Tag Archives: Kids health questions

Number of U.S. Kids Injured on Halloween Is Scary

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This is a press release from the NIH (National Institute of Health) which I thought was quite relevant for all of us parents.  Have a happy and safe Halloween! ~ Nurse Mommy

Children at 4 times the risk of being hit by a car on Oct. 31 than any other night, experts warn

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

SUNDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) — Children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween night than on any other night of the year, according to experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition, the researchers warned that eye trauma from sharp objects and burns from flammable costumes are also common Halloween injuries.

“Children should be out having fun and spending time with family and friends. They should not have to spend Halloween in the ER because of some injury that could have been easily prevented,” Dr. Sandra Schneider, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said in an ACEP news release.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 40 million kids aged 5 to 14 will be keeping up the tradition of knocking on doors on Halloween.

When planning for the big night, the ACEP offers the following tips to adults to help them protect kids from frightful injuries:

  • Local community centers, shopping malls or schools should be encouraged to organize Halloween festivities that allow kids to “trick-or-treat” without walking outside in the dark.
  • If kids do go out at night, make sure they stick to the sidewalks and obey traffic signals.
  • Remind children to stay together in a group with at least one adult chaperone.
  • Be sure children are aware of the potential dangers from strangers, and remind them to stay in familiar areas.
  • Avoid masks that block children’s vision and costumes that could cause them to trip, such as baggy pants and high heels.
  • Make sure costume fabrics and accessories are made of flame-resistant materials, such as nylon or polyester.
  • Keep kids away from candlelit Jack-O-Lanterns.
  • Inspect all candy before children eat it and dispose of anything not in a sealed wrapper.
  • Bring a flashlight while trick-or-treating to increase visibility.
  • Costume accessories, such as wands and swords, should be made from safe, flexible materials and not have any sharp edges.

SOURCE: American College of Emergency Physicians, news release, Oct. 3, 2011 (National Institute of Health)

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Infant Skin Conditions

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previously published in KC Baby magazine (fall issue 2011)

by Stacey Hatton, RN

When you first look at your newborn’s face, a parent only sees perfection. But then after you know your child is healthy and all body parts and digits are accounted for, details may start getting noticed and the questions start popping out. There are numbers of rashes and skin conditions that can worry even the seasoned parent, so it is a good idea to know what is normal for your infant and what deserves a call to your primary provider.

Birthmarks

The majority are not problematic. A number of birthmarks develop after birth; some will fade, and others are permanent. “Stork bites” or “angel kisses” are other names for these marks that often appear, especially on fair-skinned infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that “you consult your doctor if you notice that a birthmark develops ‘knots’ or is growing rapidly. Red birthmarks, or hemangiomas, around the eye or that develop sores also require attention.”

Cradle Cap

This condition comprises yellow, crusty or scaly areas on the newborn’s scalp. It’s not contagious and can clear up on its own. If treatment is recommended, shampoo baby’s scalp once daily with mild baby shampoo. Also, gently loosen crusty areas with a soft-bristle brush while wet, before rinsing. “ If the scales are stubborn,” says the AAP, “ rub a few drops of mineral oil onto the scalp, let sit, and then brush and shampoo the baby’s hair. If cradle cap persists, your pediatrician may recommend an adult dandruff shampoo.” Don’t scrub too vigorously or bleeding can occur and you don’t want to press on the infant’s soft spot.

Dry Skin

Christy, a Kansas City mom of one, says her daughter had a pimple-like rash just on her upper arms. “The pediatrician said it was dry skin; and she probably won’t have acne since her skin is more dry and not oily,” Christy says.

Jaundice

Nemours Foundation says, “A yellowish discoloration of the skin and white parts of the eyes is a common condition that normally doesn’t appear until the second or third day after birth and disappears within 1 to 2 weeks.” Jaundice occurs from too much bilirubin collecting in the body and the liver’s inability to effectively clear it out. It’s a serious condition and must be closely monitored by the baby’s doctor.

Miliaria

These common small, raised, white bumps on the chin, nose or cheeks will disappear within a few weeks. Baby acne consists of red or white bumps on the forehead or cheeks. Baby acne appears later, after the first 3 to 4 weeks and is related to hormonal changes which stimulate oil glands. Sometimes this indicates a hormonal problem, but rarely. Wash your baby’s face with water daily, avoiding soaps and lotions, and never pinch or break open the bumps. The AAP says, “If baby acne doesn’t clear up within three months, tell your pediatrician.” Julie, Overland Park mom of three, says that her firstborn developed baby acne. “I was very concerned. So I ‘Googled’ it and read it was from hormones leaving the mom and was worried that it was all my fault,” she says. “Then I talked to some friends and they convinced me it was normal and I felt a lot better.”

Port-wine stains

These sometimes large, flat, purple-reddish birthmarks don’t always go away by themselves. The mark is commonly found on the base of the skull and rarely causes problems. If the mark is more invasive, a dermatologist may need to be contacted for various removal procedures. Karen, a mother of two from Lawrence, says, “My daughter had one over her eye and one on the upper lip. I had never seen these and I was horrified because I thought it was permanent. I was holding the baby in the hospital and crying and the pediatrician walked in and said those marks will disappear,” Karen says. “They all faded, but still reappear with crying fits or a fever.”

The key to keeping your infant’s skin healthy is to wash it gently with mild or natural products. Your pediatrician should have suggestions for you. Anything that says “for sensitive skin” is great for all babies. They all have sensitive skin and as always, if you are concerned, call your baby’s doctor.

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric RN and freelance writer who is glad the scaly “picking” days of cradle cap are over.

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Got Lice?

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previously published in KC Parent magazine in the September 2011 issue

Whether you have them, are treating them or just reading this article, I bet your head starts itching and your face contorts into unphotographic poses by the end.

Even though the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says, “Head lice are not a health hazard or a sign of poor hygiene, and are not responsible for the spread of any disease,” the public still dreads talking about it.

“No healthy child should be excluded from or miss school because of head lice,” says the AAP and advocates that “no-nit policies for return to school should be abandoned. Your child can return to childcare or school after one treatment with anti-lice shampoo.”

Treatment:
As always, check with your medical provider first for advice. Over-the-counter treatments are effective, but it’s mandatory you follow directions explicitly. Also, do NOT over treat. Studies show if some treatments are overused, pests can develop resistance to some of the medications.

Leslie, an Overland Park mom, said she recently had lice in her home. She was brushing her daughter’s hair and saw a louse “moving really fast. I put it on a piece of tape and took it to a practitioner who agreed to start treatment.” Leslie suspected her daughter might have picked it up from sharing t-ball helmets, so she notified the team.

Then she used one of the common lice elimination systems containing shampoo, comb-out gel and the home control spray. Luckily, says Leslie, “It was only a mild case and no one else got it.”

  • Wash all bed linens and clothing that’s been recently worn by anyone in your home who’s infested in very hot water (130° F), then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.
  • Have bed linens, clothing and stuffed animals and plush toys that can’t be washed put in airtight bags for two weeks.
  • Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture (home/car).

(Nemours Foundation)

Lice Facts:

  • The nits (eggs) hatch into lice in one week.
  • Off the scalp, nits can’t survive more than two weeks.
  • Adult lice survive three weeks on the scalp or 24 hours off scalp.
  • A louse is the size of a sesame seed.
  • Live lice can transmit lice to another child.
  • Transmission is from direct head-to-head contact. Lice cannot jump or fly to another person’s hair.
  • Transmission of lice occurs at home, not school or other public places. Sleepovers and bed-sharing are major sources.

(AAP, July 2010)

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric RN and freelance writer.

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