Practice Good Health Habits to Avoid the Flu

According to reports from Coloradohealth officials, the state is experiencing a severe case of the flu this 2013-2014 flu season. 748 people and counting have been hospitalized due to the flu, which is significantly more than what the state saw last year.

Seeing as there is no medicine that can cure the flu, it is important to practice good health habits that can prevent the flu from spreading. In the immortal words of Benjamin Franklin, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”.

For starters, people should take the time to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water. Do not forget to scrape off dirt and grime hiding under fingernails. In the absence of soap and water, people are encouraged to use rubbing alcohol and other alcohol-based sanitizers.

Eating a healthy diet is often associated with preventing obesity and its complications, but it can also help stave off the flu, as the vitamins and minerals from a healthy diet can boost your immune system. In addition, try to get the prescribed six to eight hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation has been known to lower the immune system.

Lastly, do not forget to get the flu vaccine when it comes out every year. Multiple studies have shown that the chances of contracting the flu is significantly reduced after vaccination. According to the CDC, everyone, including babies aged six months and above, should be vaccinated.

About Meningitis

Meningitis is a word you may have heard in the news since there have been a number of outbreaks reported in schools or colleges all over the country. It can be a serious illness, at times even fatal. Thankfully, with appropriate treatment, many kids recover completely from meningitis.

Introduction to meningitis

The central nervous system is surrounded by a fluid—called cerebrospinal fluid—that cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord when the body is active. Even more protection is provided by the meninges, which are membranes that cover the central nervous system. When the meninges are attacked by bacteria or virus, it can become inflamed. This condition is called meningitis.

How is meningitis acquired?

Most of the bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are very common and come with other regular illnesses. Bacteria and viruses that infect the skin, respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract, and urinary system can enter the bloodstream, reach the cerebrospinal fluid, and then attack the meninges. In some cases of bacterial meningitis, the bacteria can come from a severe local infection such as an ear or nasal sinus infection.

Meningitis treatment

Meningitis is treated aggressively. Core treatment includes intravenous (IV) antibiotics and other medications that reduce inflammation. If you suspect meningitis in your child, seek medical care immediately.

Tips for Potty-training Success

Parents often look forward to the time when their child is already completely potty-trained, because that means they don’t have to change or buy diapers anymore. However, they should realize that a child isn’t going to master the habit after just a few trips to the potty. In fact, most kids take several months to get fully potty-trained.

The key to successful potty training lies more on physical and emotional readiness and less on age. Many kids want to learn how to go to the potty by themselves at age 2, while others might not be ready until they’re 2 1/2 or older. Don’t rush to potty-train your child. If you start to train him too early, it might take longer for him to learn.

To know if your child is truly ready, you need to ask yourself these questions: Can your child understand and follow directions easily? Is your child able to tell you when he or she needs to go? Does your child seem more interested in the potty chair than in wearing underwear? If your answer is yes to these questions, chances are high that your child is ready for potty training.

Once you start training, though, remember that no matter how well the process is going, you’ll likely face some problems. Talk to a pediatrician before you try to fix such problems yourself, to confirm that it is, indeed, a problem that needs fixing and not just a normal part of the potty-training process.

The Top Pre-Med Colleges in the Country

Attending a college renowned for its pre-med courses is a great step towards a person's dream to become a licensed doctor, especially a specialist like a pediatrician. Taking a distinguished college's pre-med course will not only help you apply to an acclaimed medical school, it will also prepare you much better for the rigors of becoming a physician. As such, here are some of the top pre-med colleges in the United States:

Cornell University

Cornell offers aspiring medical students a two-year pre-med course that focuses solely on preparing students for medical school via several science courses such as biology and chemistry. While this program does not offer students a Bachelor’s degree, it is more than enough to prepare a student to take medical school entrance exams two years earlier than his contemporaries who chose to enter a complete degree program.

University of Pennsylvania

Also known for one of the best Pediatrics programs in the country, the University of Pennsylvania offers aspiring medical students an extensive four-year pre-med course that results in a degree.

East Tennessee State University

This institution ffers students a comprehensive four-year pre-med program. Students who enter this program take units in Organic Chemistry, Biology, English, and Communication. The curriculum not only prepares students for the academic rigors of med school, but also equips these future doctors with the communication skills and proper attitude necessary for a career in medicine.

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Vaccination Schedules, as Advised by Pediatricians

When babies are born, they are given protection from different diseases by the antibodies that are passed onto them from their moms, and this protection is maintained as they get nourished by breast milk. However, this protection is only temporary, and kids could sooner or later get exposed to different kinds of ailments.

For more protection, children should be given different kinds of immunizations through vaccines once they reach a certain age. These vaccinations contain weakened or inactivated parts of diseases that would help your kid's immune system create antibodies. These antibodies, in turn, would fight those same diseases without letting your kids get infected.

Pediatricians have designed vaccination schedules that parents are urged to follow in order to keep children fully protected.

For example, right after a child is born, some doctors recommend giving a dose of Hepatitis B vaccine, and then a second dose after a month or two. During the second month, babies could also be given Rotavirus, Diptheria, and then Polio vaccinations, plus another dose of these at the four-month mark. Tetanus vaccinations are also recommended by doctors, along with booster shots when kids grow older.

Influenza vaccinations can be started once a baby is six months old. Doctors recommend having these done once a year due to seasonal strain changes.

There are more vaccinations on the list. To best find out about what they are and when to get them, consult your pediatrician.

Convincing Your Child that He's Not Hungry Anymore

Binge eating is as much of a problem for children as it is for many adults, only that the consequences pose much more of a threat to a child's developing body. Aside from the mental and emotional effects of child obesity, parents also have to worry about children's increased risk of premature death from diabetes and high blood pressure.

One way to help your kid overcome any eating disorder is to set a good example. Children are quick to mimic what their parents are doing, after all. Instead of heading to the fridge for a gallon of ice cream after a hearty meal, get up and maybe go for a nice stroll around your neighborhood.

Don't use food as a reward or punishment. Kids will only ever do things for the prospect of getting the chance to eat something nice, which probably isn't something healthy like veggies anyway. What's worse is that when they fail to get this reward, their depression just might cause them to crave even more food.

Finally, establish a clear eating schedule—preferably with some advice from the pediatrician—and make sure that it's strictly enforced. This will keep your kid from thinking about snacking whenever the mood strikes them. They might even stick to this schedule when they're all grown up.

Pediatrics: A Rewarding Medical Specialization

If you decide to study medicine in a prestigious school, you will like the idea of continuing education to obtain a specialization. Choosing a specialization, on the other hand, can be quite daunting, especially if you're not aware of the different advantages of the various specializations. Listed below are some of the reasons why pediatrics may be the right specialization for you:

Rewarding

As a pediatrician, you will have to deal with infants, children, and adolescents. This means you will be responsible for overseeing the physical, emotional, and physiological development of your patients. Many of your patients and their guardians may end up being almost like your second family. This can make the profession very rewarding.

Challenging

Most doctors want to challenge themselves by dealing with serious illnesses. Contrary to popular belief, the tasks of pediatricians aren't limited to treating colds and ear infections, as they also have to ably treat a variety of medical ailments and conditions. Considering the age of the patients they are allowed to handle (0 to 21), they are faced with various medical challenges that can hone their skills.

Well-Paid

While pediatricians are not the highest paid doctors in the United States, their average annual salary is $135,000. That hits the fifth spot in the highest percentile of salaries in the country. Those who choose this specialization will never experience regret once they enter the practice.

The Best Ways to Find a Competent Pediatrician

A pediatrician plays a vital role in your child’s developmental stages. That said, you'll definitely be a frequent visitor to his or her office. For this reason, parents need to carefully select the right pediatric care for their child. While credentials are important, one shouldn't neglect the importance of excellent bedside manners and maintaining a friendly atmosphere.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that parents should start looking for a pediatrician in the last few weeks prior to their expected due date. Obviously, the best place to start is by asking around. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertisement, but if you want to limit your choices to the list of participating doctors in your insurance plan, be sure to prepare a list of questions.

Does the office offer after-hours service? What about house calls? How much does the standard fee of their services cost? Pay close attention to how the pediatrician answers your questions and see if they calmly explain it to you point by point. There are times when you just have to go with what your gut tells you; if the doctor seems amiable enough and has sufficient credentials, then there is no reason why you shouldn't pick him for your child.