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Welcome to the March installment of Parkside News! The goal of this e-newsletter is two- fold: to keep you informed on the latest happenings at Parkside Pediatrics, and to help answer your medical questions by providing you with an indepth discussion of many pediatric problems and topics.
If you find a particular story interesting or informative, feel free to forward the message onto a friend who might be interested in learning more by using the link at the bottom of the newsletter. If for any reason you decide that Parkside News is not for you, unsubscribing is not only safe but also very easy-- just click on the "SafeUnsubscribe" button at the bottom of the newsletter--it's that easy! We thank you for the opportunity to serve as your pediatricians and look forward to seeing you soon. Hope you enjoy!
| Vaccine Profile: Prevnar |
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Prevnar is the trade name for the vaccine that helps to prevent infections caused by a bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumoniae. Streptococcus pneumoniae causes many different types of infections in children, such as ear infections, sinusitis, and pneumonia. It is also the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Before the vaccine was available, this bacteria was annually responsible for over 700 cases of meningitis, ~13,000 blood stream infections, and ~5 million ear infections. Today, it is still responsible for roughly 200 deaths/year in the US.
Prevnar helps to prevent disease and illness caused by the 7 most common invasive strains of streptococcus pneumoniae. This vaccine is conjugated, or linked to a protein that helps the body to mount an immunologic response to the vaccine. This immunogenic response gives the vaccine its power to help prevent infections. It is usually given as a 4 dose series during the 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 month Well Child Visits.
Studies have shown the most frequently reported adverse events to include injection site reactions, fever, irritability, drowsiness, restless sleep, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.
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| Group Classes and Support Groups at Parkside |
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We are thrilled to announce the start of what will eventually grow to a full curriculum of classes that are offered at Parkside Pediatrics. And...no...it's not going to be that crusty fella from the picture teaching the classes. We have fun, upbeat teachers that are ready to help you get your learn on!
At Parkside we understand that as human beings, we were not created to live in isolation--we need community. The comfort that is gained from learning that you are not the only person who has ever gone through a tough time can be extremely reassuring and even healing. That is why we feel like support groups are a vital part of the service that we want to offer to you as our families. Post-partum depression is our first offering, with a breast-feeding support group soon to follow. See below for the upcoming dates and times.
From Pregnant To Parent—birth to 3 months...what to expect. ~presented by Michelle Greco, RN.
- Thursday April 12, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Saturday April 28, 2007 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Reserve your slot today by calling 864.272.0388 or emailing us at class@parksidepediatrics.com
Postpartum Depression Support Group
- Thursday March 1, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday March 15, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday April 5, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday April 19, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
All the groups will meet upstairs in our office. Please click here for directions. See you soon!
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Pediatric Obesity --- A Growing Problem (1st in a 3 Part Series)
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Unless you have been living out of touch with modern media, you have undoubtedly heard about the growing trend toward overweight and obese children. What is causing this problem? What (or who) is to blame? Why is this even a problem? Is this a cosmetic issue or is this a true health emergency? And most importantly, what can we as parents do to prevent it?
Medical Facts:
- The prevalence of childhood obesity has tripled from 1980-2000
- 1 in 5 children in the US is now overwieght
- Increases have been observed in Canada, Germany, China, France, England, and the US
Clearly this is a trend that is spiraling out of control.
Why worry now? Well, this issue is much more than simply a cosmetic issue--that of being slender being beautiful sophisticated and and fat being ugly and unsophisticated, as the magazine ads would have us believe. The implications of obesity are serious and far reaching. Childhood obesity has been shown to contribute to many comorbidities in children that include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, joint problems, obstructive sleep apnea, depression, and decreased quality of life--just to name a few. As you can surely imagine, if these problems are starting to present in the childhood period, then these children are primed to grow up into adults with a myriad of healthcare problems.
You might be asking, "Is my child overweight or obese and is there a difference between those two terms?" Well, I'm glad you asked because, yes, those terms mean two separate things, although they are successive points along a continuum. In medicine we use a term called Body Mass Index or BMI to help us define those patients who are overweight or obese. BMI is plotted on a chart similar to a growth chart starting at age 2. BMI is calculated by dividing the patient's weight (in kg) by the height (in meters) squared. Overweight is when a child's BMI plots on the graph in the 85-95% for age and obesity is when the BMI is greater than 95% for age.
At Parkside we always plot your child's BMI at each well child visit (starting at age 2) so please do your part as a parent and ask to see the BMI chart. We want to be able to partner with you as parents in helping to turn this trend around.
Tune in over the next couple of months as we look into this problem further. We'll hope to answer the question What is to blame?: genetics? fast food? decreased activity and increased TV/video games? Most importantly we'll dive into how we might prevent this problem and what we can do if we are past the point of prevention.
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