NetWellness Children's Health

Vaccination records

Stephen Wilson MD, MSc — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:01:00 EST

Question: Some days ago my son had his Hepatitis B vaccine. A few hours after the shot the nurse phoned and told me that she discovered that vaccine had been stored out of the recommended temperature and therefore the shot is considered invalid and needs to be repeated. Should this shot be recorded in the chi . . .

Answer: Thank you very much for the question. Based on the information you shared it is difficult to give a simple answer. Certainly, if vaccines are kept at a sub-optimal temperature, they may be less effective. However, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that the medical staff con . . .

Ask an Expert: Stephen Wilson MD, MSc, Children's Health

No bowel movement

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:12:00 EST

Question: my great rand son is almost 4 months old his little bowels don`t want to move and he has so much gas he cries so much and he strains trying his best to have a bowel movement. but he is having such a time trying to go. what can we do to help him. he is in so much pain he screams in pain.please help

Answer: These problems can be very frustrating! Since he is such a young baby, I strongly encourage you and his parents to take him to see his doctor. If possible, also bring a diaper with stool in it so that the doctor can see for himself the color, amount, and consistency of his stool. He may also want to . . .

Ask an Expert: Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN, Children's Health

My 2 year old is having trouble pooping.

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:12:00 EST

Question: My daughter is having problems pooping. I have tried prunes, prune juice, pedilax for children, and oatmeal, and nothing seems to be working. I don`t know what to do. Plus she won`t eat anything.

Answer:

These are certainly vexing problems for many mothers. The good news is that the causes of these problems are seldom the result of actual illness of problems with the body's function. They are vastly more likely to be the product of toddler negativity bumping up against well meaning efforts to be . . .

Ask an Expert: Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN, Children's Health

Hepatitis B vaccine

Stephen Wilson MD, MSc — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:12:00 EST

Question: My child has completed the 3-dose scheme of Engerix-B. Does he have to get any booster doses in the future?

Answer: Thank you very much for the question. As long as your child received the appropriately spaced doses of the single dose Hepatitis B Vaccine (Engerix-B), he/she should be fully immunized. Pleases see this link from the American Aca . . .

Ask an Expert: Stephen Wilson MD, MSc, Children's Health

HIB vaccine

Sarah Sauntry RN, MS, CPNP-PC — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:12:00 EST

Question: Does a healthy teenager need to get vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae type b if they did not have the vaccine during childhood?

Answer: The quick and efficient answer is "No". The healthy immune system of most older persons can effectively fight HIB infections; the immature immune systems of infants cannot.

Ask an Expert: Sarah Sauntry RN, MS, CPNP-PC, Children's Health

How much sleep is not enough for 8 month old?

Mark Splaingard MD — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:11:00 EST

Question: Our sweet little 8 month old girl sleeps 9-12 hours a day. Not straight, but 8-1, 2-5:30, and if she naps at all, which often she does not, it is one 2 hour nap, or two 30 minute naps, adding no more than 2 hours to her night sleep. This owrries me because she is clearly more tired (as are we) than . . .

Answer:

The answer has several points:

1. The amount of daily sleep of 9 month old infants reported by their parents varies widely with 96% of infants sleeping between 10.5 to 17 hours based on a recent publication. In addition most 9-month-olds nap during the day with a total duration of the naps t . . .

Ask an Expert: Mark Splaingard MD, Children's Health

White stool

Stephen Wilson MD, MSc — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:11:00 EST

Question: my grandson stayed overnight this morning when he woke up he had a large white formed stool. he is his normal active self, has not taken any medication. Should we be concerned?

Answer: Thank you very much for the question. I am sure that you must be concerned. Stool color and consistency can vary based on the types of foods eaten by the individual. Also, various types of viral and bacterial infections can lead to changes in stool color. However, there are some stool colors that do . . .

Ask an Expert: Stephen Wilson MD, MSc, Children's Health

Infant Napping/Sleep Cycle Problems

Mark Splaingard MD — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:11:00 EST

Question: My daughter is 3 months old and cannot seem to stay asleep longer than 30 minutes during the day. We`ve darkened her room, used white noise, tried rocking/swaying/or some sort of motion for the duration of her sleep to try and "get her past" the 30 minute mark, we`ve tried holding her moti . . .

Answer: From the details you have given, it would appear that your infant daughter is sleeping about 9 hrs during the night and then has 30 minute sleep cycles during the daytime. More information is necessary since there is a wide range of normal total sleep time over a 24-hour period at this age (10-19 ho . . .

Ask an Expert: Mark Splaingard MD, Children's Health

Spider bite

Stephen Wilson MD, MSc — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:10:00 EST

Question: My 2 1/2 year old niece woke up this morning with her hand really swollen and red. I cant see a bite mark, but she keeps scratching it. Ice hasn`t helped make the swelling go down. Should I wait to take her in, or could it be a spider bit?

Answer: Thank you very much for the question. While I cannot make a diagnosis with the information that you have shared, I would certainly be concerned that your niece is having either a skin infection or reaction. I think it would be wise to take you niece to her health care provider for a assessment of th . . .

Ask an Expert: Stephen Wilson MD, MSc, Children's Health

Head size

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:10:00 EST

Question: My baby boy was born 6 weeks premature.At the time of birth his weight was 1.02 kgs and his head circumference was 28 cms.Now he is 9 months old.His weight is 7.24 kgs and head circumference is 39.5 cms.Please let me know if this is fine. .current activity is,he can laughing,can sit with sport,but h . . .

Answer: Having a preterm baby is always challenging! They are have a very different growth pattern and developmental pathway than do full term babies, especially when they are born over a month early.

I am presuming in this response that his age of 9 months is not corrected for his early birth b . . .

Ask an Expert: Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN, Children's Health