We have received questions about thumb sucking and biting fingernails. Both of these activities are common because they tend to relieve stress. However, they can cause alterations in tooth placement in the case of thumb sucking and damage to the nails with pan and local infections in the case of biting fingernails. Valmed pharmacy (www.valmed-hhs.com) has created a product that they call “Don’t be a thumb sucker” for application to the thumb or fingers. It contains sucrose octaacetate which tastes very bitter, but it is generally considered safe, especially in very low amounts. We have helped two parents obtain this treatment for their children, and they both reported good results. If you would like to try this product for your child, please call the nurses for a trial application or prescription.
Parents of 2017 High School Graduates
Students who plan on entering public universities in the State of Texas for the Fall of 2017 will be using the uniform application service at www.applytexas.org. The application process is very rigorous and time-consuming, and it requires the completion of multiple essays. The first date to submit an application for the Fall of 2017 is August 1, 2016. It is very important that your student submits his or her application immediately after midnight on August 1 — just over 2 weeks from now. Our contacts in higher education have told us that most, if not all, universities use the order in which the application was received for determining college placement within the university, new student orientation dates, class enrollment, and financial aid. Often, students who are in the top 10% of their graduating class make the assumption that they will automatically be admitted to both the university and the college that they desire — this is not true. They will be automatically admitted to the university, but they may not get the college or major that they want to study. This is especially true for those students that want to study business or engineering. We have had students get admission to the university but be told that they would not be allowed to study in the business college or the engineering college. Some have gone to the university and had to later fight for admission to the college/major that they originally desired. Many of the larger universities have stringent requirements for transfer to one of these colleges making it almost impossible.
Here is a website with good information about applying at www.applytexas.org:
https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/html/things_to_know.html
Please submit your child’s application as close to August 1 as possible. This is one of those situations where procrastination can be life-altering.
Trumenba Meningococcal Vaccine
Meningococcal bacteria can cause an infection which often includes meningitis and damage throughout the body. Although meningococcal infections are rare, they can be very damaging and deadly. Serotypes of meningococcus which infect children and adolescents include A, B, C, W, and Y. The meningococcal vaccine routinely given in our office, Menactra, protects against serotypes A, C, W, and Y. A newer vaccine available in our office, Trumenba, protects against serotype B. Here is the CDC discussion on meningococcal vaccines:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/
Menactra is recommended by the CDC for all adolescents, and it is required for admission by colleges and universities. Trumenba is only recommended by the CDC for adolescents with specific immunodeficiencies, specific hematologic abnormalities, and a non-functioning or absent spleen. However, it has been found by the FDA to be both safe and effective. Adding Trumenba to Menactra would give the most complete protection possible for your adolescent. Unfortunately, since it is not recommended for all adolescents by the CDC, it is not routinely covered by insurance. Here is a list of the 5 college outbreaks of Meningococcal B infection since 2013:
http://www.nmaus.org/disease-prevention-information/serogroup-b-meningococcal-disease/outbreaks/
If you are interested in the vaccine, check with your insurance. If it is not covered and you want your adolescent immunized, please call the office to learn the cost of administration. Trumenba is administered in a 3 dose series at 0, 2, and 6 months.
Dr. Young
Caffeine in Children & Adolescents
A mother asked about caffeine use in children:
Caffeine is a stimulant – one of the few legal stimulants. We generally recommend no caffeine for children or adolescents. The Mayo clinic recommends no caffeine for children and 100mg or less for adolescents. 400mg or less per day has been found to be tolerated well by adults. As a stimulant caffeine can cause nervousness, nausea, headaches, an increased heart rate and an increased blood pressure. Caffeine has many negative features: it is often found in sugary drinks, it is a diuretic which can promote dehydration, and some children have headaches or depressive symptoms after stopping regular intake. A Mountain Dew has 50mg of caffeine, so the Mayo clinic would allow only 2 of these per day for an adolescent. Energy drinks should be avoided by all children and adolescents – a Monster Energy Drink has 160mg of caffeine. Instant coffee has 57mg and brewed coffee has 163mg; we do not generally recommend coffee for children or adolescents. An extensive list of the caffeine in commercially available drinks can be found here:
https://www.caffeineinformer.com/the-caffeine-database
The only time we recommend caffeine for children or adolescents is to provide short term improvement in children who have a diagnosis of ADHD or to give a single trial of a low dose of stimulant when parents feel that their child may have ADHD. Please call the office nurses if you have a specific question about your child.
Dr. Young
How To Choose The Best Pediatrician
Knowing who will be your pediatrician before your baby arrives is a good idea. Selecting a good pediatrician early benefits you as well as your child. Once your baby arrives, life will become much busier, and knowing who to call and where to go if concerns arise will be much less stressful. When you have a pediatrician chosen, this means you will be taking your child to this same doctor right from the start. Studies show that babies receiving their care from the same doctor for their first six months are twice as likely to have their important tests conducted before they turn two. You also have more time to check out who you want to be your baby’s doctor and who you can trust their care to.
Begin your search about 28 weeks to 34 weeks into your pregnancy. That way you have the time to do some homework and are able to find a pediatrician that will be the best for your child.
Research which pediatrician to use
Not all parents look for the same qualities in a pediatrician for their child. For this reason, you will want to have at least three pediatricians in mind. You will also need to know the location of their office as you don’t want to choose one that is hard to reach. Be sure you find out which hospitals these pediatricians are affiliated with.
Meet the pediatrician
When you have brought your choices down to three or less, set up an interview with them or a prenatal visit to get a feel for them personally. This type of visit may not be covered by your insurance, so you might want to check if the pediatrician will charge you for the visit.
When you are waiting for your interview or prenatal check-up you can observe how the office functions for this particular physician. Are calls put on hold for a long period of time? Talk to other patients that are waiting with you to see how they have been treated and how well they like this pediatrician. Look around the waiting room and see if there are toys, books, or a TV to distract children while they wait.
When you meet the pediatrician, keep your questions limited to ones that pertain to the care of your baby. You will want to know how emergencies are handled, if they work as part of a group and how often they are available.
Need a good pediatrician in the Amarillo area?
Dr. John M. Young is a pediatrician in the Amarillo area that provides the best experience possible for parents and their children. He is the parent of four daughters and has extensive knowledge and experience working in the pediatrics field. Contact John M. Young M.D., Pediatrics today at (806) 354-0404 ext. 3330 or Contact Us via email. You can also visit us in person at 1500 S. Coulter St., Suite #3 in Amarillo, Texas.
Flu Clinic – November 8th – Call Now for Appointments!
We will be having a flu clinic on Saturday, November 8, 2014. We will be open for this clinic from 9 am to 12 pm. Please contact our office (806) 354-0404 [ext 3330] to schedule an appointment. You can check our Facebook Page as well for current events and updates on when we will be working weekend hours! From everyone here at Dr. Young’s Office, we wish you happy and healthy days to come!
Recommended Mosquito Repellents
With all of the rain we had over the past few weeks, these pesky bugs are multiplying and can overrun your outdoor spaces in no time; rendering it nearly impossible to play outside without suffering a bite or ten! Skin So Soft, and OFF Towlettes are the two products that Dr. Young recommends you use to help protect your little ones from the wrath of those pesky mosquitos!
For more information and to share this post with friends and family click here to visit our Facebook page.
Poison Control 1-800-222-1222
Dr. Young and his staff would like to share some friendly advice with you and your loved ones! The spring and summer seasons bring bugs and pests to our homes which can lead to purchasing various poisons and deterrents. These among other cleaners and chemicals you might regularly have around the home have the potential to be ingested by the children in your homes. 1-800-222-1222 is the phone number for poison control and we recommend that you save this number in your phone. In the event that a child ingests a questionable substance having this number saved in your phones will allow you to respond faster to seeking treatment/remedies.
For more information visit our Facebook page, and/or give us a call at 806-354-0404 ext 330.
New Patients & Expectant Mothers
Good afternoon! If you are an expecting mother in Amarillo, TX, or if you are new to the Amarillo area, Dr. Young, pediatrician, would like to welcome you and congratulate you on the new journey that awaits! Dr. Young, M.D. is a pediatrician here in Amarillo, TX with extended hours and 2 Nurse Practitioners that strive to accommodate the needs of you and your children! If you are looking for a pediatrician in the Amarillo area we welcome you with open arms, and encourage you to visit the various pages on our website to learn more about Dr. Young and his staff! We have uploaded new patient document forms as well as a question and answer forms so that you can print them off and fill them out in the comfort of your own home prior to your appointment. If you are a current patient and know someone that is new to the area or to motherhood, please share this link with them!
If you have any questions please give us a call at (806) 354-0404 ext 3330.
Also, visit our Facebook page for more updates and bulletins!
From everyone here at Dr. John Young’s office, we wish you health and happiness!
New Years – Holiday Hours
Dr. Young and everyone here at the office wishes you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year! We are on call today, December 31st, but will be out of the office both Thursday, January 1st, and Friday, January 2nd. We will return to the office Saturday, January 3rd at 9am and Sunday, January 4th at 12pm. We all wish you a happy, healthy and safe New Year!!!
