Parent Talk Today

Does Your Child Have Diabetes? Here's Help

If your child has been diagnosed with diabetes, you know that it affects the entire family in many ways.

How do you deal with the range of emotions that arise when it becomes a consideration in everyday events, such as finding a babysitter and educating him or her about your child's diabetes? Taking a family vacation? Helping your child gain more independence as she heads off to summer camp?

The American Diabetes Association has compiled an easy-to-use resource to help families live with these unique challenges. “Everyday Wisdom” provides helpful ideas for families of children with diabetes and includes interactive games to help foster and build family communication.

To order a free copy, call 800.342.2383 or click here.

STOP Using Zicam Cold-Remedy Nasal Gel & Swabs

Dear Readers,

It's not often that I post an FDA warning as a blog post, but my family has used Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs for a year or two now, and this warming is pretty disconcerting! Please read this and check your medicine cabinet today.

FDA Advises Consumers Not To Use Certain Zicam Cold Remedies...
Intranasal Zinc Product Linked to Loss of Sense of Smell

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today advised consumers to stop using three products marketed over-the-counter as cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of sense of smell (anosmia). Anosmia may be long-lasting or permanent.

The products are:
    --Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel
    --Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs
    --Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (a discontinued product)

The FDA has received more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell associated with the use of these three Zicam products. In these reports, many people who experienced a loss of smell said the condition occurred with the first dose; others reported a loss of the sense of smell after multiple uses of the products.

“Loss of sense of smell is a serious risk for people who use these products for relief from cold symptoms,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). “We are concerned that consumers may unknowingly use a product that could cause serious harm, and therefore we are advising them not to use these products for any reason.”

People who have experienced a loss of sense of smell or other problems after use of the affected Zicam products should contact their health care professional. The loss of sense of smell can adversely affect a person’s quality of life, and can limit the ability to detect the smell of gas or smoke or other signs of danger in the environment.

The FDA has issued Matrixx Initiatives, maker of these Zicam products, a warning letter telling it that these products cannot be marketed without FDA approval.

“Companies have an obligation to the public to demonstrate to the FDA that their products are safe, particularly when there is evidence they may be causing serious adverse events, and they are marketed for minor, self-limiting conditions like the common cold,” said Deborah M. Autor, director of CDER’s Office of Compliance.

Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events (side effects) that may be related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, by regular mail, fax or phone.
    --Online
    --Regular Mail: use FDA postage paid form 3500 and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
    --Fax: 800-FDA-0178
    --Phone: 800-FDA-1088

For more information:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm166834.htm

Is My Child Getting Enough Sleep?

During the summer, it can be hard for parents and kids to keep a steady sleep schedule. How much sleep do kids need? Check out these guidelines from the National Sleep Foundation.

Better Sleep Council spokesperson Lissa Coffey offers the following tips to help parents ensure a good night’s sleep for their children.

1.   Set a Regular Bedtime For Your Child — and Stick to It. The Obama daughters have an 8:30 pm bedtime. This is an ideal time to tuck children in, especially when kids need to be up early for summer activities.

2.    Don't Over-Schedule Your Child. Too many summertime activities and commitments can keep children from getting enough sleep. Allow your child plenty of time during the day for outdoor recreation, summer lessons and chores to ensure that they are not up past their bedtime.

3.   Develop a Sleep Ritual That Will Help Your Child Unwind Before Bed. Allow your child at least one hour before bedtime to relax and unwind.  Try relaxing activities, like taking a bath or reading with your child, to help him or her transition into sleep mode.  This is also a special time to share with your child. Avoid loud music and television prior to bedtime. 

4.   Keep Computers and Television out of the Bedroom. The bedroom should be used for sleep only. Watching television or going online can be tempting for children once you’ve tucked them in and left the room.  Also, be sure radio and MP3 ear pods are out of their ears when you say goodnight!

For more helpful sleep tips, please visit www.bettersleep.org.

Juvenile Arthritis: What Parents Need to Know

I'm so happy to have Kelly Rouba, author of Juvenile Arthritis:  The Ultimate Teen Guide, as a guest blogger today. Kelly, thanks!

I was diagnosed with a severe form of juvenile rheumatoid (now idiopathic) arthritis at the age of 2. Fortunately, I was diagnosed rather quickly after coming down with what appeared to be the flu followed by limping. However, many children aren’t so lucky, and it can take months before they are properly diagnosed. 

One thing I want to stress is how important it is not to dismiss your child when they say they are in pain — even if the doctor brushes it off, which sometimes happens.

In the case of Amanda White (who is featured in my book), many doctors kept saying her pain was due to injuries from competitive ice skating. It took much persistence on her mother Diane’s part to finally find a doctor who acknowledged the fact Amanda’s pain wasn’t going away and was spreading throughout her body. Sadly, it took a year for Amanda to get diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

 Several of the children or teens I interviewed had parents, like Diane, who knew something wasn’t right and who felt that their child’s pain was more than a temporary injury. However, some of the parents did dismiss their child’s complaints and forced them to continue pushing through activities of daily living. It’s important to remember that the sooner juvenile arthritis is diagnosed, the better. The disease needs to be halted as quickly as possible to prevent permanent damage.

Quick facts:

·         Juvenile arthritis is an umbrella term for multiple forms of arthritis, ranging from Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis to Juvenile Spondyloarthropy.

·         The word “arthritis” comes from the Greek roots arthr and itis, meaning “joint” and “inflammation,” respectively.

Here are some symptoms to look for:*

·         Swollen and/or warm joints

·         Stiffness

·         Loss of normal range of motion

·         Joint or muscle pain

·         Rashes

·         High fevers

·         Fatigue

·         Weakness

·         Anemia

·         Skin conditions

·         Nodules (bumps under the skin)

·         Eye inflammation/conditions

*Diagnosing juvenile arthritis can be difficult because symptoms vary in each case. In fact, it is often misdiagnosed for this reason. Also, keep in mind, since there are several forms of juvenile arthritis, symptoms are slightly different from one type to the next.

To learn more about the types and symptoms of juvenile arthritis as well as available treatments and ways to manage or cope with the disease, visit my website.



Kids' Sleep and ADHD: What's the Connection?

Interesting post for parents from Consumer Reports* today: If a kid is routinely short on sleep, he may be at higher risk of behavior problems related to ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), according to a new study.

Researchers looked at 280 healthy 7- and 8-year-old kids. Parents recorded how much sleep their child got for seven days and noted any factors that might have had an impact on sleep, such as travel or illness. The kids wore a device on their wrist called an actigraph, which logs sleep duration by recording movement.

Parents also filled out questionnaires that described their child's sleep habits and rated their level of ADHD symptoms, such as being hyperactive, impulsive or inattentive. Each child was then given a score for each of these symptoms and an overall score for ADHD symptoms.

Kids who averaged less than 7.7 hours of sleep per night had higher levels of hyperactivity and impulsivity than those who slept more. Check out the rest of the post here.

While you're there, spend some time nosing around Consumer Reports' Babies & Kids, Health and Safety blogs. Great stuff there for parents.

*Disclosure: I work for Consumer Reports as their social media reporter on Twitter. Follow me at @CReporter.

The Moose With Loose Poops!

Ugh. No one likes the stomach flu, especially when it comes with throwing up and diarrhea. Children are often frightened and confused by their symptoms. Worried parents are not much happier, wanting to help their children feel better as quickly as possible.

While many parents know that gastroenteritis — specifically diarrhea — is common, most have no idea that it affects tens of millions of children annually in the U.S., resulting in 1.5 million outpatient doctor visits, 200,000 hospitalizations and 300 preventable deaths.

Dr. Charlotte Cowan decided to address this common childhood ailment in The Moose with Loose Poops! ($17.95 hardcover, www.drhippo.com), the newest book in her award-winning Dr. Hippo Series (which includes Katie Caught a Cold, The Little Elephant with the Big Earache, Peeper Has a Fever and Sadie’s Sore Throat).

In this fun story, four-year-old Miles develops a tummy ache while on a family picnic in Maine. His planned camping trip with Papa (complete with canoeing and fishing) is postponed when throwing up (oops!) and diarrhea (loose poops) develop. Mama, Papa and Lucy Moose take excellent care of Miles at home. Of course, they are helped by their kindly pediatrician, Dr. Hippo, who advises that fluid is the best medicine for Miles. Will Miles recover in time to go camping with Papa under a special, star-filled sky?

In this story for children ages 2-7, Dr. Cowan offers a clear and child-friendly explanation of gastroenteritis. A board-certified pediatrician, she captures the misery of tummy aches, caused first by vomiting and then by diarrhea, and writes to educate, entertain and comfort her small readers — as well as their parents.

This is a fun book that really reassures kids. The delightful illustrations by Penelope Neal add so much. I wish I'd had this book when my son was in preschool!

No Health Insurance? Here's Help

It's tough not to worry.

Turn on CNN and you see stories about hundreds of people losing their jobs as employers resort to layoffs, companies downsize and businesses go out of business.

“Losing your job is scary enough,” says Adam Goldstein, M.D., a professor of family medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. “But for some people, such as those who have chronic health problems that require both medications and regular visits to the doctor, that fear becomes magnified by the loss of health insurance that often goes hand in hand with the loss of one’s job.”

More than 45 million Americans had no health insurance in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What to do if it happens to you? Goldstein offers the following tips:

°    Check to see if you qualify to continue your current health insurance under COBRA. COBRA is a federal law that gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits for limited periods of time after job loss. Qualified individuals still must pay the entire premium for coverage to continue. For more information, click here.

°    Call your primary-care doctor and explain your situation. Most physicians will work with you to ensure that you still have access to care while you work out a way to pay your medical bills. They may have a sliding-scale policy to allow those with fewer financial resources to pay less at each visit.

°    Seek care at a community health center or free medical clinic whose mission is to serve patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Federally supported community health centers also provide a range of primary-care services on a sliding-scale fee basis. Also, take advantage of the free blood-pressure machines available at many pharmacies.

°    Try to get your medications at reduced or no cost. Prices in pharmacies may vary widely, with the most expensive charging two to five times more than the least expensive. Shop around. Many pharmaceutical companies offer medications for free for a limited time to patients with no income and few financial assets. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers access to more than 450 public and private patient-assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. For more information, click here.

My Dirty Little Secret

In my childhood home, cleanliness was not next to godliness. It reigned supreme. There was a sense of peace, of being saved somehow, if the shower was wiped down, if the cutting boards were scrubbed, if the table was set by freshly washed hands. As a child, I could never understand why “Thou Shalt Wash Thy Hands After a Trip to the Bathroom” was not included in the Ten Commandments.

It certainly didn’t start with my parents. This “clean gene” was passed down through the generations like a family Bible. But for all of us, it has caused pain as well as comfort. My sweet, easy-going grandmother once declined to join a cooking group at her nursing home. The other residents enjoyed making their own creations in the large kitchen and then sharing their lasagna, salad or chocolate-chip cookies during lunch.

We finally asked Grandma, who had never met a stranger, why she wouldn’t attend the lunches. “Because they don’t wash their hands and then they put their hands in the food,” she said, shuddering at the thought. “I just can’t stand to think about all those fingers in the food!”

Black Henna Tattoos for Halloween? Just Say No

Dermatologists are warning that the harmless-looking henna tattoos that are sold at Halloween carnivals and being handed out to trick-or-treaters could contain a harmful chemical known as para-phenylenediamine (PPD).

This chemical is used to create longer-lasting black henna tattoos. PPD has been associated with major skin problems.

At a recent American Academy of Dermatology meeting, dermatologist Sharon E. Jacob, M.D., assistant clinical professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of California, San Diego, discussed the dangers of black henna tattoos.

Dermatologists are treating an increasing number of patients, including very young children, for skin problems caused by allergic reactions to PPD.

Natural henna, which is often used for temporary tattoos, is made from the leaves of the lawsonia inermis plant, which provides a vegetable coloring that comes in shades of brown, green or red. Temporary coloring of the skin with natural henna is considered harmless and only lasts for a few days.

 But to increase the intensity of the tattoo beyond that which can be attained with natural henna color, and to prolong the longevity of the temporary tattoo from days to weeks, some henna-tattoo artists are adding PPD into the henna mix. This turns the tattoo black.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibits the direct application of PPD to the skin because of its known health risks. However, since the henna-tattoo industry is not regulated, people are still getting black henna tattoos and exposing themselves to serious medical problems.

“Perhaps the most alarming issue we are seeing with black henna tattoos is the increase in the number of children – even children as young as four – who are getting them and experiencing skin reactions,” says Jacob. “Kids make up a significant portion of the population that receives temporary tattoos, because parents mistakenly think they are safe since they are not permanent and are available at so many popular venues catering to families. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.”

Jacob notes that there have been hundreds of reports of allergic contact dermatitis from black henna tattoos, with reactions ranging from mild eczema to blistering and even permanent scarring. The first sign of a reaction is typically redness and itching, followed by bumps, swelling and then blisters. Topical steroids can be used to stop the reaction, but Jacob notes that whether or not any scarring occurs depends on the depth and severity of the inflammation.

Jacob advises that if you do allow your child to have a henna tattoo, only do so if you can be certain that only vegetable henna is used, not PPD-adulterated henna. “Unless the artist can tell you exactly what’s in the tattoo, don’t get one,” she says.

For any skin reactions that develop from a temporary tattoo, Jacob recommends seeing a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. If a serious reaction occurs, such as severe blistering or swelling, seek immediate medical attention.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Henna hazard: Chemical causes ornate allergies
• B.C. boy, 7, scarred by temporary tattoo
• Toddler Scarred By Bart 'Tattoo'

How to Keep Tots to Teens Cavity-Free

"When should my child have her first trip to the dentist?" "Do I need to clean my baby's gums if he has no teeth yet?"

These questions and more are answered in my article on kids' dental health in this month's issue of Sonoma Family-Life magazine. Check it out for some great tooth-care tips.

After all, Halloween (and all that candy) is just around the corner!