As parents, one of the things most of us want to do is connect with our kids. Influence them. Help them form the values we feel are important. Parenting is more than food on the table and checking on the homework. One of the first times this becomes challenging is in the tween years, generally from 9-12 years of age. At this stage, your children are much more socially aware, want to connect with their peers, and their attention starts to shift away from the family, towards friends. Here are some suggestions you can use to help connect with your[Read more...]
Bug bites are common at all seasons of the year, but most common in spring and summer. Most bites are caused by mosquitoes. Other bug bites are caused by flies, bees and wasps, ants and ticks. What causes the reaction? A mosquito and many other bugs do not actually bite the skin. Instead, they insert their stinger, or proboscis, into your child’s skin, like a needle. Then, the stinger probes under the skin to find a blood vessel. When the mosquito finds a blood vessel, it releases a substance that prevents your child’s blood from clotting, to allow the mosquito[Read more...]
Summer is a great time for kids and teens to learn in ways that often fit their skills, interests and learning styles better than classroom learning. If you are raising a child with special needs, finding a summer camp that fits his or her interests, skills and needs can be challenging. Special Needs Roadmaps was started by two parents in Ottawa, to help parents raising children with special needs. This year, Special Needs Roadmaps has put together a list of 53 summer camps, called the Ontario Special Needs Summer Camp Listing. For more information on these camp programs, click here.[Read more...]
What do we know? Impetigo is a highly contagious infection of the skin. It is caused by staphylococcus (staph), and streptococcus (strep). These are two bacteria that everyone has on their skin. Impetigo develops when these bacteria get under the skin. This happens when the skin is broken, from bug bites, scratching, scrapes, bruises and other minor injuries. What are the symptoms of impetigo? At first, impetigo appears as red sores These sores then become filled with pus After several days, the sores can break open. This causes a yellow or honey-coloured, bumpy crust Sores are most common around the[Read more...]
Quinte Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (QPAM) is excited to offer a new texting (SMS) service for our patients and their families. Our goal is to make it easier for you to communicate with us on-the-go during your busy day. What can you use texting for? You can send us a text to: Request an appointment Reschedule an appointment Ask QPAM a question We will send you text messages to: Remind you of your next appointment Tell you when test results are available Tell you when referrals and reports are in Notify you about QPAM things you need to know Let you know[Read more...]
What do we know? Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a disorder of motor skills or coordination. Some children and teens have both problems. These problems are often noticed in a child’s early school years. Some children struggle with school tasks such as using scissors, or printing. Others have difficulty with coordination in gym class or playing on the playground at recess. DCD is a developmental disorder, not simply a delay. Motor skills can improve with therapy, but the struggle to develop skills or coordination is often lifelong. Currently, approximately 5-6% of school age children have DCD. What are the symptoms[Read more...]
Dogs are great additions to many families. They provide companionship, and are often soothing and calming to children who are upset. Children with autism and other special needs often form strong, loving bonds with the family dog. What we know about dog bites: Recently, The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Postal Service, veterinarians and other organizations have come together to educate the public that dog bites are a serious health issue and are avoidable. The facts are significant: Dog bite injuries are reported to be the 11th leading cause of nonfatal injury[Read more...]
What do we know? There are three main factors that affect the severity of sunburn: Skin type Infant skin is more sensitive to the sun than adult skin because it is thin and soft. It burns more easily from all sources of burn, including the sun. Darker skin does not provide protection from sun-related skin damage. Amount of exposure to the sun The longer you are in the sun, the greater the chance of a sunburn. Sun damage in infancy increases the risk of skin problems in future years, including skin cancers. The amount of UV (ultraviolet) radiation, which causes[Read more...]
What do we know? Sleepwalking and night terrors are very similar problems. Both describe behaviours that occur during sleep. Sleepwalkers appear to be awake. They get up from bed and walk around. Sometimes sleepwalkers engage in complex behaviours. Their actions can be very similar to things they would do in the daytime. Night terrors involve screaming, thrashing and sometimes aggressive behaviour. During night terrors, children are asleep, but look awake. Together, sleepwalking and night terrors are called parasomnias. When do these sleep behaviours occur? Both of these behaviours are linked to the non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) stage of sleep. There[Read more...]
Summer is a great time for kids and teens to learn in ways that often fit their skills, interests and learning styles better than classroom learning. At Quinte Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, we’re gathering a list of great summer camp programs for you to choose from. Queen’s University in Kingston offers many choices, ranging from Music in Motion, Creative Writing, Sports, Athletic Conditioning, Dance, Babysitting and Academic camps. Registration is now open. For more information, click here.
