Performance Pediatrics
 
 
 

Patient Newsletter

December 2007
In This Issue
Holiday Safety Tips
Bronchiolitis
Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest
PEACE ON EARTH
Christmas Dove
 
We wish you and your family happy and safe holidays!
Quick Links
HolidaysHoliday Safety Tips
Year-round you protect yours kids with car seats, bike helmets, outlet covers and dozens of other precautions. Accidents are the primary health hazard for children, and the holidays, unfortunately, expose children to an even greater number of possible threats. The American Academy of Pediatrics has pulled together the following extra steps parents should take. We encourage all of our families to follow these guidelines.
 
Trees
  • When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
  • When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
  • When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
  • Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
  • Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
Lights
  • Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
  • Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
  • Check all tree lights-even if you've just purchased them -- before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
  • Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
  • Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations

  • Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
  • Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
  • In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.
  • Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
  • Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame.

Toy Safety

  • Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
  • Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
  • To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don't give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
  • Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
  • Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
  • Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Food Safety

  • Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.
  • Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child's exploring hands.
  • Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.
  • Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.
  • Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separate, and use separate utensils when preparing them.
  • Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.
  • Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

Happy Visiting

  • Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
  • Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
  • Keep a laminated list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, our number (Performance Pediatrics 508-747-8277) and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222.
  • Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels. Trying to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.

Fireplaces

  • Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
  • Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
  • Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
 

 

PedialyteBronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory illness in infants and young children.  The illness is caused by a virus that infects the small breathing tubes (bronchioles) in the lungs causing them to swell and fill with mucus.  This blocks those tubes making it difficult to breath.

Bronchiolitis is caused by several viruses, but from October through March the most common virus that causes it is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).  When older children or adults get infected with RSV it is usually just a bad cold that lasts several days, but infants who get RSV can get very sick, often needing to be hospitalized.
 
The illness usually starts as a cold with some nasal congestion, runny nose, decreased appetite and a cough that is worse at night time.  After a couple of days the cough will get worse, it will interrupt the baby's sleep, and he will start breathing faster.  You may also notice that your baby is "flaring" or widening his nostrils when he breaths in. He may also have "retractions" which is using the muscles between his ribs or in his stomach to help him breath. If a baby is having retractions you will be able to see these muscles pulling in every time he breaths.  Your baby may also begin to grunt or wheeze when he breathes.  Because he is working so hard to breath, a baby may not be able to feed well and will get dehydrated.
 
Unfortunately there is no cure for bronchiolitis; we just have to treat the symptoms until the baby gets better. At home you can treat a baby with bronchiolitis by using saline drops in his nose and a bulb syringe to remove some of the mucus. Prevent dehydration by offering frequent small feedings, and trying Pedialyte if your baby does not want formula or breastmilk. When babies get very sick they may need to be hospitalized to get IV fluids to treat dehydration or extra oxygen to help them breath, but there is no medicine that helps get rid of the virus.
 
You can try to keep your baby from getting RSV by practicing good hand washing, and having everyone who handles the baby wash with soap and water or an antimicrobial hand sanitizer. People who are sick (coughing, runny nose, fevers, etc) should not handle your baby.
 
If your baby is showing signs of bronchiolitis please let me know right away so I can help you do everything possible to help your baby through the illness.
 
 
Winning Poster2008 Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest
This annual contest was established by the Massachusetts Medical Society to encourage children not to use tobacco. In 2007, close to 5,000 children from across the Commonwealth submitted entries and 12 winners are featured in the 2008 calendar which we will be proudly hanging in our office starting in January.
 
The contest is open to children in grades one through six and we encourage all of our patients in these grades to participate. Kids should create a poster that ties in with the theme for their grade:
  • Grades 1 & 2: Tobacco is bad for your body
  • Grades 3 & 4: Tobacco affects other people
  • Grades 5 & 6: Why I won't start smoking
Children enter the contest by creating a poster either on an official contest entry form (available by clicking here) or on any 8.5" X 11" paper held horizontally. All entries must include the child's name, age, home address, grade, sponsor address and sponsor phone number (that's us: Performance Pediatrics, 23 Aldrin Road, Plymouth, MA 02360, 508-747-8277, ATTN Leann DiDomenico, info@PerformancePediatrics.com) on the back. You can give your entry to us or mail it directly to:
 
Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest
Massachusetts Medical Society
Department of Public Health and Education
860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA 02451
 
Entries must be received by the Massachusetts Medical Society by Friday, February 15, 2008. We will be sending an overnight package, so if you want us to submit it for you,  be sure to have your entries to us by noon on Thursday, February 14.
 
Four winning entries will be selected from each theme and will each receive a $50 gift certificate. GOOD LUCK!!!
 
 
PLANNED OFFICE CLOSINGS IN DECEMBER
In an effort to help our families plan, here are a list of dates, as of today, that we plan on closing the office in December. As always, when we are closed, Dr. McAllister is happy to have you page him by calling 508-747-8229, to address any urgent medical concerns.

Wednesday, December 5
Saturday, December 8
Sunday, December 9
Monday, December 24
Tuesday, December 25
Monday, December 31
 
In addition, we have a number of  half-days planned. All message left at 508-747-8277 will be returned within 24 hours. For anything more urgent, don't hesitate to have Dr. McAllister paged: 508-747-8229 (this number is on our main number recording in case you lose it).

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Terence R. McAllister, MD FAAPDr. Terence McAllister
508-747-8277