Pediatrics In the News
Make sure your child is getting enough vitamin D
| Galveston County Daily News, May 12, 2010 In their Keeping Kids Healthy column, UTMB Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly report on the new recommendations by the Academy of Pediatrics about the amount of vitamin D to be taken daily for infants. It now is recommended that all infants, children and adolescents take 400 IU daily. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with rickets, which is a condition of weakened, deformed bones. New information suggests that vitamin D has a role in immunity and reduces the risk for certain chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Read more here ... |
A scientist’s review of our year with H1N1
Houston Chronicle MedBlog, May 10, 2010
UTMB’s Joan Nichols, associate director of research and operations at the Galveston National Laboratory, offers her “lessons learned” from the novel H1N1 influenza virus that became a global pandemic. The infectious-disease researcher revealed that the so-called swine flu wasn’t entirely courtesy of the pig. “Genetically, we found out it had parts of bird, swine and human virus that had reassorted (mixed) over time,” she said. View Nichols’ H1N1 slide show presentation.
The earlier you share books with your children the better
Galveston County Daily News, May 5, 2010
Nothing is more important to success than learning to read, write UTMB Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly in their Keeping Kids Healthy column. “Early exposure to reading increases the chances of success in school, and children who share books with their caregivers at an early age have less difficulty mastering reading once they enter school. Sharing books with children at an early age helps them to develop their vocabulary, communication skills and imagination. The U.S. Department of Education suggests you begin reading to your baby at six weeks of age because babies pick up the rhythm of the language spoken around them. Though 6-week-old babies may not know the difference between reading and talking, as they grow, they will begin to focus on the reader’s expressions and later on the books themselves.” Read more here ...
Recall: Popular Kids' Medications Pulled From Shelves
May 5, 2010
Liquid formulations of child and infant Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl have been recalled because of manufacturing defects. Noinjuries or deaths have been reported; this is a voluntary recall byMcNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson. (Article from Web, M.D.)
• List of All Recalled Products and NDC Numbers
FAQs: Seasonal and H1N1 Influenza
Información en español
Datos importantes sobre la influenza H1N1…
Number of children suffering from asthma on rise
Galveston County Daily News, April 28, 2010
More than 4.1 million children in this country suffer from asthma, and studies show that the number is on the rise and severity has also increased in the past 30 years. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that obstructs airways and makes them overly sensitive to irritants. For 90 percent of children, the disease is allergic in nature. Common allergic triggers are pets, pollens, dust mites, mold and feathers. Attacks may occur after exposure to irritants (cigarette smoke, strong odors, household cleaning products, workplace chemicals), viral respiratory infections (colds, flu), sudden changes in weather or emotional stress, wrote UTMB Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly in their Keeping Kids Healthy column. Read more here ...
Tendon procedure helps girl walk
KTRK-TV (Ch. 13, Houston), April 28, 2010
Tiny, well-placed pokes are helping children with cerebral palsy leave their wheelchairs and walk. Yet many parents and even doctors don’t know this simple, new procedure is an option.
UTMB’s Dr. David Yngve is one of a handful of surgeons in the United States who performs this minimally invasive cerebral palsy surgery called Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening, otherwise known as percutaneous surgery, or PERCS. “It allows some of the tougher tightness to be cut and some of the muscle underneath can actually stretch out,” said Yngve. Read more here ...
Faculty Accomplishment
Patricia S. Beach, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, was presented the Edith J. Levit Distinguished Service Award by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) during its annual meeting in March. Dr. Beach serves as Director of the Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Chair of the School of Medicine Curriculum Committee and Chair of the Course Committee for the Year 4 Ambulatory Community Selective. Read more here ...