During the months of March and April this year it seemed that everyone in Austin had an awful stomach virus! Viruses causing vomiting and diarrhea are very common in children and often occur 2 or more times/year in kids 5 and under. In this blog post, My Friend The Pediatrician...
Though hopefully you never find yourself in this situation, in case you do, My Friend the Pediatrician (https://www.facebook.com/myfriendthepediatrician) has a great post explaining what to do if you were to find a bat in your house! Her post states: "If you find a BAT in a room with...
We follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for car seat safety. The AAP guidelines are even more stringent than Texas state law; because child safety is our top priority, we follow their recommendations. Car Seats Rear facing car seat guidelines Keep your child rear facing until they...
When you see pictures of mothers feeding their babies, you are often met with the image of a sweet and calm bundled baby with a mother who is lovingly looking down. While this absolutely can be true, infant feeding can be a bit more challenging than the pictures show. I...
In this article, Dr. Martin, a pediatrician at Cook Children's explains how to determine if an insect bite is infected or is instead something known as 'Skeeter Syndrome' or a large local reaction. She also reviews how best to handle tick bites. Please read more here: https://www.checkupnewsroom.com/skeeter-syndrome-is-my-kids-bug-bite-infected/ Her post...
On her popular Facebook feed (https://www.facebook.com/DrDianeArnaout/) Dr. Arnaout discusses a topic we must keep at top of mind at all times, especially in the summer when swimming is such a common activity to keep us out of the Texas heat. We love her idea for group gatherings where adults rotate...
To all my wonderful patients and families, It is with a bittersweet heart that I’m writing to announce that I will be leaving Pediatric Associates of Austin in May to move to Denver, CO. While I am excited about this new adventure for my family, I will very much miss...
In this blog post Dr. Diane Arnaout, a pediatrician with Cook Children's consults with a speech language pathologist, a dentist, a lactation consultant, and an ENT and synthesizes the most up-to-date data on tongue ties. Please read more here: https://www.checkupnewsroom.com/does-my-baby-need-his-tongue-tie-cut-4-health-experts-answer-top-questions/
Having an ill child can be such a helpless feeling. We are here to provide some helpful tips as you navigate this cold and flu season, complicated by COVID. Though this handout was specifically written for those testing positive for COVID-19, the treatment ideas are useful for any viral respiratory...
Return to sports after COVID-19 illness COVID-19 continues to affect our lives and the lives of our children and teens. Thankfully, in children, the illness typically continues to be mild, without long term complications. One very rare complication of the COVID-19 virus is myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). Though...
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children: FAQ's While Pediatric Associates is still in the planning stages to hopefully be able to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to children 5-11 years, we do not yet know for certain when/if this will happen. The logistical aspects are far more challenging than the flu vaccine clinics...
What is COVID antibody testing? “Antibody or serology tests look for antibodies in your blood that fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are proteins created by your immune system that help you fight off infections. They are made after you have been infected or have been vaccinated against an infection. ...
Can we trust the at home rapid COVID tests? This is a great question that we are asked often. There are many variables to consider. 1. Are symptoms present? Rapid tests are most accurate for those who have symptoms of illness, ideally including runny nose and/or nasal congestion. 2. Was...
COVID-19 Illness in Children Before we discuss the questions that come with learning your child tested positive for COVID-19, we want to offer some reassurance. Time and again we have seen children with COVID-19 illness presenting with mild symptoms, not causing complications, severe illness, or long-term effects. This does not...
What is Fifth Disease? Fifth disease (aka erythema infectiosum) is a viral rash that is common in childhood. We see it most in children aged 4-13 years. The rash is caused by the Parvovirus B19 (unrelated to parvovirus found in dogs) and received its name when it was the fifth...
COVID-19 has changed almost all aspects of our lives over the past year. Now, when we head out the door, in addition to remembering our wallet or purse and keys, we must remember a mask and hand sanitizer. Our ability to have birthday parties for our kids has changed and...
If you are like us, you are thrilled the COVID-19 vaccine is here, but you are also a little (or a lot) frustrated that more people do not have access to the vaccine yet. You are happy that front-line health care workers and those in nursing homes are receiving the...
Though 2020 brought unprecedented challenges with COVID-19, this new year holds great promise! Despite the hope we have in the new COVID-19 vaccine, the virus cannot leave the forefront of our minds just yet. This does not mean we have to live in fear. We have learned much from 2020...
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have all spent much more time looking at screens than ever before. Though we do not know definitively what the fall semester will look like, we know that it will likely involve more screen time! This is concerning to many parents. Mindfully considering how...
1. First, what is baseline testing? Baseline tests are tests done before contact sports participation to determine an athlete’s normal performance. Then, in the event we think a concussion has occurred, we repeat testing and use the baseline as a comparison. Post-concussion testing almost always shows a drop in performance,...
Summertime brings us outside. When summer occurs during times of COVID, we become more creative with activities for our families. This means more people will be outside exploring new areas. Staying active outside is a wonderful activity, if you and your children are protected from sunburns and insects. Most children...
What is molluscum? Molluscum contagiosium is a common wart virus caused by a poxvirus. Though molluscum can resemble warts, the virus that causes them is different. It occurs most in children, aged 2-12 years. Signs and Symptoms Molluscum causes 1 or more tiny (from pin head to ¼ inch) skin...
When the white of the eye becomes pink or red, it's called ‘pink eye.’ Conjunctivitis is the medical name for ‘pink eye.’ The conjunctiva is the membrane that covers the white part of the eye. It becomes pink when it is infected or irritated. Conjunctivitis can be caused by several different...
What is it? Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new strain of a family of viruses that affects many of us every year, causing a mild cold. What’s new about this particular coronavirus, is that it’s a new strain, and our immune systems have not yet been exposed to this...
Each of us has received advice about an illness from a friend, family member, doctor, nurse, pharmacist, etc. Often the advice we receive is welcome and helpful, but other times, we wonder if the given guidance is accurate. Though there are reliable internet resources, there is plenty of information online...
If you or your child has recently suffered a cold, you know how frustrating this annoying viral illness can be. Though the symptoms are not typically miserable, they do not resolve quickly and medications that promise to help symptoms often do not and have undesirable side effects. Also frustrating are...
We see eczema flare up at this time of year due to the cooler temperatures. Read below to find out how you can help care for your child’s dry skin. What is eczema? Eczema is an inherited form of very dry skin. It is often seen in those who also...
What is a concussion? A concussion is a type of TBI (traumatic brain injury). They can be referred to as a “mild TBI” because they are not usually life-threatening. Concussions occur when a hard hit to the head or body causes the brain to move in the skull. The movement...
ADD/ADHD https://chadd.org/ https://kidshealth.org/ Asthma and allergies https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/allergies-asthma https://www.aaaai.org/ https://kidshealth.org/ Food Allergy: https://www.foodallergy.org/ Autism https://m-chat.org/ Breastfeeding https://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/ https://lllusa.org/ https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/default.aspx https://www.breastmilkcounts.com/ https://www.parents.com/baby/breastfeeding/ https://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/ https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/ https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/index.htm https://kellymom.com/ Child Care http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/Search_Texas_Child_Care/ppFacilitySearchDayCare.asp Concussion care https://www.sportssafect.com/blog Dental health http://www.austintexas.gov/department/water https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fluoride-water.html https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/resources Development https://healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/pages https://www.aap.org/en-us/documents/periodicity_schedule.pdf https://www.zerotothree.org/ https://kidshealth.org/ Drug Abuse https://drugfree.org/ Growth and healthy eating https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/growth-charts.html https://familydoctor.org/weight-issues-in-children/...
Preventing sunburns is so important because even a “few blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person’s lifetime chances of developing serious forms of skin cancer.” The best way to prevent sunburn is through skin protection. We recommend staying in the shade as much as possible, wearing sun-protection swim shirts...
What is swimmer’s ear? Swimmer’s ear is the common name for otitis externa, which means an infection to ear canal. This is different than a middle ear infection, otitis media, an infection common in infants and toddlers who have recently had a cold or upper respiratory infection. Swimmer’s ear is...
What is hand, foot, and mouth? Hand, foot, and mouth is a common childhood virus often caused by coxsackie virus which occurs in spring, summer, and fall. It most often affects infants and children up to 5 years of age. Adults can also develop hand, foot, and mouth disease also,...
What is strep throat? Strep throat is a very common throat infection in children and adults. It is caused by a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus. Unfortunately, strep throat is present year-round and is spread easily and quickly through schools and day care. It occurs most commonly in kids over 3...
What is a fever? Fever is defined as a temperature greater than 100.4°F. A fever is one of the body’s ways of fighting infection. Viruses and bacteria often cannot live in hotter temperatures, so the body temperature elevates in order to help fight off the infection. While it is a great...
RSV / BRONCHIOLITISHave you ever picked up your child from daycare and been notified that a child in the class has RSV? Or maybe a friend, a few days after a playdate, calls to tell you that their infant came down with a really awful cold and the pediatrician said...
Influenza is a contagious respiratory viral illness that circulates throughout the world all year. In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza is most commonly seen in the fall and winter months, although it can be active at any time of year. For instance, during the 2009 “swine flu” pandemic, a result of...
You pick little Jonny up from daycare to find that he has yet another runny nose. It seems like he just got over the last cold! But you suppose it is that time of year. During dinner and bath time you hear him cough a few times and it sounds like...
Who should get the influenza vaccine? Every person 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine yearly. Vaccination is very important for those at high risk of serious complications; this may include those with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, or a weakened immune system. The flu...
Dear PAA families, I have had the great privilege of serving you and your families as your pediatrician for a number of years, and for some I was there when you were children as well. With a sense of happiness and regret I am retiring from practice at the end of...
We can’t believe that summer is coming to an end so quickly. We hope you and your kids are excited for a new school year. Here are a few reminders to make sure your kids are healthy and ready to head back to school. Well Child Check Ups ...
The summer is a great time to bring your child to see their provider to discuss environmental allergies and asthma. This visit helps assure you have a good preventative plan in time for the school year. Most people’s allergies worsen in the fall, winter, and spring, so summer is a...
With summer in full swing we want to send a few reminders about keeping your kids safe in the water and helpful hints regarding swimming lessons. Water SafetyBackyard Pool Considerations All pools should be surrounded by a fence that is at least 4 feet high, and has a self closing gate...
We all want to make sure our children are eating all the nutrition they need. Read through this brief guide to help you and your children make great choices when they choose what to eat. MyPlate My plate was developed by the USDA in 2011 as recommendations to help us choose the...
Car safety is important to start teaching kids at a very young age. Today we want to discuss everything from keeping your infant safe in a car seat, to keeping your kids safe around cars!Car SeatsChoosing a car seat can be a very overwhelming task, as there are so many...
Sleep deprivation is very common, and our children are no exception. It is not surprising that most of us need more sleep than we are currently getting, and those needs change as we grow older. Sleep deprivation in children can cause behavior problems at home and school and can cause...
