Monday, March 22, 2010

Sun Safety Tips

It's spring, or at least it is starting to feel like it! With this, comes children playing outside more and many families traveling over Spring Break to places much warmer and sunnier than Madison this time of year. Some of us are more prone to sunburns than others, but all skin types need to take steps to prevent damage from the sun. UV rays can damage the skin and eyes and result in skin cancer that can be deadly. For many that develop skin cancer, the sun damage occurred in childhood.


Sun Protection Tips
- Wear sunscreen
- Try to avoid prolonged sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest
- A cap with a bill to protect the face and sunglasses with UV protection (at least 99%) for the eyes is a good idea
- Remember that UV rays can bounce off water, sand, snow and concrete
- It is best to keep babies under 6 months out of the sun by staying in the shade of a tree, umbrella, etc.
- Set a good example. Like everything else, kids learn best from their parents’ example.

Sunscreen Basics
- For any new type of sunscreen, test on a small area to test for an allergic reaction. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids.
- Okay to use on anyone over 6 months. If sun exposure is unavoidable for babies under 6 months, it is okay to use sunscreen on sun exposed areas. (I recommend giving the baby a bath when you get back inside to decrease possible skin irritation.)
- Want at least sun protection factor (SPF) of 15
- Want “broad-spectrum” so that it screens out both UVA and UVB rays
- Use a generous amount of sunscreen on all sun exposed skin and rub it in well. Apply at least 30 minutes prior to going outdoors, after getting wet, and every 2 hours while in the sun.
- Sunblocks with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are great for sensitive areas like the nose, cheeks, ears, and shoulders. They often stay visible even when being rubbed in, so some come in fun colors.
- Applying sunscreen is protection - not a reason to stay in the sun longer

Contact a doctor, if a baby under 1 year develops a sunburn or an older child develops blistering, pain or fever with sunburns.

The above recommendations were adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics “Spring Break Safety Tips” at
http://www.healthychildren.org/ and “Fun in the Sun: Keep Your Family Safe” handout.

Dr. Dana Johnson
Pediatrician
Meriter Pediatrican
2275 Deming Way, Suite 220
Middleton, WI 53562
608.417.8388
meriter.com/pediatrics

Monday, March 15, 2010

What is Homeschooling?

The question most people ask me when I tell them that my children are homeschooled is, "I don't really know what that is. Can you tell me more about homeschooling?" If I could explain homeschooling in one sentence I would consider myself exceptional or fortunate. I will attempt here to give you an inkling of what homeschool is like for my family, but I also want you to know that homeschooling, by its very nature an individualized approach to education, is unique in every homechooling family. We are fortunate here in Wisconsin to have one of the best homeschooling laws in the country, and as a consequence, we have a unique variety of homeschoolers in our state.

For some people homeschooling consists of a small area in the home set up like a miniature classroom, complete with a small chalkboard and all the other paraphernalia we associate with school - desks, textbooks, etc. One or both parents may share in the teaching responsibilities and the children may take tests and do homework, just as they would in a brick and mortar school. Many families will purchase a prepackaged curriculum and some will even enroll in accredited online schools. An example of this would be the Wisconsin Virtual Academy (often referred to as WiVA). If this is your idea of what homeschoolers do, you are both right and wrong, because while this model may exist in many home schools, it does not represent all of us.

For many families homeschooling consists of no fixed curriculum. They approach teaching through a child-focused, self-directed form of education in which a mentor offers guidance with minimal restriction in what a child is free to explore. This form of homeschooling is oftentimes referred to as unschooling. Unschoolers believe that children have inherent learning abilities that are frequently stifled and even corrupted by traditional schooling. They believe that learning is a social process that can occur naturally and continually through collaborative activities. Just as children learn to walk, to interpret spoken language and to compose their own thoughts and speech, so too can they learn to read and write and do math with the guidance of their parents (and without being forced to do it). What's that you say? "But how can children learn unless we force them to learn? Isn't learning supposed to be work? Isn't it supposed to be unpleasant?" Well, ask yourself. Do you ever have to be forced to do things you are really interested in? If you enjoy quilting, or gardening, or even physics, do you ask someone to force you to do it? Have you found yourself enjoying going to the library to read up on something because you want to "learn" more about it? If so, you are guilty of unschooling. In a sense, then, unschooling is learning by living, and discovering your path through the guidance of a loving parent.

There is a third type of homeschooler, and though I don't have anything more than anecdotal experience to back me up, I think it is where most homeschooling families are, and that is somewhere in the middle of the two examples I presented above. Many of us start on one end of the spectrum and end up taking elements of both philosophies and integrating them in an approach that works for our respective families. This is kind of where our family is. It works well for us. I feel fortunate that my kids are excited about the things they are learning, that they are becoming critical thinkers and that they are being given the chance to find and pursue their passion in life. If you would like to read more about homeschooling I recommend The Homeschooling Book of Answers: The 88 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices by Linda Dobson.

Dr. George Idarraga
Pediatrician
Meriter Pediatrican
2275 Deming Way, Suite 220
Middleton, WI 53562
608.417.8388
meriter.com/pediatrics

Monday, March 1, 2010

The Truth about Meningitis

By now, you may have read or heard about the young University of Madison senior and the Mt. Horeb High school girl who recently died from bacterial meningitis. It’s pretty scary to hear of such stories in otherwise healthy young people. The good news is, you don’t have to panic. Fortunately bacterial meningitis is very rare. There is also a vaccine available to help prevent the most common type of bacterial meningitis that occurs in teenagers and young adults.

So what is meningitis? It is a disease caused by the swelling or inflammation of the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. This inflammation is most commonly caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually by a bacteria or a virus. Symptoms of meningitis are fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, altered mental status, nausea and vomiting.

Meningitis caused by viruses is the most common type of meningitis. It usually tends to be less severe and it clears up on its own without any specific treatment. There are usually no long term consequences. Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, can be quite severe and can cause long term damage and even death if not treated immediately with antibiotics. Although it can be serious, routine vaccinations given to all children has reduced the numbers of three of the most common types of bacterial meningitis.

The type of bacterial meningitis most commonly seen in teenagers and young adults is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitis and is what the two young girls mentioned above had. This type of meningitis is not spread by casual contact. It is spread by direct contact with oral secretions. So just being in the same school or just breathing the same air that a person with meningitis had been would not give it to you. On the other hand, kissing; sharing the same utensils or toothbrush; frequently having slept in the same dwelling as the infected person; or sitting very close to a person (such as in airline travel) for more that 8 hours could put you at risk for getting Neisseria meningitis. If you have had this type of close contact within seven days with someone who developed meningitis, you should talk to your health care provider about getting antibiotics to prevent illness.

In order to prevent infection with Neisseria meningitis, it is also recommended that all all pre-teens between the ages of 11 to 12 get the meningococcal vaccine which prevents against most, but not all strains of Neisseria meningitis. It is also recommended for all college freshmen living in a dormitory or if you are a military recruit because this disease is more common in young adults and infectious diseases tend to spread quickly wherever larger groups of people gather together. There are also other high risk groups in which the vaccine is recommended such as in people who have problems which affect their immune system.

So, remember, bacterial meningitis is rare but can be very serious and even life-threatening. It can be treated successfully if dealt with promptly. It is important to get routine vaccinations. Know the signs of meningitis and if you suspect that you or your child has the illness or has been exposed to the illness, seek medical care right away.

Dr. Sumita Ram
Pediatrician
Meriter Pediatrics
2275 Deming Way, Suite 220
Middleton, WI 53562
608.417.8388
meriter.com/pediatrics