Summertime

Summer is here! I so look forward to this time of year – less time spent keeping up with schedules; sleeping in; longer days. While this is a fun and exciting time of year, I caution all parents to be ever mindful of the need for sunscreen. More information from studies show that most skin damage comes from sunburns we get as kids. Use of sunscreen between birth and age 20, decreases risk of melanoma by up to 85%! What should you do?

1. Use sunscreen every day – one that protects against UVA and UVB.
2. Reapply sunscreen.
3. Do not use tanning beds or allow your teen to use one.
4. If out in the sun for long periods, use more than sunscreen: hats, sunglasses, etc.

Sun and summer go hand in hand, but make sure you protect yourself and your children from the harm the sun can do.

Katrina Hood, M.D.
Pediatric & Adolescent Associates
www.paalex.com

Family Meal Time

Don’t you love it when someone gives you a book that speaks to you in that moment? For Christmas, I received a book called The Family Dinner, which opened my eyes to how important something as simple as sitting down regularly with our children to eat can be. We in America have become so scheduled and activity-driven that we’re losing the basic family bonding experience of preparing and sharing our meals, and our families are suffering for it. The data regarding family dinner is really intriguing — and empowering. Here are some of the facts:

– Teens who share family dinner five or more times a week are 42% less likely to drink alcohol, 59% less likely to smoke cigarettes, and 66% less likely to try marijuana.

– Teens who share frequent family dinners are 3.5x less likely to have abused prescription drugs or an illegal drug other than marijuana.

– Adolescent girls who share frequent family meals are less likely to use diet pills, laxatives, or other extreme measures to control their weight, even five years later.

– Teens who share family meals frequently are 40% more likely to gets A’s and B’s in school.

– Teens who share regular family dinners are less likely to be depressed, are more motivated at school, and have better peer relationships.

– Children ages 7 to 11 who eat meals frequently with their families perform better on school achievement tests.

Isn’t that amazing? Something as simple as sitting down as a family to eat has drastic effects on our children! Being more mindful about our meals also has the potential to result in healthier diets and better nutrition. Here are some important things to consider as you ponder how to implement more family meals into your lifestyle:

– Family meals don’t necessarily have to be at dinner. Family breakfast is always an option and may help everyone get off to school/work on a healthy, happy footing each day.

– It may help to create a standardized, rotating meal plan, thus decreasing the amount of new planning required each week or each shopping trip. For example, “meatless Mondays,” “taco Tuesdays,” “salad Saturdays.” Children often enjoy consistency and may begin to look forward to their favorite meal-day each week.

– The food at the table is what is served. No one has to eat anything they don’t like, but there are no substitutions allowed. Remember, learning how to decline a food politely is actually an important skill. “Oh, that looks so lovely, I’ve just never cared for peas. Thank you anyway.” or “I usually don’t care for cantaloupe, but that looks so good that I’ll try just a bite.”

– There should be a no-technology rule at the family dinner table, i.e. no cell phones, no TV, etc.

– Background music helps to create a relaxed mood and can also help expose children to a variety of music. It can be fun to coordinate music with the particular food being served for the meal (i.e. opera for pasta night, Latin for taco night), or it can keep things fun (if a bit on risky side!) to rotate who gets to select the music each night.

– Each meal should start with some sort of blessing of the table/food/family. The blessing doesn’t have to be religious, just something meaningful for your family. It could even be something you create.

– Something as simple as putting a candle on the table helps to signify the ritual of the meal.

– Everyone is expected to contribute to the conversation at family meals, and it can be helpful to have planned “table talk” in addition to spontaneous conversation. For example, at each meal, everyone might be expected to relate an event from their day, name something they’re grateful for, or share something they’re looking forward to. The family schedule for the following day might be reviewed. Family dinners can also include assignments, such as for each person to share a poem, a book, a new word, or a brief biography about a historical figure. Word games can also be played, or conversation-starter questions can be asked (what is your dream vacation?, name three things you would want to have on a deserted island, etc.)

– As much as possible, involve family members in the preparation and clean-up of the meal and table.

Above all, have fun and enjoy one another! Don’t overwhelm yourself by feeling that the food has to be fancy or perfect. What the studies on family meals certainly show is that the food is only a small part of what makes the family meal so special.

Michelle Bennett, M.D.
(859)277-6102

Screening your child’s Screen Time

There was a report on the news today regarding televisions and children. The story highlights that over 50% of children and 30% of babies under the age of one year have televisions in their rooms. According to a News Release from the American Academy of Pediatrics, 90 percent of parents said their children under the age of two watches, some form of electronic media. These are astounding numbers! It is very important to understand that the amount of screen time (the amount of time a child watches TV or plays on the computer) is directly linked to a decrease in the amount of time a child reads and may be linked to an increase in a child’s body mass index. If a television is used to help a child fall asleep, the child will typically have poorer quality of sleep and irregular sleep schedules. Poor sleep habits adversely affect the child’s mood, behavior and learning. For teenage children, TV’s in the bedroom also decrease family involvement at a time when they may need it most. Teenagers who are depressed or have social issues at school may hide in their rooms and use TV as an excuse to stay there, when talking and being with the family is more therapeutic.

If you don’t have a television in your child’s room, then please consider keeping this the status quo. If you already have a television in the child’s bedroom, then consider taking it out. This will improve study habits, healthy eating habits, sleep habits and family time.

For more information visit: http://www.aap.org/pressroom/mediaunder2.pdf

Katrina Hood, M.D.
277-6102
www.paalex.com

Osteoporosis: A disease of adolescence, not aging

When we think of osteoporosis, it is a vision of a stooped, elderly woman that tends to come to mind. It’s time to revise that vision. What we have learned through the years is that the foundation of bone strength is laid during adolescence, which means that adolescence is the critical time to act to prevent the development of osteoporosis later in life. Starting at age 8-9, bone mass begins to increase significantly, increasing most rapidly during puberty, with bone mass reaching its peak by approximately age 30. After age 30, bone mass slowly begins to decline. Osteoporosis affects approximately 55% of Americans over the age of 50, with 80% being women.
There are numerous factors that can influence peak bone mass. Genetic factors certainly play a role, so if there is a family history of osteoporosis or tendency toward bone fractures, it is even more important to be sure that all potential environmental factors are optimized. Environmental factors include the following:
1. Calcium intake — Adequate calcium intake between ages 9 and 18 is defined as 1200 to 1500mg per day. The upper tolerable limit for calcium is defined as 3000mg/day. Most of the calcium needs of children and adolescents are best met by milk and dairy products. While many vegetables contain calcium, the calcium density is low, making it much more difficult to achieve adequate calcium levels via vegetable intake as compared to dairy intake (vegetable intake remains extremely important for other health benefits, of course!). Numerous calcium-fortified foods are also available, including soy milk, soy yogurt, soy cheese, tofu, cereals, breakfast bars, and juices. Calcium bioavailability from these sources is thought to be equivalent to that of milk, except for soy milk, which has a bioavailability of approximately 75%. Children with lactose intolerance can drink lactose-free milk, which is equivalent in calcium content and bioavailability to regular milk. It is also important to note that low fat milks (skim, 1%, 2%), which are standard recommendations for children over age 2, have similar calcium content to whole milk.
For children and adolescents who do not achieve adequate calcium intake through diet alone, calcium supplements should be used. I tend to recommend Citracal, as calcium citrate has been shown to be more bioavailable than calcium carbonate in adult studies (similar studies involving children and adolescents are not available). Be sure to read the label carefully for whatever supplement you choose. For many supplements, more than one tablet must be taken to reach the advertised dosage.
2. Vitamin D intake — Vitamin D is crucial for enhancing calcium absorption from the intestinal tract. Adequate vitamin D dietary intake for children and adolescents is defined as 600 units per day, although the definition of adequate varies somewhat with degree of sunlight exposure (i.e. geographic location, season, use of sunscreens, dark vs. light skin pigmentation). Vitamin D is included in fortified milks and in most calcium supplements. Vitamin D can also be taken as a separate supplement, with vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) being the formulation which is best absorbed. It is pertinent to note that vitamin D deficiency is something we are seeing commonly in adolescent girls, and as a result, I tend to recommend a higher vitamin D intake of 800-2000 units per day.
3. Exercise — Regular weight-bearing exercise during adolescence is at least as important as calcium intake, and perhaps even more important, in long-term bone mineralization. However, excessive exercise leading to interruption of menstrual function in females has a significantly detrimental effect, so the level of exercise must be monitored.
4. Cigarette smoking — Cigarette use results in decreased bone mineral density and should be avoided (for this and many other reasons!).
5. Carbonated beverages — Intake of carbonated beverages, especially colas, may lead to an increase in risk for fractures.
6. Anorexia nervosa — Extreme weight loss and underweight body habitus are strongly associated with decreased bone density. Any suspicion of an eating disorder should be investigated promptly.
One last thing I will mention is that it is somewhat confusing to determine the calcium content of foods from reading nutrition labels. Labels typically indicate calcium content as a percentage of the “daily value.” This “daily value” is set at 1000mg/day, which is less than the 1200-1500mg/day that is recommended for adolescents. I have attached a Calcium Chart that shows the approximate calcium content for some common foods.
Now, go tell your children to drink their milk — doctor’s orders!

Michelle Bennett, MD
Pediatric & Adolescent Associates, PSC
859-277-6102

Check Up Season is Here

It is check-up season for pediatricians across America! Summer is filled with few illnesses for us to see but plenty of school and sport physicals to be done. You may ask why we like to see kids for check-ups on a yearly basis. Primarily we like to see children yearly to watch for trends of unhealthy behaviors. With 40% of kids being overweight, seeing them yearly allows us to track their progress and begin to make changes before a child’s weight is hard to manage. We can also counsel parents and children about healthy habits. When we complete a sports physical we also perform a general check up. This general check-up allows us to discuss your child’s health in depth, such as diet, school performance, social activities, sports, etc. School systems require yearly sports physicals to make sure we screen for changes in family history and problems a child may have during his/her sport. Our goal is to do our best to find preventable issues regarding your child’s heart, respiratory system and their overall health.
Please call and schedule your check up today.

Katrina Hood, MD. FAAP
Pediatric & Adolescent Associates
www.paalex.com

Preparing for Summer: Drowning Prevention Guidelines

With the approaching warmer summer weather, comes the joy of swimming and long lazy afternoons by the pool! However, drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children from 1 to 19 years of age, so it warrants a few moments of consideration to be sure we are doing all we can to safeguard our children. The American Academy of Pediatrics released an updated report on the Prevention of Drowning last summer (7/1/10), and some of the new guidelines have received a bit of media attention, particularly the guidelines related to swim lessons in toddlers and young children. There is quite a lot of excellent information in the report, so I will summarize some of the main points here.

In thinking about drowning prevention, it helps to know who exactly is at the greatest risk. The highest rate of drowning is in the 0- to 4-year age group, with a second peak in adolescence. Boys are at greater risk than girls at all ages after 1yr. In fact, up to 12 years of age, drowning rates are approximately double for boys compared to girls, but in teenagers, the rate is an impressive 10x higher for boys. This is likely attributable to higher risk-taking behaviors, greater exposure to aquatic environments, and in adolescents, greater alcohol use. In regard to location of drowning deaths, 47% occur in fresh bodies of water (rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, canals, quarries), 23% in artificial pools, 9% in the home (bathtubs, buckets), and 4% in salt water. The vast majority of infant drowning deaths (78%) occur in bathtubs and buckets. Above-ground inflatable or portable pools have become a more frequent source of drowning in recent years, as they have become less expensive and, therefore, more commonplace. They are rarely fenced in, and because they contain large amounts of water, they are left filled for weeks or months. Additionally, the soft sides of some models make it easy for children to lean over and fall in. And children can be amazingly nimble when they really want something. In a study of above-ground pools, children between 42 and 54mo of age were shown to be able to climb into a pool with a 48in wall, even if the ladder was removed.

Swimming pools may be fun, but they can be terrifying when it comes to toddlers and young children. Every pediatrician, including me, has at least one story of a young patient lost to drowning. It’s not something you ever forget. Young children can drown in 30-60 seconds, and when they drown, there is no splashing or screaming. It’s silent, and it’s fast. It scares me enough that my routine advice to swimming pool-owning families who have toddlers/young children is simply not to fill up the pool until the children are older and able to swim well. And I can honestly say that if any of my children’s grandparents or other relatives had a pool at their home, my children would never be allowed to be there without my husband or me. Swimming pools are serious business. However, there are definitely some steps families can take to make their pools and children safer for summer swimming:

1. All swimming pools must have a 4-sided fence that isolates the pool from the house and yard. This step alone has been shown to decrease pool-immersion injuries among young children by more than 50%. The fence should be at least 4ft high, with no opening under the fence more than 4in from the ground. Vertical members of the fence should be less than 4in apart to prevent children from squeezing through, and there should be no footholds or handholds that could help a child climb the fence. The fence should not obstruct the view of the pool. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching, and the latch should be placed at least 54in above the bottom of the gate. The gate should open away from the pool. The importance of an intact fence and functional gates cannot be overemphasized.

2. Pool gate alarms and retractable pool covers can provide additional layers of protection, but there is no research about their effectiveness so they should not replace any of the recommendations in #1.

3. All parents and caregivers should be trained in infant/child CPR. Immediate resuscitation, even before the arrival of emergency medical service providers, is associated with a significantly better outcome for children with submersion injury.

4. Continuous, eye-contact, adult supervision is imperative anytime children are around water. In fact, the vast majority of drownings don’t occur in the absence of supervision, but rather during momentary lapses in supervision, such as when the caregiver is distracted by socializing, talking on the phone, texting, reading, caring for other children, etc.

5. Teach children that they should never play anywhere near pool or spa drains. Body entrapment and hair entanglement can occur. All pools and spas should be equipped with drain covers, unblockable drains, and safety vacuum-release systems.

6. In regard to swim lessons, interestingly, studies regarding the association of swimming ability and the risk of drowning are not conclusive. In fact, there is no clear evidence that drowning rates are higher in poor swimmers. It is probable that increased swimming proficiency may actually serve to increase drowning rates due to increased exposure to water situations. The AAP’s previous stance was that children should not begin formal swimming lessons until at least age 4. This was due to lack of research showing benefit for swim lessons at younger ages, concern that caregivers would become overly-confident in their child’s ability to “swim” and would thereby increase swimming exposure, and that young children might become comfortable enough in the water that they would be more likely to seek out and enter the water without supervision. Recently, however, there have been a couple of studies that have shown that swimming lessons in children 1 to 4 years of age may reduce drowning risk, prompting the Academy to soften its stance. While the Academy still does not recommend swim lessons for children under age 4, it does note that “the evidence no longer supports an advisory against” them. However, as you consider this, it is also pertinent to note that swimming lessons have potential for some ill effects for young children, including increased asthma risk due to chlorine exposure, increased gastrointestintal tract infections, hypothermia, and low sodium due to excessive swallowing of water. Also of note, there is no published data supporting anecdotal claims that teaching a baby to roll over and float is sufficient to prevent drowning. In fact, there are no studies showing benefit to swim lessons under age 1, and the AAP does not recommend these. In regard to lesson techniques for young children, the studies that are available thus far don’t support any particular type of teaching technique, which makes it challenging to know what to look for. General recommendations for children under age 3 include: 1) direct parent involvement and supervision, 2) one-on-one teaching, 3) warm water to help avoid hypothermia, and 4) limited submersions to help decrease ingestion of water (excessive water intake can disrupt electrolytes and cause seizures in young children).

So, while swimming is great fun, excellent exercise, and a rite of summer, we must be diligent to take all possible precautions and must never let our guard down — even for a moment — when our children are in a swimming or water environment. This is truly a situation where lives can change dramatically in under a minute. Have fun, but please do be careful around the water!

Michelle Bennett, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Pediatric & Adolescent Associates

Planning for disaster

Over the last few years we have seen an increasing number of billboards and mobile signs stating, “Are you prepared for bad weather and disaster?” The State of Kentucky website (http:kyem.ky.gov/preparedness.htm) has links available to assist you in your preparation. In Kentucky we have the threat of bad weather and the possibility of an earthquake, as we live near the New Madrid fault. In the event of an emergency, the government may be unable to respond immediately or adequately. For the safety of your family, “Be prepared! You should have at least a three day supply of food and water for each member of your family, along with essentials such as: medicine, flash lights, radio, extra batteries, matches, candles, first aid supplies, etc.”

In the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan, within a matter of days the store shelves were left bare, with no flashlights, water or other basic necessities available. Due to the interruption of road transportation, refilling the shelves take much more time. Do not wait until the disaster to obtain what you do not have.

We all have families, who in the event of a disaster, will be much better off if you prepare in advance. Have similar small bags in each of your vehicles so if you are stranded away from home you will still be prepared with necessities.

We are always hopeful disasters will not happen to us! But would you not feel better knowing you are ready to ride out the storm with food and water for your children?

PLANNING FOR DISASTER:
(from KY Division of Emergency Management)

“Be Aware – Be Prepared – Have a Plan – Make a Kit”

Be Aware:
Know in advance your weather forecasts
Stay tuned to your local broadcasting stations
Discuss conditions with family members and know their location during times of known potentially threatening conditions.

Be Prepared:
Discuss your plan with family members and neighbors
Review your plan periodically for necessary updates
Refresh you emergency kit(s) periodically
Drill: practice your plan with household members

Have a Plan:
Utilities: Written instructions for how to turn off electricity, gas and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you’ll need a professional to turn them back on)
Shelter: Identify safe locations within your residence
Contacts: Written contact information should include; relatives, neighbors, utility companies, employers (employees) and local emergency contact telephone numbers
Evacuate: Predetermine evacuation routes. Identify where you could go if told to evacuate Choose several places: a friend or relative’s home in another town, a motel, or a shelter
Children: Make back up plans for children in case you (or they) can’t get home in an emergency
Vehicles: Maintain a half tank of fuel in vehicles. Move vehicles from under trees during possible wind events. Keep an “Emergency Go Kit” in the vehicle.
Medications: prepare a list of all prescription drugs
Share your plan with others. It is suggested to include sharing it with contacts in another region or even another state.

Make a Kit:
First aid kit and essential medications (to include prescription meds)
Canned food and can opener
At least three gallons of water per person
Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags
Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
Waterproof matches, candles
Local phone book
Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members
Extra set of car keys

Katrina Hood, MD. FAAP

Pediatric & Adolescent Associates

www.paalex.com

Why We Love Amoxicillin

Have you ever wondered why amoxicillin is the first-line antibiotic we select for ear infections, sinus infections, and strep throat? Sometimes amoxicillin seems to get a bad rap because some people feel that it “never works” for them, but amoxicillin is actually a great antibiotic for the majority of children. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Amoxicillin is in the penicillin family of antibiotics. It covers the most common bacteria that cause ear infections, sinus infections, and strep throat. It may also be effective for pneumonia.
2. It is fairly narrow-spectrum, meaning that it does not kill off so many of the other bacteria in the body. This is important because most bacteria in our bodies help to keep us healthy. Killing of those helpful bacteria is what causes us to develop stomachaches, diarrhea, and yeast infections while taking antibiotics. Amoxicillin is less likely than most other antibiotics to cause these side effects.
3. It tastes good. Children frequently request the “pink bubblegum medicine!” (One question you may ask is why we use amoxicillin instead of plain-old penicillin. The reason: penicillin liquid tastes terrible!)
4. It is inexpensive. A 10-day course of amoxicillin can be obtained for $4-8 at Walmart and for free at Meijer.
5. It doesn’t have to be refrigerated (although it tastes better if it has been, so it’s recommended to keep it in the fridge when possible).

So why do some people say “amoxicillin never works” for them? For children who have been on repetitive antibiotics (or who are in daycare with other children who have been on repetitive antibiotics), bacteria can become progressively resistant. This means it requires higher doses of an antibiotic or broader-spectrum (“stronger”) antibiotics to kill the offending bacteria. For children requiring repeated antibiotic courses in a short period of time, we typically try to alternate antibiotics, as this seems to help decrease the development of resistance (i.e. it keeps the bacteria “guessing”). One general rule we follow is that if a child has been on amoxicillin within the previous 6-8wks, then we will choose something stronger for a subsequent antibiotic course. However, if it has been more than 6-8wks since the last antibiotic course, then resistance has often waned, and we will try to move back to using amoxicillin.

One source of confusion for many people is the use of amoxicillin for strep throat vs. ear infections and sinus infections. It is typically only with ear and sinus infections that resistance to amoxicillin is a problem. The bacteria that causes strep throat (group A streptococcus) is almost universally susceptible to amoxicillin, so even children who do not have good results with amoxicillin for ear and sinus infections should be able to take amoxicillin for strep throat. You may also notice that the dosage we use for strep throat is lower than the dosage we use for ear and sinus infections. This is because the group A streptococcus bacteria is easier to treat.

One situation in which you may see us use a broader-spectrum antibiotic first-line for ear or sinus infections is when these infections are accompanied by “pink eye.” The presence of “pink eye” often indicates a more resistant bacteria is at work and amoxicillin might not be the best antibiotic choice (although sometimes it may still work).

Of course, it is important to keep in mind that all antibiotics must be used judiciously to remain effective. I am always surprised that so many people are anxious to have their child put on antibiotics — the expense, the inconvenience, the side effects! I’ll take a virus any day over a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics for my own children. It is always interesting to me that people think we pediatricians are so lucky because we can prescribe antibiotics anytime we want for our own children. Trust me, our children get antibiotics far less than the average child because we do not want our children on them! And when my child does need an antibiotic, I prefer amoxicillin over the others.

Important things to remember to help avoid unnecessary antibiotics for your child:
1. Antibiotics do not treat viruses. Viruses make us miserable for a while, but eventually our bodies fight them off without help. They “run their course.”
2. Colds typically last 1.5 – 2wks, and sometimes as long as 3wks. If your child is not miserable or running a fever with cold symptoms at 2wks, give it another week and see if things do not resolve on their own. If a cold lasts longer than 3wks, your child should be seen.
3. Yellow or green nasal mucus does not indicate a need for antibiotics. Viruses cause yellow and green mucus just as often as bacteria do.
4. Viruses can cause sinusitis (symptoms of headache, facial pressure, etc.).
5. Older children with ear infections will get better on their own 80% of the time. If your child is at least 2yrs old and is having only mild symptoms of an ear infection, you can try giving it a few days at home to see if things will improve without treatment. Obviously if your child is having significant ear pain or fever, he/she should be seen in the office.

6. Bronchitis is usually viral and does not require antibiotics.
7. Please do not pressure us to prescribe antibiotics! We really do want you to be happy with the care your child is receiving, and if we feel that you are not going to be happy without an antibiotic, it puts us in an unenjoyable emotional quandry if we do not think an antibiotic is needed. Also, if you are hoping to avoid antibiotics, please verbalize this to us, as it takes off some of the pressure we feel to prescribe something and try to make the child magically better!

So to summarize: We want to avoid antibiotics when possible. When we do need antibiotics, we want to use the most narrow-spectrum antibiotic possible so as to decrease the risk of side effects and resistance. And these are just a few of the things we’re thinking about when considering how to treat your child!

Michelle Bennett, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Pediatric & Adolescent Associates

Almost time to get ready for allergy season

As I sit here pondering another snow day for our kids, I begin to ponder spring and the joys of the next season. Today’s season is colds and flu, and the spring season is allergies and getting back outside for sports and play. For allergy sufferers the season often begins in March and April as the flowers begin to bloom and other pollens and allergens begin to float around. I am always amazed with the yellow pollen coating on my car and outdoor furniture in March and April. If you have ever been next to a pine tree when the wind is blowing you know where some of this pollen is coming from as the cloud of pollen blows away. My point is for those parents of allergy sufferers, this is the time to start thinking about these pollen clouds. Allergy medicines work best before exposure. We recommend starting the long acting antihistamines in March so that our patients are protected before this starts. If you use the allergy nasal steroids, this is also the time to start these meds as well.
So enjoy the dry cold of winter before the moist allergy spring season is upon us.

Katrina Hood, MD. FAAP

Pediatric & Adolescent Associates

www.paalex.com

Your Children & Today’s Technology

Have you talked to your child recently about what they should or should not be sending on their cell phones or posting on Facebook? I have seen several cases over the last few months of kids hurt by inappropriate postings by other kids. Cell phones have become an integral part of teen’s lives. Many kids are sending thousands of messages a month. Your child needs to understand that these messages could potentially be retrieved years down the road. Do they want others reading what they said? They need to know that no message or post on the internet is private and/or secret – it takes only one person to hit “send or share” for the message or photo to be sent to thousands.

As the teens of today grow up, I wonder how this will affect their ability to talk to each other? Studies in the last few weeks have shown that some kids with anxiety or depression are actually benefited by the social contact that the cell phone texting provides. They can reach out from the privacy of their home to their friends. There is also a study showing that texting after a child is in bed may lead to focusing concerns the following day – maybe due to less sleep or less deep sleep. Just some thoughts to keep in mind as you talk to your kids about how they use the technology of today.

Katrina Hood, MD. FAAP

Pediatric & Adolescent Associates

www.paalex.com