Take Home Pediatrics

Here is what's happening in the baby world today:

• High blood pressure in children ➡️ low cardiac function in adulthood

• Climate change is worsening seasonal allergies!

• Fevers make you stronger 🤯

• Procrastination starts young (keep an eye on your three year olds)

High blood pressure has traditionally been considered a medical issue affecting adults and can result in complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. BUT a new study shows that we need to keep an eye on our kiddos. Early onset high blood pressure in children has been linked to increased adult complications. Annual visits are typically sufficient, but more frequent checks may be necessary in certain cases. Check out the normal blood pressure ranges here.

Climate change is bad (and we all know that already). But now it is coming after our children noses 👃. Seasonal allergies, such as itchy eyes, a runny nose, and a cough, make it difficult to enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately, with climate change, the outlook for seasonal allergies is not good. Pollen seasons are expected to start earlier, last longer, and produce higher levels of pollen. These tips can help you and your kid fight the allergies. First, it's essential to monitor the pollen count in your area and stay indoors if levels are high. Additionally, if your child plays outside, make sure they take a bath immediately afterward, and avoid leaving windows and doors open. There are also several allergy medications and nasal sprays available that you can discuss with your doctor. Be aware of the signs of environmental allergies, which can include sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and nose, wheezing, scratchy or sore throat, rash, and even fatigue. If your symptoms persist or do not resolve, seek medical attention. Don't let seasonal allergies prevent you from enjoying the 🌸beauty of spring🌸.

Fever-reducing medications are being overused!! Here is a study showing many parents use medicine when they are not even needed. When our children have fevers, it can be a cause of concern for parents. However, it's essential to remember that a fever is our body's natural response to fight infection or inflammation, and we don't always need to treat a low-grade temperature. It's important to teach parents how to take a proper temperature and when it's appropriate to treat a fever. However, if your child is less than three months old or has a history of febrile seizures, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention from a healthcare provider.

Procrastinating 3 year olds or terrible 2s, take your pick 👶😬. Personally, I'd take a crying two year old because this goes away, but procrastination could stay forever. Procrastination is not just a quality that develops in adolescents or adults; signs of it can appear as early as three years old. Children at this age may procrastinate in tasks such as cleaning up, following a bedtime routine, or during mealtimes. As a parent, there are several ways you can tackle this behavior. First, show your child that the task is not difficult by breaking it down into smaller steps. Engage with them during the task and help them get started. You can also discuss with them what the outcome would be if the task is not completed. Finally, praise your child for completing the task to encourage positive behavior. While addressing procrastination at an early age may help prevent it from becoming a habit, whether or not it persists into adolescence is a topic for further study.

🚨RECALLS AND ALERTS🚨

•  Gluten free brownie brittle

• ATV

Dear Dr. Bhumi, my one month old baby still has some crossing of his eyes. Is that normal?

Dear Reader, there are tiny muscles that control the movement of the eye, and just like newborn and infants' neck muscle, these muscles have to gain strength. Typically you can see occasional crossing of the eyes through 4 months of age. If you still notice crossing after 4-6 months of age, then your child will need to get evaluated by an pediatric eye specialist. This misalignment of the eyes is called strabismus. Treatment is necessary because our eyes work in coordination with our brain. If they are not aligned, the child will experience blurry vision, and the straight eye will become dominant. The misaligned eye will not form proper connections with the brain, and if left untreated, the child may have double or blurry vision. Treatment includes glasses, eye patching, eye drops or surgery. Prescription eyeglasses can often correct the misalignment. Eye patching involves covering the strong eye for several hours a day to force the weaker or turned eye to become stronger and see clearly. Both options can be challenging, so allowing the child to pick out their own glasses or fun decorated patch may help. If the patching is not an option, eye drops can be administered to the strong eye to reduce or blur the vision. This forces the weaker eye to work harder and connect with the brain. As the ophthalmologist follows your child , last option may be surgery if no improvement. Optimal results come from early intervention so seek medical attention if you notice eyes crossing after 4-6 months of age.

SPORTS INJURY PREVENTION🎾🏈🏀

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