SUMMER FUN AND SAFETY
The nice weather is finally here! Please read these suggestions to help keep your family safe and healthy while enjoying being outside.
BITING BUGS!
Remember prevention is best! Avoid being outdoors during dusk and dawn, stay away from wooded places with standing water. Use insect repellant with up to 33% DEET. (Wash off after exposure). Here is some additional information on to how to protect your family from getting bit this summer.
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Insect-Repellents.aspx
ABOUT LYME DISEASE
It is that time of year when we get lots of questions and concerns about Lyme Disease. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) website has good credible information about Lyme Disease. We get many requests from families about treating children with antibiotics if a tick is found on their body. We also get many questions about “testing ticks”. Click on link below to find out what the CDC says about these issues.
SUNSCREEN
Baby sunscreen recommendations differ for infants younger and older than 6 months. Consider these general guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Food and Drug Administration and the American Cancer Society***
• For babies younger than 6 months. If your baby is younger than 6 months, keep him or her out of direct sunlight. Protect your baby from sun exposure by dressing him or her in protective clothing, a hat with a brim and sunglasses. If adequate clothing and shade aren’t available, apply sunscreen only on small areas of your baby’s exposed skin, such as the face and back of the hands.
• For babies 6 months or older. If your baby is 6 months or older, liberally use sunscreen. In addition, avoid exposing your baby to the sun during peak hours — generally 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — and dress your baby in protective clothing, a hat with a brim and sunglasses. When choosing baby sunscreen, pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. To avoid irritating your baby’s skin and eyes, use a sunscreen that contains only inorganic filters, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Avoid using products that combine sunscreen and the insect repellent DEET, since sunscreen must be regularly reapplied and insect repellent typically doesn’t need to be reapplied. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if your baby is spending time in the water or perspiring.
Remember, just a few serious sunburns can increase your baby’s risk of skin cancer later in life. Taking simple steps now can go a long way toward protecting your baby from the risks of sun exposure.
*** The AAP guidelines endorse use of sunscreen and bug repellant for babies older than 2 months. The majority of Milton Pedi MDs prefer a more conservative approach to both.
Please call to discuss concerns about your child with our nursing staff during regular business hours.
Talking to children after tragedy
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are dealing with the aftermath of the Marathon tragedy yesterday. We would like to share the link from Children’s Hospital Boston which contains good information about this topic.
http://childrenshospitalblog.org/talking-to-children-after-tragedy
As always, our staff is available to assist with any resources you may need to help your family deal with this devastating event.
Milton Pediatrics Scores High on Consumer Reports
Click here to check out the ratings:
http://c354183.r83.cf1.rackcdn.com/MHQP%20Consumer%20Reports%20Insert%202012.pdf
A Message about Dr. Cohan
Dr. Cohan will be taking a medical leave from April to July, working a few days less than usual this summer, then returning full time after Labor Day. The purpose of the time away is to have surgical treatment for a very early prostatic cancer. Because his surgeon cautions “no lifting” for at least two months after the operation, he needs to take a big chunk of time away. Most of the time will be spent on Martha’s Vineyard, which, after all, isn’t such a bad deal. Dr. Cohan thanks his younger partners and associates (they’re all younger, aren’t they?) for generously and capably filling in and covering his patients until he returns.
Flu Vaccine Update
We will continue to administer flu vaccine by appointment as supplies last. Currently we have Flumist available as well as injectable flu vaccine. We will keep this website updated regarding availability of vaccines.
We will be administering the flu vaccine by appointment only Tuesday through Friday. Please call early in the day to schedule a same day nurse visit. Flu vaccines will also be offered when you bring your child in for routine care throughout the flu season. Please call the nurse’s line 781 356 6200 option 3 during regular business hours to schedule an appointment.
Flu Vaccine
We now have flu vaccine available. We will be administering the flu vaccine by appointment. Please call the nurses’ line, 781-356-6200 option 3, during regular business hours to schedule. Flu vaccines are a same day nurse visit. Please call first thing in the morning on the day you would like to come in. Flu vaccines will also be offered when you bring your child in for routine care throughout the fall.
CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine. This includes all children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday. Vaccination is especially important for children younger than 5 years of age and children of any age with a long-term health condition like asthma, diabetes and heart disease. These children are at higher risk of serious flu complications, if they get the flu. Click the link below for additional information about the flu vaccine:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm
We have flu vaccine available in both the injectable and intranasal form (Flumist). Flumist is approved for children age 2 and above, although not for those with certain health issues (allergic to eggs, gentamicin, gelatin, or arginine, are currently wheezing; have a history of wheezing, if under 5 years old; have had Guillain-Barré syndrome; have a weakened immune system or live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system; have problems with heart, kidneys or lungs; have diabetes).
Welcome Back Dr. Brenner
After a year in Wisconsin where his wife was doing a fellowship in ophthalmology, Dr. Brenner and his family are returning to Boston. He will be resuming his position at Milton Pediatrics in September, and we are delighted to have him back. His former patients are welcome to return to Dr. Brenner as their PCP, or continue care with their current doctor.
Milton Pediatrics Welcomes Dr. Mary Beth Gordon
Dr. Mary Beth Gordon grew up in nearby Providence, R.I. She completed her undergraduate degree in social studies and fine arts at Harvard, where she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa society. She remained at Harvard for medical school, where she received the New England Pediatric Society Prize and the Henry Asbury Christian Award for notable scholarship.
Dr. Gordon completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Boston and Boston Medical Center, and subsequently served as chief resident at Children’s Hospital Boston. Prior to joining Milton Pediatrics, she took care of inpatients as a staff physician at Children’s Hospital Boston. While there, she published research on improvements in physician-nurse communication and work-life policies for residents. She also enjoyed teaching residents and medical students.
Dr. Gordon recently completed a Masters in Public Health at Harvard School of Public Health. She consults with the Boston Public Health Commission and is on the board of The Home for Little Wanderers. She is licensed in Massachusetts, and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. She is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Gordon lives with her husband Chris and their two daughters, Amory and Riley.
Milton Pediatrics Honors Dr. Robinson
Milton Pediatrics honored Dr. Robinson with a retirement party in Boston in late October, where he received many toasts, well wishes and a song from present and past colleagues and staff. It was a wonderful evening.
Milton Pediatrics is on Twitter!
Want to know when flu vaccine is available? Wondering if we are closed because of a snow storm? Want to hear about the latest recall information? You can now follow us on Twitter @MiltonPeds (or www.twitter.com/MiltonPeds) for the latest practice updates. We’ll be posting most of the same information on the Web site, but this another way to access it on the go.