The Latest in Children’s Health
Kids and Vitamin D
Remember the days of playing outdoors until you could hardly see anymore because it was getting so dark? Those days don’t really happen so much in today’s world. Lack of sunlight, hours spent in front of the computer, television, or video games combined with drinking soda and caffeinated energy drinks may be putting kids at risk for low levels of vitamin D. Most of us know that vitamin D is essential for health bones and muscles. Severe deficiencies of this essential vitamin can lead to muscle and bone weaknesses and rickets. Vitamin D is also very important for healthy immunity.
A recent study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, evaluated blood levels of vitamin D in 382 health children between the ages of 6 and 21. Over half of the children (55%) had vitamin D levels below the recommended level.
Our bodies produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. We also get vitamin D in fortified milk products. Hence it makes sense that spending little time outdoors and replacing milk with soda and other “designer” drinks has likely contributed to this problem, especially during the winter months, when sun exposure drops even more.
Kids and Iron
According to a recent study published in Pediatrics, an overweight child is more likely to be iron deficient than a child of normal weight. In this study, researchers found that when looking at normal weight toddlers, approximately 7% were normal weight. This number increased to 20% when the child was overweight. Iron deficiency anemia can result in increased risk for colds, infections, poor performance in school, fatigue, and delayed development. Kids who eat irregularly, who eat a lot of snack foods and processed foods are at greatest risk.
Kids and Strep Throat
Winter season into spring tends to bring with it many outbreaks. Maybe it’s because kids are spending more time in close quarters with one another as rainy, snowy days keep them off the play yard. One of the biggies that many of us dread hearing about is “strep.” Strep throat is an infection caused by group A streptococcus bacteria. The most obvious symptom of strep throat tends to be a beefy red appearance at the back of the throat, swollen tonsils and lymph glands, sore throat and fever. Sometimes stomach pain and nausea can accompany these symptoms. Strep throat is usually diagnosed in the doctor’s office with a rapid strep test performed in-office or a culture, that usually takes 24 hours. If your child tests positive for strep, they will likely be treated with prescription antibiotic medication, usually penicillin or amoxicillin. Antibiotics usually shorten the duration and communicability (likelihood of passing it) of strep throat and prevent complications including rheumatic fever, which is a consequence of untreated strep throat.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may also help ease the irritation and pain from the sore throat. Gargling with warm lightly salted water helps to stimulate circulation to the inflamed area and remove patches of material. Otherwise cool, soft, and bland foods, and warm soups like chicken soup are well tolerated and generally recommended.
It’s always a good time to remind kids and teens to remember to wash their hands frequently throughout the day, especially before and after eating, after recess and sports activities, before and after using computer or keyboards. Counsel kids to avoid touching their mouths or noses to public telephones, drinking fountains, or sharing drinks or food with others.
If your child does end up with strep throat, also remember to get a new toothbrush on about the second day of antibiotic treatment. Bacteria can actually live on the toothbrush and re-infect. As a matter of prevention, it’s wise to replace your toothbrush anyway, at least every month.
January 10, 2010
by Optimum WellnessComments
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