccine that was developed.

Choosing the Right Pediatrician for Your Children

Since there are several significant differences between the body of a child and that of an adult, the medical needs of a child correspondingly vary from those of an adult. As such, children are brought to pediatricians for their medical concerns until their late teens, after which time, they would need to see general practitioners or specialists. Pediatricians, however, are truly specialized in the unique needs of children, which is why it is important for parents to choose their children’s doctor judiciously.

Some doctors recommend looking for a pediatrician as early as 28 weeks into the pregnancy. Deciding on a pediatrician early allows parents to establish a connection and comfort level with the doctor; choosing early also allows the pediatrician to be on hand during the childbirth to conduct any necessary examination on your baby, especially if there is a complication during birth.

Take the time to thoroughly research on the qualifications of pediatricians to ascertain that they meet your particular needs. Although friends will suggest a good pediatrician, their needs may be different from yours; and good pediatricians are not a one-size-fits-all investment. Take the time to know where a pediatrician studied and his or her philosophies on child rearing. Set appointments with the pediatricians that you feel meet your needs in order to get a feel of how they interact with you and your future family member.