What is soiling, or encoporesis? Soiling, or encoporesis, happens when a child passes all or part of a bowel movement into underwear or pajamas without meaning to. Often a child is actually not aware that soiling has happened until alerted by the smell. This can be enormously frustrating for parents and caregivers, who may struggle to understand how a child can have a bowel accident without being aware of it. And it is almost always embarrassing for a child, particularly if it continues even when a child is trying to pay attention and avoid accidents. What causes soiling? There are[Read more...]
What do we know? Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the ear canal. It occurs outside of the eardrum and is called otitis externa. Most ear infections are behind the eardrum, called otitis media. It occurs when water stays in the ear canal after swimming. This allows bacteria which are naturally in the ear canal, or bacteria from the water, to grow and multiply in the wet ear canal. Swimmer’s ear can also occur when the ear canal is scratched. This can occur from fingers in the ear, cotton-tip swabs, or ear buds. What are the symptoms of swimmer’s ear?[Read more...]
What is the chickenpox? Chickenpox is a very contagious infection that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The infection causes a very itchy, blistery rash all over a person’s body. Routine vaccination against the varicella virus has significantly decreased the number of cases of the chickenpox we see each year. Prior to the vaccine, it wasn’t abnormal for everyone to have been infected with the virus sometime before adulthood. How is the chickenpox spread? Being that the chickenpox is so contagious, the virus is easily spread from one person to another through the air or through direct contact with a[Read more...]
What do we know? Loose stools, tummy ache, and decreased appetite are fairly common after gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, and sometimes persist for as long as six weeks. Unfortunately, tummy ache after the flu is usually caused by gas, and gas pain is one of the most intense pains children feel. This can be a very uncomfortable and disruptive problem, but will get better. Why does this happen? Loose stools and gas are caused by inflammation of the bowel, in the stomach. During the acute infection, the inside of the bowel becomes irritated, and sometimes diarrhea causes the villae which[Read more...]
Strep throat, also known as streptococcal pharyngitis, is a bacterial infection of the throat that is caused by group A streptococcus bacteria. Although it is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15, strep throat can be found in people of all ages. Strep throat is easily spread from person to person through tiny air droplets, which are infected with the bacteria, are released into the air when an infected person breathes, sneezes, or coughs around you. This air is then breathed in by a person increasing their chances of becoming infected with the strep bacteria. Some[Read more...]
What is Speech and Language? Speech is the use of language to communicate, or express ourselves. Language is used to express ideas and needs in an organized way. It can be spoken, written, sung or expressed using gestures (such as sign language). The important foundations of language develop in the first three to five years of life. Language development involves both cognitive learning, and motor skill. We use a lot of muscles in our face and mouth to produce speech. The CanChild Centre for Child Disability Research outlines the ways in which language development can be delayed: • Semantics[Read more...]
Sleep hygiene is a term used to describe a variety of good sleeping habits. These habits are essential in having normal and quality sleep ensuring full daytime alertness. Common sleeping problems, like insomnia, are often caused by bad sleeping habits. We often see toddlers, children and teens with sleep problems at Quinte Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. They come to us with complaints of feeling tired in the morning. Some have mild developmental delays, or poor concentration at school, or slipping grades, or grumpy behaviour, impatience and “behaviour problems.” Here is a list of simple sleep habits that can help to[Read more...]
