Category: Parenting News

Childhood concussions have become a hot-button issue these days, especially as they pertain to childhood athletics such as football and other full-contact sports. For many, football is a dangerous sport that children just shouldn't participate in. Others, such as Robert Cantu, M.D., believe that only the tackle element needs to be removed in children under age 14, and that the rest of the game can still be enjoyed, according to Time magazine.

Cantu also stressed the importance of proper headgear, such as helmets with chinstraps for sports such as football, field hockey, lacrosse and more traditionally "safe" sports such as baseball and softball. Even the majority of childhood sports proponents agree that they need to be approached with a degree of safety, especially when the health impact of concussions can be so severe.

Side effects of concussions
Though medical professionals often classify concussions as "minor" head injuries because they're usually not directly life-threatening, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautioned that a concussion is a brain injury, and all brain injuries are serious. Furthermore, the Mayo Clinic warned that there are several major complications that are the direct results of concussion.

One of the major risk factors of those who have experienced a concussion is epilepsy. Those who have incurred a concussion are twice as likely to experience episodes of epilepsy, for up to five years after the initial trauma.

Another potentially serious complication associated with concussion is second-impact syndrome. This occurs when the individual incurs a second head injury before the first concussion has healed completely. This can result in fast and often fatal swelling of the brain.

Finally, those who experience concussion, especially more than one, have an increased likelihood of developing cumulative cognitive damage that may limit or impair a person's functional abilities.

Healing from concussion
Rest is the only way to "cure" a concussion, however, those who experience them may need to make some life adjustments until they are completely healed. This is particularly important for those who have incurred serious head injury due to concussion. Feelings of dizziness, headache, difficulty concentrating, confusion or even amnesia are all common in those who have experienced a concussion.

Because of this, those in the healing phases often have trouble assimilating back into their normal lives, and for children, this means the classroom. Those who experience these side effects are more likely to have a difficult time following lesson plans, completing schoolwork and keeping up with the other children.

"Students appear physically normal after a concussion, so it may be difficult for teachers and administrators to understand the extent of the child's injuries and recognize the potential need for academic adjustments," said Mark Halstead, M.D., FAAP, reported the American Academy of Pediatrics. "But we know that children who've had a concussion may have trouble learning new material and remembering what they've learned, and returning to academics may worsen concussion symptoms."

Doctors can prescribe medications to help reduce feelings of dizziness and facilitate concentration, which can help children reintegrate into the classroom. In addition, teachers and parents need to be patient and encourage the child to take things slow.

FLAVORx makes medicinal flavorings that can help make taking medication easier for children. Ask your pharmacist how you can get your child's favorite FLAVORx flavor for his or her prescription.

Most physicians recommend that all individuals make the effort to get vaccinated this year, but advise that it's especially important for senior citizens as well as young children. Young children are often especially at risk for contracting the influenza virus, because they come into direct contact with children at school, on the playground and during extracurricular activities, making the spread of germs much more likely.

This year, there are a number of new options available for the influenza vaccination, some meant to make the vaccination more inclusive by eliminating common allergens, and others meant to ward off more strains of the virus. Here's an update on what's available for the 2013-2014 flu season.

New 4-strain vaccine
A new type of flu shot called the "quadrivalent vaccine" can now help protect against four separate strains of the influenza virus. Last year, the most potent vaccine included defenses against only three separate strains, which has been the standard in years past. Doctors are advising people who want this new flu shot to get inoculated earlier rather than later, however, because the supply may be limited (though individuals will still have access to the three-strain vaccinations).

Each year, the influenza virus mutates in order to fight the antibodies created in response to the vaccination. This means that the following year's vaccine needs to be that much more tailored to the new virus. A four-strain shot will give your children the best chance against both newer and older strains of the flu virus.

New methods that may be more kid-friendly
Traditionally, the flu shot was given with a long needle. Doctors and other medical professionals often prefer longer needles because of their ability to more easily tear past the layers of skin and reach the muscle below. This year, many doctor's offices and pharmacies are offering the option of a smaller, thinner needle that may be more gentle for children and older individuals who tend to bruise more easily. This new needle should only "prick" the skin, meaning the child will be less likely to experience the bruising and soreness typically associated with the flu shot.

For those who simply can't stand needles, a nasal spray vaccination is available, however, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that children below the age of 2 shouldn't receive the nasal spray version of the vaccine.

Egg-free vaccine options
One lesser-known fact is that the influenza vaccine is grown within eggs inside laboratories. This means that many individuals who are allergic to eggs have not been able to receive the benefits of the vaccinations. This year, and eggless version of the vaccine is now available on the market. Before opting for an egg-free flu shot, however, ask your doctor whether you or your child is a good candidate for this relatively new vaccine option.

In addition to new medications, there are also more places where parents and their children can choose to get vaccinated, making it more convenient. While you can still pursue the flu shot from your pediatrician, more pharmacies are now offering vaccinations, as are community centers and other local clinics. The CDC offers an online "Flu Vaccine Finder" where parents can simply enter their zip code and find the most convenient option.

With all the new offerings available, doctors are hoping that more individuals should be able to benefit from influenza protection this flu season. In the event that your child does contract the flu, many medications are available to ease symptoms and help him or her get better faster.

FLAVORx makes medicinal flavorings that can help children enjoy taking their medicine. Ask your pharmacist how you can get your child's prescription in his or her favorite FLAVORx flavor.

According to a new survey, 77 percent of parents are looking for more online options when it comes to dealing with children's health care providers. The sticking point? They aren't willing to pay for it. According to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, half of respondents think that this type of online consultation should be free.

The poll surveyed 1,420 parents of children aged 0 to 17 years old. While most reported paying co-pays from $0 to $30 per visit to the pediatrician's office, the majority felt that email consultations should cost less – and as much as 48 percent reported that they felt this type of consultation should cost nothing at all.

"Most parents know it can be inconvenient to schedule and get to an office visit for a sick child. An email consultation would prevent the hassles of scheduling and allow sick children to remain at home … But many health care providers don't have co-pays established for this kind of consultation," Sarah Clark, M.P.H., associate director of the National Poll on Children's Health and associate research scientist in the University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics, told News Medical.

Clark also added that email consultation could provide a way for parents to consult a medical professional after office hours, a service that isn't often available and results in many unnecessary emergency room visits each year.

Concerns about online care
Health care providers still have a few concerns about online care, especially if the service is free. For one thing, answering these emails does require a certain amount of a health care professional's time, and depending on the volume of emails received, this could be detrimental and even financially prohibitive to the practice. Then there are the insurance providers to think about. This type of, presumably, low-budget care is exactly the sort of line item that frequently receives an upcharge in order to balance out more expensive types of care.

Another matter to consider is that a "free incentive" like the one many parents are calling for may prevent some from bringing a truly sick child to the doctor. This could delay critical care and result in potentially devastating side effects.

Why online care may not be such a bad idea
While there may be some kinks to work out, many parents and professionals argue that online health care can actually help the physician by reducing the amount of unnecessary office visits, freeing up time for things like vaccinations, preventative wellness exams and the truly serious cases.

Some advocates even argue that the process of sending an email is the equivalent of making a phone call directly to the doctor's office, a practice that many busy parents already engage in. It's not uncommon for a parent to call the pediatrician's office and describe symptoms in order to determine whether a visit to the physical office is necessary, and in many cases there's no charge for this type of service. It can be especially beneficial if the child is experiencing a flare-up of a chronic illness, and the mother or father simply wished the doctor to call in a prescription refill to treat the illness.

In fact, certain online services such as prescription filling or refilling already do exist. In many cases, the doctor will order the first round of treatment and the patient may request refills by going to a website and making the request. Many parents find this a worthwhile convenience.

FLAVORx makes medicinal flavorings that can be added to your child's prescription to make it taste better. Ask your pharmacist how you can get FLAVORx for your child.

A case of the measles is almost unheard of these days, largely due to the common vaccinations given to children. The measles, mumps, rubella shot, otherwise referred to as the MMR vaccine, is tremendously effective when it comes to preventing these illnesses. Unfortunately, the vaccination isn't an easy one for most kids to take, and often produces significantly unpleasant side effects, such as allergies, fever, glandular swelling, mild rash and stiffness of joints and muscles, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are even more severe side effects such as seizure, low blood platelet count and even potentially permanent brain damage.

The very real risks associated with measles
Despite the risks, most medical professionals agree that the risks associated with the shot are less dangerous than the side effects associated with the actual diseases, which are often deadly. According to the CDC, 3 to 4 million individuals were affected by measles annually in the decade before the vaccination was developed. Nearly 50,000 people were hospitalized each year, and approximately 500 of those who were infected died from the disease. A further 1,000 individuals developed chronic disability. The vaccination reduced these instances by 99 percent in the U.S. In 2012, only 55 cases of measles were reported.

Despite the progress seen by the U.S., many other countries still experience measles as a daily reality. Measles is highly contagious and able to spread very quickly. The CDC estimated that there were approximately 164,000 measles-related deaths worldwide in the year 2008, which amounts to 450 deaths per day and 18 per hour.

New hope for MMR vaccinations
Though the vaccinations are incredibly effective against the development of measles, many parents have trepidations about giving their children the shot due to the potentially harmful side effects. Fortunately, a new study provides new hope, finding that the side effects of the vaccination can be decreased by exposing young children to the vaccination earlier.

While most doctors recommend children receive the vaccination between 12 and 15 months of age, most children actually receive the shot between 12 and 23 months of age – and most receive the vaccination around 19 months. However, researchers from Kaiser Permanente Colorado's Institute for Health Research found that the immunization has the least potential for side effects when administered between the ages of 12 and 15 months.

Researchers looked at the data records of 840,000 children between the ages of 12 and 23 months who received the vaccine in the years between 2001 and 2011. They noted that, in the 10 days after vaccination, most children were likely to exhibit symptoms such as fever and seizure. However, the risk was significantly lower in those between the ages of 12 and 15 months than it was in those between the ages of 16 and 23 months. Instances of fever generally dropped off after 12 to 13 days. Researchers also noted that seizures were particularly prevalent in children between 16 and 18 months of age.

Rates of fever dropped steadily, however, 12 to 13 days after the first dose of the vaccine for children between 19 months and 23 months of age. Seizures, the study revealed, were most prevalent among children between 16 months and 18 months of age.

"We found that the magnitude of increased risk of fever and seizures following immunization with measles-containing vaccines during the second year of life depends on age," study lead author Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, M.D., said in a news release.

The study shows that parents shouldn't shy away from having their children vaccinated sooner rather than later, as most doctors recommend. Parents should always follow the recommendations of their pediatrician when it comes to medicating their children.

FLAVORx makes medicinal flavors that can be added to prescription medications to make medicine time easier for kids. Ask your pharmacist how you can get FLAVORx added to your child's prescription.

Sleep is one thing that Americans are short on these days, and this includes children. Like their adult counterparts, kids are staying up later, plugged into their computer screens and televisions. Most parents know that a good night's sleep is essential for their children to perform well in school and other areas, however new research shows that cutting sleep short can actually lead to both physical and mental illnesses.

One study published in the November 2013 issue of Pediatrics, entitled "Changes in Bedtime Schedules and Behavioral Difficulties in 7 Year Old Children," looked at the bedtimes and behavior patterns of children in the United Kingdom. The data was collected from more than 10,000 children in the UK Millennium Cohort Study, focusing on children at 3, 5 and 7 years of age. Researchers also factored in reports from parents, teachers and other adults associated with the children. What they found was that children with irregular bedtime habits were likely to begin exhibiting behavioral difficulties before the age of 7. The pattern was very clear: children who continued without a regular bedtime experienced worsening behavioral scores, however children who switched to a normal sleep schedule saw their behavioral scores improve. Study authors concluded that the behavioral difficulties may be caused by the disruption in circadian rhythms as well as the damaging effects of sleep deprivation on a developing brain, and that doctors may inquire about sleep patterns during regular health checkups."

Another study indicates that it's not only the regularity but also the duration of sleep that keeps us healthy. The study, published in the October 2013 issue of Sleep, suggests that regular sleep habits are essential for reducing the risk of physical illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. In this study, researchers tracked more than 54,000 American adults in 14 states. Of the sample, almost two-thirds of participants (64 percent) received the optimal amount of sleep each night, which was factored in at 7 to 9 hours. Nearly one-third (32 percent) of participants were "short sleepers," receiving less than six hours per night, and the remaining few (4 percent) were "long sleepers" who received more than nine hours of sleep per night. The research showed that the short sleepers were more likely to exhibit diabetes, heart disease, obesity and frequent mental distress than those who received the recommended 7 to 9 hours. Perhaps surprisingly, the same was true for "long sleepers," who showed even higher instances of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

"Sleeping longer doesn't necessarily mean you're sleeping well," said Safwan Badr, M.D., president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "It is important to understand that both the quality and quantity of sleep impact your health . . . When and how you sleep is just as important as what you eat or how you exercise."

Study co-author Janet Croft,  a senior chronic disease epidemiologist in the division of population health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the relationships between shorter sleep durations and increased instances of illness may be attributed at least in part to the higher instances of obesity and mental distress. Like researchers in the prior study, Croft suggested that inquiries about sleep should be part of regular health examinations. "Physicians should consider monitoring mental health and body weight in addition to sleep health for patients with chronic diseases," said Croft.

As these studies show, sleep is an essential part of children's health. Children should receive at least at least 10.5 hours of sleep each night, while teens need approximately 8 to 9 hours, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Children's sleep is also important for keeping immunity levels up during cold and flu season. This fall and winter, make sure children are getting the requisite amount of sleep in order to stay healthy. If they do get sick, taking the prescribed medication from their pediatrician will reduce the chance of spread and help them get better faster.

FLAVORX makes medical flavorings that can make taking oral medications easier for children. Ask your pharmacist how you can get your child's prescription in his or her favorite FLAVORX flavor.

When most people consider migraines, they tend to think of them as an adult problem. However, up to 10 percent of children experience migraines, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. The first episode often strikes by the time the child is 12 years old, however, the foundation reported that they may occur much sooner – even infants may experience migraines.

Migraine isn't just a term for a bad headache, it is actually a neurological disease that results in a host of symptoms apart from head pain, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain, mood changes and sensitivity to touch, sound, light and odors. It is a potentially serious condition that can distract children from performing well in school and may even cause them to become socially withdrawn. Pharmacy Times reported that children who experience migraines typically have twice the absentee rate as children who do not.

The stages of a migraine
Migraines consist of four separate and distinct stages, however, not all people who experience them will experience every stage, according to Pharmacy Times. The stages are prodrome, optical migraine, attack phase and postdrome.

Prodrome: In this stage, which occurs a day or so before the migraine begins, people may experience subtle symptoms that warn them of the approaching migraine. These symptoms include constipation, depression, food cravings, hyperactivity, irritability, neck stiffness and the uncontrollable urge to yawn.

Optical migraine: This stage, sometimes referred to as the aura stage, can occur immediately before or during a migraine and include visual symptoms such as blurred vision, flashing lights and zig zag lines or trails. Approximately two-thirds of migraine patients report experiencing this stage, which may last anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour.

Attack phase: This is the main stage of a migraine experienced by all migraine patients. It includes extreme head pain, often accompanied by a number of various side effects. The most common include feelings of dizziness and fatigue, and many patients have reported fainting during this time.

Postdrome: The last phase of a migraine is physical fatigue that varies in extremity and can often feel debilitating. Many patients report this feeling lasting up to a day or two after the migraine has faded.

The relationship between migraines and gender in children
While migraines may occur in any child at any point, there does seem to be a relationship between gender and incidences of migraine.

Boys tend to experience more migraines than girls before puberty, with the average onset at 7 years old. For girls, instances of migraine tend to increase after puberty, with an average onset age of 11.

By age 17, approximately 23 percent of girls and just 8 percent of boys report having experienced migraines. Medical scientists associate the increased rate of migraine in post-pubescent girls with an increase in estrogen levels.

For both boys and girls, those who report migraines during adolescence are 60 percent more likely to experience them after the age of 30. Once again, female patients are more likely to be affected.

Parents of children who are affected by migraines should seek the help of a medical professional for treatment options. While the cause of the condition isn't known, there are treatments that may help to relieve symptoms. FLAVORx makes medicinal flavorings that can help children take their medicine. Ask your pharmacist how you can get your child's prescription in his or her favorite flavor.

Children who suffer from asthma are currently entering emergency rooms more frequently than they need to be, according to a new Reuter's Health report. The reason? They aren't taking their medicine.

The source goes on to state that over 50 percent of children with a chronic illness are put on some type of medication, but "past studies have found anywhere from 50 percent to 88 percent" of them aren't taking it as prescribed.

A new review lead by Meghan McGrady of the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center looked at nine different asthma studies that identified a link between inconsistent medication practices and increased hospital visits. A tenth study suggested that children who suffer from type 1 diabetes experience the same circumstances.

The study used electronic monitors, family interviews and pharmacy fill records to track medication usage. Unsurprisingly, McGrady and her team found that children whose families did not fill their prescriptions were more like to require an emergency trip to the ER. In one study, families who did not fill their childrens' prescriptions were found to visit the emergency room 10 times more than those who did fill the prescription, even if it was only 1-2 times per year.

With fall asthma and allergy season coming, children and parents need to be on their guard and ensure that they have their medication prepared. Common triggers for the fall season include allergies, changes in temperature, fall leaves, and smoke from campfires, leaf fires or even indoor wood stoves, according to the American Lung Association.

Parents should also ask their doctors for written Asthma Action Plans that they can give to the school, so that the teachers and administrators can follow it in case of an emergency. Above all, children should know their individual triggers as well as their early warning signals so that they can ask for help when they need it.

FLAVORx has been helping children take their medicine for nearly two decades by providing fun flavors that make medicine taste better. Our formulas are sugar-free and non-allergenic, and are available in a variety of kid-friendly flavors. Ask your pharmacist how to make medicine time easier with FLAVORx.

Summer has not yet passed, but it is swiftly fading as Sept. 21 approaches. This means preparing kids for school, a change of clothes and, for many people living in colder climes, flu season. It is not quite here yet, which is why it is important for adults to vaccinate themselves now, and their children in particular.

Now that school is here, kids will be interacting with many more people than they have in months, at a time when the chance of infection is the greatest for some illnesses. NBC News recently recommended that it is better that everyone get vaccinated sooner rather than later to ensure children's health and wellness. As relatively harmless as the flu may seem, it can potentially be fatal. The news provider reported that the illness hospitalizes about 200,000 people per year, and is fatal for up to 49,000 individuals annually. 

"Influenza virus is unpredictable, and what's most important is that people receive the vaccine soon, so that they will be protected when the virus begins circulating," Henry Bernstein, M.D., of the Hofstra North Shore – Long Island Jewish Health System, told NBC News. 

Parents should not delay flu shots in the hope of something better
Citing experts such as Bernstein, NBC News pointed out that parents should not delay vaccination in the hope of giving their kids a specific treatment. While the influenza virus has multiple strains, a complete lack of resistance will put children more at risk than at least some protection. The source noted the fact that 160 children died from the flu last year. As such, a shot is better now than later, and the more people who are vaccinated against the illness, the less of a chance it will have to spread. 

Convincing children to get a shot can be difficult. Parents can choose to use a nasal-spray flu vaccine, although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended not using it for children under 5 years of age with breathing problems, or for anyone younger than 2 and older than 50. For any other kids, though, options are a good way to give them a sense of empowerment while providing them with important protection against illness. The same is true with other medications, where choice may create the sense that they are deciding what is best for themselves. Multiple flavored treatments, of a kind that FLAVORx produces, can offer this, and making medicine taste better also encourages kids to take it. 

Based on recent research published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, the push and pull cap in a child's water bottle may be causing harm. The Pharmacy Times reported on the findings, and it noted that the caps may increase the chance of ear infections. The negative pressure from sucking may lead to harmful secretions leaking into the middle ear. Researchers discovered that 50 percent of children with ear infections regularly used push and pull caps, while only 24.2 percent of kids without ear infections were found to use water bottles with the caps. Similar results were found among two different study groups, one older and one younger. 

Middle ear infections are a common problem among younger children. In addition to water bottles having an effect on infection rates, the Mayo Clinic detailed that secondhand smoke can also increase the chance of the condition. Since the problem usually clears up on its own, the source noted that pain management is a typical strategy for managing the problem. However, antibiotic medication may be necessary for children's health and wellness in more persistent cases, since chronic ear infections can lead to hearing loss. Ear tubes can also help relieve fluid buildup. 

Should children receive an ear infection, amoxicillin suspension is one potential course of treatment. However, since they may be reluctant to accept it, parents may have an easier time of the situation by making the medicine taste better. Flavored antibiotics can turn a painful situation into something more pleasurable for children, particularly if they can choose the taste and colors their medication comes in. Choice can make illness easier on the parents and kids alike. 

Of all the chronic pediatric medical conditions some children must live with, obesity is arguably the one they and their parents are most concerned about. Asthma or diabetes rarely have the social stigma associated with obesity. Unlike the other two disorders, it is also often viewed as preventable with the proper diet and exercise.

More troubling to some, though, are the potential health problems that can result from being overweight. These kids are at greater risk of developing a heart disease or type 2 diabetes. However, recent findings from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing suggested that obesity may not be the issue. While researchers believe that children should be more active and eat a healthy diet, they felt that simply making those lifestyle changes can be beneficial even if no weight loss occurs.

During the researchers' two-week study, they noticed that the cardiovascular health of obese children soon matched that of their non-obese peers. Rather than obesity affecting children's health and wellness, the condition and problems like diabetes may instead be symptomatic of lifestyle.

"This work underscores the need to focus on changing lifestyle as opposed to focusing on body weight and weight loss," said Christian Roberts, Ph.D., the study's lead author.

Notably, more than one-third of children between 12 and 19 years old are considered obese, and it is one of the most common chronic pediatric medical conditions. Thanks to medical and health efforts for the past few decades, the rate of children who are overweight has stopped rising, as Time magazine recently reported. Still, it remains a significant concern for many parents. Encouraging kids to live a healthier life can be difficult, but parents who try to accommodate them by finding physical activities they enjoy and healthy food that they like eating can help prevent it from affecting their long-term health.