Top Tips for Preventing and Treating Childhood Colds & Flu

With cold and flu season in full swing across much of the US, many parents are seeking safe-non pharma options for protecting and treating their children. Holistic Primary Care asked several prominent integrative pediatricians what they recommend to the families they treat.

Breast Milk May Protect Infants From Deadly Intestinal Condition

Human breast milk contains a unique substance that may protect newborn infants from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an often lethal inflammatory condition that commonly affects premature and low birth weight babies.

Chlorinated Water Increases Risk of Asthma, Respiratory Distress

Swimming in chlorinated water increases risk of asthma and respiratory problems in children, says Alfred Bernard, PhD, research director at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. In a study of nearly 2,000 children, those who spent 30 or more hours in chlorinated pools before age 3 had triple the risk of respiratory problems.

Asthma-cetaminophen

Almost every study that has looked at the relationship between acetaminophen use and childhood asthma–and there are now over 20 such studies–has found a significant association. The notion that use of this common OTC drug might trigger asthma was first posited 14 years ago. It took science this long to catch up.

Foul Air, Fast Rx’s Fuel Childhood Obesity

Exposure to air pollution and overuse of antibiotics may be important risk factors for childhood obesity, according to recent studies. The findings suggest that there’s more to the obesity equation than excess calories & lack of exercise.

Homeopathy Offers Drug-Free Options for Kids with ADHD

With the recent shortages of drugs to treat ADHD, and changes in insurance coverage of these treatments, many families of children with this complex condition are searching for non-pharmaceutical alternatives. Homeopathy may not be top-of-mind for most primary care doctors, but it is worth considering.

How to Minimize Antibiotic Overuse In Kids with Upper Respiratory Illnesses

Despite clear guidelines to the contrary, many doctors still expect that they must provide antibiotic prescriptions when parents or caregivers bring a child with a respiratory illness. Likewise, ,any parents will be disappointed, and even question a doctor’s judgment, if no antibiotics are offered. The result is a continued overuse of antibiotics and an inordinate rise in bacterial resistance, a need for stronger antibiotics, and the use of adult dosing to treat bacterial illness in pediatric patients. There are other non-antibiotic options that should be first line choices.

CEFALO: Mixed Signals on The Cell Phone–Brain Tumor Issue

A high-profile international study of the impact of cell phones on childhood brain tumor risk is sending the signal that there is no “exposure-response relationship. However, some environmental health experts contend that significant safety concerns are hidden within the data.

Vitamin D3 Gives Mixed Results for Preventing Flu in Schoolchildren

At

a dose of 1,200 IU per day, vitamin D3 reduced the incidence of Influenza A among a cohort of Japanese schoolchildren, but was associated with an increase in incidence of Influenza B, giving no overall advantage in preventing flu-associated illness.

Sublingual Immunotherapy: Allergy Relief Under Your Tongue

Sublingual immunotherapy is a safe, highly effective alternative to injection-based treatments for managing allergies. Moreover, it enables primary care physicians to treat patients that they are currently referring out to specialists.