Category : Uncategorized

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

Vrinda Kumar, M.D.

Eczema is a general term used to describe an inflammation of the skin with can cause itching, oozing, weeping, crusting or scaling. Even though there are several different kinds of eczema, in a pediatrician’s office, you will often hear the terms “eczema” and “atopic dermatitis” used interchangeably. The symptoms of eczema are caused by a combination of inflammation, as well as a defect in the layers of the skin that are supposed to protect the skin from irritants/bacteria and keep skin moisturized. The result is VERY ITCHY SKIN!

Signs and symptoms of eczema generally show up in infancy or toddlerhood. It also tends to run in families. Most people outgrow it by age 10, but a certain percentage of people will continue to have flares throughout adulthood. It tends to be a chronic issue for most people, which means it can come and go for several years.

The most common places on the body to get eczema in infants is on the cheeks and scalp. For toddlers and older children, it tends to affect the creases behind the elbow, behind the knee, legs, and neck. It can look red, dry, dark brown, “goose-bumpy”, scaly, and can cause skin darkening or even skin lightening in some people. People with atopic dermatitis are at higher likelihood of having allergies (food and environmental) and asthma.

There are some things that can trigger eczema flares or make them worse, and these things should be avoided by people with eczema. These include:

• Skin irritants such as dyes and fragrances in skin products
• Certain foods like dairy, nuts, eggs, soy, wheat, especially if the person has an allergy to these foods
• Extremes of temperature and humidity
• Stress
• Hormones (especially in women)
• Illnesses (for example, colds and respiratory infections)

There is no specific test to diagnose eczema, nor is there a cure. The key to managing eczema is to keep the skin well moisturized, keep the itching at bay for the comfort of the patient, and decreasing the inflammation of the skin. Also, skin that is affected by eczema is more prone to getting infected with bacteria, so it is important to watch for signs of infection.

The mainstays of managing eczema and avoiding flares include:

• Avoiding irritants or known allergens that may trigger flares (use unscented, dye-free skin products, soaps, lotions, laundry detergents)
• Keeping the skin well moisturized with a thick emollient, and applying it when the skin is still damp (like after a bath)
• Using over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory creams (as recommended by your doctor!), such as hydrocortisone, Desonide, Triamcinolone, or other anti-inflammatory creams/ointments that may be given by your physician depending on the severity of the eczema
• Trying to control the itch by either cool compresses or an oral antihistamine (also, only if recommended by your physician!)
• Antibiotics if the skin gets infected.
• Wear natural, soft fibers such as cotton (avoid itchy wool!)

Interesting fact: some recent studies have shown that introducing fish into a child’s diet before age 12 months can reduce the risk that the child will develop eczema or wheezing in later months!

Eczema can usually be diagnosed by a physician by simply looking at the rash in the office. Sometimes, allergy testing is performed in children to figure out potential allergic triggers that may be exacerbating the eczema. In more serious cases of eczema, your physician may choose to refer you to a specialist for further treatment (dermatologist or an allergist).

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!

Nicole Keller, D.O.

Medicine is an ever changing topic. We are constantly learning new things that make us change our old recommendations. I’m sure to parents with multiple kids, it may seem frustrating to have been told one thing with your first child and then given a new piece of advice with the next. We promise we’re not trying to be wishy-washy, rather, we want to make sure we give you the best and most updated recommendations at all times! Sometimes doctors even need to update each other to make sure we are staying on top of new developments as well.

Regarding this, I read a great article in the Chicago Tribune back in early January (1/9/2015 to be exact) written by Danielle Braff detailing some of the newer pediatric recommendations out there. The article really did a good job of dispersing needed updates on important topics. So for this blog, I’d like to detail some of these recommendations for you if you haven’t already heard them at your child’s most recent doctor’s visit.

1. Children need to be in a rear-facing car seat until 2 years of age.

The old recommendation and Illinois law state that kids should be rear facing until they are one year old, but, we have found keeping kids rear facing as long as possible is the safest thing to do. Make sure that your child is within the limits for their car seat’s height and weight restrictions in addition to following this prolonged rear-facing rule.

2. There are little to no food restrictions when starting your baby on foods at 6 months of age.

There are two new recommendations here: the first is to start solid foods at six months of age instead of at four months like you might have previously heard. This decreases the risk of multiple infections and makes sure your baby is developmentally ready to swallow thicker foods as well. Secondly, you don’t have to start with just cereal anymore – fruits, veggies, even meats are OK as long as they are pureed and given one ingredient at a time. In addition, there is no need to wait to offer allergenic foods (like peanut butter, eggs, strawberries, etc) – as long as the food isn’t a choking hazard, feel free to offer it! Please make sure to offer one ingredient at a time and wait two to three days before introducing a new ingredient. That way, in case there is a reaction to a food, we know what it is from. Lastly, still no honey should be offered until one year of age.

3. As soon as your child has teeth, you can brush them twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

We used to say that young children shouldn’t have fluoride in their toothpaste for risk of overdosing on the fluoride since they don’t know how to spit. The thing is, you would have to consume A LOT of fluoride for that to happen. Infants three years and younger  should have a grain of rice size amount of toothpaste. Children older than three can have a pea-sized amount. Speaking of dental hygiene, pregnant women can and should continue to get dental work during their pregnancy – it is safe and highly recommended to keep your oral cavity clean and free of germs that may travel to the rest of the body.

4. You can use tap water to mix formula and to offer your child to drink.

We used to say that bottled water or nursery water was the better water to use for babies. Now, though, the recommendation is that tap water is safe to use – and better because of the fluoride found in it. The only exception to this rule may be if you are on well water. Then you should have your water tested to make sure it has safe amounts of minerals for your child to consume. If you aren’t sure, you can always boil your tap water and wait for it to cool before using it for your child. Remember, free water shouldn’t be given to babies until they are six months old unless your pediatrician suggests it.

5. Picky eaters may always be picky, so make sure you start them right with a healthy variety of foods in infancy.

New research has told us that many children don’t outgrow their picky eating habits that they develop in the toddler years. For this reason, it is especially important to start your children eating a healthy variety of foods. When kids don’t have these healthy fruits, vegetables, meats and starches as babies or young infants, it is less likely they’ll like them as older kids. It can take kids multiple attempts to like a food – so keep trying! Sometimes it can take 12 to 20 times of tasting a food before we know for sure they don’t like it. Wait a couple weeks, and then go for it again!

I hope this has helped clear up some of the new recommendations in the childhood years. As always, make sure to talk to your pediatrician if you aren’t sure if something is right for you, your child or your family.  Cheers!