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Recently In The News
We would like to, from time to time, put recent articles, news items, etc., pertaining to the health and care of our patients. Our goal is to update this area every month. Please check back monthly for updates.
1) MMR and Autism:
As many of you may have already heard, the prominent British Journal, The Lancet, recently retracted its study on the link between the MMR vaccine and Autism. This study was done in 1998 by Dr. Andrew Wakefield on a very small (12) number of patients. He speculated that the cause for chronic intestinal disorders and mental regression in these kids were related to them receiving the combined MMR vaccine. We also learn that he was in the process of getting approval for a monovalent Measles Vaccine he had patented in 1997. The British Medical Panel concluded that Dr. Wakefield had been dishonest, violated basic research ethics rules and showed a "callous disregard" for the suffering of children involved in his research. The council is now considering whether Wakefield is guilty of serious professional misconduct. A positive finding could cause him to lose his medical practice.
2) Recent surge in Mumps cases in New York/New Jersey:
As of January 29, 2010, there have been 1,521 confirmed cases of mumps in the area. Most of the cases have been confined to a specific religious community, members of the tradition-observant Jewish community. Most of these children had at least 1 dose of the MMR vaccine (88%); some had 2 doses of the vaccine (75%). Beginning on January 19, 2010, in Orange County, New York, public health officials began offering a third dose of MMR vaccine in three schools where, despite documentation of a high level of 2-dose coverage among students, transmission had continued for >2 months. This intervention is being carried out under an Institutional Review Board--approved protocol that provides for an evaluation of the impact of the intervention. ACIP has not recommended a third dose, and no data exist on the effectiveness of a third dose in either reducing the risk for mumps or altering the course of an outbreak. Data obtained from use of the third dose of MMR vaccine in Orange County might be used to guide future options for mumps outbreak control in settings with high 2-dose coverage.
Recent Recalls
A recall has been issued for liquid medications made by McNeil Pharmaceutical, Johnson & Johnson. The medications are Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and Zyrtec. Please check the website for the lot numbers. The link to the website is
www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/new_recall.inc
Here are some of the recalls for April:
1) Graco®-branded drop side cribs made by LaJobi. The drop side hardware can break or fail, allowing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches, a hazardous gap is created between the drop side and the crib mattress in which infants and toddlers can become wedged or entrapped, posing a risk of suffocation and strangulation. In addition, children can fall from the cribs when the drop side detaches or fails to lock. Please check the CPSC website for correct models and model numbers.
2) Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames. The crib's tubular metal mattress-support frame can bend or detach and cause part of the mattress to collapse, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged, entrapped or fall out of the crib. Please check the CPSC website for the model numbers.
3) Children's hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings by Gogo Sports Inc., of San Francisco, California, Polar Bear Gift Shop, of Anchorage, Alaska, GJC International of Florida Inc., of Plantation, Florida and 5 Star Apparel LLC, of New York. The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood that can pose a strangulation hazard to children.
Please remember that shirts or jackets with drawstrings pose a choking hazard for kids.
For the month of March, there were 3 important recalls:
1)Infantino "SlingRider" and "Wendy Bellissimo" infant slings. These slings have resulted in the deaths of 3 infants. There currently are no safety standards for infant sling carriers.
2)Graco Harmony high chairs. The screws holding the front legs of the high chair can loosen and fall out and/or the plastic bracket on the rear legs can crack causing the high chair to become unstable and tip over unexpectedly. This has resulted in 24 reports of injuries.
3)Evenflo Top-of-Stairs Plus Wood Gates. The slats on the gate can break or detach, posing a fall hazard to children. Evenflo has received 142 reports of slats breaking and/or detaching from the gate.
Please go to the Consumer Products Safety Commission website for full details of these and other recalls not reported on our site. The website is:
www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/child.html
Spring Break Safety Tips
Spring break is a great time for the family to get away from the cold, dark days of winter and have some fun in the sun. Keep your family safe while on your trip by following these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Sun Safety for Babies
- Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy. It is okay to apply a small amount of sunscreen on infants under 6 months if there is no way to avoid the sun.
- Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and use brimmed hats.
Sun Safety for Kids
- Choose sunscreen that is made for children, preferably waterproof. Before covering your child, test the sunscreen on your child's back for an allergic reaction. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids. If a rash develops, talk with your pediatrician.
- Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics. Cotton clothing is both cool and protective.
- When using a cap with a bill, make sure the bill is facing forward to shield your child's face. Sunglasses with UV protection are also a good idea for protecting your child's eyes.
- If your child gets sunburn that results in blistering, pain or fever, contact your pediatrician.
Sun Safety for the Family
- The sun's rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to keep out of the sun during those hours.
- The sun's damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.
- Most of the sun's rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.
- When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label - it means that the sunscreen will screen out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Choose a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
- Zinc oxide, a very effective sunblock, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and on the shoulders.
- Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
- Rub sunscreen in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees.
- Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors - it needs time to work on the skin.
- Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.
Beach Tips *
- Drink plenty of water, non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks, even if you do not feel thirsty.
- Stay within the designated swimming area and ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard
- Never swim alone.
- Be aware of rip currents. If you should get caught in a current, don't try to swim against it. Swim parallel to shore until clear of the current.
- Seek shelter in case of storm. Get out of the water. Get off the beach in case of lightning.
- Watch out for traffic - some beaches allow cars.
©American Academy of Pediatrics 2/10
*used with permission from Florida Travel and Tourism Bureau
Mosquito Safety
- West Nile awareness week began April 26, 2010.
- Protect yourself and your family from West Nile virus by following the 3 D's throughout the season:
Dawn and Dusk is when mosquitoes that carry WNV are most active. If you go outside in the early morning or evening hours, wear long pants and a long sleeved shirt to help keeping mosquitoes from biting.
DEET is an effective ingredient to look for in insect repellents. Be sure to apply before enjoying outdoor activities. Repellents containing picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are also effective. Please be sure to follow the label directions carefully.
Dump and Drain standing water around your house weekly. This is where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Even a capful of water can become mosquito breeding ground. Be sure to clear clogged rain gutters and dump or drain water from puddles, toys, flowerpots, and old tires.
- For more resources, please check:
www.westnile.ca.gov/resources.php
If you find dead birds or tree squirrels, be sure to report them to the Dead Birds hotline at 1-877-968-2473 or online at
www.westnile.ca.gov/report_wnv.php
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