Posts for: September, 2017
Wondering if your child has asthma? Asthma is a respiratory condition that inflames and narrows the airways, causing difficulty in breathing. Childhood asthma can be controlled with proper treatment. Dr. C. Turner Lewis of Children's Medical Clinics, which is located in Kaufman, TX, provides treatment for children with asthma. Here are five signs your child may have asthma.
1. Shortness of Breath- The most common symptom that may indicate your child has asthma is shortness of breath. This happens because airways in the lungs get smaller, swollen, and filled with mucus. During an asthma attack, the muscles surrounding the airway passages tighten. The lining of the airway passages swells. Less air is able to pass through as a result.
2. Frequent Coughing- It’s easy to think that coughing means your child has bronchitis or a cold— but if that cough won't go away, it may be a sign of asthma. Coughing from asthma often is worse early in the morning or at night, making it hard to sleep. Check with a pediatrician if your child's cough lingers for more than two weeks.
3. Chest Tightness- Chest tightness is a typical asthma symptom. Your child may feel like something is squeezing or sitting on his or her chest. This chest tightness can occur rarely, frequently, or persistently. Chest tightness frequently occurs in asthma patients, either alone or with the other asthma symptoms.
4. Recurrent Wheezing- Wheezing is a typical asthma symptom. Wheezing is a squeaky or whistling sound that occurs when your child breathes. Inflammation and narrowing of the airway in any location, from your throat to your lungs, can result in wheezing. Wheezing alone doesn't mean your child has asthma. Other conditions can also cause wheezing including allergies, bronchitis, and respiratory tract infections.
5. Sleep Problems- Interrupted sleep may be a sign that your child is suffering from asthma. Coughing and wheezing in asthmatics often become more severe during the night. Some doctors feel that chronic insomnia may make a case of asthma become more severe. Fortunately, when childhood asthma is treated, sleep problems tend to disappear.
Asthma can affect your child's day-to-day activities and make life frustrating and miserable. Don't wait another minute- call Children's Medical Clinics in Kaufman, TX at 972-932-1319 right now to schedule an appointment.
A number of factors can cause a child to develop a headache, such as stress, lack of sleep, skipped meals and certain medications. Other times a child may suffer from a headache due to a common illness or infection, such as a cold or flu. And in serious cases, head trauma or an underlying condition such as meningitis could be causing the child’s headache. That’s why it’s important for parents to pay close attention to their child’s headache patterns.
Although it’s easy for parents to worry, most headaches in children are rarely a sign of something serious. However, parents should contact their child’s pediatrician if the child has unexplained or recurring headaches over a short period of time or on a regular basis.
Parents should also notify their pediatrician if the child’s headache is accompanied by one or any combination of these symptoms:
- Double vision, weakness in a limb or loss of balance
- Disabling pain that does not improve with over-the-counter pain medication
- Interrupted sleep
- Decreased level of alertness
- Change in personality
To help pinpoint the causes of your child’s headaches, parents should keep a diary of their child’s symptoms. Track when headaches occur, how long they last, the severity of the headache and if anything provides relief. Over time, your notes can help you and your pediatrician understand the child’s symptoms to reach a diagnosis and proper treatment plan.
Your child’s pediatrician may also ask you a series of questions to determine the source of your child’s headaches:
- Do the headaches follow a pattern or do they change over time?
- Has your child recently suffered a serious injury?
- What seems to help or worsen headaches?
- Does your child take any medications or have any past medical issues?
- Does your child have allergies?
- Is there a history of headaches in your family?
In many cases, a child’s headache may be relieved at home with simple care. Over-the-counter pain medications, rest and avoiding those triggers that prompt headaches may be enough to ease the pain.
Remember, headaches are not always a symptom of something more serious. However, parents should be mindful of the types of headaches their child has and how frequently they occur. If you suspect something is wrong or not normal, always contact your pediatrician for an appointment.
Today is the day for all of us to remember how we came together as a nation that day in 2011. Never Forget. http://childrensmedicalclinics.net/blog/html
Backpack overload sends tens of thousands of kids a year to emergency rooms, physicians’ offices and clinics from sprains, strains, dislocations and fractures.
Check out these tips from an ER physician, Dr. Matt Bush to prevent heavy pack injuries! http://www.childrensmedicalclinics.net/blog.html
Especially during the younger years, adequate food and nutrition is vital for a child’s growth and development. But for some children, a snack or meal as simple as a peanut butter sandwich or a cup of milk can cause serious health problems. So, what’s a parent to do when they suspect their child is allergic to a certain food?
A food allergy is the abnormal response of the immune system to a food. It’s possible to be allergic to any food, but these particular foods are responsible for the majority of allergies: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and peanuts. Food allergies should not be confused with food intolerance, or food sensitivity, which is more common and less severe.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction typically occur within just moments to an hour after the child ingests a food. They can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening, so it’s important for parents to understand what to do if they suspect their child is having an allergic reaction to food. Symptoms will vary for each child, but the most common telltale signs include:
- Trouble breathing
- Itching or swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth or throat
- Light-headedness or loss of consciousness
Food allergy symptoms often resemble other medical conditions, so always contact your pediatrician for a proper diagnosis. If you suspect your child has a food allergy, remove that particular food from your child’s diet immediately. If the allergic reaction is severe, seek medical care right away.
The good news is that food allergies are often outgrown during early childhood. Your pediatrician or allergist can perform tests to pinpoint and track your child's food allergies They can also work with you to modify and manage your child’s diet to ensure they are receiving adequate nutrition for growth and development without putting them at risk for additional allergic reactions.