Dear Amazing Centennial Valley Pediatrics Patients and Families,

We hope this email finds you all healthy and well!

Summer is in full swing! We hope you're able to enjoy some fun family time together--vacations, stay-cations, camping--whatever brings your family joy and creates great memories!

Please, PLEASE, check and DOUBLE CHECK the reminder that you get for your appointments. The office location is in this reminder.

Remember, we have two locations. If you come to the wrong location for your appointment, you will likely not be able to be seen and will have to reschedule. We cannot just squeeze you in to a schedule you are not on, and you will be much too late if you try to go to the other office.

We truly regret turning anyone away, but it is not fair to the rest of the scheduled patients to see you late and make everyone else late as well. We know how frustrating this would be for you, so please, PLEASE be sure you know which office your appointment is scheduled in. 

Thank you!!

 

Due to increasing concerns about vaccines lately, we will be starting a recurring information section, focusing on different vaccines. We want you, as parents, to know what these vaccines are for, why your child gets them at particular times, and answer your questions about safety.

 

 We are fully in agreement with the American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC recommendations on the childhood immunization schedule, and will always encourage you to stick with this. Of course, we will work with you if you choose to vaccinate differently, but the schedule was created to be safe for your child, and to give them protection from serious childhood illnesses when they need it most. 

When you have questions, please reference trusted vaccine information sources, like:  Your pediatricians! : )

Voices for Vaccines--a website meant for lay people, gives Information on vaccine preventable diseases, how vaccines work, and why to vaccinate

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center (VEC)--The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) was launched to provide accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent. The VEC is funded by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and through philanthropic donations, and does not receive support from vaccine manufacturers. 

Talking about Vaccines with Dr. Paul Offit--Paul A. Offit, MD is Director of the Vaccine Education Center and professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Offit is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of virology and immunology, He has created a very watchable, parent friendly video series all about vaccines, how they work, what's in them, etc.

Shot by Shot--stories of vaccine preventable illnesses from people who suffered them, or the families who had to watch. Shows the real life effect of these illnesses, that they do still exist, and that they can be devastating

What Is Hib?

Hib is short for Haemophilus influenzae type b, a serious bacterial infection that can cause life-threatening illnesses in young children, including:

Meningitis (infection of the brain/spinal cord lining)

Pneumonia

Epiglottitis (swelling in the throat that can block breathing)

Blood infections (sepsis)

All of these illnesses can be severe, even life threatening. Before the vaccine, 20,000 children contracted Hib illnesses every year, some resulting in permanent disability or death.

Hib is a bacterium that is commonly found lining the surface of the nose and the back of the throat. So anyone can be carrying it without being sick themselves. This is how children get exposed–when they catch it from another person who is coughing, sneezing, even just talking or breathing close to them, they can get sick.

The vaccine contains a small, harmless piece of the Hib bacteria (not the whole germ). This piece is combined with a protein to help your child’s immune system recognize and fight the real bacteria if exposed later. The vaccine does not contain live bacteria—so it cannot cause the disease.

Yes. The Hib vaccine has been used since the 1990s and is considered very safe. Side effects are usually mild and temporary, like:

Redness or swelling at the injection site

Mild fever

Fussiness

Severe reactions are extremely rare.

Bottom Line: The benefits far outweigh the risks. Thanks to the vaccine, Hib infections have dropped by over 99% in countries where it’s routinely used.

Because mothers often have immunity to Hib, they pass this immunity to their infants. But the protection doesn’t last very long. Because babies under 15 months old are most at risk of serious illness from Hib, they begin to get vaccinated at 2 months old. At CVP, the Hib vaccine is given as a series of 3 doses, at:

2 months

4 months

15 months

If you still feel unsure about giving this vaccine to your child, please watch this video, from Shot by Shot. 

Hib illness 

Summer is the time for the pool, beaches, lakes, and all kinds of water fun. We want our children safe in these environments. But water safety is something to think about year-round--we go on vacations in the winter; if you have small children at home, don't forget about the water sources in your own home (think bathtub, toilet, kiddie pool, even buckets of water). Read on for safety tips to keep your children safe around all water sources:

Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children 1-4. 

Young children can drown in as little as an inch or two of water, and it can happen quickly and silently.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using "layers of protection" to help kids be safe around water. 

Barriers--prevent children's access to bodies of water when they are not being directly supervised--use gates, locking doors, alarms, pool/hot tub covers, etc.

Supervision--use "touch supervision" for non-swimmers, whether it's bathtime or swim time--be within arm's reach. Assign a "water watcher"--an adult who is not being distracted by others, who is not on their phone, etc. Eyes on the children at all times.

Swim lessons/water survival skills--The AAP recommends swim lessons for all children, (and their parents). Recent studies suggest that water survival skills training and swim lessons can help reduce drowning risk for all children, including those 1 to 4 years.

Life jackets--should be used whenever around lakes, rivers, or the ocean. Adults should wear one, too. 

Be prepared--learn basic CPR, and hopefully you'll never need it

Click here for more tips from the AAP on drowning prevention at home and away--remember: drowning can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone.

 

Playing outside is excellent for children’s health, but it can also lead to run-ins with mosquitos and ticks. Most of the time, these bites are just annoyances, and nothing serious. However, rarely, a person will have a severe reaction, like anaphylaxis. And rarely, diseases can be spread by insect bites. Here's how to stay safe when you're playing outside this summer.

Avoid insects as much as possible. Avoid conditions that favor insects, like areas with standing water, or tall grasses/weeds. Avoid being outside at dusk.

When you want or need to be in areas where insects are likely, take these precautions:

Wear protective clothing. Dress your child in lightweight long sleeves, long pants, closed-toed shoes, socks and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors for maximum protection. Tuck pants into your child’s socks. Avoid clothes with flowery prints or bright colors as they may attract insects.

Use mosquito netting. Protect babies by using mosquito netting over strollers and infant carriers.

Avoid scented products. To avoid attracting insects, don’t use fragranced perfumes, soaps or hairspray on your child.

Use an appropriate insect repellant. Use what works--DEET products are safe for children >2 months old, and very effective. 

Apply insect repellant correctly. Follow all label instructions and apply only to exposed skin and clothing. If applying repellant to your child’s face, spray it on your hands first, then pat it onto their face, avoiding the eyes and mouth. Do not put it on young children's hands, since they are likely to put them in their mouths.

Keep bugs outside. Ensure the screens on your home’s windows and doors are in good condition. 

Mosquito bites. Clean the area with soap and water. Encourage your child not to scratch. Cover bites so they are harder to itch You can apply cool compresses, hydrocortisone cream, or give oral Benadryl if your child has a lot of bites, or is really uncomfortable. 

Tick bites: If you see a tick on your child’s skin, use tweezers to grasp the tick’s head close to the skin, holding the tweezers sideways. Pull the tick straight upward and avoid crushing or twisting it. Wash the area with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment.

The area around the bite becomes very large and red after the initial bite

The area around the bite becomes red, warm, and tender several days after the bite

You can’t remove a tick.

Your child develops a rash or fever within four weeks of a tick bite. 

*****Many people worry about Lyme disease when they have a tick bite. The good news is, in Colorado, our ticks don't carry Lyme disease. Lyme is mostly seen in ticks in the northeast, mid-atlantic, and upper midwest states, so if your child has been in these areas and has a tick bite, then there might be concern. But if it's a Colorado tick--no worries. Still monitor for signs of infection, or illness in the following several weeks, though.