Children and fevers
Fever is not a disease but is a sign of an underlying illness or temperature regulation problem. Usually fever is accompanied by other signs and symptoms of illness such as cough, runny nose, diarrhea, etc. Sometimes, fever occurs for a day or more without other signs or symptoms. Generally, the fever simply “goes away” or other symptoms develop after a few days.
Immunization myth #1: Vaccines and autism
By Matthew J. Hinton, MD There are few areas of medicine today that have the potential to preserve health – and are more controversial – than vaccines. Without question, the ability to immunize large numbers of people against dangerous diseases has been one of modern medicine’s greatest achievements. And yet, addressing concerns and fears regarding [...]
Preventing pertussis through adult vaccines
By James M. Mick, MD It seems that we pediatricians are constantly talking about the importance of childhood immunizations in preventing disease. Here is a case for childhood and adult vaccines. By mid-September this year, 3,985 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) had been reported in California, the most cases in 55 years and the highest [...]
Respiratory ailments in children
By James M. Mick, M.D. I routinely hear parents proclaim “my child can’t breathe!” While this usually refers to breathing difficulty rather than not breathing, it creates fear and stress that can be alleviated with a little understanding of what causes these symptoms. Breathing difficulty is a common symptom of a variety of illnesses. Nasal [...]
Flu season is around the corner
Matthew J. Hinton, MD I am often asked why I recommend that patients vaccinate against the flu. To understand, it is important to know a little more about influenza. There are several flu-like illnesses. What people commonly call “stomach flu,” with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea is actually caused by totally unrelated viruses. A second [...]
Childhood obesity is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide!
By Jeanne Gibian, RN, C.P.N.P. I’ve become acutely aware of the increasing amount of obesity in children coming to Ponderosa Pediatrics for school and sport physicals. A child is considered obese if his or her Body Mass Index (BMI) is above the 95th percentile or overweight if the BMI is between the 85th and 95th [...]
The facts about childhood vaccines
By James M. Mick, MD There are many myths about childhood immunizations, with several propagated by high profile celebrities through TV and the internet. The truth is simple: Vaccines save lives and protect against the spread of disease. I would not recommend childhood immunizations if they were not safe. If you decide not to immunize [...]
Late and weekend hours limit need for urgent care and ER’s
Ponderosa Pediatrics is the largest children’s health clinic in the Prescott area. With that comes benefits that smaller groups cannot match. Here are a few reasons we should be your child’s doctors: We are open until 8 p.m., a blessing for working parents and an alternative to urgent care and emergency rooms. We charge our [...]
Proper hand washing prevents the spread of disease
It’s easy for germs on your hands to end up in your mouth. Washing your hands is the most effective thing you can do to stop germs from spreading. Wash your hands before eating or touching food, after using the bathroom, blowing your nose or coughing, touching animals, playing outside, and before and after visiting [...]
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