GOOD NEWS ABOUT THUMB SUCKING AND NAIL BITING

Get your fingers out of your mouth!” How often do we say that? You may want to bite your own tongue now.

A study from New Zealand revealed that children who bite their nails or suck their thumbs have a significantly lower risk of asthma, allergies and eczema. Not only is that true in childhood, but they evaluated adults up to 32 years and the relationship held.

Interestingly, an earlier study showed that mothers who sucked their child’s pacifier clean also had a lower risk of developing allergies.

This makes sense when you are familiar with the “hygiene hypothesis” which holds that the fewer microbes children are exposed to the more conditions including allergies they are susceptible to.

COMMENT:

When I was growing up there was a saying that you need to eat “a peck of dirt a year”.  It make sense.

GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE HPV VACCINE

The vaccine against human papillomavirus, or the HPV vaccine, is turning out to be even more effective than it was originally thought.

After almost 10 years of vaccination, the number of cervical cancers and precancerous lesions has been reduced by 50%.  In addition, the vaccine appears to protect from types of HPV species that are not included in the vaccine.

Although the recommendation has been for 3 doses, it appears that children are protected after only two. The current recommendation is for 2 doses.

There are 2 reasons to vaccinate by age 14: not only is the immune response to the vaccine better at a younger age but the idea is to protect women and men long before exposure.

COMMENT:

Do not Google the vaccine. The internet is rife with statements that are not scientific, scary, and just wrong. The vaccine does not cause any serious side effects, although when a child develops something after a vaccine a parent tends to blame the vaccine. The MMR and autism is an example of that.

You should consider the hpv vaccine just as routine as a tetanus shot. In addition, it is the only anti-cancer vaccine we have and you should protect your child.

FLU VACCINE DURING PREGNANCY PROTECTS INFANTS

A study from Utah examined mothers and infants who delivered between 2005 and 2014. Infants under 6 months are especially prone to complications of flu such as pneumonia and encephalitis.   

A mere 10% of women obtained flu vaccine during pregnancy. However, among those who received the vaccine while pregnant, there was a 70% reduction in flu among their infants and 81 % reduction in hospitalization of their infants in the first 6 months.

COMMENT:

We receive our flu vaccine usually in September. We cannot immunize infants as they emerge from the womb, so this gives a measure of protection. If you are pregnant during that time, please get the vaccine to make sure your unborn infant is protected.

May 7, 2016

THREE WARNINGS: EPI PENS, FLAMING HOT CHEETOS AND CONTAMINATION OF POWDERED FORMULA

If your child is under 35 pounds, there may not be enough muscle mass in the thigh to make sure the epipen injects into the muscle. There have been reports of the needle coming out bent, which means it can hit bone. If it does, the injection is not as effective.

If your child is small, before you inject, squeeze the muscle, being careful not to inject your own fingers.

Flamin’ hot snack foods are popular with kids and are sending children and teens to emergency rooms. When the hot chips reach the stomach, they cause pain which releases endorphins, which leads to a feeling of pleasure. That is the way they become addictive.

The problem is they can cause gastritis and even ulcers, not to mention the fat and calories that are added to a diet. If your children eat them, please limit their intake or be conscious when they complain of a stomachache that it could be from the hot snack.

Powdered formula and powdered milk are not sterile and lately have been found to harbor a bacterium called Cronobacter. Adults do not get sick from this germ, but infants can be seriously affected. Although it can come from the factory, it is just as likely to be contaminated at home.

Liquid formula is sterile so for a newborn in the first two months of life choose a liquid formula. For older infants, mix the formula under very clean conditions and use it within 2 hours. Whatever is left should be thrown out.