Newsletter Fall/Winter 2008
Posted on Sep 22, 2008
2008(3)
Greetings from Lake Forest Pediatrics
It is our privilege to bring you another edition of the Lake Forest Pediatric Associates newsletter. Our hope is that you will learn something new with each publication. We try to provide timely and seasonally informative topics. Should there be a topic you would like reviewed, please let us know. In fact, this issue’s Hot Topic was a request.
We are featuring Melissa Roedl, our referral coordinator in this issue. She has been with Lake Forest Pediatrics for ten years.
The PNP Pointers topic for this issue is School Backpacks.
Our Hot Topic for this newsletter is Plastics and Bisphenol A.
Finally, the Myth vs. Fact deals with cough, its treatment, and the role of honey.
Please visit our website. It offers many facts and helpful tips to aid in the health management of your child.
As always, should you have any comments, please feel free to notify us. Thank you for trusting us with the healthcare of your children.
Myth versus Fact - Honey helps a cough. As Fall is here and winter is approaching, the viruses that cause the common cold will be coming too. One of the most frustrating symptoms of the common cold is the cough that keeps children (and their parents) from getting a restful night’s sleep. Recently, the over- the-counter medications have been taken off the market for children under two years of age due to safety concerns. The FDA has recently recommended that cough medicines not be given to children under age six and the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support using dextromethorphan (the most common ingredient in cough preparations) in children. So, how can a parent provide relief for a child’s nighttime cough? Honey has been used to provide relief for children of all cultures throughout the world. The World Health Organization cites honey as treatment for cough in children. A recent study compared dark buckwheat honey to dextromethorphan and placebo and found that this honey was the most effective for cough frequency and severity, cough bothersome to the child, and overall improvement in sleep for both the child and parent. Of interest, dextromethorphan was no better than placebo. In other words, children who took cough preparations containing dextromethorphan did not fare any better than those taking no medicine at all.
Please note, honey should not be given to infants under one year of age due to concerns of botulism. For children over one year, consider a dose of honey before bed to ease nighttime cough: ½ teaspoon for 1-5 year olds, 1 teaspoon for 6-11 year olds, and 2 teaspoons 12 years and older. Remember, this study looked at dark buckwheat honey, though other types of honey still may be effective against cough. So, Myth versus Fact? Does honey help? According to the authors in this study – Fact. Give it a try.
(Reference: Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Vol 12, Dec 2007.
PNP POINTERS - From the desk of a pediatric nurse practitioner
We thought we would review backpacks and backpack safety as the 2008 school year moves forward.
When Purchasing a backpack
Search for wide padded straps which help to distribute the weight of the backpack more evenly.
Multiple compartments for smaller items also help to distribute the weight better.
Choose the smallest backpack that accommodates your child’s books, notebooks, and other supplies. The backpack should not be wider than your child’s torso.
Pick the backpack made of the lightest materials. Nylon or canvas seems to be the best.
Some backpacks are on wheels, which clearly are the best for one’s back. Check with your school first to see if these are allowed.
Wearing the backpack
Adjust the straps to a snug fit.
Use both shoulder straps.
Place the heaviest items in the backpack first, closest to the back.
Keep it light. The packed backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of the child’s body weight.
Taken from MayoClinic.com Tools for healthier lives, 2007.
LFP PROFILE
Melissa Roedl has been with Lake Forest Pediatrics for ten years. Her role is that of referral coordinator. With the many complexities of today’s insurance companies and policies, it is important to have a liaison between our office and your insurance company. Melissa performs this role expertly. If your child needs to see a specialist, and your insurance requires a referral, Melissa handles all the necessary phone calls and paperwork to facilitate it. She also coordinates the ordering of Synagis, an injection for certain qualifying premature infants as well as nebulizer machines and accessories. Melissa graduated from Grant Community High School in Fox Lake and attended College of Lake County. Her hobbies include camping, hiking, concerts and running. She will be participating in her first 5K race to support breast cancer in the Fall. Melissa is married and has two children, Charlie and Ethan.
LFP HOT TOPIC-PLASTICS AND BISPHENOL A
Plastic is a widely used material which we see almost everywhere we look. Grocery stores, hardware stores, and of course, our homes, are just a few places plastics exist. Plastics differ in their composition, and when it comes to food storage, it is important to understand this difference. It has been reported that some plastics may transmit chemicals into the foods which are being stored. Plastics are of 7 types:
1. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) Examples include soft drink and water bottles
2. High density polyethylene (HDPE) Examples include milk jugs, shampoo bottles
3. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Example includes plumbing pipes
4. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) Example is cling wrap
5. Polypropylene (PP) Examples include syrup bottles, diapers
6. Polystyrene (PS) Example includes disposable coffee cups
7. Polycarbonate (PC) Examples include baby bottles, 5 gallon water bottles, water cooler bottles, and some food storage containers
Each of these types of plastics can be identified by the number surrounded by a triangle usually located on the bottom the plastic product.
Many of you may have heard of Bisphenol A (BPA) and its concerns. Lately BPA has been in the news as a chemical in some plastic baby bottles and other reusable plastic containers. BPA is a chemical used to make polycarbonate (PC) plastic. (#7 in the above list) Unfortunately, the concern with BPA is that it can leach into the contents of the bottle and therefore be ingested by your baby. BPA has been linked to hormone changes and possibly some cancers. However, neither of these has been fully substantiated and more research is needed to make any specific conclusions. So what does this mean for our babies who drink from bottles? What can we do? There are safer materials we from which we can choose. For example, while most bottles are made with #7 polycarbonate plastic, other bottles exist made of different plastic. Look for #2, #4, and #5 plastic baby bottles. These do not contain bisphenol A. If you cannot find the recycling number on the bottom of the bottles, call the manufacturer. For information on BPA-free bottles, sippy and toddler cups visit the online ZRecs Store.
Much of the above information was adapted from the Green Guide, an online magazine from the National Geographic Society and the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals from the Centers for Disease Control
LFP REMINDERS
Please be on time for your appointments. This will ensure a more even patient flow during the day and reduce overall wait times for all families.
Please keep a copy of your school form that we complete for you at the time of your child’s checkup. There will be a charge for the re-completion of this form if requested at a later date.
Remember to access our website. It offers many helpful tips and answers to many frequently asked questions.