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.

A Westminster, CO Pediatrician's Tip: Protect Your Child Against Flu

As you prepare to cross items off your holiday shopping list, you also need to prepare your child against the winter flu season. Influenza, the name of the virus that causes flu, is one of the greatest villains of the medical world. It usually wreaks the greatest havoc between the months of October and May, infecting millions of American children and causing them to suffer a combination of cough, colds, fever, body aches, and weariness.

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.