Dr. Bob Sears Offers Advice in March 21st New York Times Health Section on Vaccine Choices Parents Make
Thursday, March 27, 2008, 11:28 AM | posted by Dr. Bob Sears
The recent measles outbreak (if you can call it that) in San Diego last month, in which twelve children came down with the illness after an unvaccinated family brought the disease back with them from Switzerland, raises awareness of a growing trend among families to decline certain vaccines.
This article raises the question, should parents have the right to decline vaccines when doing so may put the health and safety of other children at risk? In twenty states of our free nation, parents are allowed to decline vaccine for personal reasons. But in 28 states they must have a religious reason, and two states (West Virginia and Mississippi) don’t allow parents to decline them for any reason.
I believe our nation can tolerate a certain percentage of unvaccinated children without risking the overall public health in any significant way. Since most children are vaccinated, our nation has enough “herd immunity” to contain outbreaks like this one. However, in the San Diego case, some infants caught measles before they were old enough to even be vaccinated. Fortunately, all cases passed without complications, as is usually the case with measles.
So the question is, are unvaccinated parents putting the rest of our children at risk? Maybe a little. But in my opinion parents SHOULD have the right to make health care choices for their children. They should not be forced into vaccinating if they feel strongly against it.
Click here to read the whole New York Times story.
Dr. Bob
This article raises the question, should parents have the right to decline vaccines when doing so may put the health and safety of other children at risk? In twenty states of our free nation, parents are allowed to decline vaccine for personal reasons. But in 28 states they must have a religious reason, and two states (West Virginia and Mississippi) don’t allow parents to decline them for any reason.
I believe our nation can tolerate a certain percentage of unvaccinated children without risking the overall public health in any significant way. Since most children are vaccinated, our nation has enough “herd immunity” to contain outbreaks like this one. However, in the San Diego case, some infants caught measles before they were old enough to even be vaccinated. Fortunately, all cases passed without complications, as is usually the case with measles.
So the question is, are unvaccinated parents putting the rest of our children at risk? Maybe a little. But in my opinion parents SHOULD have the right to make health care choices for their children. They should not be forced into vaccinating if they feel strongly against it.
Click here to read the whole New York Times story.
Dr. Bob
Shutdown at Starbucks
Tuesday, January 15, 2008, 4:42 PM | posted by Dr. Bob Sears
I like to sit at Starbucks and work on writing books on my laptop anytime I have a couple hours to kill during the work week. A cup of coffee, a maple oat nut scone, and the brilliant words just flow right onto the screen. People come and go in front of me, the soothing calls of “Venti non-fat no-whip 160 degree carmel mocha frappe cappa latte chino” in the background, and the sweet aroma of coffee are the perfect setting for me.
But today, chaos broke loose at the local Starbucks, and the entire city practically shut down. One of the little ovens they use to heat up their breakfast sandwiches began to smoke and we were calmly evacuated. I could see the stricken looks of helplessness on the faces around me as we calmly stumbled out. I’m sure my face mirrored theirs, and I probably wasn’t the only one thinking, “Is it really smoking that bad? Are the fumes really dangerous? Can’t we stay inside and take the risk if we want to?”
So I grabbed a table outside, but it just wasn’t the same. No aroma, no background Starbucks music, and nothing brilliant seemed to flow onto the computer screen anymore. But I had it easy. I already had MY coffee and scone. I wasn’t prepared to witness the devastation that was to follow. Over the next hour, hundreds . . . nay, thousands of people drove up, parked, got out of their cars, and as they walked toward the door I could see confusion turn to bewilderment turn to sudden panic as realization dawned on them. The green-aproned gentleman standing at the door wasn’t there to open it for them to let them in. I don’t know how many hundreds of times the feeble and apologetic explanation went from his lips to stricken ears. Some people didn’t even leave their cars. They would watch others try to sneak, bribe, and even push their way inside, only to be turned away. They’d drive away dejected.
I could see some of them looking at me, then at my coffee, then back at me. I knew what they were thinking. “How much would he sell his coffee for?” “Maybe a few of us can gang up and rush him . . . he doesn’t look that tough.” I quickly guzzled down my remaining café Verona, savoring the delicious coffee grounds at the bottom. I didn’t throw my cup away; I left it perched on the edge of the table, just to tempt and tease anyone else who came by. I know it was cruel, but it was fun.
I’m sure more of those people just went back home instead of going on to work. Their boss would understand. Without Starbucks, you just can’t start the day. I don’t know how many millions of dollars of productivity were lost that day, not just at the Starbucks, but throughout town. And I know what most of you are wondering. Why didn’t people just go to the next block and hit the Starbucks there? Well, I know you’ll find this hard to imagine, but this was the only Starbucks within a seven minute drive. We have it rough in our little town of San Clemente.
What does this story have to do with parenting or pediatrics? Nothing . . . and everything.
Dr. Bob
But today, chaos broke loose at the local Starbucks, and the entire city practically shut down. One of the little ovens they use to heat up their breakfast sandwiches began to smoke and we were calmly evacuated. I could see the stricken looks of helplessness on the faces around me as we calmly stumbled out. I’m sure my face mirrored theirs, and I probably wasn’t the only one thinking, “Is it really smoking that bad? Are the fumes really dangerous? Can’t we stay inside and take the risk if we want to?”
So I grabbed a table outside, but it just wasn’t the same. No aroma, no background Starbucks music, and nothing brilliant seemed to flow onto the computer screen anymore. But I had it easy. I already had MY coffee and scone. I wasn’t prepared to witness the devastation that was to follow. Over the next hour, hundreds . . . nay, thousands of people drove up, parked, got out of their cars, and as they walked toward the door I could see confusion turn to bewilderment turn to sudden panic as realization dawned on them. The green-aproned gentleman standing at the door wasn’t there to open it for them to let them in. I don’t know how many hundreds of times the feeble and apologetic explanation went from his lips to stricken ears. Some people didn’t even leave their cars. They would watch others try to sneak, bribe, and even push their way inside, only to be turned away. They’d drive away dejected.
I could see some of them looking at me, then at my coffee, then back at me. I knew what they were thinking. “How much would he sell his coffee for?” “Maybe a few of us can gang up and rush him . . . he doesn’t look that tough.” I quickly guzzled down my remaining café Verona, savoring the delicious coffee grounds at the bottom. I didn’t throw my cup away; I left it perched on the edge of the table, just to tempt and tease anyone else who came by. I know it was cruel, but it was fun.
I’m sure more of those people just went back home instead of going on to work. Their boss would understand. Without Starbucks, you just can’t start the day. I don’t know how many millions of dollars of productivity were lost that day, not just at the Starbucks, but throughout town. And I know what most of you are wondering. Why didn’t people just go to the next block and hit the Starbucks there? Well, I know you’ll find this hard to imagine, but this was the only Starbucks within a seven minute drive. We have it rough in our little town of San Clemente.
What does this story have to do with parenting or pediatrics? Nothing . . . and everything.
Dr. Bob
Dr Sears' 4 Tips to Fight Cold and Flu
Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 9:04 AM | posted by Dr. Jim Sears
Cold and flu season is kicking into high gear, and Americans will get more than one billion colds this year. However, there are simple tips parents can follow to help protect their families from getting sick:
- Be healthy to stay healthy. Maintain a healthy diet, packed with vitamins and nutrients to keep your immune system strong and healthy. Immune-boosting foods, such as fish, citrus fruits and leafy vegetables, help prevent illness in the first place. My book, The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, further identifies foods and eating habits that can counter or prevent many common illnesses.
- Wash hands often and properly. You can't avoid all germs, so wash your hands frequently to help kill the viruses and bacteria that you may have collected. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), hand washing is the most effective way to help stay healthy. Use regular soap and warm water to scrub your hands - including the back of your hands, in between fingers and under nails - for 20 seconds (long enough to sing "Happy Birthday" twice). Use an alcohol gel if soap and water are not available.
- Disinfect to protect. In a recent study by The Hygiene Council, only five percent (5%) of people identified the home as the place where kids are most likely to catch an infection. However, the home is one of the germiest places for families; germs can survive on surfaces such as bathtubs, doorknobs, remotes and railings for hours. You can help protect family members from picking up these germs on their hands by cleaning surfaces with a disinfectant spray or wipe, like those made by Lysol. Regular disinfection will help kill cold and flu causing viruses and bacteria found on commonly touched objects and surfaces.
- Prepare in advance. If you can't avoid flu symptoms, you can at least avoid last minute trips to the pharmacy. Stock up on items such as tissues, vitamin C, fever reducing medicine, hand sanitizer and portable disinfectant. Keep them in one handy place to make illness prevention even easier.
For more information feel free to visit http://www.lysol.com
Sugar Bugs
Tuesday, October 9, 2007, 4:53 PM | posted by Dr. Pete Sears
With Halloween fast approaching, I got to thinking about an interesting recent encounter I had with a child and her parent in our office. Parents are constantly worried about their child's dental health, and rightly so. This parent was telling me, "Doctor I just can't seem to give my child anything other than juice in her sippy cup." "She refuses to go to sleep without a bottle full of juice and I know this is ruining her teeth." This three year old had several cavities that her dentist had rightly attributed to sucking on a sippy cup or bottle full of juice all day long. The mother lamented, "She refuses to drink only water!"
I sized up the situation and thought of a good answer. I squatted down to the child's eye level and said, "Juice, candy and other foods can have lots of sugar." "When we eat or drink too much sugar, tiny little sugar bugs can grow on our teeth and give us cavities." The little girl was astonished that she had been feeding these "sugar bugs" on her teeth with the juice from her sippy cup. Several weeks later, the (very happy) mom came to me and said, "She is now drinking much more water and doesn't require going to bed with a bottle full of juice anymore!" The girl had become fascinated with keeping the "sugar bugs" away!
This may be a helpful tool for all you parents this time of year to keep your kids aware of how too much sugar can hurt their teeth. Tell them (in a non-threatening manner) that if they eat too much sugar and don't brush their teeth, the "sugar bugs" will stop by and munch on all the sugar on their teeth. I have given this advice quite a bit in my office, and all the children really seem to grasp the concept - and none of them have been scared by the idea. Hope this helps, and have a happy Halloween!!
Dr. Pete
I sized up the situation and thought of a good answer. I squatted down to the child's eye level and said, "Juice, candy and other foods can have lots of sugar." "When we eat or drink too much sugar, tiny little sugar bugs can grow on our teeth and give us cavities." The little girl was astonished that she had been feeding these "sugar bugs" on her teeth with the juice from her sippy cup. Several weeks later, the (very happy) mom came to me and said, "She is now drinking much more water and doesn't require going to bed with a bottle full of juice anymore!" The girl had become fascinated with keeping the "sugar bugs" away!
This may be a helpful tool for all you parents this time of year to keep your kids aware of how too much sugar can hurt their teeth. Tell them (in a non-threatening manner) that if they eat too much sugar and don't brush their teeth, the "sugar bugs" will stop by and munch on all the sugar on their teeth. I have given this advice quite a bit in my office, and all the children really seem to grasp the concept - and none of them have been scared by the idea. Hope this helps, and have a happy Halloween!!
Dr. Pete
Labels: candy, halloween, juice, nighttime bottles, sugar
On the Road Again
Tuesday, July 24, 2007, 2:06 PM | posted by Dr. Pete Sears
With summer in full swing, I thought a few quick tips for a safe and fun family trip would be in order. Most of this advice is geared toward travel outside of the U.S. Have fun!!!
Airplanes and little ears. Infants and young children often have problems with equalizing their ears on planes. Have them nurse or suck on a bottle during take-off and landing. Infant's Motrin can also help with the discomfort caused by equalizing. The air on planes is very dry, bring saline spray and squirt a little in their nose every hour or so. This may help prevent nasal irritation and sinus problems. Teach older kids how to clear their ears by chewing gum or yawning.
Passports for everyone! In the past, a birth certificate was enough for kids under two. With today's heightened security, many countries (including the U.S., Canada and Mexico) require EVERYONE to have a passport - even infants! I remember laughing when I took my four-month-old son, Thomas, to get his passport photo for a trip to Mexico last year! It looks nothing like him now!!
Safe Eating.
-Only drink bottled water and other drinks. Use a straw when drinking from glass bottles.
-Carefully wash produce with soap and water. Always peel your own fruits.
-Avoid eating food from roadside vendors in areas where proper sanitation is a concern (too bad because these spots can be so yummy - this is from personal experience!)
-Encourage frequent hand washing, especially before meals. Carry hand sanitizer with you.
Travel Vaccinations. First off, make sure you and your children are up to date on immunizations. Depending on which area of the world you are traveling to, it's a good idea to check out any additional vaccines that may be needed. Many local health departments have travel clinics that specialize in determining which shots and/or other medication treatments (such as malaria prevention) you and your family may need. A good website to check out is www.CDC.gov for more information.
Common Travel illnesses. Traveler's diarrhea and respiratory infection are the two most common illnesses one will encounter while abroad. The above precautions can help prevent these illnesses. In my practice, I often provide patients with a prescription of an antibiotic to have on hand "just in case". However, patients should not take antibiotics unless they develop symptoms.
Safe areas of the world. Be sure the area of the world you are traveling to is considered safe. The U.S. Embassy has information on safe and unsafe areas for travel.
Dr. Peter
Airplanes and little ears. Infants and young children often have problems with equalizing their ears on planes. Have them nurse or suck on a bottle during take-off and landing. Infant's Motrin can also help with the discomfort caused by equalizing. The air on planes is very dry, bring saline spray and squirt a little in their nose every hour or so. This may help prevent nasal irritation and sinus problems. Teach older kids how to clear their ears by chewing gum or yawning.
Passports for everyone! In the past, a birth certificate was enough for kids under two. With today's heightened security, many countries (including the U.S., Canada and Mexico) require EVERYONE to have a passport - even infants! I remember laughing when I took my four-month-old son, Thomas, to get his passport photo for a trip to Mexico last year! It looks nothing like him now!!
Safe Eating.
-Only drink bottled water and other drinks. Use a straw when drinking from glass bottles.
-Carefully wash produce with soap and water. Always peel your own fruits.
-Avoid eating food from roadside vendors in areas where proper sanitation is a concern (too bad because these spots can be so yummy - this is from personal experience!)
-Encourage frequent hand washing, especially before meals. Carry hand sanitizer with you.
Travel Vaccinations. First off, make sure you and your children are up to date on immunizations. Depending on which area of the world you are traveling to, it's a good idea to check out any additional vaccines that may be needed. Many local health departments have travel clinics that specialize in determining which shots and/or other medication treatments (such as malaria prevention) you and your family may need. A good website to check out is www.CDC.gov for more information.
Common Travel illnesses. Traveler's diarrhea and respiratory infection are the two most common illnesses one will encounter while abroad. The above precautions can help prevent these illnesses. In my practice, I often provide patients with a prescription of an antibiotic to have on hand "just in case". However, patients should not take antibiotics unless they develop symptoms.
Safe areas of the world. Be sure the area of the world you are traveling to is considered safe. The U.S. Embassy has information on safe and unsafe areas for travel.
Dr. Peter
Labels: passport, travel outside the usa
A Band-aide is Everything
Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 12:21 PM | posted by Dr. Bob Sears
Every year I get to go to my kid's summer camp for two weeks to be the camp doctor. It's two weeks of hiking, mountain biking, sailing, waterskiing and relaxing each evening around the campfire, with very little doctoring. This year was no exception. The doctoring took all of about 30 minutes each day. An ear infection here, a funny rash there. No big deal. The nurses did most of the work. They had almost a full-time job taking care of all the little things kids need while at camp.
Half way through the session, the nurses were getting a little tired, so they asked me if I would hang out in the clinic for a few hours while they went out boating. They deserved a break, so I said sure. How hard can it be? I could play nurse for a few hours. Those ended up being some of the funnest 3 hours of my time there. No one came in needing any "doctoring". It was all simple stuff - cuts, scrapes, splinters. Who ever though putting band-aides on cuts could be so fun!
And boy, when you put a band-aide on something, you've performed a miracle. The child looks at you like you've just cured her of cancer. Who cares about treating ear infections and diagnosing infectious diseases. The kids don't care about that. But if you can put a band-aide on it, Wow!
One kid came in while on her way to make home-made ice cream. She had a little cut on her leg, and she was VERY concerned that she would miss her ice cream social. After I used all of my hard-earned medical expertise to fix her boo-boo (with a band-aide, what else?) I told her she could still go make ice cream. A ray of sunshine came through the window, lighting up the room. A chorus of angels could be heard singing, and the little girl smiled at me like I had just saved her little kitten from drowning. I asked her if she could bring me back some ice cream, if there was any left over.
An hour later, I'm sitting there reading, and in walks the little girl. She tells me to close my eyes and hold out my hand. I obeyed, and she placed a huge bowl of ice cream (2 scoops, not 1!) with chocolate syrup all over. And behind that bowl was the proudest smile I'd ever seen on a little girl's face. She was bringing ice cream to the doctor who had saved her life!
After that, I started carrying band-aides around in my pocket, in case any other kids needed rescuing anywhere I went around camp. I couldn't let the nurses have all the fun!
Dr. Bob
Half way through the session, the nurses were getting a little tired, so they asked me if I would hang out in the clinic for a few hours while they went out boating. They deserved a break, so I said sure. How hard can it be? I could play nurse for a few hours. Those ended up being some of the funnest 3 hours of my time there. No one came in needing any "doctoring". It was all simple stuff - cuts, scrapes, splinters. Who ever though putting band-aides on cuts could be so fun!
And boy, when you put a band-aide on something, you've performed a miracle. The child looks at you like you've just cured her of cancer. Who cares about treating ear infections and diagnosing infectious diseases. The kids don't care about that. But if you can put a band-aide on it, Wow!
One kid came in while on her way to make home-made ice cream. She had a little cut on her leg, and she was VERY concerned that she would miss her ice cream social. After I used all of my hard-earned medical expertise to fix her boo-boo (with a band-aide, what else?) I told her she could still go make ice cream. A ray of sunshine came through the window, lighting up the room. A chorus of angels could be heard singing, and the little girl smiled at me like I had just saved her little kitten from drowning. I asked her if she could bring me back some ice cream, if there was any left over.
An hour later, I'm sitting there reading, and in walks the little girl. She tells me to close my eyes and hold out my hand. I obeyed, and she placed a huge bowl of ice cream (2 scoops, not 1!) with chocolate syrup all over. And behind that bowl was the proudest smile I'd ever seen on a little girl's face. She was bringing ice cream to the doctor who had saved her life!
After that, I started carrying band-aides around in my pocket, in case any other kids needed rescuing anywhere I went around camp. I couldn't let the nurses have all the fun!
Dr. Bob
Shaq's Big Challenge
Monday, July 9, 2007, 10:59 AM | posted by Dr. Jim Sears
Have you all seen this show yet? What a great idea! Grab some unhealthy, over-weight kids and offer some lifestyle changes to whip them into shape. Actually this is very similar to one of the ideas that I have on my "To Do" list, so bravo to you Shaq for getting this done. I can't wait for the next few episodes to see how things turn out for the kids.
I enjoyed watching the first episode while the kids were getting the initial medical evaluation. First, it was interesting to see how difficult it was to find a doctor who specializes in childhood obesity; Shaq had to make many dead-end calls before finally getting was he was looking for. Not sure why I didn't get a call... maybe I had my ringer turned off!
The results of the medical evaluation were eye-opening. Some of the kids got an MRI scan of their torso which showed just how much extra fatty tissue was in their belly. The doctor told one of the kids, "You've got a whole extra person living in there!" Seeing the MRI images up on the screen really helped the kids realize just how serious their condition was. Next were the exercise stress tests - very disappointing. These kids could hardly tolerate even low levels of activity; their heart rates skyrocketing and one of the kids almost passed-out. This showed just how seriously the kid's health is affected by their obesity.
The show ended with the kids getting busted for not taking their exercise regimens seriously. Instead of using their treadmills and exercise bikes, the kids' work-out routine had disintegrated into a game of dodge-ball. The kids got the wrath of Shaq for this, but I think it just shows how important it is for exercise to be fun. When I travel, I try to use the treadmills at the hotel gym, but I find it very difficult to keep this up for more than 15 minutes - it gets very boring. I thought, "Heck, let the kids play dodge-ball", at least their burning energy. It might be better for these kids to stay active in other ways. One thought would be some sort of building project. If these kids spent most of the day building a playhouse or playground - digging, carrying, lifting, hammering, and sawing - they would probably burn more calories than they would on the treadmills. And, they would be having fun! Everybody wins.
I'm going to stay tuned.
Dr. Jim
I enjoyed watching the first episode while the kids were getting the initial medical evaluation. First, it was interesting to see how difficult it was to find a doctor who specializes in childhood obesity; Shaq had to make many dead-end calls before finally getting was he was looking for. Not sure why I didn't get a call... maybe I had my ringer turned off!
The results of the medical evaluation were eye-opening. Some of the kids got an MRI scan of their torso which showed just how much extra fatty tissue was in their belly. The doctor told one of the kids, "You've got a whole extra person living in there!" Seeing the MRI images up on the screen really helped the kids realize just how serious their condition was. Next were the exercise stress tests - very disappointing. These kids could hardly tolerate even low levels of activity; their heart rates skyrocketing and one of the kids almost passed-out. This showed just how seriously the kid's health is affected by their obesity.
The show ended with the kids getting busted for not taking their exercise regimens seriously. Instead of using their treadmills and exercise bikes, the kids' work-out routine had disintegrated into a game of dodge-ball. The kids got the wrath of Shaq for this, but I think it just shows how important it is for exercise to be fun. When I travel, I try to use the treadmills at the hotel gym, but I find it very difficult to keep this up for more than 15 minutes - it gets very boring. I thought, "Heck, let the kids play dodge-ball", at least their burning energy. It might be better for these kids to stay active in other ways. One thought would be some sort of building project. If these kids spent most of the day building a playhouse or playground - digging, carrying, lifting, hammering, and sawing - they would probably burn more calories than they would on the treadmills. And, they would be having fun! Everybody wins.
I'm going to stay tuned.
Dr. Jim
Labels: exercise, kids, over-weight, shaq
