Dr Rungsima Pediatrician

10/26/2022

RSV is going around again!

Seems to me a lot of our little patients came in with wheezing this season. What you should know about bronchiolitis (NOT BRONCHITIS!) which is a common lung infection in young children and infants. It causes inflammation and congestion in the small airways (bronchioles) of the lung. Bronchiolitis is almost always caused by a virus so antibiotic will not help making them better unless there is secondary bacterial infection.

Bronchiolitis starts out with symptoms similar to those of a common cold but then progresses to coughing, wheezing and sometimes difficulty breathing. Symptoms of bronchiolitis can last for several days to weeks, even a month.

RSV is a most commmon cause of bronchiolitis. Here is basic information about this virus....

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/RSV-When-Its-More-Than-Just-a-Cold.aspx

05/30/2022

A lot of families asked me about my opinion on Hepatitis A vaccine since this is not a mandatory vaccine for school. Here’s the perfect example why I encourage children to get this vaccine. You would think purchasing organic fruits are safe for your children, this is not the case. Organic produce are not germ free.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus cause by consuming contaminated food or water, or contact with someone who is infected. This infection is preventable by vaccine which usually given at 12 months old and 18 months old.

Illness usually occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. People with hepatitis A infections usually completely recover within one to two weeks; however, in rare cases hepatitis A may become chronic, causing relapsing infection.

The FDA said there have been 17 cases of Hepatitis A reported since the end of March, and they are linked to strawberries sold nationwide.

05/13/2022

Due to formula shortage, I found this helpful to find the similar formula that you are using. Reach out if you have questions about selection. Please do not dilute formula, it is very dangerous diluting formula and giving to infants.

05/13/2021

This is their shot! Children 12-15 years old are now eligible for the covid vaccine from Pfizer. Please check with your local vaccine sites for appointment.

04/10/2021

One easy way to see if symptoms you or your children have are more likely allergies or COVID.

🌻 Spring is in the air. Both seasonal allergies and COVID-19 can cause cough, fatigue, and headache, but symptoms like fever and chills are more common with COVID-19.

Use this chart to learn more similarities and differences between allergies and COVID-19. If you have symptoms, you might need a COVID-19 test to find out if you’re sick.

For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/3qEzjRD.

02/06/2021

Most of you probably saw articles about heavy metals in baby food circulating on internet. Should you be concerned? Is it safe to feed your baby those food?

Short answers are yes and yes. It is concerning if your child consuming high amount of heavy metal. And yes it is still safe to feed the baby this food. The key point is “variety and moderation”.

10/28/2020

Election Day is approaching. Being a good role model is an important part of parenting. Here’s some tips about how to talk to your child about voting. We can start as early as toddler years.

https://www.ahaparenting.com/blog/how-to-talk-with-your-child-about-voting

09/11/2020

Poor air quality alerts!!!

POOR AIR QUALITY ALERTS🔥🔥🔥
Please check the air quality in your neighborhood before spending time outdoors.
I know that we all feel stuck indoors and need to get outside for exercise but the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, due to the fires. Please stay safe.
If you must go outside please take your inhaler with you.

09/04/2020

Schools has started for few weeks now and some may be struggling distance learning. I’d like to share an article about possible barriers so this might help your child engaging in the remote learning better. Good luck everyone 🥰

While some students are thriving with this way of learning, many students don’t seem to be engaging in it. What's holding your students back?

07/25/2020

My baby has bowlegs, should I massage it out?!!! My toddler has knock-knees, should he/she see the specialist?

Understanding Bowlegs and Knock-Knees

A common concern for parents, bowlegs and knock-knees are primarily due to the child’s normal growth and development. However, only a very small number of children need treatment. Physiologic bowlegs and knock-knees will not affect a child’s ability to crawl, walk, run or play. Some children may walk with their toes pointed in, trip more or appear clumsier than other children their age, and, children at the extremes of the normal growth curve may have bowlegs or knock-knees that often look severe. However, these are symptoms of bowlegs and knock-knees seen in most children, which the child will typically outgrow.

The following is the normal growth and development for children, from infancy to the age of 10:
* From infancy to 18 months, a child’s legs are initially bowlegged (varus), causing toddlers to often walk with their feet wide apart.
* When the child is between 1-1/2 and 2-1/2 years, the legs have usually straightened.
* By 3 to 4 years, the child’s legs typically grow into a knock-knee (valgus) position.
* Finally, by age 8 to 10 years, the child’s legs have settled in to what will likely be their adult alignment.

For the vast majority of children, treatment only involves observation (allowing growth and time to correct the legs) and parental reassurance. Physical therapy, chiropractic, special shoes, vitamins, and bracing have no effect on the normal development of normal legs.
If the pediatrician does have concerns about the severity of either condition, a referral to a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon for evaluation is often recommended.

06/13/2020

Water safety, let’s get ready for summer!!!

“After birth defect, drowning is No. 1 cause of death for shildren age 1-4”

💦 Create layers of protection to keep your toddler safe
💦Fence and secure swimming pools: Self-closing and self-latching gate that is on all 4 sides, 4-feet high and no opening under it. Slats no more than 4 in. wide, completely separate the pool from the house and keep the gate locked at all times.
Empty water containers immediately after use 💦Remove or fence other backyard water hazards: Hot tubs, spas and whirlpools. Bird baths, fountains, and ponds. Wells, irrigation, or drainage ditches.
💦 Empty water containers immediately after use: Young children can drown in as little as an inch or two of water, and it can happen quickly and silently.
💦 Block unsupervised access to bathrooms
💦 Provide close, constant supervision in and around water

🏊 Start swim lessons as soon as your child is ready : Recent studies suggest that water survival skills training and swim lessons can help reduce drowning risk for all children including those 1 to 4 years.

🚨 Be ready to respond : learn CPR and safe rescue techniques to respond to a drowning incident.

🔥 Not only drowning, water from garden hose exposed to direct sunlight during summer can heat the water inside the hose (not flowing) to 130-140 degrees which can cause burns especially to children & animals. Let the water flow a few minutes to cool before spraying on people or animals.

🌞 And please protect your little ones’s skin by applying sunscreen🧴

Happy Summer Time everyone!!

05/14/2020

One of the most common questions that come up during 1 yr visit is milk and milk alternatives. Also what to do if their children refuse to drink milk. Around 1 yr babies can start being introduced to milk. WHO recommends breastfeeding for at least the first 2 years old life, but continuing breastfeeding might not be possible in some families.

Here are common questions…

❓Why do toddlers need milk?
👉Toddlers don’t NEED milk; however, they do need key nutrients that milk contains. While milk is not the only source of these nutrients that kids can eat, toddlers tend to get those easiest from milk.

❓Allergy to dairy, lactose intolerance, or prefer plant-based milk, what is good alternative milk?
👉To answer this question, it’s better to ask what is the key nutrients toddlers need?
🥛Calcium: see reference for daily requirement
🥛Vitamin D : Toddlers & young children need 600 IU/day
🥛Vitamin B12 : found in animal products so vegan children are at the highest risk for vitamin B 12 deficiency; therefore, supplementation is recommended.
🥛Protein : important for toddlers and young kids for growth and development
🥛Fat : Toddlers & young kids need fat intake for brain development and to help absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Toddlerhood is not the time to reduce fat and calories.

2 cups of cow’s milk provide just the right amount of these nutrition toddlers need. However, in case of allergy, intolerance, or family preference, choosing the right alternative is important to provide the right amount of nutrition to your child. Soy and pea milk are the ones that have comparable amounts of protein, calcium, and vitamin D but less fat, which can be supplemented by other healthy fat.

❓How much milk should a toddler be drinking?
👉It is important to limit your toddler's milk intake to no more than 24 oz per day. Ideally, 12-16 oz/day max.

If they are consistently drinking 24+ oz of milk, they are likely not eating enough of other foods needed for growth and development. There is also a higher risk of anemia that comes with drinking too much milk and not enough iron-rich foods.