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flu

CDC Urges Pregnant Women to Get Swine Flu Vaccine

by Cate Nelson on July 30, 2009 · 14 comments

Wednesday, NPR reported that the CDC is strongly recommending that pregnant women get the new swine flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available, as they are one of the high-risk groups for the illness.

Of the 45 initial deaths from H1N1 (between April 15 and June 16), 6 were pregnant women. Although that doesn’t sound like a lot, proportionally it’s huge. It’s 13 percent of swine flu deaths, whereas only 1 percent of the population overall is pregnant at any given time. They face a higher death risk and a higher hospitalization risk.

In general pregnant women get sicker for longer.

Experts know they’re climbing an uphill battle with preggos. Many are hesitant to take anything during pregnancy, and OBs don’t generally prescribe medications unless absolutely necessary.

So should all pregnant women jump on this vaccine bandwagon, especially for a shot that is just starting to be tested?

[social_buttons] [read the full article...]

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Temporal Scanner: A Kinder, Gentler, More Exact, Green Thermometer

by Jennifer Lance on February 25, 2009 · 1 comment

temporal artery thermometerI’ve got that special mommy touch:  I can touch my children and know if they have a fever. Where my mommy touch fails me in knowing how high a fever they have. When my children are really sick, I do rely on a thermometer.  We all know that mercury thermometers are toxic if broken and have been largely been phased out in the US.  The problem is every battery operated digital thermometer I have tried has not lasted very long, the batteries are hard to replace, and they spread germs if not properly sterilized between use (I don’t use those little plastic covers).  I think I have found the solution:  Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer.

Neither of my kids have liked having their temperature taken orally (actually, my son refuses).  I remember the temporal artery thermometer they used at the hospital after my son’s heart surgery, and I thought it was really cool. They are now available at a relatively affordable price (about $40). I am sure I have already spent that amount on cheap digital thermometers over the years. [read the full article...]

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Year in Review: Top 10 Eco Child’s Play Posts of 2008

by Jennifer Lance on December 31, 2008 · 0 comments

Happy New Year fireworks and Eleanor Roosevelt quoteHappy New Year!  From greenwashing to controversy over flu shots, we’ve covered a lot of green parenting topics over the year.  The following is a summary of the top ten posts in terms of traffic written on Eco Child’s Play during 2008.

  1. Doctor Recommends Avoiding Flu Shot, Taking Vitamin D Instead:

    2. A cardiac surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington recommends avoiding the flu shot and taking vitamin D instead. Donald Miller, MD, says “Seventy percent of doctors do not get a flu shot.”

  2. The Ultimate Greenwashing: Barbie Goes Green:

    3. “Barbie is always a reflection of current cultural trends and issues, and girls are increasingly aware of making a green statement,” said Richard Dickson, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Media and Entertainment, Worldwide, Mattel Brands. That’s right, Barbie is reflecting the trend of going green. Mattel realizes it wants a piece of the eco-friendly toy pie, but this ploy screams of greenwashing, especially considering the line will only be sold at Toys R Us. [read the full article...]

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Should the Flu Vaccine be Required for Preschool or Daycare?

by Jennifer Lance on December 15, 2008 · 0 comments

NJ preschool require flu vaccineI teach preschool and elementary school. If you have ever worked with small children, you know these places are germ factories! The school year seems made up of one cold or flu virus after another, no matter how many times you wash your hands.

The state of New Jersey has decided to combat the problem by mandating flu vaccines for children in preschool and licensed child-care centers, but is this a good idea?

[read the full article...]

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9 Best Articles for Natural and Home Remedies on Eco Child’s Play in 2008

by Derek Markham on December 14, 2008 · 2 comments

natural home remedies

We’ve published some excellent natural health articles on Eco Child’s Play this year, and I’ve picked out 9 of the best, covering quite a few natural and home remedies for both kids and adults. [social_buttons]

A great place to start when looking for ways to prevent sickness in the home is to go over the top 10 places that harbor cold and flu viruses in your home and clean them thoroughly. Household surfaces can spread common cold and flu viruses from person to person, with some germs lingering for days. This can mean a world of misery for families, so start today to keep those places sanitized.

[read the full article...]

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Here Comes The Flu – 10 Ways To Beat It The Natural Way!

by Derek Markham on November 13, 2008 · 6 comments

As the sniffles start moving across the country – helpfully tracked this year by Google, you can start loading up on some natural remedies for those annoying symptoms. Since flus are viral in nature, no amount of antibiotics is going to help and why ply you or your child with over-the-counter medicines which sometimes haven’t really been quite tested enough?

Instead, take some preventative steps and try some of these herbal remedies, often available at your local health food store.Before the flu comes your way, try some of these anti-viral and immune system building herbs.

1. Zinc – Zinc is an essential trace mineral that stimulates the immune system – great for those days when the flu is coming your way.

2. Echinacea – Echinacea a popular herb since the 70s is one of the two natural remedies that we start taking daily (with Vitamin C) around this time of year to boost our immune systems [read the full article...]

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Giving your Child Antibiotics? What To Do Next – Probiotics

by Derek Markham on February 14, 2008 · 4 comments

probiotics.jpgGenerally not a fan of antibiotics, I recently found myself taking two courses over a 4 week period – the first time in 15 years. I was sick!

Of course, I helpfully passed it on to my son. After I stop by the pharmacy today to fill his prescription, I’ll pop into my local health market and pick up some probiotics for him as well.

Long used in the alternative health community, interest in probiotics by western medicine practitioners is growing. An American Academy of Pediatrics article states:

Probiotics, have shown particular promise in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea and the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Probiotics are microbes that can protect and prevent disease. The best known is Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is found in yogurt and acidophilus milk. As well as, supplements.

[read the full article...]

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