A View from The Treehouse - Treehouse Pediatrics Newsletter

Dr. Wade Travis has recently joined the Treehouse Staff, and he is accepting new patients and new babies. Same day new patient appointments are available. We know our continued success has come from the numerous patient referrals we have already received from our Treehouse families, and we appreciate that you have confidence in our practice to continue to recommend us to friends and relatives.


WALK-IN CLINIC September 8th, we will begin to offer an early morning walk-in clinic. If you've had a rough night with your child, you are welcome to walk-in the following morning for your child to be seen on a first come basis. Kristie Wilson, NP will be available Mon-Thursday 7 a.m-10 a.m. During the rest of the day, appointments will be required.

BOOKSTORE We have added a bookstore to our office. Check us out! You'll find topics such as: Food Fights, Potty Training, Bedwetting, ADHD, Childhood Obesity and Caring for Your Child - Birth-5yrs or age's 5-12.yrs.

Swimmer's ear is an infection of the skin of the ear canal. It is commonly mistaken for a middle ear infection, but the two entities are different, caused by different bacteria, and have different treatment regimens. The bacteria that causes swimmer's ear live on the skin normally, but when that skin is wet often (such as when swimming a lot), those bacteria thrive and multiply. As the bacteria multiply, the skin of the ear canal becomes swollen, inflamed, and may even weep. As the swelling increases, the skin begins to pull away from the bony process of the ear canal, resulting in significant discomfort. Children with swimmer's ear will complain of significant pain when touching the ear. Upon examination, the ear canal will be markedly swollen and red, and sometimes the infection will spread to the external ear. At times, the swelling is so significant, that drops cannon enter the ear canal, and other methods have to be used to deliver medication.

The good news: swimmer's ear can, many times, be prevented! The idea is to keep the ear canal dry as much as possible. Earplugs, unfortunately, often predispose children to swimmer's ear, since moisture is trapped behind the plug inside the ear canal.

Instead, drops can be placed in the ear after swimming to dry up the water and restore the pH of the skin to a more acidic environment, which prohibits bacterial growth. There are many different brands of after-swimming ear preparations, but an inexpensive and effective mixture is equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Placing 3-4 drops of such a mixture in each ear after every swim will help keep the skin of the ear canal dry and clean. These preparations can only be used in children with an intact eardrum. Children with ear tubes or a perforation of their eardrum should NEVER use such preparations, as the alcohol will travel through the tube/perforation, into the middle ear, and cause significant burning.

If you're concerned that your children may have swimmer's ear, please call our office and schedule an appointment. Your child should be seen as soon as possible so that antibiotics and pain medication, if needed, can be given. Children will often need to stay out of the water for several days while the infection clears. Please call us with any concerns you might have. Remember - we're here to help!

Jen Tiller, Nurse Practitioner

Letting children help you cook can be a great educational opportunity and a fun way to bond. When a hot stove, scalding water, or sharp knives are involved, things can get dicey. It's important to minimize the hazards found in your kitchen. Scalds and thermal burns are among the most common childhood injuries, with scalds approximately twice as common as burns. Here are some tips to keep kids safe in the kitchen:
General Safety Always supervise your child in the kitchen. Keep the kitchen organized and clean to avoid tripping and other accidents.
Food Safety Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, not on the countertop where children could reach it. Don't leave anything that needs refrigeration at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Teach children to wash their hands frequently when cooking.
Heat Safety Don't let children play near the stove. Put them in a high chair or gate them out of the kitchen when the oven is on. Don't let kids wear baggy clothing while cooking, since these items can be fire hazards. If you can't leave your hand on a surface for more than 10 seconds, the heat could be dangerous for a child. Keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of tables, place hot pots and pans on back burners, and keep handles facing in so kids can't grab them. Don't allow children to touch the inside of the oven door when you open it to remove something that was baking inside. Consider using an oven door guard to prevent a child's hands from touching the hot oven door
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2008

Before you know it school will be here again! That means having all immunizations up-to-date, accurate shot records, school forms competed, and possibly a well check before beginning kindergarten or after school sports. Be sure to call the office if you need an appointment.

He may not be a prince, but this paper puppet is certainly charming.

Prep Time:

Under 1 Hour

What you Need:

Dessert paper plate

Green paint

Utility knife

Scissors

Construction paper

Seasons:

Summer Fun

Materials:

Paper

Instructions

1. When it's thoroughly dry, fold the plate in half and use a utility knife (parents only) to make a 1-inch slit (for the frog's tongue) in the center of the fold.

2. Create a finger hold on the underside of the body using a 2-by-3-inch piece of green construction paper.

3. Center it on the bottom of the folded plate and tape the shorter edges in place.

4. For eyes, cut out a pair of 1-by-2-inch green rectangles and round the upper edges.

5. Fold each rectangle in half and glue the lower portion to the top of the body.

6. Glue on white and black paper circles, as shown.

7. Cut frog legs out of construction paper, a shorter set for the front and a long, bent pair for the back.

8. Tape the tops of the legs to the underside of the body.

9. Cut out a 3/4-by-7-inch tongue from red construction paper. Round one end and slip it through the slit. To wag the frog's tongue, jiggle the straight end.

For more ideas visit: Disney Family

Remember, back to school means staying informed and knowing what's going on. For up-to-date news and calendars, please connect to the following school district links: