John M. Young, MD

Pediatrician In Amarillo, Texas

Best of Amarillo - Pediatrician

Archives for June 2018

What You Should Know About Your Child’s First Vaccines

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Diseases have decreased substantially since the introduction of vaccines. The threat of disease has not been entirely eliminated, but thanks to vaccines, occurrences are much less frequent. One reason the risk remains is that not all parents vaccinate their children. When fewer babies receive their vaccines, more children can become sick. The following are seven diseases parents can help reduce by their having children vaccinated.

Pertussis

Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough”, is an infection of your child’s respiratory tract and is highly contagious. This disease is severe for babies, toddlers, teens, and even adults, but is entirely preventable with a vaccine. Once you’ve been exposed to Pertussis (and are not vaccinated), you can expect symptoms to develop within five to ten days.

Symptoms begin with a runny nose, low fever, and mild cough. Infants with the disease may experience pauses in their breathing patterns. These symptoms can easily be mistaken for the beginnings of the common cold. Over a short time, the cough becomes more severe and sounds like a deep and harsh “whoop” that can lead to vomiting. If your child contracts Pertussis, the cough could become severe enough to cause exhaustion. This disease can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, seizures, or even death. With the DTaP vaccine, you can prevent your child from contracting this dangerous illness.

Polio

Polio is a severe disease that can lead to paralysis. This virus may be transmitted by water and then spread from person to person. Polio attacks the nervous system and once contracted, it cannot be cured. Polio has not come from the United States since 1979, but it was brought into the US in 1993 by someone who was not vaccinated. It only takes one person with polio to bring this disease back. After the vaccine was created in the 1950s, polio cases have mostly been eliminated. The only way to continue keeping Polio out of the country is to get the vaccine.

Diphtheria

Diphtheria causes inflammation of the mucous membranes and is considered highly contagious. This disease can hinder your child’s breathing and ability to swallow. The disease can also cause nerve damage or fatally damage to your child’s heart. The DTaP vaccine is able to prevent your child from catching this potentially fatal disease.

Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib)

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is another disease your child is at risk of without a vaccine. It can cause lifelong disability and in some cases even death. This disease is caused by bacteria and is especially dangerous for children under the age of five. Meningitis is the most common disease caused by Hib. It can cover your child’s spinal cord and brain, causing severe damage. Symptoms of meningitis include confusion, high fever, pain from bright lights, poor appetite, vomiting, reduced alertness, a stiff neck, and headaches. The Hib vaccine is the best option to prevent this disease.

Tetanus

Your child’s best defense against this infection is to receive the DTaP vaccine. Tetanus is a severe infection caused by bacterium that can affect your child’s nervous system and brain. This infection can cause stiffness in the muscles, serious breathing problems, and muscle spasms, and even become fatal.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B infects the liver and often only affects adults for a short time before they recover. This disease can sometimes occur without symptoms and when they do appear, they resemble the flu. It can lead to more serious conditions such as liver damage or even liver cancer. Hepatitis B is a virus that spreads through blood contact and body fluids. A vaccine is necessary to prevent the risk of contracting this disease.

Pneumococcal disease

The pneumococcal disease, also called pneumococcus, is an infection caused by bacterium. This disease can result in an infection of the blood, infection of the middle ear, bacterial meningitis, or pneumonia. Invasive pneumococcal can cause shock and has a risk of death. It can also lead to meningitis or pneumonia, which inflames one or both lungs. Pneumococcus is one of the biggest causes of pneumonia. A vaccine against this disease is the only way to prevent contracting these severe health risks.

Vaccine safety

Some children should not be given vaccines, like those that are mild to severely sick at the time of vaccination. Children who have shown signs of allergies to vaccines in the past, or who are allergic to substances in any vaccine, should not be given certain shots.

Speak with your pediatrician before your child receives their DTaP vaccine and ask about reactions to ensure your child will not have one. The doctor should be able to tell you the risks involved with vaccines, how to spot serious reactions, and what to do if your child is allergic to a vaccine.

Vaccinations in Amarillo, Texas

Dr. John M. Young and his team are committed to providing the best clinical experience for you and your child. Contact Us by email or call our office at (806) 354-0404 ext. 3330 to learn more about vaccinations and to schedule an appointment with us. You can also visit us in person at 1500 S. Coulter St. Suite #3 in Amarillo, Texas to learn more about our Services, including recommended and required Vaccines.

Does Your Child Have Summer Allergies Or A Cold?

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Even though it is never a convenient time for kids to get sick, it seems to be worse when they are not feeling well in the summer. Allergies are usually associated with springtime, and colds are linked with winter. However, both of them can happen to children at any time of the year. It is easy to get confused and mistake one for the other because the symptoms are similar. The following can help you know whether your child has a summer cold or summer allergies.

Kids and summer allergies

Weeds and grasses are the culprits that cause summer allergies. Specific weeds that cause problems are tumbleweed, sagebrush, pigweed, cockle weed, and ragweed. Examples of grasses that cause allergies include Bermuda grass, sweet vernal, orchard, red top, and blue grasses.

Allergies can be caused by indoor or outdoor triggers. Going from an indoor environment with allergens to an outdoor environment with different allergens can make symptoms even worse. The most common symptoms of allergies are itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, and runny nose.

Kids and summer colds

Common colds are caused by a group of viruses that is different in the summer than it is in the winter. While colds are more common in the winter, they can still happen during the summer. Typically, a cold is something you should not be concerned about unless symptoms are accompanied by a high fever or they last longer than two weeks. Summer colds caused by viruses or bacteria often present headaches, fever, body aches, and discolored mucus.

Symptoms that summer allergies and colds share

It can be challenging for you to tell whether or not your child has allergies or a cold because the symptoms of the two are so similar. This is especially the case if your child is new to having allergies.

Common symptoms children experience from the two ailments include fatigue, headaches, stuffy nose, runny nose, coughing, congestion, and a sore throat. Depending on what caused the sickness, symptoms may present as mild, moderate, or severe. Your child’s individual reaction to allergies or colds is also a factor. Between one week and ten days is the duration of a summer cold, while allergy symptoms may last for a longer period of time.

How you can treat summer allergies and colds

Thankfully, the treatment for both allergies and colds is often the same because of the similarity in symptoms. Various recommended treatments include pain relievers, saline spray, over the counter decongestants, cough drops, proper hydration, and rest.

Specifically, allergies may be treated with over the counter antihistamines and eye drops. You may want to use a multi-symptom cold medicine to treat your child as well. The active ingredients in these include a cough suppressant, nasal decongestant, pain reliever, antihistamine, and a fever reducer.

Hot summer days are not the best time to treat children with warm soup or hot tea. Instead, consider a sinus rinse. You could also prepare some iced tea with honey for them. Increase vitamin C intake by serving your child citrus fruit and juices low in sugar. Finally, using a humidifier in their room relieves some of the symptoms of allergies and colds, without adding heat.

Get the right allergy testing and treatment for your child

If you think your child may be suffering from allergies, finding an experienced pediatrician is the best way to help. Dr. John M. Young is committed to providing the best clinical experience for you and your child. Our clinic is a friendly environment your child will enjoy without worry or stress. Call us today at (806) 354-0404 to schedule an appointment or Contact Us by email with any questions or to learn more about our Services. You can also stop by in person at 1500 S. Coulter St. #3 in Amarillo, TX.