It’s not uncommon for parents to notice their teens glued to computer or cell phone screens throughout the day. High school students often use the Internet for homework, watching videos, updating their social networking accounts, and talking with friends. In most households, teens spend more hours at the computer than their parents do. Although daily Internet usage is not an automatic need for concern, some teens could find themselves with an Internet addiction that negatively impacts their lives. Learn how to distinguish when it’s time to intervene.

Social Interaction
If you suspect that your teen might have an Internet addiction, look for drastic changes in his social life. Has a former social butterfly traded in sports games, concerts, and shopping trips with friends for Friday nights and weekends alone with the computer? Have you noticed your teen turning down invitations to events he would normally be thrilled to attend? Although the Internet has made it possible to keep track of friendships through social networks and email, a computer can never replace a healthy dosage of real-life quality time with friends.

School Work
When an Internet addiction takes hold, other areas of your teen’s life might start to suffer. Tracking the quality of work your teen completes at school could show if there is a problem that needs addressing. Missed assignments, ill-preparation for tests, or reports from teachers that your teen was caught using his smart phone during class are all signs that you should start paying attention to the amount of time your teen spends surfing the web.

Time Apart from the Internet
A tell-tale sign of addiction is how your teen reacts when he is separated from Internet access. If you plan a family vacation with limited or no Internet connection, observe the behavior of your teen. Does he exhibit signs of irritability or depression that are unrelated to other reasonable circumstances? If so, he might have developed an unhealthy addiction to the Internet.

Treatment
If you suspect your teen might have an Internet addiction, try talking to him about your concerns and encouraging him to continue the activities he used to enjoy offline. If he becomes defensive, you might have better luck scheduling an appointment with a professional counselor.

If you have any questions about Internet addiction or the health of your teens, the team at Plantation General Hospital can help. Please contact our Consult-A-Nurse® service anytime at 1-888-256-7724. We can also provide a physician referral if needed.

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There are few ailments more heartbreaking to witness as a parent than a child with an ear infection. You can see the obvious pain, and there seems to be little you can do to soothe your little guy’s discomfort. Ear infections are often one of the first medical conditions you will encounter as a new parent.

According to KidsHealth, most children will experience an ear infection before turning two years old. They can seem incredibly frightening, especially when accompanied by a rising fever. With professional care, these infections are easily fought off. Learn what to expect and how treatment will be administered.

Symptoms
If you notice a combination of these signs on your child, he might have an ear infection. See your doctor for a final diagnosis.

• Pulling at his ear
• Abnormal troubles with sleeping
• Restlessness
• Fever
• Agitation
• Ear drainage
• Runny nose
• Excessive crying, especially when lying down
• Lack of appetite

Treatment
If the ear infection is caused by a virus, your doctor will only be able to help relieve the symptoms while the virus naturally runs its course. Pain relievers or decongestants might be recommended in the meantime, which could indirectly shorten the virus’s lifespan. Pain relievers will help your child sleep, building up his immune system, and decongestants will dry up the mucus that provides a hospitable environment for infection.

Depending on the severity of your child’s condition, doctors might prescribe an antibiotic if they believe the ear infection to be bacterial. Although there is some controversy about the overuse of antibiotics, their use is often recommended for children. Untreated bacterial ear infections could potentially lead to complications such as hearing loss or a growing infection, resulting in mastoiditis (an infection of a bone in the skull).

If you think you child has an ear infection, the team at Plantation General Hospital is here to help. Call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362 for a physician referral. We are also available 24/7 to answer any healthcare questions you might have. For more information about our pediatric department, visit our website.

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Bringing home your new baby may mark the biggest life transition that you will ever encounter. As you anticipate days of snuggling, cooing, playing, and photographing, you should also begin to prepare yourself for sleep deprivation, diaper changes, and messy rooms. These tips will help keep you sane while adjusting to life with your newborn.

First Week Preparations
Labor and delivery will leave you sore and exhausted. Don’t expect that you can take on everything on your own. If your partner is immediately returning to work, enlist a close family member or friend to stay with you for a few days while you physically recover and adjust to your new role. Stockpiling groceries and premade meals will also make the first weeks smoother, and don’t even worry about cleaning or other usual obligations. Care for your baby when he’s awake, and get some much-needed sleep while he’s napping.

Handling a Newborn
Babies are incredibly fragile in their first few weeks of life. KidsHealth.org offers these tips for handling a newborn safely:

• Wash and sanitize your hands before touching a newborn.
• Always support the baby’s head and neck while holding him.
• Learn how to properly fasten the baby into his car seat or stroller. He should be jiggled as little as possible.
• Never shake your baby.
• Although bouncing an older baby on your knee may be safe, newborns are not ready for this type of play yet.

Breastfeeding Tips
Many women struggle with breastfeeding in the beginning. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your doctor or a lactation specialist. Warming your breasts with a heating pad or a wash cloth soaked in warm water will help milk flow, and cooling them with an ice pack afterward will relieve tenderness. According to Parents Magazine, it’s best to introduce bottles as soon as possible, if you plan to transition your baby to bottle-feedings after a return to work or other commitments outside the home. You can still use breast milk in a bottle by pumping it and storing it in the freezer.

At Plantation General Hospital, our staff is here to help you every step of the way. We offer a wide range of classes, including breastfeeding, baby care, and sibling classes. Also, our free Consult-A-Nurse® service is available to you 24/7. Don’t hesitate to call us day or night at 1-866-442-2362 if you have any questions about caring for your newborn.

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While navigating your children’s mile-long gift wish lists, don’t let the holiday bustle and excitement distract you from your number one job as a parent: watching out for their safety. While modern laws keep today’s toys from many past hazards, children can still be endangered by toys that are not age appropriate for them.

Toy Shopping for Toddlers

The key to purchasing safe gifts for the toddlers in your life is avoiding toys that come with small parts. Even tiny pieces that seem firmly attached, such as beaded eyes or noses on a stuffed animal, could come loose. Children under three are prone to putting whatever they find in their mouths, nostrils, or ears. Avoid trips to the emergency room or risks of choking by only purchasing safe toys intended for toddlers. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends skipping presents with marbles, balloons, or small balls. Toys with sharp edges are also considered too dangerous for your youngest children.

Toy Shopping for Preschoolers

Durable toys are the safest choices for preschool-aged children. As kids’ strength grows, and they learn the art of the temper tantrum, poorly made toys can get broken, leaving dangerous jagged edges and small pieces that could be swallowed. If you are buying art supplies, make sure the crayons, paints, or other tools have been checked for toxicity. Safe art supplies should be marked ASTM D-4236.

Toy Shopping for Elementary Students

As your child reaches elementary school, he might begin asking for gifts such as bicycles, scooters, or rollerblades. Make sure you also purchase any safety equipment that should accompany these presents, such as helmets and pads for knees and elbows. Teach your children the rules of the road so they can bike and blade safely.

The staff at Plantation General Hospital wishes you a safe and joyous holiday seaon. If you are concerned about the safety of a toy your child has requested, call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362. A healthcare professional is waiting to answer your questions.

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Sugar: How Much Are Your Kids Getting?

Do your kids come home every day bouncing off the walls? You might start to wonder exactly how much sugar they are getting each day and where it is coming from. Along with the uncontrollable sugar high, too much sugar in children’s diets can result in health concerns, as well as poor eating habits that they will carry with them into adulthood.

Breakfast Sugars
Some say breakfast is the most important meal, but several breakfast foods – especially the ones marketed for children – come packed with sugar. Many sweet-tasting cereals, pastries, and strudels have so much sugar that they could easily pass as a dessert. If you prepare homemade pancakes, waffles, or French toast for your family, watch your children to see if they are covering those warm breakfasts in syrup or powdered sugar. 

Filling Their Cup
A lot of “hidden” sugars sneak into the drinks your children love. Soda and energy drinks are big sources of sugar, and many kids will enjoy several bottles a day. Trading out Cokes and Gatorade for juice can work, but you need to be careful at the store. Many juices are similarly packed with sugar to sweeten things up. Look for brands that don’t add any sweeteners to their concoctions. 

Sugar at School
School can be a wild card when trying to moderate your children’s sugar intake, especially if you give them cash to purchase their own lunch. Many kids will skip over the official lunch selection, and use their money to buy ice cream sandwiches or sugary snacks. Some teachers will also use candy as a reward system to motivate good behavior or grades from the students.

If you are concerned with how much sugar your children are getting, call our 24/7 Consult-A-Nurse® hotline at 1-866-442-2362 to ask questions or receive a referral for a pediatric doctor. We can help you assess your children’s current diets and determine how much sugar is permissible for them on a daily basis. For more information about our pediatric services, visit our website.

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You’ve recently been told that your child will need speech therapy. But what does that mean exactly? How concerned should you be about your child’s ability to talk? And what will speech therapy be like anyway? Here is a brief introduction to speech therapy, which should prepare you for this helpful and often enjoyable outpatient treatment.

When is speech therapy used?

Pediatricians commonly recommend speech therapy during critical periods of a child’s speech development. Other children will see a speech therapist regularly if they have experienced some kind of trauma or injury that affects their speech or swallowing. Many times children have difficulty with the mechanics of forming words or sounds and need regular exercises to improve those movements. Others have trouble putting sounds together to make language. Regardless, the amount of speech therapy required usually varies depending on the severity of the impediment and the patient’s ability to apply therapy methods.

What happens during a speech therapy visit?

During the patient’s first visit, he or she is evaluated. Depending on the patient’s age and medical history, a variety of tests are given to assess a number of areas involving speech and language. These tests aren’t anything to worry about. They are usually fairly straightforward and often enjoyable for children.

Once a patient is evaluated, the number and frequency of a patient’s visits are determined. The types of therapies used will be decided also. For children, therapy often involves various fun, interactive games or songs that develop fine motor skills and encourage speech and language development.

Be sure to ask your child’s speech therapist questions before the evaluation and during the therapy process. The therapist will keep you informed about improvements and how to best work on exercises at home. Staying engaged throughout the process will guarantee that you and your child receive the most out of the therapy visits.

If you have any questions about your child’s speech development, please visit the Plantation General Hospital website or call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-866-442-2362.

Sources:

What Is Speech Language Therapy? (Kids Health)

Speech Language Evaluation Process (Speech Therapy Web)

Speech and Language (NIDCD)

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Obesity is one of the major health challenges facing America today, and with one third of all children and teenagers being overweight or obese, it is a problem that is likely to continue for some time. With easy access to unhealthy food and video games being popular, it is little wonder how we came to this place.

However, healthy habits begin as a child and will continue through adulthood, which is why it is extremely important to make the necessary changes now to start your children off on the right foot. Here we have provided some ideas for how you can keep your kids healthy and happy.

• Turn off the television. This is probably one of the biggest steps you can take to get your kids moving. Find a limit you believe is fair for the amount of television they should be allowed to watch, whether it be two hours a night or two shows per week. Remove any televisions from their bedrooms and if they play video games, make sure the games they play require movement.

• Promote activity, not exercise. If you encourage your kids to exercise, you won’t get anywhere. Instead, focus on fun and find activities that your child enjoys.

• Get fit as a family. Teach your children to play basketball, throw a ball back and forth, create some funny dance moves, play miniature golf, or create games where running is involved.

• Make play dates. Schedule time for your child to get together with a friend or two and play active games, such as tag, hopscotch, or catch.

• Give active presents. Your child might be begging for a laptop, but instead choose gifts that encourage activity, like a hula hoop, a jump rope, or a soccer ball.

• Model good behavior. If you lead an active, healthy lifestyle, your children will be more inclined to grow up leading an active lifestyle. So don’t hesitate to get in a morning run or find time for the gym.

· Encourage active transportation. Encourage your children to take bikes or walk whenever feasible.

If you have questions about your child’s overall health and fitness, contact the Children’s Center at Plantation General Hospital. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-888-256-7724 for a physician referral.

Sources:

Trust for America’s Health

American Academy of Pediatrics

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Florida provides a wealth of options for outdoor fun. As the weather warms up, we can enjoy everything from water sports to running to golf to camping. The weather is always inviting, and there’s almost always an abundance of sunshine. But beware—bugs are always lurking. In grass, trees, and standing water, there are enough insects around to ruin that picnic–or at least make it a little uncomfortable. The following is a guide to preventing and treating bites and stings from Florida’s most commonly found insects. These are rated on sliding scale from mildly annoying to downright painful.

Mosquitoes: Mildly annoying, but potentially dangerous

Mosquitoes can be found in and around standing water, so watch out when you are at the lake. There are most prevalent at dusk. If you have to be out during that time, apply repellent to your skin, and dress in pants and a long-sleeved shirt. In rare cases, mosquitoes can transmit the West Nile virus.

If you are bitten, dab hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, or rubbing alcohol on bites.

Chiggers: Annoying

Chiggers can be found in damp, shady areas with lots of grass and weeds. The best way to avoid them is to keep your grass cut short, preventing them from having a breeding ground. Chigger bites can cause itchy red welts or rashes.

If you are bitten, apply antiseptic ointment to the itchy, red bumps to prevent infection. Hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, or an antihistamine can help with the itching.

Ticks: Somewhat painful, but possibly dangerous

Ticks usually live in wooded areas and range in size from a pinhead to an apple seed. Campers beware; ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Ticks like to burrow into the warm areas of the body. When you are camping, it’s advisable to apply repellent and dress in a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and socks.

If you are bitten, remove the tick with tweezers, wash the area, and apply antibiotic ointment.

Fire ants: Painful

Fire ants are found pretty much anywhere there is grass and dirt, but they are mostly found in the South. Ant mounds are usually removed by an exterminator or through applying commercial ant-killers to the mound.

If you are bitten, wash the area around the bite and apply an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes.

Bees and wasps: depending on your threshold for pain, very painful

They can be found in lawns, woods, and camping areas (they are attracted to food). When camping, make a point of keeping food covered. Also, while it’s natural to swat away anything that’s flying around you, avoid swatting bees and wasps. This action may only incite them. It also pushes them toward another person.

If you are stung, remove the stinger by gently scraping a credit card over it. This usually reduces the pain. Wash the area and put an ice pack on it.

Different people have different reactions to bites and stings, especially if allergies are present. If you or a family member is having a strong reaction, don’t hesitate to get help. At Plantation General Hospital, we can treat your medical issues quickly and efficiently. For more information, visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-888-256-7724 with any questions you may have.

Sources:

Bug Off! Preventing & Treating Bug Bits and Stings (Parents)

Bug Bites and Stings (MedicineNet.com)

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By Suzy Buglewicz, at www.itriagehealth.com

Keeping kids healthy and safe is a priority for parents, but the inevitable bumps, bruises and sore throats are part of growing up. Fortunately, parents can make an unpleasant experience a little easier to bear with a few time-tested tricks. Below are tips for treating some of the most common and non-life threatening childhood ailments.

Want to keep reading? Visit iTriage!

Bringing a new baby into the world is a life-changing event. So if your child is born with health issues, you need the best care possible.

At Plantation General Hospital, sick or very premature infants are treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where they can be closely monitored. In fact, our NICU is considered a Center of Excellence in Neonatal Service by the Joint Commission, and it is the only Center of Excellence in the state of Florida.

If your baby needs extra attention, you can count on the doctors and nurses in our NICU to provide excellent care and compassion. Here are details about the NICU:

• The unit is divided into three areas: intensive care, intermediate care, and isolation. There are a total of 31 beds.
• Each baby has individual lighting and acoustic shielding, which encourage healing and well-being.
• One or more NICU physicians are available 24 hours a day.
• Specifically trained neonatal nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists are on staff in the NICU.
• Parents are considered part of the health-care team, and they are kept informed and consulted at every turn.
• Families and friends are encouraged to visit. Siblings of all ages are welcome but should be accompanied by a parent.
• When possible, parents are encouraged to breastfeed or bottle feed their babies in the NICU.
• In many cases, parents are allowed to “room in” with their babies, especially as they prepare to take them home.
• Case managers help parents as they transition from visiting their babies in the NICU to caring for them on their own.

Most important, every staff member in our NICU offers support and attention to you and your family. We know how precious this new life is, and helping your baby get stronger is our number-one priority.

To learn more about the NICU and the care it provides, contact Plantation General Hospital. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362. Serving Plantation and Central Broward County, we’re here to care for your little ones.

Sources:

Plantation General Hospital

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