Rebecca Q.'s blog

Last week I wrote about hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is often caused by a type of enterovirus known as coxsackievirus. There are other types of enteroviruses that can also cause illness during the summer months. One serious enterovirus is poliovirus, which causes polio. Fortunately, vaccination programs have eradicated polio from the United States, and vaccines continue to protect children from this serious illness. Other types of enterovirus cause much milder illness. For instance, some enteroviruses cause what is sometimes called a “summer cold.”

Another rash that tends to be more common in the summer months is hand, foot, and mouth disease. This is a common rash that is caused by a virus, usually an enterovirus such as a coxsackie virus. Since different viruses can cause this rash, a child can get it more than once. It is not the same as foot and mouth or hoof and mouth disease in animals.

Although we often think of winter and fall as the times of year when children and adults are more likely to get sick, there are a number of infections that are more common during the summer.

Impetigo is a contagious rash caused by bacteria. There are two main types of bacteria that cause impetigo: streptococcal and staphylococcal. These bacteria enter the skin through small cuts or scratches and cause the infection. Impetigo can occur anywhere on the body, but is most common around the nose and mouth and on the forearms, hands, and diaper area.

I would like to share two recent health advisories from the California Department of Public Health. In the last few months, there have been increases in the number of cases of two vaccine-preventable diseases, measles and whooping cough (also called pertussis).

The Environmental Law Foundation (ELF), an Oakland-based group that addresses environmental issues, recently released some findings about lead levels in several types of food items. These include apple juice, grape juice, packaged pears and peaches, and fruit cocktail. ELF chose these products to test because they are ones that children are likely to eat regularly.

Whether it's around the neighborhood or on a family trip, families travel every day. Car seats, helmets, and other safety devices can help keep families safe when they're on the go.

Food allergies occur when the immune system attacks a protein from a particular food. It is not known for sure why some people have food allergies, but they seem to be getting more and more common. Some people think this it is simply because we are getting better at finding food allergies. Other people think that it is related to our environment or our diet. Food allergies are more common in children who have other allergies, eczema, or who have family members with food allergies.

As we move into spring and summer, we are all looking forward to spending time outside. And while we are still getting some spring showers, we will be getting more and more sunshine.

The sun provides us with light and warmth. It also puts out UV rays that can harm our skin. This can happen even on cloudy days. Too much exposure to UV rays from the sun can cause painful sunburns and increase the risk of skin cancer. And even though it’s often thought of as a sign of health, a sun tan is actually a sign of damaged skin.

It is common for preschoolers to be reluctant to try new foods, refuse certain types of foods, or decide they only want to eat one or two favorite foods. Some children dislike the textures or appearance of certain foods. Some children just don’t like new things. For other children, it is a way of exploring their independence.

Sometimes it can be hard to find ways to fit healthy eating into our busy schedules. Here are a few simple tips that can help your family find ways to eat healthier.

Twice a year, we gather information about our snacks and hot lunches and send it to a nutritionist. She analyzes the information and sends us her analysis and any recommendations she has. The information she provides helps us make sure we are meeting the children’s nutritional needs. We are currently in this process, and will share with you any changes that we will be making based on her recommendations.

Over the next few weeks, I would like to share some simple tips about healthy eating.

Electronic media such as television, computers, and video games can be found everywhere today. They can have a big effect on our children, so it is important to think carefully about children's screen time.

When children watch television, they are not practicing valuable skills. These include social skills, such as asking questions, self control, and patience. They may also include physical skills, such as hand-eye coordination, or cognitive skills, such as creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The American Dental Association sponsors this observance to help raise awareness about the importance of dental health in children. Although primary or baby teeth will fall out, they play an important role in nutrition, speech development, and self-esteem, as well as acting as place holders for permanent or adult teeth.

In the last week, there have been a few product recalls affecting children's products. I wanted to share some information about these recalls for any families that might have products affected by the recalls.

This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week. This year the focus is on H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccines. Although this vaccine was initially only available in limited quantities to a few high risk groups, more vaccine is now available and all groups are being encouraged to get vaccinated.

The discovery of antibiotics revolutionized medicine and turned many once-deadly infections into easily treatable illnesses. Today, antibiotics continue to save lives and limit illness. However, there has recently started to be concern that some germs are developing resistance to antibiotics.

This week is National Hand Washing Awareness Week.

We have certainly been very aware of hand washing in our efforts to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu this year. Hand washing is a simple but effective way to prevent the spread of flu and many other types of illness.

Holidays can be a time for fun and relaxation, but they can also become stressful. Travel, busy schedules, money worries, and high expectations can all make the holidays more stressful.

A little bit of stress can be a good thing. This is what allows us to meet deadlines and react in emergencies. But too much stress can cause problems, including headaches, stomach aches, trouble sleeping, bad moods, panic attacks, and behavior changes in children.

"Bundle up before you go outside or you'll catch cold." Many of us grew up with the idea that going out in cold or wet weather causes colds and other illnesses. But colds, the flu, and other illnesses are caused by germs like bacteria and viruses, not by cold weather. In fact, fresh air and active outdoor play, even if it's cold outside, can help keep us healthy.