A lot of my columns are about how to keep your child out of the Pediatric Emergency Department. Possible fractures, though, are one time where coming in is the best move. More on this from our two guest columnists, Dr. Nicole…
All doctors get dogged by patients and parents for missing diagnoses. I see it when a parent brings their child into the Emergency Department. The kid has had a cold and fever for a few days, and their regular doctor called it "…
Today's Guest Columnist is Dr. John Giuffreda, a family practice resident at the University Health Center here in Lafayette. It happens too often: mom takes baby out of the car seat because she is fussy, dad takes his eyes off…
In the past weeks the news has reported on stomach virus epidemics in several states. More than the usual amount of kids and adults have had vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Though Louisiana wasn't listed, we in the pediatrics…
Every day families bring their kids into the Emergency Department with non-emergencies- runny noses, fevers, rashes, diarrhea. Many of those times mom is a little embarrassed, and says "I called my doctor and they were booked,…
Summer is coming. I last wrote about swimming safety, and two more popular summer activities for kids need to be addressed: biking and jumping on trampolines. Bike safety is nothing new to me. I grew up with a Dad who was a…
It is no secret that doctor's offices and Emergency Departments are extremely busy these days. It is the "cold and flu" season, and RSV season, and that makes for a lot of sick kids. In other columns and blog entries, I have…
This happens at least once per month, the last time just three weeks ago. A teenager comes into the Emergency Department complaining of abdominal pain, vomiting in the morning for a week or two; and by the way, has not had a…
My mom loved to tell this story about school kids on a field trip. She ran our church's tutoring program for inner-city kids, providing fun and enrichment where their schools could not. She once brought the crew to a planetarium…
I have had several personal fainting episodes in my life, some quite silly. For example, there was the time in high school biology class: I was to get a drop of blood from my fingertip to look at blood cells under the…
When I was in college, I volunteered at the local homeless shelter. Back then you were allowed to smoke indoors, and the morning after a night shift I would leave with my hair stiff with the smell of cigarettes (I had a lot more…
When I was a kid, I remember my parents getting a call from my older brother Pat's teacher. He was falling asleep in class. Perhaps, the teacher suggested, he should get to bed sooner? You would think, both my parents being…
