News Article

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for our Patients and Families

Dekalb Pediatric Center 404-508-1177

Up To Date

PRACTICE ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Check out our new policies regarding phone calls, forms, and medical record requests.

Please read our more detailed letter to patients about our new telephone and after hours protocol. We no longer will be contracted with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Nurse Advice Line as of August 1, 2009. Always call 404-508-1177 with an after hours urgent or emergent concern.

Learn more about our developmental screening protocol for 18 and 24 month olds here.

We appreciate your patience during the last month with busy phone lines due to an almost 40% increase in calls about the swine flu, shots, and sick kids. We are happy to announce that we have purchased a new system with many more phone lines that will be installed in early November to alleviate this problem. Soon there will be no more busy signals! Thank you for your understanding during this busy time and transition to the new system.

When your child is sick we hope you will read the information found within this site, and/or speak with our nurse. If you feel your child needs to be seen, call early on the day you need to come in.

PEDIATRIC NEWS:

There is so much information available on the web, the television, the newspaper, etc., that it is difficult to sort through and figure out what is useful.

We think one of the best places to find easy to read summaries of current articles about things that effect kids is the KidsHealth website. Here you will find news headlines and will be able to easily see if anything is of interest to you, read the summary and link to a lot of additional information.

Examples of recent articles include:

Most Kids who Take Vitamins Daily Don’t Need Them

New Food Guide Pyramid for Preschoolers

Study: Background TV Bad for Early Development

The AAP Takes Aim at Alternative Vaccine Schedule

AAP Recommends Doubling Kid’s Daily Vitamin D

Practice Announcements, Pediatric News, Seasonal Issues

Date: 12/14/09

Flu Info Summary:

We are seeing many cases of what we think is H1N1 or swine flu and will see more, along with seasonal flu as we move into the fall and winter.

Symptoms Include:

fever (usually high), chills, headache, muscle aches, decreased appetite, cough, sore throat, tiredness, weakness, nausea and vomiting

Treatment:

No specific treatment is required as flu is a self limited virus. Tamiflu is sometimes prescribed for high risk children. Fever can last 5 days and it can take awhile to feel 100%. For symptomatic relief: Drink lots of fluids, get plenty of rest, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin), but no aspirin.

Complications:

Young infants or kids with underlying conditions, like asthma are at more risk for pneumonia and other complications. Call us for any difficulty breathing, symptoms that get better then come back even worse, or if your child seems confused, is not responding to Tylenol, or is not slowly getting better.

For the most accurate H1N1 updates:

CDC HINI information

AAP H1N1 updates

View our slide show presentation:

Everything you Need to Know about Seasonal and Swine Flu

Overview, what to do, when to call, when to be concerned.

H1N1 Flu Shot and Seasonal Flu Shot Update:

We have a limited amount of H1N1 vaccine that can be given to 6 month olds and above. We will use it for anyone wanting a first or second vaccine ( must be at least 21 days from first), and any adults wanting vaccine. (bring $20.00 cash)

You can call daily to see if we have any available appointments. We will only make them one day in advance so we can monitor supply. We will most likely be out of H1N1 this week, and will post that update here. We will no longer accept email requests, nor have another clinic day. (we don’t have enough vaccine left)

We will not be getting any more vaccine, or any different formulations. If you are unable to get it in our office, the health department has a large supply.

SEASONAL FLU:

We strongly recommend seasonal flu shots for all patients. Seasonal flu illnesses are just beginning. It is not too late to be vaccinated.

We have shots for all patients age 6 months and up. There is no waiting period if any formulation of H1N1 was recently given. 2 doses are recommended for all patients under 9 years who received vaccine for the first time this year, or who had their first vaccine last year and only had one dose. (28 days or more apart)

Parents can be vaccinated for $25.00 cash.

H1N1 shots and seasonal shots can be given together.

CALL for your seasonal flu shot appointment. There are slots available daily. Call the day or the day before you want to come.

Click here for details about the H1N1 vaccine.

Seasonal Flu Shot Update 12/14/2009:

We have shots available for all ages and strongly recommend all patients, especially high risk patients such as asthmatics be vaccinated for seasonal flu. Call for daily appointments.

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation in helping us continue our regular appointments while we try to give as many seasonal and H1N1 vaccinations as possible. We have now given over 8,000 seasonal and H1N1 vaccines in the past 3 months! Please continue to check here and help us keep our phone lines free. Thank You!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND PATIENCE DURING THIS ENTIRE NEW H1N1 PROCESS

Have a safe and healthy holiday season.

We will be closed early on Christmas eve, Christmas day, and New Years day.