What do we know? The tongue is actually fused, or fully attached, to the floor of the mouth early in pregnancy. As the fetus develops, the tongue separates from the floor of the mouth. Only the frenulum is left. This is the thin band of tissue attaching the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Its full name is lingual frenulum. Beginning at about 6 months of age, the mouth begins to develop further. Teeth begin to break through. At this point, the frenulum usually becomes thinner and less prominent. However, for some, the frenulum remains short, or[Read more...]
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...]
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...]
There are a lot of muscles in the neck that help to move your head back and forth, and from side to side. Sometimes, one of the muscles in the neck, called the sternocleidomastoid, can be tighter and shorter on one side compared to the other, causing a condition known as congenital muscular torticollis, or better known simply as torticollis. Torticollis is relatively common among newborns. What causes torticollis? The sternocleidomastoid muscle runs on both sides of the neck, from behind the ears down the neck to the collarbone. Torticollis may be a result of your baby being packed tightly[Read more...]
Ever noticed a white coating in your child’s mouth? What is that white stuff anyways? It’s called oral candidiasis, better known as thrush. Thrush is an infection that is caused by a fungus called candida albicans. Tiny amounts of candida are normal in the mouth, but when it continues to multiply it causes thrush. Thrush can occur at any age, but it is most common in babies, those with weak immune systems or from certain medications. Babies are at increased risk for thrush because their immune systems are still developing so they are less likely to resist infections. What does[Read more...]
In the world of pediatrics, each day is an adventure. The human body is complex and wonderful. Many medical problems are based on something easily identified. Ear infections and appendicitis come to mind. But there is more than enough complexity to the body to make the obvious, well, less obvious. An ear infection may be only a surface finding of something more complicated. Appendicitis may be so much more, or less, than appendicitis. At Quinte Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, we are often asked whether teething in infants and toddlers may cause fever, rash, diarrhea or other symptoms that look like[Read more...]
