Pediatricians San Diego

In honor of Memorial Day, all CPCMG and Children’s Primary Extended Care offices will be closed Monday, May 27, 2019. The nurse triage advice line will be available; please call your CPCMG pediatrician’s office for more information. The post CPCMG and CPEC:<br>Closed for Memorial Day appeared first on San Diego Pediatricians | Children's Primary Care Medical Group . * This article was originally published here

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages one to four years old and the second leading cause of death for children ages one fourteen years old. Here are important tips and steps to take to prevent accidental drowning for children of all ages: #1: Provide constant supervision of your child in and around any body of water. Always keep your child’s safety in mind no matter where you are – at home, at the beach, the community pool, at a friend’s house and on family vacations. Assign a “Water Watcher” whose job is to watch all children swimming or playing in or NEAR water, even if they know how to swim. This person should: not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol not use their cell phone while watching children avoid other activities supervise even if there are lifeguards switch off with another adult for breaks   Remember: Never leave your child alone or in the care of another young child in or near water – not even for one second! #2: Use touc...

Three short months from now voters across the country will head to the polls for the midterm elections, casting their votes on numerous important issues and proposals on the ballot. You have the opportunity let your voice be heard through the voting process. But are you ready to vote? The deadline to register to vote in the November 2018 elections is Monday, October 22. Don’t delay either registering or confirming your voter status! Check out these easy steps to prepare for this important civic responsibility: 1. Be an informed voter. Research the pros and cons of the propositions on the ballot. Learn about the candidates and their platforms. 2. Set an example for your children. If they’re old enough, discuss important issues and why voting is important. This helps them learn how voting can affect government and shows that every person’s opinion counts. 3. Register to vote by visiting the State of California’s voter website . You will be able to register to vote in California if y...

Dr. Anna Mendenhall  from our Encinitas pediatric office shares her perspective on how our teens are coping in the face of unrealistic expectations from parents…in addition to growing up, learning new life skills, dealing with peer pressure and simply trying to be a kid. I look at my schedule…there is a 17-year-old in my office for fatigue, headache and stomach ache. “Junior year?” I ask as I see the stress and anxiety on my teenage patient’s face. “Yep,” he sighs and shrugs with a pained look. Sadly, this kind of interaction is more common every year. High schoolers are stressed beyond belief. In a 2014 report from the American Psychological Association (APA), teens ages 13 to 17 reported that their stress level during the school year exceeded what they believed to be healthy. Many reported feeling overwhelmed (31 percent) and depressed or sad (30 percent) as a result of stress. Granted, as a parent you want your child to do their best – but this doesn’t mean they have to be perfe...

The back to school season is here and it’s time to start thinking about packing lunch boxes again. Snacking can sometimes get a bad rap, but nutrient-dense snacks are the perfect way to keep your child’s energy up during the school day and to avoid getting hungry between meals. The grocery store aisles would have you think it’s best to pack crackers, cookies, chips, and juice in your kid’s lunch boxes, but we recommend choosing snacks that help your kid feel full for longer. Carbohydrate-based processed snacks are easy to over-consume because they are low in fiber (and oftentimes high in sugar and/or salt).  In fact, you might notice your child feeling quite hungry soon after eating a “carb-y” snack or meal (like cereal or goldfish crackers, for example). Even “snack sized” bags can be high in calories compared to kid’s actual caloric needs. Choosing snacks with fiber (like fruit, veggies, and whole grains), protein, or healthy fats, will provide energy and satiety without having to...

My kindergartner is complaining of a sore throat. How can I tell if they have strep throat? Every fall, school kids come into my office with strep throat or strep pharyngitis. The illness seems to happen when students return to classes and it is especially common in children ages 5-15 years old. The challenge is to determine if your child has a sore throat or strep throat, and if their illness is caused by a bacteria or a virus. Your child will usually report a sore throat as feeling scratchy or as having a burning sensation. They will likely not want to eat food because it just doesn’t feel good to have food go down a sore throat so you may want to assume that they will not be eating normally. However, it is very important that your child drink plenty of fluids when they are ill. Offer your child a small amount of fluids – one ounce every hour is a good general guideline for most children. In addition to having a sore throat, a child with strep throat will often also complain of a ...

The reality is that 5.6 million U.S. kids alive today will ultimately die from smoking. Currently in California, 5.4% of high schoolers smoke traditional cigarettes and 17.5% use e-cigarettes. What’s with the rise in the use of e-cigarettes? Let’s take a look at the myths and realities of this industry. Myth: e-cigarettes are safe. The reality: Research has now shown that the vast number of flavored e-cigarettes contain a toxic chemical (in addition to nicotine) that is known to cause a rare form of lung cancer. The popular Juul e-cigarette also contains an acid that can trigger cough, sore throat, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. In addition, the number of children under six, who were poisoned by nicotine in e-cigarettes, has risen nearly 1,500% over the past years. In addition, the “vape fluid” or “vape juice” used in e-cigarettes is  packaged in a way that is attractive to younger children. The flavors and smells, like bubblegum and cherry vanilla, sound like a sweet treat ...