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  • Is it safe to get the flu shot when you're pregnant?

    Answered by Dr. Jessica Vaught, Director of Women's Services, Advanced Gynecologic Surgery and Pelvic Medicine, Winnie Palmer Hospital

  • How my son’s diagnosis is changing me

    Other than the occasional cold and runny nose, both of my children have been perfectly healthy. Until now, that is. Last week, my 7-month-old son had a severe reaction after eating eggs, and he’s been diagnosed with an egg allergy.

  • Is your child lactose intolerant?

    Lactose intolerance is a common problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It tends to affect certain ethnic groups more than others, and occurs more frequently in black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian and Ashkenazi Jewish people.

    What is lactose intolerance?

    Lactose intolerance is when your body can’t digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. In order to properly digest lactose, the enzyme lactase must be present within the small intestine. Those who don’t have enough of the enzyme lactase have trouble digesting lactose, which leads to a variety of symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, cramping or diarrhea.

    Know the difference between lactose intolerance and milk allergy

    Lactose intolerance is not an allergy. Some children do have an allergy to the protein found in cow’s milk, but this is entirely different than lactose intolerance. Allergies involve an overactive immune system, and a milk allergy can result in damage to the digestive tract over time. Lactose intolerance is a deficiency in lactase and doesn’t involve the immune system. While lactose intolerance can be very uncomfortable, it doesn’t usually cause damage to the digestive tract.

    Symptoms to look for in your child

    The symptoms of lactose intolerance can occur suddenly, but more often develop over time. If a child experiences abdominal pain, gas, nausea, bloating or diarrhea after consuming milk or dairy products, lactose intolerance could be to blame.

  • Want to help your children develop speech and language? Talk to them. A lot.

    Did you know that one of the greatest influences on your child’s intelligence and academic success is the way (and how much) you speak to them?

  • What every parent needs to know about concussions

    We often think of concussions in terms of sports, most commonly football and other collision sports. Concussions also commonly occur in contact sports where helmets aren’t worn like soccer, basketball, wrestling or lacrosse. However, every parent needs to know about this injury, even if your kids aren’t involved in sports. Concussions can occur from a fall from a bicycle or skateboard, running into a goalpost, or getting hit in the head by a ball or other moving object.

    What is a concussion?

    A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a blow to the body that makes the head move back and forth rapidly. The sudden force causes the brain to bounce around or twist within the skull, causing damage to the brain cells and chemical changes within the brain. These chemical changes may make the brain more sensitive to stress or other injury until it recovers. While doctors may describe this as a “mild” brain injury since it is not life-threatening, the effects of a concussion can be serious.

    What are the signs and symptoms of concussion?

    Signs and symptoms of a concussion usually appear soon after the injury occurs, but some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. If your child has sustained a bump or blow to the head and experiences any of the following, it might be a sign of a concussion: Headache Nausea or vomiting Appears dazed or stunned Feels “pressure” in head Loses consciousness Answers questions slowly Confusion Dizziness or balance problems Sensitivity to light or noise Difficulty concentrating Memory problems Double or blurry vision Feeling “foggy” or sluggish Changes in mood or behavior Trouble falling asleep Sleeping more or less than usualYou should continue to monitor your child for these signs and symptoms for a few days after the injury occurs.

    What should I do if I think my child might have a concussion?

    If you think your child may have a concussion, contact your child’s health care provider. If your child is playing sports, remove him or her from the game and don’t resume playing until evaluated by a healthcare professional who is experienced at diagnosing concussions. If your child returns to play too quickly, before the brain is fully healed, they are at risk for a repeat concussion which can be much more serious.

    How is a concussion treated?

    The best treatment for a concussion is complete rest from all physical and mental activity. Television, loud music, and use of computers should be very limited or stopped. Even a child’s school participation may need to be altered according to the child’s symptoms.

  • It’s flu season! Here’s what you need to know.

    This post was written by Dr. Tom Ruffin, pedatric resident at Arnold Palmer Hospital

  • Txting and driving among teens.

    April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and what better way to bring awareness than to talk about the dangers of texting and driving among teens? Studies show that a large number of accidents can be attributed to distracted driving, more specifically, texting and driving. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I am guilty of this, too. There have been several times that I have caught myself texting or emailing while driving, only to find myself barely escaping what could have been an accident. And every time, I tell myself, “That was a close one. I am never picking up my phone again while driving.”

  • What you must do to prevent medication errors in your home

    Every 8 minutes, a child experiences a medication error.

  • Are highchairs really safe?

    A highchair is one of the most common (and practical) items on any new parent’s baby registry, and is known for making feeding time a whole lot easier. Many parents naturally assume the highchair is safe for their child, but did you know there has been an increase of highchair-related injuries among infants over the past ten years? A recent study took a closer look at the reasons behind the rise of bumps, bruises and head injuries caused by highchairs. Here’s what they found.

    The Study

    Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital examined data of children, ages 3 years and younger, who were treated in U.S. emergency departments from 2003 through 2010 for highchair-related injuries. The findings were staggering. On average, more than 9,400 children were treated for an injury relating to a highchair or booster seat each year. To put this in perspective, that’s one child every hour!

  • Get to know Dr. Pinnelas, a pediatric hospitalist

    Over 20 years ago, I began my career in Orlando as a private pediatrician. I was very happy as an office-based pediatrician, and I never dreamed I would have changed my career path. I always enjoyed making hospital rounds before going back to the office for the rest of the day. I also had an opportunity to teach students and residents at the hospital which was intensely rewarding. The hospital approached me over 14 years ago and asked if I would be willing to start something “new” which was to create the Pediatric Hospitalist Service at Arnold Palmer Hospital. Becoming a pediatric hospitalist was a very new specialty in the United States. It had just started to gain some traction in the adult patient population but was rare in pediatrics. I was game, so with my best friend and mentor, Matthew Seibel and two of the best nurses on planet earth, we founded this new venture.

    So what is a pediatric hospitalist?

    A pediatric hospitalist is a physician who only cares for patients in the hospital; most don’t have an outpatient practice. The concept of a pediatric hospitalist makes so much sense for so many reasons and here are just a few.