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Many children have difficulty separating from their parents when they begin nursery school. My wife came up with a terrific idea to help our son adjust to school. First, she asked the director for a class list two months before school began. Then she called all of the parents on the list and invited them and their child to a Sunday morning play session on the school … [Read more...] about Easing the Transition into Nursery School

Tetracycline and its derivatives are commonly used for acne. I have noticed that doctors sometimes forget to warn patients that a severe sore throat may occur if these medications dissolve in the esophagus. This can occur if the capsule “gets stuck” on the way down or if a teenager has an episode of reflux while lying down and the capsule goes back into the esophagus. … [Read more...] about Avoid an Uncommon but Serious Side Effect of Acne Medication

After babies are born, the nursery staff takes axillary (armpit) temperatures to make sure that infants are not becoming chilled due to the temperature in the nursery. Since parents learn by watching the nurses, they may assume that they should continue using axillary readings once their babies go home. Because pediatricians watch carefully for fever in the first two … [Read more...] about Taking Temperatures in Young Infants

One of the most common complaints I hear from patients is that antibiotic prescriptions never last as long as they’re supposed to. The reason this happens is because most antibiotics come in set amounts and pharmacists are not allowed to add extra to make sure patients do not run out early. To get around this policy, I calculate how much a child needs for a full-course … [Read more...] about How to Prevent Your Prescription from Running Out Too Soon

It is well known that young children are more likely to choke on food than older people. There are two things you can do to reduce the risk of choking in your children. First, avoid foods such as hot dogs and peanuts that are associated with choking. Second, make sure your children are sitting down when they eat. In my office, I remind parents that young children are … [Read more...] about Make Sure Your Kids Eat Sitting Down