Pitching a Fit

For years now I have been giving advice to parents on how to deal with all kinds of childhood problems. I always thought it was a bit ironic that I was giving parenting advice without actually being a parent myself. Of course that all changed 6 months ago with the birth of my son.  Now I have that rare opportunity to take a healthy dose of my own advice.  I must admit it is much easier to advise as a doctor than to implement as a parent. Read more

Ask The Doctor: Yellow Triaminic

Jennifer asks:

So is the yellow triaminic not good?

The yellow Triaminic is the Chest and Nasal Congestion Triaminic.  It has two medications in it – guaifenesin and phenylephrine.  Neither of these is likely to be harmful in normal doses.  However, there is also no evidence that either of these medications are in any way helpful to children.

While guaifenesin is probably completely worthless in children, I want to spend a little time examining the other ingredient – phenylephrine.  Phenylephrine is a nasal decongestant.  It is a relatively new ingredient in many cold and cough medications.  To understand this, we need to take a look back at what used to be in Triaminic and other Over-the-Counter (OTC) cold and cough medications. Read more

The 2 1/2 Week Cold: Yellow and Green Snot

Leslie asks:

My son has what seems like the longest cold of the decade, ranging from bad feverish days to semi-normal days lasting now for 2 1/2 weeks. 3 days ago I took him to the doc to see if it was an ear infection, it was not. A cough developed later that day and sounds very wet to this day. Lastly, today his snot had what looked like ear wax in it, bright yellow/orange grainy particles in his mucus. Should I be worried? Read more

Are Cough Medications Helpful are Harmful?

This is the question all Smart Parents should be asking of every medication they consider giving their children.  Our society, in part due to rampart drug company advertising, is infatuated with medication.  It seems our culture requires a medication for just about every little discomfort in life.  While I champion many of the great medical advances of our time, I also urge a little caution and common sense when it comes to deciding when, and if, to give your child medication. Read more

Ask the Doctor: Flu Vaccine in Pregnancy

Patricia asks:

I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and have been told by multiple sources (none of which include my OB) that I should get the flu vaccine. The last time I got the flu vaccine, I got the flu. Since, I have not had it once. I really really really don’t want to get it while I’m pregnant. What do you recommend?? Read more

Honey for Cough?

Back in the old days it seems that honey was a common home remedy for all kinds of things.  I guess somewhere in the last century our fascination with “medication” has caused our culture to either lose or just abandon some of the tried and true home remedies of the past. Read more

Myths & Facts: Cough

I see kids all the time that have a cough.  Of course some coughs are serious, but most coughs are NOT.  In fact, cough is generally a protective response.  Without cough we would be unable to clear things out of our lungs.  If your child is ill and coughing, this is probably a GOOD thing.  Try to avoid the temptation to suppress this protective mechanism of the body. Read more