Author : Eva Alessia, D.O.

Eva Alessia, D.O.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS, is the leading cause of death in infants one to 12 months of age and most common in the one to four months age group. It is not known exactly what causes SIDS, but it is not because of vaccinations or choking/vomiting. It is thought that babies who die from SIDS are not getting enough oxygen or are re-breathing carbon dioxide that collects around their noses because of bedding around their face.

There are some things that can increase your child’s risk of SIDS:

1. Being too hot. The baby should be dressed comfortably, but should not get overheated.
2. Having additional items in the crib, besides the baby. This includes blankets, comforters, pillows, stuffed animals, toys, even bumper pads! Sleep positioners or wedges are also not recommended.

What can you do to decrease the risk of SIDS for your child?

1. Use a firm mattress in the crib.
2. Give the baby a pacifier; pacifiers actually keep your child’s airway open.
3. Place the baby on his/her back for sleep. Since the Back to Sleep recommendation started in 1992, there has been a 50% reduction in SIDS deaths. That’s amazing! Supervised tummy time when mom or dad is awake is fine; stomach sleeping when everyone else is sleeping  is not a good idea. Even side sleeping is not recommended. Sometimes, those babies get enough momentum and can flip onto their stomachs.
   Back is best — keep those little ones safe!  Learn more at http://www.cdc.gov/sids/

Eva Alessia, D.O.

It’s summertime, even though the outside temperature may not reflect it!  Even in summer, kids can get sick.  A common summertime illness is Hand Foot and Mouth (HFM).  It has no relation to Hoof and Mouth.  HFM is caused by a virus, usually Coxsackie A-16.

Children age 6 months to 4 years old are most susceptible, but it can happen in any age.  Fever can be present, generally not more than 102° F.  Small blisters or red spots can happen on the palms, soles and buttocks, but sometimes you can see them on other areas of the body.  Small ulcers in the mouth are typical.  Because of the ulcers, the child may not want to eat solid foods. Sometimes, the ulcers are so severe that the child doesn’t even want to drink!  It is rare, but a child may need to be admitted to the hospital for dehydration.

Recovery from HFM takes about 7 to 10 days.  The main things for parents to do are to encourage drinking fluids, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain. Sometimes, your child’s doctor may recommend “Magic Mouthwash” – a 1:1 ratio of Maalox or Mylanta and liquid diphenydramine (Benadryl).  It is generally given four times a day and your child’s doctor will tell you the dose/amount.  HFM can be contagious; it is most contagious before the rash pops up, so the “damage is done” before you even know that your child is sick.  Once the fever breaks, the child is no longer contagious and can return to daycare or camp.  Good hand washing is the main way to prevent infection.

For more information, please visit www.healthychildren.org

Have a healthy summer!

Eva Alessia, D.O.

Now that nice weather is here (and hopefully stays!), it is time to get outside and cut that green grass. Here are some lawnmower safety tips to keep your children and family safe:

• Keep children indoors or at a safe distance from the area being mowed.
• Clear your lawn of anything that could be thrown by the mower, such as stones, twigs, toys, etc.
• NEVER allow children to ride as passengers on riding mowers or lawn tractors.
• Make sure any attachments on the mower are on properly.
• Do not mow the lawn during thunderstorms/bad weather, if grass is wet or if there isn’t enough daylight to see properly.
• If the mower is electric, plug it in to a GFCI outlet.
• Wear closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops!) with slip-proof soles, close fitting clothing, safety glasses and hearing protection.
• Look for hidden objects in tall grass.
• If you do hit something, turn the mower off before inspecting for damage, the object, etc.
• Also turn the mower off when removing the catcher, unclogging the chute, crossing paths and roads, and walking away from the mower.
• Be cautious when going around trees, the house, anything that may block your view.
• Do not mow backwards/in reverse.
• On slopes, mow across with a push mower, so you don’t slip under the mower. Mow up and down with a riding mower, so the mower doesn’t tip over.
• Trimmers can also throw objects at a high speed.
• Children should be 12 years old to operate a push mower and 16 years old to operate a riding mower. Have them watch you initially a couple times and then supervise them until you are sure they can be left alone.

Stay safe and have a great summer!

Reference: www.healthychildren.org

Eva Alessia, D.O.

Springtime is finally here! We made it! For some, spring is not a fun time of the year. They are the allergy sufferers among us. Pollen from trees is the most common springtime allergen. Grasses cause summer/fall allergies and weeds cause fall allergies. Some have symptoms all year round; these are caused by indoor allergens, such as dust, mold and pets.

Symptoms associated with allergies include:

• Repeated or chronic cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and throat clearing, that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year
• Nasal swelling and congestion
• Nose rubbing, sniffling, snorting, sneezing, or drippy nose
• Itchy nose
• Postnasal drip
• Itchy, runny, or red eyes
• Puffiness around the eyes
• Itchy ear canals
• Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth and throat
• Coughing, wheezing, difficulty (such as rapid breathing or shortness of breath), and other respiratory symptoms
• Hacking dry cough or cough that produces clear mucus
• Feeling of tightness in the chest
• Low exercise tolerance
• Eczema (patches of itchy, red skin rash)
• Hives (welts)
• Headache
• Feelings of restlessness, irritability
• Excessive fatigue

So, what can you do to prevent, or at least minimize allergy exposure? Here are some tips:

• Keep windows closed during the pollen season, especially on dry, windy days when pollen counts are highest
• Keep the house clean and dry to reduce mold and dust mites
• Avoid having pets and indoor plants
• Avoid those things that you know cause allergic reactions in your child
• Prevent anyone from smoking anywhere near your child, especially in your home and car
• Minimize clutter that can attract dust
• Remove carpets
• Encase pillows and mattress in allergen-proof covering
• Wash bedding every week in hot water (more than 130°F)
• Change furnace/air conditioner filters regularly
• Use dehumidifier to reduce humidity
• Shower after working outside

Medications to manage allergy symptoms include antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra), nasal sprays (Nasacort, Flonase, Nasonex, Rhinocort, etc), Singulair, and some others.

Some allergy suffers may need “allergy shots”. Rush-Copley Medical Group offers allergy evaluation and treatment in Aurora and Yorkville.

Here’s to a sneeze-free season.  Enjoy spring!

During the cold months, a common illness is strep throat. Strep throat is caused by a bacteria and is most common in children aged two years and older. Don’t be fooled though: Strep can happen anytime of the year and at any age. It is spread through coughing, sneezing and close contact, such as sharing cups, utensils, etc.

Symptoms of strep are fever, chills, painful/swollen/red tonsils and throat, pain with difficulty in swallowing, swollen glands of the neck or under the jaw, headache, stomach ache, nausea/vomiting. Seeing pus or white dots doesn’t mean that it is strep; that can be seen with viruses as well. If you see red dots (petechiae) on the roof of the mouth, it almost always is strep.

Some kids never have a sore throat; they just complain of headache, stomach ache, etc. Others may have a red, rough rash that may itch. This is scarlet fever. It is essentially strep of the skin. The rash feels like fine-grain sandpaper and looks like a sunburn.

We recommend that strep be treated with antibiotics. In rare instances, strep may affect other parts of the body, such as the kidneys. Penicillin is the recommended antibiotic, though we may prescribe amoxicillin (it tastes better!). Zithromax and Omnicef are good choices for those allergic to penicillin.

It is a good idea to replace your toothbrush in one to two days after starting the antibiotic, so your child is not reinfected. Your child can return to school after being on the antibiotic for 24 hours and fever free for 24 hours.

Learn more about strep at http://www.rushcopley.com/health/healthwise/document-viewer/?id=hw54745