What You Didn't Know

To call or not to call that is the question. It's not the super-high temp or the bloody head bonk that trips us up. The less obvious situations are the ones that leave us wondering: To call a pediatrician or not? You want a clinic where you are treated as a caring parent, not an erring customer. You want a clinic where the staff is happy to see you, genuinely happy to help and sincere in the care they provide, make sure to contact that kind of pediatrician clinic Here.

Times When You Should ALWAYS Call

1. A fever that doesn't come down an hour after giving your child a pain reliever, such as ibuprofen.

2. A fever that responds to medicine, but hangs on for several days--or goes away and comes back a day or so later.

3. Abdominal pain, especially if it's on the right side. (This could be a sign of an inflamed appendix.)

4. An unexplained poor food intake with fever for two days or decreased urine for one day (or both).

5. Any difficulty swallowing. Your child could have something lodged in his throat or may be having an allergic reaction.

6. Headache that's accompanied by a fever or vomiting.

7. Any kind of rash or skin issue that makes you think "Eww, what is that?"

When something just isn't right. "Trust your gut and call," Dr. Emery says. "I would!"

More Info Here.

Bother?

Patients and co-workers often apologized for “bothering” their pediatricians or doctors. In Dr. Fitzgerald's essay, she writes about how she once instructed the nursing staff to contact her about any change in a terminal patient’s condition, but nobody called her when the patient died. “It was late last night, I didn’t want to bother you,’’ the nurse said. Dr. Fitzgerald says that when a patient calls, the conversation always starts with, “I hate to bother you, but …”

And she notes, with irony, that nobody ever apologizes when they notify her about an academic committee meeting she must attend. “Committees are important,’’ she writes.

“I tell my patients, residents and students that they should call me if they need me. They are not an interruption to my work; they are my work. In this sense, I can’t be ‘bothered’ by them. But a system and a culture designed to protect doctors from their patients assume I am bothered, and so give that same impression to those trying to reach me. This really bothers me.’’

Going to the ER, Urgent Care or Pediatrician

When your baby is sick or injured, the last thing you want to do is worry about whether to take them to the pediatrician, ER or urgent care. Here are a few tips to keep on hand and a guide you can follow when you need it most.

The first rule you should always follow when baby is sick or injured is “better safe than sorry.” That means call 911 and get the baby to the ER immediately if the illness or injury is serious or if you think it might be serious at all. The 911 operator can instruct you on the best course of action.

Other reasons to call 911 and get baby to the ER:

Head injury
A high fever that won’t go down (rectal temperature above 100.4°F or 38°C)
A temperature that drops too low (rectal temperature below 97.8°F or 36.5°C)
Extreme tiredness in baby, including difficulty waking
Bloody urine, stool or spit-up
Deep cuts or potentially broken bones
Unexplainable swelling, especially on the soft spot on top of baby’s head
Breathing problems such as rapid breathing or struggling to breathe

You can call your pediatrician or go to the ER, but you could also elect to go to an urgent care if you suspect baby has:

An ear infection
A severe cold or flu
Dehydration or diarrhea
Constant cough

You can go to an urgent care if you feel it’s necessary, but it’s generally okay to call your pediatrician and wait for an answer if baby:

Appears to feel unwell in general, with or without other symptoms such as a rash or runny nose
Is vomiting (not spitting up, which is common)
Does not have regular bowel movements
Has signs of a common cold
Has blood or pus around the navel, or if circumcised, around the penis
Is not responding normally to sounds or visual cues
Needs routine tests, shots or vaccinations
Requires a standard health exam

Regardless of what you decide to do when baby needs medical care, preparation for the situation will help you feel more in control and make the best choices. Here are some tips to stay prepared:

Keep copies of key information in your bags, cars and house with the names, phone numbers, addresses and directions to your pediatrician’s office, local urgent care and local ER.
Know what to do if you call your pediatrician’s office and the office is closed – for example, do they have an on-call doctor?
Have a pen and paper on hand for medical visits to the doctor, urgent care or ER – writing down instructions is a good way to remember the information during a stressful time.
Finally, make sure caregivers know where to find this information, too, and what you expect them to do in case of an emergency situation.

It’s also an important part of being prepared to talk to your doctor in advance about suggestions for what to do in emergency situations with the baby. Your doctor will know baby’s special situation, allergies and care needs and will give you the best advice.

Follow-up with your doctor

Remember, if you take the baby to the ER or urgent care, you need to call your doctor as soon as possible and report what happened. Give your baby’s pediatrician all the information you can, and ask him/her if you need to make a follow-up appointment for baby. This ensures your doctor can help you make the best healthcare choices for baby in the future.

Full Article Here.

Tips Before And During A Call To The Doctor

Your pediatrician may prefer that you call with general questions during office hours. Some offices, even have special "phone-in" times. Before you call, have a pen and paper ready to write down any instructions and questions. It's easy to forget things, especially if you are worried about your child. During the call make sure your child is near the phone, if possible, in case you need to answer any questions.

Also, be prepared to provide information about your child's health.

Fever
If you think your child has a fever, take your child's temperature before you call. If your child does have a fever, write down the temperature and time you took it.
Medical problems
Remind the doctor about past medical problems (such as asthma, seizures, or other conditions). He or she cares for many children each day and may not remember your child's health history.
Medicines
Be sure to mention if your child is taking any medicines, including prescription or nonprescription drugs, inhalers, supplements, vitamins, herbal products, or home remedies.
Immunizations
Keep immunization records at hand. These are especially helpful if your child has an injury that may require a tetanus shot or if pertussis (whooping cough) is in your community.
Pharmacy
Have the phone number of your pharmacy ready.

Always Be Ready

If the doctor or pediatrician needs to return your call, make sure you are available for a callback. Unblock your phone "call block," and keep phone lines open so that your pediatrician can return your call in a timely manner. Do not leave pager numbers. If you leave a cell phone number, be sure that you have your cell phone on and will be in an area where you can receive calls.

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"It burns when it goes down, it burns when it comes out," Dr. Rivera told KABC-TV. The War on Flamin' Hot Cheetos drags us far down that industrial slope: Pediatricians claim that this Red Menace is literally burning your children alive from within. Many kids want something exciting when they go and buy a snack from the vending machine, but when the pain is too much they never notify someone that something may be wrong.

Gastritis

Gastritis is described as an inflammation, erosion or irritation of the lining of the stomach. It can come on suddenly or very gradually. In some cases, gastritis can lead to ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer.

Left untreated, gastritis may lead to stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. Rarely, some forms of chronic gastritis may increase your risk of stomach cancer, especially if you have extensive thinning of the stomach lining and changes in the lining's cells.

Tell your doctor or pediatrician if the signs and symptoms aren't improving despite continuing treatment. For any questions or concerns make sure to check out Omega Pediatrics for quality service and medical needs Here.

From White Memorial Medical Center Dr. Martha Rivera has quoted on any given day, she sees five or more cases of kids with gastritis, due to eating spicy chips and candies. “We have a population who loves to eat the hot spicy, not real foods, and they come in with these real complaints,” she said.

After weeks of experiencing on-and-off stomach pain, 12-year-old Andrew Medina told his mom he needed to see a doctor. Medina eats bags of spicy chips and snacks on a regular basis. He estimated that he eats about 20-30 bags per month.

Gastritis Caused By Spicy Cheetos

Symptoms include:

• Gnawing or burning ache or pain (indigestion) in your upper abdomen

• A feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen after eating

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Bloating

• Hiccups

Doctors and pediatricians worldwide are claiming that hot Cheetos and other spicy snacks are causing preventable emergency room visits. Dr. Rivera explained that the artificially flavored spicy chips can increase acidity in the delicate lining of the stomach.

Flamin’ Hot Crunchy Cheetos are spicy enough to change the pH balance of a child’s stomach, which leads to developing gastritis.

Dr. Robert Glatter is an emergency room physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. He said he believed that the flavoring coating the chips and snacks could be what’s causing the stomach pH to change.

Glatter explained, “It’s almost like a food addiction. They seek out the burn…It’s like ‘how much can I tolerate?’ and I’ve seen a number of children who eat four or five bags and come in screaming in pain.

More Info Here.

So What Causes Your Reaction to Spicy Food?

We all react differently to spicy food. While some people relish the challenge of a tongue-meltingly hot curry, others will break into a hot flush at even a hint of chili in their meal.

This raises a lot of questions. What happens to your body to cause these reactions? Why does a spicy dish make you sweat, or have a bad stomach? Is spicy food good for you, or should you be wary of how much you include in your diet?

Many of the reactions we associate with spicy food can be traced back to chilli. Specifically, chilli peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which causes burning or irritation when it touches any surface containing nerve endings, such as the tongue.

A 2001 study by natural history professor Joshua Tewksbury revealed that capsaicin actually evolved as a way for chili peppers to keep mammals from eating them, instead encouraging birds to tuck in.

The reason for this is that birds tend to eat in such a way that the plant’s seeds will be dispersed over a wide area, whereas mammals tend to grind all the seeds in their molars, ruining any chance of them germinating.

The mammals’ taste buds couldn’t handle the capsaicin, whereas the taste buds of birds are not as sensitive to spice, allowing them to gorge away freely.

Of course, not all chilies are the same. There are many different varieties and some are naturally hotter than others. According to Guinness World Records, the hottest pepper in the world is the ominously named Carolina Reaper, which is around 3,200 times hotter than your average jalapeno!

 More Chili Info Here.

Digestion issues

Spicy food is often judged by the effect it has on the digestive system. Indeed, the perceived response a hot curry can provoke has given rise to phrases such as ‘Delhi belly’. But is spice really to blame for what’s brewing in your bowels?

A 2008 study in the British Medical Journal found that people with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease were more likely to be sensitive to spices. However, it’s important to note that many spicy dishes contain lots of ingredients, often including known triggers for digestion issues.

For example, red meat, dairy and other fatty foods could all be the cause of any bathroom-related consequences you experience as a result of eating spicy food.

You set up for ulcerations, erosions and so you can set up to get peptic ulcer disease in these children," Rivera warned.

Pediatricians nationwide claim the hot Cheetos and other spicy snacks are leading to unnecessary emergency room visits. Several school districts, including ones in Southern California have banned the snacks because they lack nutritional value.

But Rivera's main concern is how the artificially flavored spicy chips can easily increase acidity in the delicate lining of the stomach.

Rivera is not alone in her concern. One emergency room doctor says she's seen kids literally doubled over in pain, coming into the ER after downing several bags of spicy chips.

That's why in Rivera advises parents to sub out snacks like chips for string cheese. She also discourages giving kids money for after school snacks. Instead, save the money for something else. Several school districts have banned the snacks due to their poor nutritional content.

While Frito Lay has not responded to this recent issue, they did release a statement about the school bans. They said the company is “committed to responsible and ethical marketing practices, which includes not marketing our products to children ages 12 and under.”

Information Here.

Conclusion

In response to similar concerns targeted at the Lay company, they have responded that it is "committed to responsible and ethical marketing practices, which includes not marketing our products for children ages 12 and under."