Every summer, parents ask me what fireworks are safe to use around small children. The unfortunate truth is that none of them are safe for small children. Not even sparklers, they ask? My answer has to be: No, not even sparklers.
Sparklers are dangerous. They can burn at 1,100-1,800 degrees. They are a major cause of hand and finger injuries in children. Not only is the person holding the sparkler at risk, but also anyone standing nearby. In the past, they have also been a significant cause of foot burns, as children drop their sparkler or step on one that is still hot.
Don't get me wrong. I love the Fourth of July. It is one of my favorite holidays. It is celebrated with foods I can promote: grilled steaks or chicken, served with fruits and vegetables (corn on the cob, watermelon, berries). I just want everyone to be safe while they party. Yes, party! Have a good time. Just, please, do it without endangering yourself or others.
Start by dressing yourself and your children appropriately. I think we all know that a barefoot toddler in a tutu is a bad idea. I recommend against bare feet and against open-toed shoes. Loose fitting clothing is also not recommended. Girls, pass on the sundress, even if you are watching from afar. A cute pair of shorts and a lightweight shirt are much safer. It's hot outside, so tie your hair back. It's safer and cooler.
Secondly, think about the fireworks you are going to buy. To make this decision, you need to know who is coming to your shindig. Are all of your friends college age? Will there be small children in attendance? How about older children that will want to help light the fireworks? Depending upon the laws in your area, you may be responsible for the safety of all of them. Buy only consumer fireworks and not commercial grade. I've already discussed the concerns about sparklers. It is much harder to find information about smoke bombs, but let me say this. You are causing chemicals and smoke to be released into the air where they will get inhaled. I don't think there have been any long term studies on the safety of these inhalants. If you know otherwise, please contact me. Firecrackers and bottle rockets should never be held in the hand or aimed at another person. Always light fireworks with a punk, not a match or a cigarette lighter. Supervision is a must, sometimes even with college students. (Sometimes especially with college students).
There are other options for small children. There are plenty of activities that will make them happy, such as squirt gun fights and bicycle or tricycle parades. Older children, as well as adults, can participate in bean bag tosses and three-legged races. If that's not exciting enough, try aerosol string fights. These can be done with teams or as a free-for-all. For squirt gun fights and aerosol string fights, be sure participants don't run near a grill or firepit. You can also get faux fireworks that are filled with confetti. They're fun when you pop them and generally safe for little ones (with supervision). Cleanup is best handled as a contest for whomever picks up the most bits of paper.
Of course, the day isn't over without some really big fireworks display. I suggest attending a commercial display. You can attend in person, watch from a friend's house nearby, or watch on television. It doesn't matter to me. I just don't feel that the Fourth of July is complete without at least one such show.
Remember the following things: 1) dress appropriately, 2) choose your fireworks with your audience and participants in mind, 3) plan other activities, because no fireworks are safe around small children. Lastly, enjoy good food, family, friends and a commercial fireworks display.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home
http://FiresidePediatrics.com
http://PersonalMedicine.com
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
House Call Medicine
Last week I wrote about telemedicine. It was an attempt to help people understand what I do. From the feedback I received, it was clear that I needed to back up. I need to explain what a House Call Pediatrician does. By this I mean, what can we do and what are our limitations. Okay. I can do that.
When a physician says that he or she does house calls, I think we all know that means they see clients in their own home. In my case, I will also see children in their daycare or their parent's place of business. Everyone is eager to see a house call, or concierge, physician for acute illnesses such as colds and flu. I can do that. I also do complete physicals. These can be school physicals, sports physicals or your annual physical. I can update your child's immunizations at that time. I can also manage chronic illnesses, treat common sports injuries and suture simple lacerations. My goal is to be your child's primary care physician.
If your child has a chronic illness that requires treatment by subspecialists, I cannot do that in your home. However, I can refer your child to the appropriate specialists, and manage their overall care. I can be the physician those specialists call when they have questions. I can help guide you through that process.
If your child has a sprain or strain, I can splint that in your home and follow it's progress. If a fracture is suspected, I can refer you to a place where the radiology studies can be done. Those results are either faxed or sent to me digitally. I usually get these results in a matter of hours, not days. With that information, I can make appropriate treatment decisions. Results are entered into the medical record.
If your child needs labwork done, I choose not to draw blood on your child in their home. This is invasive, and many children feel it is a violation of their personal space. They should not be made to feel that way in their own home. Fortunately, bloodwork is seldom needed in pediatric clients. For labwork, I will send you and your child to a local lab or the nearby children's hospital. Results are, again, available within a few hours. They are usually sent to me digitally and entered into your child's record. Treatment options are made, based upon these results.
Many physicians ask how I manage all the charts. I don't carry charts, per se. All our charts are electronic and can be accessed via my computer. The information is encrypted and password protected. This electronic record contains growth charts, immunization records, past medical history, family history and information from specialists. I can send prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy of your choice.
While all of this is pretty nifty, you need to know what I cannot do in a house call. I cannot perform minor surgeries. I cannot suture complex lacerations. I cannot treat true emergent problems. Certain problems, such as dehydration or respiratory distress, will still need to be sent to an emergency department. Decisions are made on a case by case basis, with your child's safety as the key concern. I, also, cannot see every client at the time they want to be seen. This is why I have a schedule. While non-urgent appointments are made online, many parents wish to speak with me personally when scheduling urgent appointments.
I hope this has clarified things for you. As a house call, or concierge pediatrician, I would like to be your child's primary care physician. Just like any other primary care physician, I will sometimes need to refer you and your child elsewhere. I will do what is in the best interest of your child. Not every concierge physician offers these same services. Some will do less, and some more. If you have questions, please contact us online.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home
View this blog as a video: http://www.youtube.com/user/personalmedicinetv#p/a/u/1/wT0tJSsXFgk
http://FiresidePediatrics.com
http://PersonalMedicine.com
When a physician says that he or she does house calls, I think we all know that means they see clients in their own home. In my case, I will also see children in their daycare or their parent's place of business. Everyone is eager to see a house call, or concierge, physician for acute illnesses such as colds and flu. I can do that. I also do complete physicals. These can be school physicals, sports physicals or your annual physical. I can update your child's immunizations at that time. I can also manage chronic illnesses, treat common sports injuries and suture simple lacerations. My goal is to be your child's primary care physician.
If your child has a chronic illness that requires treatment by subspecialists, I cannot do that in your home. However, I can refer your child to the appropriate specialists, and manage their overall care. I can be the physician those specialists call when they have questions. I can help guide you through that process.
If your child has a sprain or strain, I can splint that in your home and follow it's progress. If a fracture is suspected, I can refer you to a place where the radiology studies can be done. Those results are either faxed or sent to me digitally. I usually get these results in a matter of hours, not days. With that information, I can make appropriate treatment decisions. Results are entered into the medical record.
If your child needs labwork done, I choose not to draw blood on your child in their home. This is invasive, and many children feel it is a violation of their personal space. They should not be made to feel that way in their own home. Fortunately, bloodwork is seldom needed in pediatric clients. For labwork, I will send you and your child to a local lab or the nearby children's hospital. Results are, again, available within a few hours. They are usually sent to me digitally and entered into your child's record. Treatment options are made, based upon these results.
Many physicians ask how I manage all the charts. I don't carry charts, per se. All our charts are electronic and can be accessed via my computer. The information is encrypted and password protected. This electronic record contains growth charts, immunization records, past medical history, family history and information from specialists. I can send prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy of your choice.
While all of this is pretty nifty, you need to know what I cannot do in a house call. I cannot perform minor surgeries. I cannot suture complex lacerations. I cannot treat true emergent problems. Certain problems, such as dehydration or respiratory distress, will still need to be sent to an emergency department. Decisions are made on a case by case basis, with your child's safety as the key concern. I, also, cannot see every client at the time they want to be seen. This is why I have a schedule. While non-urgent appointments are made online, many parents wish to speak with me personally when scheduling urgent appointments.
I hope this has clarified things for you. As a house call, or concierge pediatrician, I would like to be your child's primary care physician. Just like any other primary care physician, I will sometimes need to refer you and your child elsewhere. I will do what is in the best interest of your child. Not every concierge physician offers these same services. Some will do less, and some more. If you have questions, please contact us online.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home
View this blog as a video: http://www.youtube.com/user/personalmedicinetv#p/a/u/1/wT0tJSsXFgk
http://FiresidePediatrics.com
http://PersonalMedicine.com
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Telemedicine Visits
I am a concierge pediatrician. That means I do house calls. I also give phone advice, communicate with clients via email, and I do telemedicine visits. What's that, you say? What's a telemedicine visit? You are not alone in asking. It is one of the more common questions I am asked.
Telemedicine is the use of a computer screen to do a patient visit. This is similar to Skype, but through a secure portal. It is most commonly used in Intensive Care units and for rural medicine. It is a way to link patients with doctors who are geographically distant. (The wonderful thing is, no one is really distant in the age of the internet). Information from an ICU monitor can be transmitted around the world to the physician who is the best in that field. In rural areas, it is used to link patients with a chronic illnesses to their specialists. They also use it for monitoring chronic conditions. It follows HIPAA and AMA rules and regulations, so it is completely legal.
That's cool and all, you say. Then you point out that I don't practice in an ICU or in a rural area. You want to know how this is going to help a typical urban mom with a sick child. That is an excellent point. Sometimes, you need to call the doctor in the middle of the night. You might reach a physician, but you are more likely to reach an Advise Nurse or an answering service. If you get a physician, she may tell you that she cannot fix your problem over the phone. It needs a higher level of service. She gives you the option of waiting until morning to call for an appointment, or going to the emergency department.
This is where I swoop in and save the day! Or night, as the case may be. Often, that higher level of care can be managed through a telemedicine visit. With the magic of the digital age, I can get a much better idea of how sick your child really is. Sometimes. all I need to do is see the child through the computer screen. Other times, I am looking for something specific, such as pink eye or a rash. Once this is done, I can give you more specific information. I can tell you if that visit the next day is necessary. Often, I can tell you that ER visit is not necessary. Occasionally, I can send out a prescription.
You're looking at me as if that example isn't enough information. Okay, try this one. You wake your child for school, and he has a fever and a sore throat. He was fine last night. Now what? Do you send him to school? Do you take him to the doctor's office? No. You call me and we do a telemedicine visit. I am able to determine that he needs a rapid strep test. A requisition is electronically sent to the lab in your neighborhood. You run by the lab, and results are sent to me within the hour. I can then tell you whether or not it is safe or advisable to send him to school.
It takes much less time to manage an illness via telemedicine than through a traditional office visit. Yes, the office physician may have a lab in his building. He may even be able to perform the strep test in his office. However, you still have to sit in a waiting room with other people who are ill. You may only have to wait a few minutes for your appointment. You may have to wait an hour. If it is flu season, you may not be able to get a same-day appointment with your provider. Your child may have to be seen by someone they've never met. Telemedicine is quick, convenient and offers continuity of care.
Not everything can, or should be handled via telemedicine. Please let your provider help in that decision as to when to do a telemedicine visit versus an onsite visit. You wouldn't want her to miss an important diagnosis.
I hope this has given you a more concrete idea of telemedicine and what it can do. It is more than phone advice, yet less than a face to face visit. It has different uses in different settings. It can sometimes, but not always, replace an office visit. It is quick, convenient and safe.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home
See this post as a video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/personalmedicinetv#p/a/u/0/xZZ0psXHpdQ
http://firesidepediatrics.com
http://personalmedicine.com
Telemedicine is the use of a computer screen to do a patient visit. This is similar to Skype, but through a secure portal. It is most commonly used in Intensive Care units and for rural medicine. It is a way to link patients with doctors who are geographically distant. (The wonderful thing is, no one is really distant in the age of the internet). Information from an ICU monitor can be transmitted around the world to the physician who is the best in that field. In rural areas, it is used to link patients with a chronic illnesses to their specialists. They also use it for monitoring chronic conditions. It follows HIPAA and AMA rules and regulations, so it is completely legal.
That's cool and all, you say. Then you point out that I don't practice in an ICU or in a rural area. You want to know how this is going to help a typical urban mom with a sick child. That is an excellent point. Sometimes, you need to call the doctor in the middle of the night. You might reach a physician, but you are more likely to reach an Advise Nurse or an answering service. If you get a physician, she may tell you that she cannot fix your problem over the phone. It needs a higher level of service. She gives you the option of waiting until morning to call for an appointment, or going to the emergency department.
This is where I swoop in and save the day! Or night, as the case may be. Often, that higher level of care can be managed through a telemedicine visit. With the magic of the digital age, I can get a much better idea of how sick your child really is. Sometimes. all I need to do is see the child through the computer screen. Other times, I am looking for something specific, such as pink eye or a rash. Once this is done, I can give you more specific information. I can tell you if that visit the next day is necessary. Often, I can tell you that ER visit is not necessary. Occasionally, I can send out a prescription.
You're looking at me as if that example isn't enough information. Okay, try this one. You wake your child for school, and he has a fever and a sore throat. He was fine last night. Now what? Do you send him to school? Do you take him to the doctor's office? No. You call me and we do a telemedicine visit. I am able to determine that he needs a rapid strep test. A requisition is electronically sent to the lab in your neighborhood. You run by the lab, and results are sent to me within the hour. I can then tell you whether or not it is safe or advisable to send him to school.
It takes much less time to manage an illness via telemedicine than through a traditional office visit. Yes, the office physician may have a lab in his building. He may even be able to perform the strep test in his office. However, you still have to sit in a waiting room with other people who are ill. You may only have to wait a few minutes for your appointment. You may have to wait an hour. If it is flu season, you may not be able to get a same-day appointment with your provider. Your child may have to be seen by someone they've never met. Telemedicine is quick, convenient and offers continuity of care.
Not everything can, or should be handled via telemedicine. Please let your provider help in that decision as to when to do a telemedicine visit versus an onsite visit. You wouldn't want her to miss an important diagnosis.
I hope this has given you a more concrete idea of telemedicine and what it can do. It is more than phone advice, yet less than a face to face visit. It has different uses in different settings. It can sometimes, but not always, replace an office visit. It is quick, convenient and safe.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home
See this post as a video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/personalmedicinetv#p/a/u/0/xZZ0psXHpdQ
http://firesidepediatrics.com
http://personalmedicine.com
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Why Get an Annual Physical?
Have you had a physical examination in the past year? Have each of your children? Pediatricians and Family Practitioners recommend each child be seen for well care once a year (more frequently for children under 2 years of age). Yet, many parents see little reason for this. They only want to bring the children in to see a physician when the school requires a physical, or when the child is sick. This is a gamble you may not want to take.
The annual physical is a tool used by clinicians to monitor your health. Please, do not think it unnecessary just because you or your children are healthy, today. In children, the visit is key in watching growth and development, and updating immunizations. When you are around your child every day, you may not notice subtle changes in their growth, such as a slowing of height velocity or excessive weight gain. Without measuring your child on a regular basis, short stature problems may not be diagnosed in time for treatment to be administered. Also, thirty percent of adults in America are overweight. This number is rapidly climbing in children and teens, as well. If obesity is diagnosed early it is much easier to treat, and the chronic illnesses associated with it can be avoided. Similarly, these visits are an excellent opportunity for the doctor to check your child's development.
Let's talk for a moment about immunizations. These should be updated at every physical examination. Immunization recommendations change every year. If your child or teen was up to date last summer, they may not be in accordance with the new guidelines this summer. If your provider sees your children every year, this gives him or her an opportunity to offer your child the best protection against a wide variety of diseases.
I hope your children are all healthy. However, what if they are not? Many subtle diseases and disorders cannot be diagnosed at their initial presentation. That would be the first visit for which you bring that child to the doctor for that problem. If your clinician does not know your children very well, this can delay the correct diagnosis. These delays can be financially costly, or even life-threatening. Your doctor should know your children, and they should know their doctor. This type of knowledge comes from continuity of care, or seeing the same doctor regularly.
If your child is unfortunate enough to have a chronic illness, then they may already be seeing their primary care physician regularly. However, many chronic illnesses require the input of a specialist. This specialist should work with your primary care doctor. This not only improves outcomes, but can actually reduce the overall number of office visits. For example, if your child has a disorder that needs to be followed every 6 months, the specialist may want to see your child at month 1, and your primary can see that same child at month 7, etc.This way both physicians are familiar with what is happening to your child and have continuity of care.
Many parents want to take their children to a convenience clinic for annual visits. Here, your children are not going to see their own physician. They may not see a physician at all. They may see someone with little or no recent experience treating children. This is important, because these providers may not be trained in how to pick up "silent" cardiac problems in your teen athlete. They may not have all, or any, of your child's immunization records. They frequently do not have the necessary time to do a complete family history, which is indicated in a teen athlete they have not seen previously. Please, make it a priority to have such examinations done by your child's primary care provider.
So, you see, there are many advantages to having an annual physical. We monitor your children's growth and development. Immunization statuses are updated. We also look for new illnesses as well as monitoring chronic ones. Continuity of care is provided. We call it "routine healthcare maintenance." It's like getting the oil changed in your car on a routine basis.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home.
http://FiresidePediatrics.com
http://PersonalMedicine.com
The annual physical is a tool used by clinicians to monitor your health. Please, do not think it unnecessary just because you or your children are healthy, today. In children, the visit is key in watching growth and development, and updating immunizations. When you are around your child every day, you may not notice subtle changes in their growth, such as a slowing of height velocity or excessive weight gain. Without measuring your child on a regular basis, short stature problems may not be diagnosed in time for treatment to be administered. Also, thirty percent of adults in America are overweight. This number is rapidly climbing in children and teens, as well. If obesity is diagnosed early it is much easier to treat, and the chronic illnesses associated with it can be avoided. Similarly, these visits are an excellent opportunity for the doctor to check your child's development.
Let's talk for a moment about immunizations. These should be updated at every physical examination. Immunization recommendations change every year. If your child or teen was up to date last summer, they may not be in accordance with the new guidelines this summer. If your provider sees your children every year, this gives him or her an opportunity to offer your child the best protection against a wide variety of diseases.
I hope your children are all healthy. However, what if they are not? Many subtle diseases and disorders cannot be diagnosed at their initial presentation. That would be the first visit for which you bring that child to the doctor for that problem. If your clinician does not know your children very well, this can delay the correct diagnosis. These delays can be financially costly, or even life-threatening. Your doctor should know your children, and they should know their doctor. This type of knowledge comes from continuity of care, or seeing the same doctor regularly.
If your child is unfortunate enough to have a chronic illness, then they may already be seeing their primary care physician regularly. However, many chronic illnesses require the input of a specialist. This specialist should work with your primary care doctor. This not only improves outcomes, but can actually reduce the overall number of office visits. For example, if your child has a disorder that needs to be followed every 6 months, the specialist may want to see your child at month 1, and your primary can see that same child at month 7, etc.This way both physicians are familiar with what is happening to your child and have continuity of care.
Many parents want to take their children to a convenience clinic for annual visits. Here, your children are not going to see their own physician. They may not see a physician at all. They may see someone with little or no recent experience treating children. This is important, because these providers may not be trained in how to pick up "silent" cardiac problems in your teen athlete. They may not have all, or any, of your child's immunization records. They frequently do not have the necessary time to do a complete family history, which is indicated in a teen athlete they have not seen previously. Please, make it a priority to have such examinations done by your child's primary care provider.
So, you see, there are many advantages to having an annual physical. We monitor your children's growth and development. Immunization statuses are updated. We also look for new illnesses as well as monitoring chronic ones. Continuity of care is provided. We call it "routine healthcare maintenance." It's like getting the oil changed in your car on a routine basis.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home.
http://FiresidePediatrics.com
http://PersonalMedicine.com
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Swimmer's Ear
This past weekend, all across this great nation, something wonderful happened. The pools opened! Memorial Day Weekend is the official start of pool season. That makes this a great time to talk about swimmer's ear.
Swimmer's ear, also known as acute otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear and ear canal that is usually caused by a combination of bacteria and fungi. Accumulation of water in the ear canal is a major trigger in the development of infection. This infection is associated with a lot of inflammation which, in turn, causes pain and itching. If there is a large amount of wax in the ear, this will increase the pain. (A normal amount of wax actually coats the external ear canal and can prevent infection). The inflammation also causes a purulent discharge (pus) from the ear which can be quite striking in some cases. Some children have a small amount of pain and little or no discharge. Others will have copious amounts of discharge and pain that radiates to the angle of the jaw and down the neck. Wikipedia has a lovely picture, but diagnosis usually requires looking inside the ear canal. For those of you in our concierge medicine practice, this would mean a house call not a telemedicine visit.
Swimmer's ear accounts for a number of outpatient visits every summer and a lot of discomfort. It affects roughly 10% of the population at some point in time. The good news is that it is both treatable and preventable.
Water plays a huge role in the development of swimmer's ear. If your ears never get wet, you will probably never get otitis externa. However, if you never bathe, you won't have many friends. Swimming in pools means spending much more time in the water. This increases your risk of developing this infection. I recommend all swimmers purchase preventative drops to use after swimming. These drops are to be placed in the ears at the end of swimming each day, or at the end of each trip to the pool, lake or ocean. They are heavier than water. They descend to the base of the ear canal, pushing out any water that is present. Then, they evaporate at body temperature, leaving the ear canal dry and clean. There are several companies that make such drops. Ask your physician or pharmacist to assist you in picking one.
Preventative drops are only that, preventative. Once an infection has started, they are no longer helpful. If your child complains of ear pain, with or without itching, that lasts more than a day or so, see a physician. If there is a purulent discharge, that gives you even more reason to see someone and consider starting medication. The medications used are usually drops in the ear. Antibiotics by mouth are seldom needed.
However, many of you who are swimming are also camping and a physician isn't readily available. In such cases, you may want to administer a vinegar solution until you can see a doctor. You can use distilled white vinegar diluted half and half with water. Keep in mind, this is not a substitute for medical care. If your child has fever or blood from their ear, do not use diluted vinegar: see your provider as soon as possible. If you use the diluted vinegar, the dose is 3-4 drops in the ear twice daily. You can use an eye dropper or drip this off your fingertip. If your child has fever, severe ear pain, swelling of the outer ear, blood from the ear canal, or pain radiating to the jaw or neck do not give vinegar. See your provider.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home.
http://FiresidePediatrics.com
http://PersonalMedicine.com
Swimmer's ear, also known as acute otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear and ear canal that is usually caused by a combination of bacteria and fungi. Accumulation of water in the ear canal is a major trigger in the development of infection. This infection is associated with a lot of inflammation which, in turn, causes pain and itching. If there is a large amount of wax in the ear, this will increase the pain. (A normal amount of wax actually coats the external ear canal and can prevent infection). The inflammation also causes a purulent discharge (pus) from the ear which can be quite striking in some cases. Some children have a small amount of pain and little or no discharge. Others will have copious amounts of discharge and pain that radiates to the angle of the jaw and down the neck. Wikipedia has a lovely picture, but diagnosis usually requires looking inside the ear canal. For those of you in our concierge medicine practice, this would mean a house call not a telemedicine visit.
Swimmer's ear accounts for a number of outpatient visits every summer and a lot of discomfort. It affects roughly 10% of the population at some point in time. The good news is that it is both treatable and preventable.
Water plays a huge role in the development of swimmer's ear. If your ears never get wet, you will probably never get otitis externa. However, if you never bathe, you won't have many friends. Swimming in pools means spending much more time in the water. This increases your risk of developing this infection. I recommend all swimmers purchase preventative drops to use after swimming. These drops are to be placed in the ears at the end of swimming each day, or at the end of each trip to the pool, lake or ocean. They are heavier than water. They descend to the base of the ear canal, pushing out any water that is present. Then, they evaporate at body temperature, leaving the ear canal dry and clean. There are several companies that make such drops. Ask your physician or pharmacist to assist you in picking one.
Preventative drops are only that, preventative. Once an infection has started, they are no longer helpful. If your child complains of ear pain, with or without itching, that lasts more than a day or so, see a physician. If there is a purulent discharge, that gives you even more reason to see someone and consider starting medication. The medications used are usually drops in the ear. Antibiotics by mouth are seldom needed.
However, many of you who are swimming are also camping and a physician isn't readily available. In such cases, you may want to administer a vinegar solution until you can see a doctor. You can use distilled white vinegar diluted half and half with water. Keep in mind, this is not a substitute for medical care. If your child has fever or blood from their ear, do not use diluted vinegar: see your provider as soon as possible. If you use the diluted vinegar, the dose is 3-4 drops in the ear twice daily. You can use an eye dropper or drip this off your fingertip. If your child has fever, severe ear pain, swelling of the outer ear, blood from the ear canal, or pain radiating to the jaw or neck do not give vinegar. See your provider.
Dr Nan N
House Call Pediatrician, Overland Park, KS
State of the art care for your child in your home.
http://FiresidePediatrics.com
http://PersonalMedicine.com
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