They Say: Swine Flu — Much Ado About Nothing

When I asked our kids’ pediatrician about the swine flu vaccine, he said that it was up to us, but that he wasn’t getting it.  That’s telling, given that we figure he’s about 90 years old — he was my wife’s pediatrician too — and is thus a prime candidate.  He said felt that the government and the media had made more of the disease than was appropriate.  Given that he’s been practicing for more than 50 years, I tend to listen when he says something.  But lest you think he’s been practicing a little too long, he is not alone in his assessment of the situation.
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How to Treat the Flu and Cabin Fever

It seems to be a little early this year, but the Sickie Season is upon us. Aside from some persistent sniffles, my family is doing OK, but swine flu has hit not too far from me and schools are closing because tons of kids are out with it. Based on my Facebook feed, lots of other people are battling the plain old seasonal flu, and it seems to be an especially nasty strain this year.

One of the keys to everybody staying healthy is for people to stay home when they are sick — and that doesn’t mean “I’ll keep the kids home from school and activities but let’s just head out for a quick run to Target.” It means nothing, nada, no visitors, no fun, just staying home and keeping your germs to yourself. Which sucks, especially when you’re dealing with active little kids. Continue reading »

Pet Turtles Still Making Kids Sick

Despite the fact that selling small turtles as pets was banned in the U.S. in 1975, people are still getting them.  And kids are still getting very sick from them.

The sale of small turtles was banned because they can carry salmonella in their feces, which can easily spread to people when the turtles are handled. The ban applies to turtles smaller than 4 inches in diameter because experts believe that kids are more likely to put those in their mouths than larger turtles.  However, any infected turtle can spread the salmonella strain to other turtles during shipping, resulting in widespread contamination.  That, say experts, is the likely explanation for a recent outbreak of turtle-related salmonella cases. Continue reading »

Ear Infections - When Do They Need Antibiotics?

When my girls were two and four, I took them to an urgent care clinic one weekend after their fevers — which had been gone for two days following dual ear infections — suddenly spiked.  I wasn’t looking for antibiotics, I was looking for reassurance that they hadn’t developed something nasty.  What I got was a stern lecture on antibiotic abuse, a pamphlet repeating the lecture, and a bill for $50.

I was annoyed — he didn’t even examine my kids, after all, and he was really condescending.  But that hard line on antibiotic use seems to taming our country’s unhealthy habit of prescribing antibiotics for what’s usually a viral illness.

With cold and flu season just around the corner, it’s a good time to review exactly when to see your doctor when your child develops an ear infection.

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Kids Sicken as Family Discovers their Home used to be a Meth House

Josh Anderson / The New York Times / Redux

Rhonda and Jason Holt had no idea why their three children, all under the age of 5, had repertory problems and required many drugs and hospital visits. In addition to Rhonda’s migraines and Jason’s kidney troubles, the illnesses were completely mysterious.

Until, that is, the Holt’s discovered the secret behind the walls of their home.

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Child Lives with 2 Hearts for 10 Years

When Hannah Clark of Wales was just two years old doctors transplanted a second heart into the girl to make up for the original heart’s inability to function. For 10 years the second heart beat but in that time Hannah developed tumors and could no longer take the immunosuppressive drugs that prevented her body from rejecting the donor heart.

The only choice the doctors had was to remove the working heart. Continue reading »

John Travolta May Leave Scientology over Son’s Death

Many former Scientologists suspect the fallout over his son’s death may draw John Travolta from out of the Religion’s fold (all apologies to those who do not believe Scientology earns the moniker “religion”). This belief is based on whether or not Travolta will ultimately blame his faith for the death of his son. Travolta’s son, Jet, suffered from autism and his demise was pinned on a seizure disorder. Scientology does not recognize autism as a medical condition and therefore denounces the use of medication (or medication for any psychological disorder: see Tom Cruise’s castigation of Brooke Shields for medicating her post partum depression). Continue reading »

It’s a Party! A Swine Flu Party!

This is one soiree that I would not want to attend. A swine flu party. Apparently there has been talk that swine flu parties are being arranged to expose children to the H1N1 virus early –and giving the kid immunity - before the strain becomes more virulent later on. This would be in the same vein as a classic chicken pox or a measles party.  What do doctors think of this type of event planning? Continue reading »