NetWellness Children's Health

Strange Behavior in Little Girl

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:12:00 EST

Question: There is a little girl who, since she was 3 or 4 months old, when she was in a car seat or in a shopping cart seat would grab her private parts and stretch her legs out like she was doing exercises. She would also get like a far off look on her face. The doctor has been asked if it could be like a s . . .

Answer:

Hello! I believe that what you are describing is sexual pleasure in this little girl, be it a full orgasm or simply pleasurable sensations associated with touch or pressure on her genitalia.

Many adults take it for granted that babies and young children do not have sexual feeling . . .

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

Strangers Abusing Their Children in Public

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:12:00 EST

Question: What do I do if I see parents abusing their children out on the streets in public and I don`t know who they are or anything else about them? I`ve seen it a few times, but I wasn`t sure how I should have handled the situation.

Answer:

It can be quite intimidating to approach an out-of-control adult. Many of us allow that fear to stop us from acting to assist a child and their parent. You deserve tremendous credit for recognizing the need to intervene and wanting to learn how to help in these sensitive situations. With the stre . . .

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

Soreness of Boobs

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:11:00 EST

Question: My 10 yr old niece has been complaining about her boobs hurting, she has started her cycle, and they hurt so much she can`t stand for them to be touch, what shall i do??

Answer:

This is a great question I am sure many girls and their mothers have worried about and wondered over. The good news is that breast pain in women under 35 years of age, and especially among teens, is very rarely due to a serious health problem such as breast cancer.

Breast development i . . .

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

Sinus Congestion Only When Sleeping

Sarah Sauntry RN, MS, CPNP-PC — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:11:00 EST

Question: My 3 year old daughter had a cold and was treated for an ear infection about 3 weeks ago. Prescribed Amoxicillin for 10 days. Treatment completed. Day after started with fever, chills and threw up. Dr. perscribed Augmentin. Started treatment, fever persists after 4 days, throws up once a day. Most i . . .

Answer: The treatment for the ear infection you describe appears to be according to established guidelines. I cannot speak to the follow-up treatment with augmentin as a viral infection can have the same symptoms which you give, but I don't have the perspective of the health care provider seeing the child t . . .

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

White Matter in Left High Frontal Lobes

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:09:00 EST

Question: We have baby (5 months). at the time of birth due to lack of Oxygen supply to brain, he was on ventilator for 3-4 days. he was full term baby (9 months). Recently i have done MRI and shows following findings.

-Paucity of white matter in bilateral occipital & Left high Frontal lobe. - Thinin . . .

Answer: Hello! You certainly had a stressful introduction to parenthood and your son to being a newborn!

The official word for not enough oxygen to the brain is Hypoxia. Needing a ventilator for 3-4 days sounds as though he had a significant period of hypoxia that made it difficult for his brain . . .

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

always cold

Sarah Sauntry RN, MS, CPNP-PC — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:09:00 EST

Question: My son is 8 years old. And he is always cold, it can be 100 outside and he is literly shacking. He had reflux surgury in May 2011 for both sides. And in November he will have it again because one side didnt take. Does that have anything to do with it of is it something else? I SUFFER from being anem . . .

Answer: It is difficult to give a full answer to this question as it is somewhat unusual for an eight-year old to require surgery for reflux and I am not certain what is meant by "both sides". That said, cold intolerance is one of several symptoms of hypothyroidism (low thyroid). Have you discussed this pos . . .

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

Baby`s Head Measurement Percentage Decreasing

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:09:00 EST

Question: I am concerned about my 4 month old granddaughter. Her weight/heighth has been in the 50% and at her 2 month checkup her head circumference measured in the 10%. She just had her 4 month checkup and her head measurement had dropped to 7% while the other measurements remained the same. She has always . . .

Answer:

I can appreciate your worry for the baby. It seems as though her head circumference has not increased hardly at all over a two month period. Since the first 6 months of life are the most rapid part of the brain growth spurt after birth, the lack of growth is concerning. It possibly might be due t . . .

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

Salt Intake for a 1.5 Year Old

Sarah Sauntry RN, MS, CPNP-PC — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:08:00 EST

Question: My daughter is 1.5 years old. She eats very well - only fresh fruits, veggies and meat - i.e. nothing prepared or processed. She drinks anywhere from 30 to 90 oz of water at night. Recent blood and urine tests show all organs working perfectly, her nutrition balance is `perfect`. Is it safe to start . . .

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. I am unsure why your 18-month-old is drinking any water at night. It definitely is not necessary, possibly a habit formed over time. In addition, there is no need to introduce salt into an 18-month-old's diet. The only salt she should get is from her seasoned . . .

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

Head Circumference

Sarah Sauntry RN, MS, CPNP-PC — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:08:00 EST

Question: One of my twin granddaughters had her 12-month check-up today. She was born 6 weeks premature so I am using the adjusted growth chart for 11 months and comparing it to her 9-month check-up at 8 months. At 8 months adjusted HC was 17 inches in the 33rd percentile (weight 17.125 height 27 in) At . . .

Answer: Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, I cannot figure out the ages you give for head circumference to make a judgement in this situation. Ultimately, I would defer to the pediatric health care provider who is working with your granddaughter.

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

Possible Birth Defect Infant

Mary Gottesman PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:08:00 EST

Question: Hi my daughter was born at 34 wks and had a few what i thought was regular problems throwing up a lot several times a day and zantac doesn`t help formulas been changed a lot now on a nonmilk formula but recently went to the doctor and she was worrying about her head size its almost 17 inches spready . . .

Answer: I certainly understand your worry! Zoloft is actually one of the best choices for an antidepressant during pregnancy with a good but not perfect safety profile for the developing baby. Preterm birth is associated with its use as are heart defects and defects of the abdominal wall. Stress is a major . . .

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