Mosquito bites itch may be more than just an annoyance

Everyone tuned in to the news media already knows about Zika spread by mosquitoes and the risk of fetal complications among pregnant women infected. 

Unfortunately, much more severe diseases such as Chikungunya and Dengue fever are also spread by mosquitoes.

New animal research suggests that itching and swelling at the site of mosquito bites allow the virus to replicate faster, than when no itching and swelling are present. This means that in addition to mosquito repellents, using anti-inflammatory creams and sprays post-exposure may help reduce the risk of acquiring a mosquito-borne viral infection. This finding has not been confirmed in human studies, but when used sparingly, anti-inflammatory creams and sprays have no serious side effects. It may be a good extra measure to start applying them at the sites of bites right away, rather than waiting for swelling and itching to set in.

Sergey Shushunov, MD

Wheezing and antibiotics. Is it connected?

Children of preschool age who develop wheezing during viral respiratory illness are often diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease and receive treatment with medications, usually inhaled to reduce inflammation and decrease the narrowing of the airways. Some parents demand antibiotics to treat viral illnesses of their children, thinking that it may shorten the duration of the illness or prevent complications and pediatricians sometimes comply, usually prescribing amoxicillin or something similar, just to keep parents happy.

It has been suggested several years ago that wheezing in some young children may, in fact, be associated with a specific bacteria. However, it was not clear what pediatricians should do about it.  Now pediatricians may have some clues. A small study published in December 2015 demonstrated a dramatic decrease in the duration of wheezing episodes in small children treated with antibiotic azithromycin.  

It is important to keep in mind that while both, azithromycin and amoxicillin are antibiotics, their chemical structure and effect on bacteria and the human body are very different, meaning that using any antibiotic to treat wheeze may do more harm than help.

Exclusive breast feeding and food allergies in babies

There is a well-supported notion that exclusive breastfeeding prevents the development of food allergies in infants. 

However, this rule, just like any other has exceptions. Even exclusively breastfed infants can develop food allergies. The most common culprits are peanuts and cow's milk protein. Egg and wheat proteins can also cause a problem.  This happens when nursing mothers use products containing milk, peanuts, egg, and wheat in their diet when large particles of allergy-causing proteins find their way to breast milk. Just like with any food allergy, the most common manifestation is atopic dermatitis. Some infants may develop chronic diarrhea and colic-like abdominal pain. More severe manifestations, including life-threatening, are rare. The issue of indirect infant exposure to a variety of food allergens via breast milk is quite complex. 

There is evidence, that maternal consumption of peanuts during breastfeeding may actually prevent the sensitization of children to peanuts. Why in some mothers peanut consumption can cause allergies in babies while preventing the same in others? There is no good answer. 

Obviously, something is missing in our knowledge about food allergen transmission and sensitization at a very early age.

Sergey Shushunov, MD

Swaddling danger

What can make us feel more comfortable than hugging and snuggling? We all need this simple expression of love and affection. It calms us down. It makes us feel worry-free. All mammals hug and snuggle. Even snakes and birds snuggle. The reason behind it is the way the mammals, birds, and snakes develop after conception – in a confined, space of a uterus or an eggshell. We carry this need through our lives, but it is the strongest in early infancy. I doubt that a crying baby can become “spoiled” by being picked up and held tightly every time. The problem is that we can’t do it every time a baby cries. We decided to cheat on nature and invented swaddling. Swaddling is hugging and snuggling surrogate. It is known forever to work wonders for upset babies. Swaddling a baby is not hard, but it has a few tricks. In older times swaddling was a skill passed down from generation to generation. Now young parents don’t have anyone around to learn it from. The gap was filled by a multitude of companies offering swaddling garments, which require less effort and fewer skills than a blanked.

There is a small but significant difference between a baby blanket used for swaddling and swaddling garments: the fasteners. All baby garments designed to make swaddling easy use some form of fasteners, such as snaps or velcro. This could make them more dangerous with improper use. An article published by the Journal of Pediatrics in January 2014 described 36 serious incidents, including deaths, reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which was attributed to improper swaddling. In two-thirds of incidents a swaddling garment was used. The number of unreported incidents is probably many times higher.

Swaddling is good if done right – parents need to be educated on how to do it. There are risks regardless of what is used, higher with a garment and lower with a blanket. Informed and educated decision on what to use and how to use seems to be the key to safely and happily sleeping babies and parents as well.

Genetically modified food. Is it really that bad?

Almost all living creatures we use for our benefit have been genetically modified. Think of 500 breeds of dogs, some ugly as hell, 7000 varieties of apples, many of which are inedible, and 80,000 of corn. It took 10,000 years or, putting it in perspective, 400 generations of humans to breed and produce this incredible number of genetically butchered plant and animal species until someone only recently realized it could be done much more straightforward and with more precision.

Genetic engineering is a form of breeding. Clean, thoughtful, and precise – just like robotic surgery. Genetically modified organisms have their genes replaced forcefully rather than by chance of selective breeding, without waiting for one generation after another, with full knowledge of what genes should be changed to give us the result we want. Genetic engineering relies on taking a desirable gene from another animal or plant and placing it precisely in the right part of the chromosome - no waiting for several generations to see the results, no unpredictable characteristics in the offspring.

Here is the best thing: DNA is 100% digestible. Once genetically modified food passes our stomachs, the DNA derived from genetically modified foods turns into the same mixture of amino acids and carbs derived from any other food source. It gets absorbed into the bloodstream, just like amino acids and carbs derived from other molecules consumed with food.

Sergey Shushunov, MD

Antibiotics overkill ?

Did you know that American children 10 years and younger are 50% more likely to be treated with oral antibiotics than children of the same age in the United Kingdom? This is a conclusion of the study published by the journal “Pharmacotherapy” in December 2013 following an analysis of 160,000 charts from each country. Another interesting fact discovered was 5 times higher total cost of prescribed antibiotics within the same groups of children in the United States in comparison with the United Kingdom. The study raises a lot of questions. What drives this discrepancy in usage? Parental pressure? Malpractice pressure? Pharmaceutical companies, making exuberant profits in the American market?

The difference is striking.

Sergei Shushunov, MD

Recent research on infant colic

An article published in the NEUROLOGY journal in 2012 points to a link between parental migraine and colic in babies. Parents suffering from migraines were more likely to have babies with colic. Migraine, just like colic is likely triggered by vasoactive substances present in the body in unbalanced quantities. In some adults, migraine manifests in not just a severe headache, but also in abdominal cramping - just what appears to be happening in colic babies. This article indirectly supports the use of vasoactive compounds, such as anethole, a component of fennel seed oil, used to formulate Pediacalm, colic remedy from Lev Laboratories, to treat baby colic.

Sergei Shushunov, MD

New Research on Vitamin D

The current recommendation on the dose of vitamin D of 400 units daily for children living far away from the equator (Europe, USA, Canada) will certainly be changed. More research is indicating that a low blood level of vitamin D is associated with a large number of otherwise unrelated diseases and conditions. The most recent data shows that a low level of vitamin D in the blood of children at the age of one year is associated with a higher level of food allergies. The incidence of food allergies among children living close to the equator and having sufficient exposure to ultraviolet radiation was almost 4 times lower than in children living in a temperate climate. Waiting for recommendations to increase the daily dose of vitamin D does not make sense - it may take years to be approved and published.

Sergei Shushunov, MD

Cerebral Concussions in Children

Brain (cerebral) concussions, otherwise called "mild traumatic brain injuries" in children are attracting more attention these days due to proliferation of research in this area.
Concussions can lead to long term problems involving cognitive functions - poor memory, attention span, learning and also behavioral changes. Diagnosis of concussion is usually based on a history of trauma and neurological evaluation. Headache, nausea, vomiting, poor balance, dizziness, being dazed are very obvious signs.
Less noticeable problems include sensitivity to light and noise, numbness, feeling tired, slow responses to questions.
Old treatment of brain concussion was physical rest - including bed rest in case of dizziness and vomiting. Now days in addition to physical rest doctors also advise to have so called "cognitive" rest - the avoidance of all activities that could increase brain metabolic rate and blood flow. The cognitive rest means forgoing video games, board games, and computers, studying, reading as well as avoiding noisy, busy and stressful environments.

Sergei Shushunov, MD

Treating ADHD Naturally

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder can be a devastating problem to control in young kids. It can affect their behavior in school and at home, making it difficult to socialize properly and complete tasks. Today there are many prescription drugs on the market prescribed to kids diagnosed with ADHD, but these medications can come with risky side effects. Psychostimulants such as Adderall, Dexedrine, Desoxyn, Ritalin and Focalin are ADHD medications that have been around the longest. These stimulant medications unfortunately can be referred to as the street drug known as “speed.” While lots of doctors try to claim that these medications are effective for treating ADHD, it is unsettling to know that people actually use these medications illegally for drug use. Furthermore, in about 70% of children with ADHD, these stimulant medications’ effects may not be long lasting, causing the threat of addiction. If you want to treat your child’s ADHD naturally, consider Timeout. It is a proprietary blend of rhodiola and motherwort extracts. These herbs have been studied closely in the treatment of ADHD and can greatly improve ADHD symptoms. This natural treatment does not have any of the side effects traditional stimulant medications come with. It helps to increase mental performance and stabilizes mood. Order Timeout today for a safe and effective natural remedy to help your child control their ADHD symptoms.