Monday, March 28, 2011

March 28th

Are we finally done with the rain? Today has been the quietest Monday in a long while. There are still sick kids out there but it seems like the light is at the end of the tunnel for the winter illness season.
The patients that we are seeing are complaining about conjunctivitis, fevers, coughs and colds, some tummy aches.
RSV is still going around but decreasing.
We will start gearing up to do more complete exam check ups per day as soon as we are comfortable that the demand for acute care appointments is diminishing.
If your child is due for a check up this year, Spring and summer are the seasons to get them done. Please call early to make sure that we are better able to try to accommodate your schedules.

My recent safety class was full so I did add another one for April 6th..and I do have some spots left in the illness class this Wednesday night if any of you want to come and pick my brain in person for 90 minutes this is your chance.
www.nursejudy.net to RSVP

~Stay well and enjoy the sunshine

Judy

Monday, March 21, 2011

Welcome to spring

This morning we have complaints about
*the tummy bug ( vomiting and diarrhea for several days)
* a persistent cough
* ear infections
*conjunctivitis
*some fevers
* there is still some flu making the rounds. Some of the cases in the city are quite severe ( luckily most of our patients are doing okay)
It is NOT too late to get the flu shot
*I have some poor miserable kids out there with some mouth sores and fever



Below is an FDA update on the US public nuclear threat


U.S. residents do not need to take potassium iodide (KI) as a preventive measure because there is currently "no public health threat" of radiation exposure, the FDA says on its website. The recent radiation leak from a nuclear power plant in Japan has led to public concern about radiation exposure in the U.S., along with increased demand for KI products.

The three FDA-approved over-the-counter KI products — Iosat tablets (Anbex, Inc.), ThyroSafe tablets (Recipharm), and ThyroShield solution (Fleming Pharmaceuticals) — are currently out of stock.

FDA warns consumers to beware of buying non-FDA-approved KI and other products that fraudulently claim to prevent or treat effects of radiation exposure. A list of potentially fraudulent claims by retailers is available on the FDA's website.

Meanwhile, a World Health Organization official told Reuters on Monday that detection of radiation in Japan's food supply is "serious." The FDA says that Japan's exports are currently limited, but the agency is screening imported food for radiation.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Updates

http://www.sfcdcp.org/tdapclinics.html

the above link is information about a free TDAP clinic for any students entering 7-12th grade. This year the law has changed and all children from 7th grade and higher will have to show proof that they have received a TDap.
If you are not sure about your child's Tdap status, please give our office a call.

The clinic will be held on Saturday March 19th at Roosevelt High school at 460 Arguello ( between Geary and Clement) from 11:00-4:00 or until supplies last. Children must be accompanied by a parent.
On another Note.......

Below is information from the health department regarding the radiation concerns



The Santa Clara County Health Department has issued today the following information for health organizations to share with their employees re the Japan disaster and associated health risks. LPCH Communications plans to keep you informed with these types of communications as the situation continues to unfold.



There is No Current Risk of Radiation Reaching California

As the disaster in Japan continues to unfold, concerns have been raised about windblown radiation making it to California. State and federal experts and authorities agree - there is currently no danger to California residents from Japan's nuclear emergency, and no reason for residents to be concerned about possible radiation effects.



Please know that given the current situation:

* There is no risk of windblown nuclear radiation for California.
* Federal and State agencies are closely monitoring the situation.
* Our local Public Health Department will be informed if there are increased levels of radiation.
* Potassium iodide tablet are not needed and not recommended.



The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is closely monitoring the situation and working with authorities and experts with the US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the California Emergency Management Agency. State and Federal agencies conduct weekly air tests at 10 sites around California. These and other tests (food and water are tested monthly) are used to determine if any unusual spikes or increases in radiation have occurred. CDPH is currently looking at the timing and frequency of their testing as the situation in Japan continues.



According to State and Federal authorities, there has not been a major release of radiation into the atmosphere due to the problems with the nuclear reactors in Japan. The current level of radiation being released, while above what is normally accepted, is a threat to only the people in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant in Japan.



Distance is our friend. Given the thousands of miles between us and Japan, we do not expect to find any harmful levels of radioactivity in our state. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department is in contact with the State, and the State will let them know if the situation changes. If that were to happen, the public would be notified immediately about any precautionary measures that should be taken.



Since there is no present danger to the residents of Santa Clara County, there is no need for anyone to take potassium iodide. It is important to know that taking potassium iodide may be harmful for some people, particularly those with a thyroid disease and those who are allergic to it. If you have a seafood or shellfish allergy - it can mean that you are allergic to potassium iodide. Also, many people may have an undiagnosed condition, taking potassium iodide may cause them health problems.



So please remember, there is currently no risk of windblown nuclear radiation for California, a number of Federal and State agencies are closely monitoring the situation and will let our local Public Health Department know if there are any increased levels of radiation, and potassium iodide tablet are not needed and not recommended.



Thank you for taking the time to learn about this situation. You can stay informed by going to the California Department of Public Health website at www.cdph.ca.gov or you can call the CDPH public information hotline at 1-916-341-3947 if you need additional information.

Monday, March 14, 2011

March 14th

I started the Monday with a giant pile of charts on my desk, and most of them were about a tummy bug. Plenty of kids ( and their parents) with soft stools and some nausea.
We have seen some strep throat, coughs and ear infections today.
I have some patients with several days of high fever ( flu and strep negative) One of these poor kids also has mouth sores.
Most of the time the mouth sores are viral, however if they get severe enough that the child doesn't want to eat or drink, we will likely need to see them.
I have gotten plenty of calls today from people wondering if we recommend a course of potassium iodide to deal with possible radiation from the japan nuclear issues.
The SF public health department says that there is no current cause for alarm, but the state does have a hotline 916-341-3947 if you have further questions or concerns about this

Okay and here is a random question for all of you blog readers. Would it be useful for Noe Valley Pediatrics to have a face book page???
~Nurse Judy

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

soccer clinic

Thank you Dr kaplan for sending the link below.



http://sfphysicaltherapy.com/html/soccer_cl.html

Soccer Injury and Prevention Clinic

When you're hurt, it can sometimes be difficult to get in right away, or to get advice from someone familiar with the challenges and demands of your sport. That's why we're here! We love soccer, and know there's a need. Call to schedule time at the Soccer Injury & Prevention Clinic!

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
View the Flyer
Call 415.318.8138 to schedule an appointment with:
Christina Allen, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon, UCSF Sports Medicine, Team Physician for U.S. Soccer & Cal Soccer
Heather Stone, DPT
Physical Therapist, San Francisco Sport and Spine Physical Therapy

Monday, March 7, 2011

March 7th

Today was out of control busy in the office, and we were double booked by 10AM. I appreciate everyone's patience with us if you were waiting in the waiting room or unable to be seen by us today.
We are seeing a bit of everything. We have been getting positive tests for RSV, FLU and STREP.
There are lots of coughs and colds going around.
I have several patients out there on their second day of a mystery high fever with generally good spirits. My suspicion that we are seeing roseola is quite high. If I am right the fevers will last about 3 days and then will be followed by a cranky kid with a rash ( no treatment needed)
There are some kids with loose stools and vomiting.
Stay well
Nurse Judy

Saturday, March 5, 2011

upcoming classes

I just scheduled 2 of my more popular classes.
On March 23, I will have my safety class. This class includes basic first aid,
Tips on staying calm in an emergency and choking rescue
March 30th will be the illness class, which reviews many common illnesses and answers questions about fevers, rashes, colds etc.
The classes are pretty small and RSVP is needed.
For more info check out my website
nursejudy.net