Pediatrics in Westminster, CO: Frequently Asked Questions About Asthma

Asthma is a chronic medical condition suffered by millions of Americans. Though it may occur at an early age, it most commonly develops during early childhood or mid-adulthood. Children who have asthma often develop their first symptoms before reaching the age of five. As with many medical conditions, genetics and environmental exposure play a role in the development of asthma.

Urinary Tract Infection in Kids

Urinary tract infections (UTI) in children can occur in the bladder or kidney. They are especially common in girls and uncircumcised boys. By age 5, about 8 percent of girls and 1 to 2 percent of boys will have had UTI. Possible kidney scarring is an important reason to prevent, detect, and treat UTI, as scarring can lead to serious kidney problems for a child down the road.

Causes of UTI

UTI occurs when the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra become infected. Infection is often caused by stool bacteria. Usually, these bacteria enter the urinary tract from outside the body. However, there are cases in which the bacteria in the bloodstream enter the kidney, causing the infection. Aside from bacteria, viruses such as adenovirus can also cause UTI.

Symptoms of UTI

The most common symptoms of UTI are fever, vomiting, and flank pain. Diarrhea can sometimes accompany the condition. Infants with UTI may be jaundiced, irritable, and feeding poorly.

Is UTI contagious?

UTI is not directly contagious. The bacteria that causes it, however, can be spread by touch.

How long does UTI last?

UTI may persist until treated. Once treatment begins, improvements are often rapid. A UTI infection is usually cleared within 2 weeks or less of treatment.

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.

Take Your Child to Pediatrician in Westminster, CO Come Allergy Season

A drop in the temperature signals the beginning of the winter season. Unfortunately, it can also signal the start of your child’s sniffling and sneezing. If he has a stuffy nose and watery eyes right about the time winter comes along, that means he has seasonal allergies.

Tonsillitis: Symptoms & Treatment

Tonsils are oval-shaped lymphatic tissues that fight infection. They consist of various kinds, but the most common are the palatine tonsils, which are located on both sides of the throat. Sometimes, tonsils become infected themselves, causing them to become inflamed. This condition is called tonsillitis. Although tonsillitis can occur at any age, it is most common in children between 5 and 15 years of age.

Tonsillitis has several symptoms, including sore throat, fever, red and swollen tonsils, and painful swallowing. In many children, tonsils can become enlarged without any infection and shrink without treatment. If your child has these symptoms and don’t seem to get better over a number of weeks, take him to a pediatrician.

The pediatrician will evaluate your child to determine the correct course of treatment. The usual treatment for tonsillitis is prescription medication, but if your child has chronic, recurring tonsillitis, the pediatrician may recommend that he undergo a surgical procedure—called tonsillectomy—for the removal of the tonsils.

Should your child require tonsillectomy, both you and he/she need to be informed what will happen before, during, and after the surgery. Talking to the pediatrician and asking him all the questions in your mind will help you and your child understand the procedure better.

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.

http://ttlearning.com/ten-best-pre-med-schools-in-america/ 

Children and Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccines

Varicella, commonly known to Americans as Chickenpox, is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in children. It is a highly contagious disease that could occur when a person is exposed to the varicella-zoster virus, eventually causing the trademark itchy, red blisters to appear on the skin after the 14 to 16 day incubation period.

Most cases of chickenpox only require rest at home, as this self-limiting ailment will resolve itself within ten to fourteen days after the blisters first manifest. In addition, many home remedies, such as oat baths and calamine lotions, can make the itching more manageable for your children. However, while most cases of chickenpox are more of an annoyance than a serious disease, a prolonged chickenpox infection can give rise to several complications: bacterial infections, pneumonia, shingles, and others.

With this in mind, a quick trip to your child's pediatrician for a chickenpox vaccination is the best way to prevent chickenpox, or to reduce its unpleasant symptoms. Aside from the benefit of significantly reducing the chances of children contracting the disease, the vaccination might be important in school, as most Colorado schools now require proof of a chickenpox vaccination before admitting a student.  Chickenpox vaccines are given in two doses; the first when a child is 12-15 months, and the second usually given anytime from 3 months after the first dose, to 6 years old.

http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/chickenpox-varicella-vaccine