Whether you’re simply taking a weekend trip to visit the grandparents, or you and the family are flying internationally, you must know how to keep everyone healthy and safe while on vacation. After all, the last thing you want to worry about is looking up local hospitals near your hotel in the middle of the night. Here are some tips for how to keep your little ones safe while traveling.
Accidents happen. Perhaps your child hurt themselves falling off their bike or taking a rough tumble down the stairs. In these instances, the first thing you’ll probably do is check your child over for bumps, bruises, and possibly broken bones. It’s important to recognize whether your child could be dealing with a broken bone so that you can bring them in to see their pediatrician right away.- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- A popping or snapping sound at the moment of impact or injury
- Trouble straightening out the limb or affected area
- Unable to put weight on the area
- Limited range of motion or unable to move normally
First, your pediatrician will run X-rays to determine the location and severity of the break. Your doctor will place a splint or cast around the broken bone to provide support and stabilization and to restrict certain movements that could impede healing.
A urinary tract infection isn’t just something that happens to adults. Children can also develop UTIs. Since children are more likely to suffer from kidney damage as a result of a UTI you must see your pediatric doctor right away if you suspect that your child may be dealing with a urinary tract infection. Signs and symptoms include,- Increased urgency to urinate, even if there is no output
- Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
- A decreased output of urine
- Children may complain of a burning sensation when urinating
- Older children may complain of lower stomach or back pain
- Younger children may cry when urinating
- Wetting the bed
If your child is showing symptoms of a UTI you must see your pediatrician right away. A simple urine sample is all that’s needed to be able to detect the presence of bacteria. We can examine the urine sample under the microscope and provide results in a matter of minutes. The kind of bacteria that’s present will help us determine the type of antibiotics we will prescribe.
It’s important to seek treatment right away, as untreated UTIs can lead to more serious problems including kidney infections, abscesses, and sepsis. Your pediatrician can prescribe antibiotics. Your child should also be getting plenty of fluids during the course of their treatment to help flush out bacteria.
Asthma--it's a sometimes frightening and potentially dangerous and debilitating respiratory condition. In Jacksonville, FL, your pediatricians, Dr. Alexandra Kostur and Dr. Roman Criollo, know the signs that your child may have asthma. Let the caring team at Jacksonville Kids Pediatrics give you the information you need to keep your youngster safe and healthy.
Childhood asthma and its symptoms
Unfortunately, this chronic disease affects Americans of all ages, including children. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that about six million children in the United States alone have mild, moderate, or even severe symptoms. That's one in 12 kids whose lives are impacted--even threatened--by:
- Coughing at night
- Extreme and frequent fatigue
- Gasping and wheezing
- Shortness of breath and a feeling of chest tightness
- Pallor
- Dark circles under the eyes
A wide variety of internal and environmental factors may trigger an acute asthma attack. They include:
- A cold or the flu
- Stress
- Exercise
- Cigarette smoke
- Allergens such as dust mites, mold, food, plant pollen, and animal dander
- Pollution (both outdoor air quality and indoor contaminants such as household chemicals, fabrics, and poor airflow)
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology states that asthma can run in families and that obesity may play a significant role in its development. If your child frequently exhibits these worrisome signs of asthma, please contact your pediatrician at Jacksonville Kids Pediatrics in Jacksonville, FL, for a consultation.
Treating childhood asthma
Dr. Kostur or Dr. Criollo will perform a complete medical exam, and chest auscultation (listening to breath sounds with a stethoscope) and order a chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, chest auscultation, and blood work as needed. After a review of the symptoms, the doctor may prescribe long-term medications to control the frequency and severity of asthma flare-ups. Also, he or she may advise the use of a quick-acting bronchodilator in the inhaled form to control sudden symptoms.
Besides, an asthma action plan should be reviewed with teachers, caregivers, coaches, and other adults in your child's daily sphere of activity. This plan helps your child and his or her significant others assess symptoms and what actions to take in the event of an asthma attack.
Contact us
At Jacksonville Kids Pediatrics, Dr. Kostur and Dr. Criollo help many families recognize and manage signs and symptoms of childhood asthma. Help your child breathe better, and ease your mind. Phone us today for a consultation: (904) 446-9991.
You may be surprised to learn that many car seats are not used properly. In fact, around 46 percent of car and booster seats are improperly used, which greatly impacts their efficacy. With car accidents being the leading cause of death in children in the US, parents must know how to keep their children safe while riding in the car. If you have questions about keeping your child safe, your pediatrician is here to answer all of your questions.Types of Car Seats
Before your child can just start buckling up like a big kid, they need to use car seats. Children from birth until 3 years old will use a rear-facing car seat. From 3-7 years old children will upgrade to the forward-facing car seat. Then the booster seat is typically used anywhere from 5-12 years, depending on their height and manufacturer’s guidelines. Children should be at least five years old, weigh at least 40 pounds and be over the height and weight requirements for their forward-facing car seat to be ready to upgrade to a booster seat.
Choosing the Right Car Seat
When it comes to choosing a car seat, we know that it can be difficult to narrow it down. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides useful information to help you find the right car seat by comparing different ones on the market. You can also talk to your pediatrician, who can provide you with a wellspring of information and advice on choosing the right car seat for your little one.
Installing Your Child’s Car Seat
Before starting, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s installation guide so that you can better understand the car seat and how it should be installed. Along with following the installation guide that comes with the car seat, the NHTSA also provides some helpful safety tips for a successful installation.
Did you know that once you have your car seat in-place that you can have it inspected to make sure that it’s properly installed? This can provide families with the peace of mind that they need to know that their child is safe every time they buckle up.
From booster seats to booster shots, you must be doing everything possible to keep your child healthy and safe. This also means finding quality pediatricians that you trust to provide you with the tips, advice, and care to support your child’s health.
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