Although many of us are so fortunate to be isolated at home with heat/food/technology/loved ones, we can’t deny that our new normal is a challenge. We are balancing work and children in tight quarters. Emotions are running high, and it is easy to lose sight of any gratitude during the day. Please practice self care. Our Televisits are up and running. Please reach out to us. We are just as much “here” for you regarding your emotional health as your physical health.
Answers to Frequently Asked COVID-19 Questions…….
A quick word from your Doctors’ Pediatric staff:
Schools and activities are now closed in our area. This is the right thing to do to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19. As citizens we NEED to do our part now. Please stay home, avoid play dates, birthday parties, outings. It is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. As medical providers, we are doing our best, but we need your help. Take self- care measures, but take them at home. This will pass and we will enjoy each other again.
[Read more…] about Answers to Frequently Asked COVID-19 Questions…….
COVID-19 and Office Precautions
In this time of uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, we wanted to reassure you that we are being proactive in preparing for what may be ahead. We feel caution is prudent but there is no need for alarm.
The doctors and management of CPP are addressing this threat at multiple levels. Our primary concern is that of the health and safety of all our patients and our staff.
We will be implementing certain infection control protocols to keep everyone safe. [Read more…] about COVID-19 and Office Precautions
Winter is Here…. and so are the various illnesses! Coughs, colds, vomiting, diarrhea – you name it, it’s out there. In fact, many of you may be experiencing one or more of these in your own home. Often the most difficult thing for parents is knowing what whether to wait it out or get it checked out. Another common concern is whether an illness requires antibiotics or not.
[Read more…] about Winter is Here…. and so are the various illnesses!
Drowning vs. Dry Drowning
As the summer comes to a close, we thought that we would take a moment to discuss the topic of “Dry Drowning”. Every summer, this concept receives a lot of media attention and causes significant distress among many parents. We hope that the following discussion helps to debunk some of the misinformation in the media, as well as provide some evidence-based knowledge to allay fears.
The simplest place to start our discussion is with the medical definition for drowning. This medical definition is “the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid”. (Definition of Drowning: A progress Report. Bierens J, Drowning 2e Berline: Springer, 2014) One of the following outcomes occurs from drowning. (1) death (2) injury without death (3) no injury or illness following drowning.
In the medical community, “dry drowning” is not considered an accepted medical condition. This would also include the terms “near drowning” or “secondary drowning”. The main issue is that the media and lay person associate drowning with death. It is important that we change our way of thinking so that we see drowning as a process where there is a spectrum of outcomes (which we listed above). An example that may make this more understandable is that a person may have a heart attack and still survive (with or without major consequences). This is the same way that a person could drown and still survive with or without major consequences.
Dry Drowning does not have an actual medical definition. The term came about when people described an aspect of drowning that found that the lungs of individuals who had drowned did not have water in them. 10-20% of the time, very little water every enters the lungs. This equates to about one ounce of water entering the lungs of a 30lb child.
Severe Symptoms
The main issue when a child is submerged under water is the lack of oxygen. The treatment would be to start CPR immediately. If the CPR is successful, and the child starts breathing again, then the little amount of water that did enter the lung is absorbed by the body with no issue. It may also cause coughing that may get better or worse over the next few hours. There are instances where respiratory symptoms such as coughing and comfortable breathing may worsen after a drowning incident. These individuals should seek medical help. There is usually a 2-3 hour period where a person will either improve drastically or worsen.
Minimal Symptoms
Parents often ask “how much is too much” in terms of submersion under water or inhaling water. Minimal symptoms are what one experiences from taking a drink at dinner and feeling like it has “gone down the wrong pipe”. You will sputter and cough and clear it over a few minutes. If you feel that your child is experiencing symptoms that are worse than “the wrong pipe scenario”, and they are not improving over several minutes, then you can seek medical attention. The good news is that it is RARE for minimal symptoms to actually progress to death. The symptoms will progress and worsen and give you time to seek medical attention.
Warning Signs
Here are warning signs for drowning or submersion/immersion in liquid: Difficulty breathing, excessive coughing, foaming in mouth, and not acting normally.
Prevention
Drowning is the leading cause of preventable death in pediatrics. This is a serious risk, and one that should be taken seriously. We encourage all children to get swim lessons if able. Non swimmers should wear life jackets, and toddlers should have touch supervision. A pool should have fencing on four sides with locking gates. There should be continuous supervision at all times when children are in the water, even if a life guard is present.
Exciting News!
We are pleased to announce that we have a new physician joining our staff this August! We are taking this opportunity to introduce Dr. Rebecca LePage.
About Dr. LePage:
Dr. LePage completed her undergraduate education at Dartmouth College where she graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology. She received her medical degree from Georgetown University and subsequently completed her pediatric residency at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Dr. LePage is a board certified physician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. While she loves working with all children, she is particularly interested in working with children with medically complex diagnoses, developmental disabilities or behavioral challenges. Dr. LePage lives in Wilton with her daughter, twin sons and dog. She is an avid reader and enjoys dancing, kickboxing and traveling.
Screen Time vs. Play Time
Technology is an ever-evolving intricate part of our lives, especially our children’s lives. There are always positives and negatives that come out of advancing technology. One of the negative impacts is the amount of time that children spend on screens. Screen time is taking over “free” playtime for many children. [Read more…] about Less Screen Time and More Play Time!
We desire the best for our children. We know the importance of car seat safety, summer sun safety, firearm safety, and other methods to keep children safe. However, most people do not know that vaccinations are one of the best practices to protect your child. It is essential to ensure children have all their vaccinations completed because it is the most critical method to protect your child from diseases. There is a reason why measles, smallpox, and polio have become rare. These diseases are no longer considered to be pandemics due to people being vaccinated against them.We will review the following vaccines: facts vs myths. [Read more…] about Vaccines: Facts vs Myths