Hepatitis B vaccine
• This is currently the only vaccine offered to newborns, and the reason for its
inclusion dates back to when routine testing for Hepatitis B in the mother
was not widely available or utilized. The risk of contracting Hepatitis B is
minimal for newborns, unless the mother is positive for Hepatitis B, since
it is a virus that can only be transmitted through the blood. Major concerns
in the past were related to the ingredient Thimerosal (a Mercury-based
preservative), but this has been phased out since 2003. Most parents are
not excited to give their newborns vaccines, and wanting to avoid this
one is understandable, as the risk of catching it is close to zero. A needle
stick, sexual abuse or blood transfusion would be the only ways a newborn
could contract this virus. Besides, the Hepatitis B vaccine has one of the
highest rates of adverse events reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System, which is a national vaccine safety surveillance program
co-sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some parents report to me that
they were never given a choice and their child was vaccinated without their
consent. Do not let this happen to you. This is your child, and depending
on which state you reside in, you have a say in whether your child gets this
vaccine.

Newborn Screening Test
• This test is used to screen your child for congenital diseases that, if not
treated, could lead to brain damage or even death. I suggest this to all my
patients. The test is completely safe for the child and could save their life!

Newborn Hearing Test
• Hearing in the newborn is well developed at birth, and so much language
development occurs in first 6 months; Infants can start saying “Mama/Dada”,
they can combine syllables, and jabber by this time. Therefore, in order to
give the best advantage to your child, it’s important to know if they have
normal hearing. The risk for congenital (newborn) hearing loss is about
1: 1000, and even higher in Hispanics & the poor (Mehra, 2009). This rate
is much higher than most of the diseases we check for on the Newborn
Screening test, which makes it just as important for your child. If you don’t
think that your child is at risk for newborn hearing loss because mom and
dad have perfect hearing, think again: 90% of children w/congenital hearing
loss have parents with normal hearing!

Vitamin K
• This is given at birth, usually in the form of a shot, to prevent “Hemorrhagic
Disease of Newborn”. This means the baby can have serious bleeding
somewhere in the body. Some parents choose to use oral vitamin K drops,
because they don’t want to give their child a shot so early in their life. There
are some pros and cons to discuss here. Getting the oral vitamin K may not
be as protective as the shot, but does decrease baby’s risk of hemorrhage
nonetheless. Concerns with the shot came from some research in the past
that spoke of a possible connection between Leukemia and the vitamin K
shot. The connection may be related to phenol, a carcinogenic ingredient
found in vitamin K shots, which was reported in the journal “Gulf War &
Health” to be linked to cancer and leukemia. However, many physicians say
that the studies are inconclusive, and that the shot is safe. What needs to
be created is a Phenol-free vitamin K shot, which would alleviate concerns
of parents. New Zealand, Australia and Canada all have oral vitamin K
guidelines, which include at least 3 doses spread out over 4-6 weeks. Consult
with your physician on dosing for your child. The American Academy of
Pediatrics in 2003 stated:
“The rate of late Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (often
manifesting as sudden central nervous system [CNS]
hemorrhage) ranges from 4.4-7.2 per 100,000 births
[.004-.007%], according to reports from Europe and Asia.
When a single dose of oral vitamin K has been used for
neonatal prophylaxis, the rate has decreased to 1.4-6.4
per 100,000 births.” [.001-.006%]

It is important to note that 30-50% who get CNS hemorrhage die
or have lasting brain damage, so this is not an issue to take lightly.

Here is the American Academy of Pediatrics statement in 2006: “Prevention
of early vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) of the newborn, with onset at
birth to 2 weeks of age (formerly known as classic hemorrhagic disease of
the newborn), by oral or parenteral administration of vitamin K is accepted
practice. In contrast, late VKDB, with onset from 2 to 12 weeks of age, is
most effectively prevented by parenteral administration of vitamin K.
Earlier concern regarding a possible causal association between parenteral
vitamin K and childhood cancer has not been substantiated. This revised
statement presents updated recommendations for the use of vitamin K in the
prevention of early and late VKDB. “

For your own information, here are the studies implicating the vitamin K
shot and leukemia:
• Golding J, Paterson M, Kinlen LJ. Factors associated with childhood
cancer in a national cohort study. Br J Cancer.1990; 62 :304 –308
• Golding J, Greenwood R, Birmingham K, Mott M. Childhood cancer,
intramuscular vitamin K, and pethidine given during labour. BMJ.1992;
305 :341 –346

• This is used to protect the baby from contracting gonorrhea or chlamydia
from the mother if the child is born through the birth canal. Gonnorrhea
will almost always show symptoms in the mother, but chlamydia can
show no signs of infection. The original concern was that these diseases,
if untreated, can cause blindness in the baby. However, this occurred
at times when we did not have antibiotics developed and widely used
if a child did contract this disease. However, we do have antibiotics
now for it. Mom should be tested for this and as long as the couple is
monogamous (and honest!), there should be no risk of these diseases in
the child as long as mother tests negative. Some parents have a concern
that there is a decrease in bonding with mother and father because they
have the ointment in their eyes and this would not allow the child to
catch the first glimpses of their parents. This is a reasonable concern that
should be respected. The bond in the first few hours of life is critical and
important.

These are some of the big topics I come across in my practice and find myself
repeatedly answering. I hope they helped!

Selenium: This mineral can improve immune function by increasing production
of interferon, a messenger that tells the immune system to pay attention and fight
some bugs! Doses around 100 micrograms per day should be safe for children
older than 1 year. Taken throughout the flu season can help prevent infections.

Zinc: This mineral has been shown to keep infections at bay in the form of
lozenges, but taking a daily dose in a liquid form should work as well. 10-30mg
per day is a reasonable dose for children. Always take zinc with food, as it can
cause stomach upset when taken on an empty stomach.

Vitamin C: This vitamin seems to be the number one therapy referred to when
discussing natural treatments or preventative measures regarding colds and
flu. Some research shows it can decrease susceptibility to the flu, and some
research shows that it doesn’t. I am in favor of suggesting vitamin C for my
patients for this purpose. Doses in the range of 500mg-3,000mg per day is
reasonable for a daily dose.

Vitamin D: This vitamin (it’s really more of a hormone, but who cares?) is crucial
for the function of “T cells”, the cells that help fight bacteria and viruses! There
is even some evidence in the scientific literature showing that flu outbreaks are
due to the seasonal drop in vitamin D levels. (Cannell, Epidemiol Infect 2006)
This makes sense, since we get less sun exposure in the Fall and Winter months
because we are covered up, therefore, making less of our own vitamin D. You
and your child can be tested at your physician’s office, and in most cases it will
be covered under insurance. Make sure to ask for the “25-hydroxy-vitamin D
[25(OH)D]” blood test. There has been lots of arguing over what is the optimal
level of vitamin D. One of the most knowledgeable groups of physicians and
researchers in the area of vitamin D, known as the vitamin D council, says that
levels of “60-90 ng/ml” are optimal. Make sure your child is at this level going
into the cold and flu season. If they are low, they can be dosed with vitamin
D3 until desired levels are reached. Other evidence refers to a dosage of
2,000 IU of vitamin D per day drastically decreasing occurrence of colds and flu
(Aloia, Epidemiol Infect 2007). Note that certain medications like Prednisone, a
corticosteroid used to treat inflammation, will interfere with vitamin D production
and therefore its levels. This may be the reason that children who are on chronic
dosing of steroids for asthma or other conditions seems to get sicker than other
children! Anticonvulsants can have the same effect.

Elderberry/ Sambucus Niger/ European elder: A tasty herbal remedy,
Elderberry decreases the ability of some viruses to enter cells and replicate,
therefore decreasing the chances for an infection. Elderberry also increases the
production of messengers (called “cytokines”) that activate the immune system
and tell it to go to areas of inflammation in the body. This helps improve our
ability to fight infection. Research shows that Elderberry can cut flu duration by
almost half (Zakay-Rones, J Altern Complement Med 1995, and J Int Med Res
2004). Typical doses are 500mg 2-3 times per day or 1 Tablespoon 3 times per
day. There are no known side effects associated with Elderberry, but those who
are pregnant or lactating should consult with their physician and use caution,
since there is little research on those patients taking Elderberry. Elderberry can
be used throughout the flu season as a preventative measure or as a treatment
for the flu once infected.

Larch: This sugar derived from the larch tree is an exceptionally safe and
effective treatment that has a beneficial effect on the immune system and helps
fight infections. Larch can increase something known as phagocytosis, which is
the process of an immune system cell “eating” other things like infection-causing
bacteria and destroying them. Combining larch with Echinacea can have an
additive effect, so I suggest taking those together, especially when the flu is
going around, and you are trying to avoid it. Typical doses are 1-3 teaspoons
per day, and Larch can also be used throughout the flu season as a preventative
measure or as a treatment. The only side effects you might notice is a little
gas and bloating while your body adjusts to this new medicine. This happens
because larch also serves as a nice fiber source that good bacteria can feed
on, and this can produce some gas as a byproduct. Which brings us to our next
medicine…Probiotics!

Probiotics: A study in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2003 showed how
giving a probiotic, which would be delivered directly to the gut from the mouth,
had a resounding effect on the immune system of the upper respiratory
passages. In fact, those who took the probiotics had less infectious organisms
in their nose than those who only consumed yogurt. This speaks to the age-old
question: “Is yogurt is a good enough source of probiotics?” This study shows
that it’s not. Probiotics can shape how our immune system behaves, and the
majority of our immune system is located in our gut! And…It’s all connected:
from our mouth and nose to our colon, this is one long, communicating system.
When we consume probiotics, we affect the immune system of this entire “tube”.
So, staying on a good probiotic through the cold and flu season can protect
from getting infected. A typical dose to take daily would be 5-10 billion CFU’s/
Units per day. There are several companies that have effective products in most
health food stores or pharmacies. Culturelle, Jarrow, and Nature’s Way are just a few.

What about the Flu shot?
Many parents are concerned with the ingredients of the flu shot like Mercury
(Thimerosal) and Aluminum, both of which are toxic to the neurological system.
The vaccines that are from “multi-dose” vials are the ones that still use mercury
as a preservative. There is no aluminum in the flu vaccines.
Flushots with Mercury:
Afluria multi-dose, Flulaval, Fluvirin multi-dose, and Fluzone multi-dose
Nasal or Injectable?
Some physicians prefer the intranasal vaccine (Flumist) because it is delivered
in the same way the immune system was meant to interact with the flu virus:
through the mucus membrane. Therefore, some say it may be more effective
than the injectable flu vaccine. However, it’s only given to children 2 years and
older, and it’s not recommended for those with asthma. Some physicians are
concerned with the fact that the nasal vaccine is a live vaccine, and that some
children react poorly to the live vaccines such as those for the flu, chicken
pox, and measles/mumps/rubella. As for the injectable flu vaccines, always
choose the SINGLE DOSE vials. The injectable and intranasal vaccines are
contraindicated in those who have past history of Guillan-barre syndrome, a
neurological condition, or egg allergy, and recommended for children 6 months
and older.

It should be noted that it is possible to have serious side effects from getting
the flu, including death. However, the majority of those who die from the flu
are greater than 65 years of age. I’m partial to giving children fewer vaccines.
If you do choose to do the flu shot, at least don’t give it to them if they are not
completely healthy.

Ensuring that your child’s vitamin D levels are up to par and that they are taking
these other supplements should give them a fighting chance this upcoming flu
season. Of course, washing your hands regularly will cut your risk of catching
something, so don’t ignore this simple step!

Myth #1: Fevers can cause brain damage.

Not true! Parents often give fever reducers because they’re afraid of fevers going too high, potentially causing seizures and permanent damage. I’m here to reassure you that fevers are a good sign of a strong, well-functioning immune system. The problem is that when children have fevers, they often don’t want to eat or drink and lose more hydration through their hot skin. The end result is dehydration, and this CAN harm a child. So, keep your child well hydrated with fluids. An easy sign to tell that your child is dehydrated is that their urine output is decreased. See a physician if this occurs.

Myth #2: If you don’t control a fever, it will continue to rise and not stop.

Fevers are self-limiting. Fevers do not cause neurological damage. In fact, there’s never been a case of permanent damage from a febrile seizure. Here’s a quote from Medline Plus, the National Institutes of Health’s Web site for patients and their families:

“The first febrile seizure is a frightening moment for parents. Most parents are afraid that their child will die or have brain damage. However, simple febrile seizures are harmless. There is no evidence that they cause death, brain damage, epilepsy, mental retardation, a decrease in IQ, or learning difficulties.”

Myth #3: If the child has a high fever, bring it down as quick as possible with a cool bath.

Don’t do this! It is dangerous for the child, and will probably make them pretty upset! A reasonable approach would be a room-temperature sponge bath. It won’t take the fever down, but it may help the child feel more comfortable, and therefore more likely to take fluids.

Myth #4: Feed a fever, starve a cold.

You might notice that when children are sick, they aren’t interested in eating food or at least a large amount of it. What the child is doing without realizing it, is saving their body’s energy so that it can more effectively fight the infection. The same goes for their activity level: they lay low and conserve resources for the main task at hand, getting healthy again. It’s ok if your child loses some weight during an illness, this is normal. Therefore, it is not necessary to make them eat if they are not interested. THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE FOR FLUIDS, HOWEVER! I stress this point because, as mentioned above, a fever will increase fluid loss dramatically. So, keep that child hydrated and watch for changes in urine output.

Natural Fever Treatments

There are several herbal teas out there that can promote sweating, which can help you cool down during a fever. Teas such as peppermint, catnip, elder flower, yarrow, and chamomile are all effective in this way. Sipping cups of this throughout the day can be beneficial. Homeopathic remedies can also be extremely helpful. Here are just a few that can be purchased in most health foods stores:

• • Aconite: for sudden, high fevers associated with anxiety.
  • Belladonna: for hot, dry children, with throbbing and congested headaches, and rosy cheeks.
  • Ferrum phosphoricum: for fevers that are not intense, and the patient is nervous, sensitive, and thirsty
  • Chamomile: excellent for fever with teething. Also good for children who are sensitive, irritable, thirsty, and say they feel hot, and are sensitive to cold.
  • I suggest to patients to start with the 6c potency, with 3 pellets every few hours, and increase in potency (12c, 30c, etc.) if 6c becomes no longer effective.

When should you consider fever reducers/ fever medicine like Tylenol(Acetaminophen), Motrin/Advil (Ibuprofen)?

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question. Some resources say give fever medicine if the fever gets to 105 F, but there is nothing about that particular number that means anything. I tell parents that if their child is not drinking or sleeping well and we have tried the natural fever therapies, it may be time to take medicine to bring the fever down. As always, it’s crucial that you as a parent understand you have every right to use medicine if that is what makes you more comfortable. And if you do, always watch for improvements in your child’s behavior once their temperature drops from the medicine. They should perk up at least a little, and not look as sick to you. Continuing to look sick after the fever is reduced is a concerning sign that should be seen by a physician right away. Remember as always, see a physician if you are concerned with your child’s health for any other reason.

Thanks for reading!

About Chlorine
Chlorine gas is a known irritant to the lungs.  Believe it or not, it was used in the early 20th century as a chemical weapon in France!  Today, children are exposed to this toxin on almost a daily basis during the summer.  Research in the past has implicated chlorine pool exposure to certain cancers and miscarriages.  In 2009, a research study published in the journal Pediatrics indicated that swimming in chlorine pools worsened asthma, hay fever, and allergies, which has also been shown in other research previous to 2009.  There are several reasons for this.   Chlorine is a great disinfectant because it causes “oxidation”, a chemical reaction that can also cause damage to the human body.   In nature, we see it as rust on metal.   Belgian researchers have found that children who swim once a week in a chlorinated pool had the same amount of lung damage measured by oxidation as adult smokers!  It is known that asthmatics already have more oxidation in their bodies than those without asthma, which is most likely why asthmatics are worse after swimming in a chlorine pool.  Blond hair will often turn green from chlorine because the copper in algaecides is oxidized from chlorine and binds to hair.  What happens when you leave a copper penny outside in the rain for a while?  It turns green!  That green oxidized copper is what binds to hair, turning it green.  Chlorine also behaves like substances that cause allergic reactions, by fitting in between cells and aggravating the immune system.   This is the reason behind chlorine’s effects on allergy symptoms.

What to do?
First, you can make big changes in the home by getting a non-chlorine or reduced chlorine system.  Ozone, Ionization and salt-systems are available.  In some cases the up front costs will be more, but the reward is a healthier family.  Salt systems can have small amounts of chlorine in them, but let’s look at the numbers:  A normal chlorine home pool will have 9 times the chlorine as a salt-system and a public pool can have about 20 times the chlorine!  The second step is to protect your family from chlorine exposure.  Since chlorine can cause oxidation, supplementing with anti-oxidants such as Vitamin E, C, Selenium and CoQ10 can counteract chlorine’s damaging properties.   Substances like quercitin, a substance found in high amounts in onions, can decrease histamine release.  Taking this on a regular basis during the summer can be helpful in preventing allergy symptoms caused by pool swimming.  Asthmatics and those with allergies are going to be particularly sensitive, so they may need even higher amounts of antioxidants and quercitin than others.

Introduction

The word “asthma” has its roots in Greek, meaning “to breathe hard” or “panting”, and has been described by physicians as notable as Hippocrates and Maimonides.  Among the chronic ailments of childhood, Asthma ranks as one of the top chronic diseases affecting our children,[i] and the combined costs for medical treatment and lost productivity due to asthma is approximated to be over 16 billion dollars.[ii] This is no small issue, and it is crucial for the medical community to entertain the possibility that there are options and adjunctive therapies that may be added to the conventional approach to asthma treatment. Rates of prevalence and office visits for asthma have more than doubled since 1980 and remain at the highest rates we have ever seen.[iii] Emergency department visits have also increased since 1992, and mortality rates have declined since a recent increase in the 1980’s and 1990’s.[iv] This may be due to better asthma management and/or more effective and easily administered medications.  An extraordinary amount of drug company funding to support the research and development of new medications has resulted in many more choices for these patients.  These medications do provide symptomatic relief and save lives.  However, despite the rapid influx of new medications, asthma prevalence rates remain high. The statistics beg the question:  Are we treating the root of the cause or just its manifestations?   Conventional diagnosis is largely based on symptoms, so conventional treatment has followed suit to address just that—the symptoms.  Concerns of the possible long term effects of these medications have driven parents to seek alternative medicine for their children’s asthma.  For example, corticosteroid use in asthma patients is common, and is known to cause decreases in bone density.  Considering that teens gain approximately half of their skeletal mass during puberty, some of these patients may be predisposing themselves to an increased risk of osteoporosis later in life, especially at post-menopausal age.  A salient point is that those who are currently being treated with corticosteroids may also have had previous chronic exposure to steroid treatment.   Asthmatics often have a past history of other atopic conditions such as eczema and allergic rhinitis.  Treatments for these conditions include other delivery routes of corticosteroids (nasal, topical, oral), possibly compounding long-term effects.  Prevalence of interest in CAM for asthma exists internationally and across race and income lines. [v][vi][vii][viii] Some of the most popular treatments include breathing techniques, botanical medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture.[ix]

The Environment

The concern of infection due to microbes has led to a strong emphasis on sterile environments.  Consumers are constantly bombarded with advertising for antimicrobial soaps and other cleaning supplies, sending the message that sterility is the path to optimal health.  It is clear that the rate of allergic diseases have risen in societies with the advent of technology and industrialization.  It is possible that our children are receiving less exposure to nature or a farm-like environment, which may contribute to rising rates of the allergic conditions?  In fact, those who are exposed to such environments do show less atopy,[x][xi] possibly due to immunomodulatory properties of the dust or other allergens in those settings.[xii] Another factor in the benefit of farm-like settings may include a diet richer in beneficial microbes such as those found in raw dairy products.  Industrialized societies are also seeing that the rise of asthma rates and hospitalizations due to asthma are directly related to air pollution, [xiii] which is understandable.