Pediatricians San Diego

The clock is ticking and there’s just about four weeks left to shop for everything on your kids’ wish list. Whether you’re fighting the crowds at the mall on Black Friday or taking the online shopping route, purchasing toys and gifts that are safe and age-appropriate is very important to prevent dangerous situations and serious injuries. Before you buy, follow these guidelines: Inspect toys before purchasing. • Look for sharp points, edges, and parts that can fly off. • In addition to the design, check for durability and construction – can a child pull off a small part, stick it in their mouth, potentially swallow it and choke? Is the toy sturdy and well made? • Avoid toys with ropes, cords or heating elements. • Look for the word “nontoxic” when shopping – this could include toy chemistry sets, crayons and play makeup. Double-check toys that require batteries. • If your gift requires batteries, make sure they do not use “button” batteries which are often dislodged and swallowed...

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, all CPCMG and Children’s Primary Extended Care offices will be closed Thursday, November 28.  CPCMG offices will be open Friday, November 29 from 8 am to noon. The nurse triage advice line will be available 24 hours a day ; please call your CPCMG pediatrician’s office for more information. The post CPCMG’s November Holiday<br>Office Hours appeared first on San Diego Pediatricians | Children's Primary Care Medical Group . * This article was originally published here

Approximately 4 percent of children will experience a febrile seizure which can be scary to witness, but they’re fairly common in children ages six months to five years old who have a high fever. What Are Febrile Seizures? Febrile seizures are convulsions that can happen when a young child has a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C). The seizure usually lasts for a few minutes and stops on its own, even if fever persists.  Febrile seizures can look serious, but usually stop without treatment and don’t cause brain damage or other health problems. Febrile seizures are most common at 12 to 18 months of age. Most of these children have just one febrile seizure in a lifetime. About one-third of children who have had a febrile seizure have 1 to 3 recurrences over the next few years. Most children outgrow having febrile seizures by the time they are 5 years old. Febrile seizures are not considered epilepsy (seizure disorder). Kids who have a febrile seizure have only a slightly in...

There’s an epidemic on the horizon and parents can help stop it. According to the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Study, more than 5 million middle and high school students currently use e-cigarettes. An entire generation is at risk of addiction with serious side effects. Learn more about vaping and use this knowledge in conversations with your teens and other young people about the dangers of this addictive habit. What is vaping? Put simply, to vape is to inhale vapor created from a liquid heated up inside a vaping device. Vaping devices all look different in terms of size, shape and design. Some look like computer flash drives (the popular JUUL e-cigarette is a good example) while others look like a ballpoint pen. All are small, portable and easy to hide in a purse, backpack or pocket. Batteries inside the vaping device will heat up the liquid which comes in pods or cartridges. The liquid contains a combination of nicotine, flavoring and chemical additives. It also can contain THC, ...

The post Diabetes: Type 1 vs. Type 2…<br>what’s the difference? appeared first on San Diego Pediatricians | Children's Primary Care Medical Group . * This article was originally published here

Many parents remember having difficulties with other kids in school. Maybe you were picked on as a kid, or had a bully that made you miserable. Perhaps you felt safe once you got home and could relax with your family. Unfortunately, bullying today isn’t like it used to be. It can extend beyond the school boundaries and into the home, making it especially important for teachers and parents to know how to spot it and what to do. Bullying is defined as an imbalance of power resulting in repetitive hurtful behaviors. There are two types of bullying, direct and indirect. Direct bullying is often physical, but may include teasing, taunting, name-calling or destruction of property. Indirect bullying is not always as overt, and may involve spreading rumors, intentionally leaving someone out, or cyberbullying. Most bullying happens in middle school, though it is reported in all age groups. The most common types are verbal and social bullying, so it may not be as easy to recognize as a child b...