Spring Newsletter 2007

Influenza (the flu) is a respiratory infection caused by one of the influenza viruses (A, B, C).  Vomiting and diarrhea are often mistakenly called the flu.  The symptoms of the flu are an abrupt onset of illness beginning with a dry cough, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, sore throat and loss of appetite.  Influenza differs from the common cold in that with a cold the symptoms come on gradually, a fever is usually low grade if present at all, muscle aches are usually absent and all symptoms are milder.  Treatment includes getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of liquids, using Tylenol or Motrin for fever and aches, and using a cool mist humidifier with saline sprays and a bulb syringe to help clear nasal passages.  Antiviral medications may be prescribed during the first two days to lessen the disease.  The expected course of the flu is usually 5-7 days; however, the cough may persist for several weeks.  We recommend all children over six months of age receive a flu vaccine every year.  This vaccine is 70-90% effective in preventing the flu.  Other ways to prevent infection include avoiding crowded places during an epidemic and encouraging frequent handwashing.  Children should avoid chewing fingernails or touching their mouth, nose and eyes, as viruses live on unwashed hands.

Both Kansas and Missouri now have new laws for booster seats.  These laws require every child 7 and under and who weighs less than 80 pounds and is less than 4' 9" to be placed in an appropriate child passenger restraining system that meets federal guidelines.  This means that children who may already be out of car seats will have to use an age/size appropriate booster seat.  The reason for the new law is because national statistics show 83% of children between the ages of 3 and 8, who should be using car seats or belt-positioning booster seats, are being inappropriately graduated to an adult seat belt.  The Partners for Child Passenger Safety found that placing a 4 to 7 year old in a belt-positioning booster seat with a seat belt instead of a seat belt alone, reduces the child's risk of injury by 59 percent. Belt-positioning booster seats help protect children who are too big for child seats but too small to use an adult seat belt.  A belt-positioning booster seat raises the child up so that the seat belt fits the child's body.  Since children in booster seats use the adult seat belt, no installation of the seat is required.  A belt-positioning booster seat not only makes a child safer, but also adds comfort and allows for a better fit of the seat belt.

The following tips may help your child feel good about riding in a booster seat:

• Explain to your child from an early age that when he/she is older, a booster seat will still be needed.

• Allow your child to be part of the decision making process by letting them help select their own booster seat.

• Check your child's weight and height to ensure that he/she is placed in the proper size safety seat.

GUIDELINES…

• Children under 1 year old and 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing child seat.

• Children ages 1, 2 and 3 must be properly restrained in a forward-facing child seat.

• Children ages 4, 5, 6 and 7 are required to ride in a booster seat unless :

ü       the child weighs more than 80 pounds

ü       the child is taller than 4 feet 9 inches, or

ü       only a lap belt is available

Children who meet the above height or weight criteria must be protected by a safety belt.

• Children ages 8 and older must be protected by a safety belt.

Attention Deficit Disorder, now known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a label given to children or adults who have significant problems with inattention, impulse control and over-activity.  When these behaviors affect a child's performance at school, home or in community activities such as sports or music, it may be useful to talk to your pediatrician or psychologist about an evaluation.  An evaluation for ADHD may include a thorough history of your child's growth and development, a hearing and vision evaluation, a classroom observation of your child's behavior, parent/teacher behavior rating scales and often, academic testing or a computerized test of attention.  Research-based treatment for ADHD includes medication, as well as teaching parents and teachers about behavior management techniques, classroom interventions and organizational skills.  For more information about ADHD, consult your pediatrician, nurse practitioner or psychologist.  Read more about ADHD at www.CHADD.org.

People your child meets on the Internet are strangers.  Remind your child that people she meets on the Internet are strangers.  Just as she should not give out her address, her telephone number, her name, the location of her school, or any other information to a stranger, she should not give out personal information to people she meets on the Internet.

• Talk with your child about what she sees and does on the Internet.  Encourage your child to talk to you right away about anything on the Internet that makes her feel uncomfortable.

• Ask your child about the people she meets on the Internet.  Make sure that your child talks to you directly about anyone she has met on the Internet who wants to meet her in person.

• Meeting "friends" from the Internet in person requires adult supervision.  Establish a firm rule that your child may not go to meet someone she met on the Internet unless a parent or other responsible adult goes with her.

• E-mailing personal information should be done only with permission.  Explain to your child that it is not safe to e-mail pictures of themself or any other personal information without first checking with you.  Let her know that just as it is important that you know who her friends are and what she does with her friends, it is important that she talks with you before beginning an e-mail friendship with a new person.