According to Dr. Mark Hyman, author of a recent book, The Blood Sugar Solution, the biggest tragedy is the global spread of childhood obesity and “adult” or Type 2 Diabetes in little children. We are now seeing eight-year-old children with diabetes, fifteen-year-olds with strokes, and twenty-five-year olds who need cardiac bypass. Alabama ranks #2 in prevalence of obesity, surpassed only by Mississippi. In 1985, the obesity percentage in Alabama was <10%. In 2010, the percentage was 32.2% and rising. Most all states continue to show an increase in obesity each year. Clearly, we have a national emergency. What to do:

Spring is many people’s favorite time of year. Spring means sunshine, warmer temperatures, and more time outside. However, from a pediatrician’s perspective, spring signals a change from the wintertime illnesses to play related injuries. This article will address some commonly used warm weather equipment that can be hazardous for children.

Swimming is a great way to get exercise. It keeps you cool in the hot months, has a low incidence of injury and is fun. Swim teams are becoming more popular in our area. Auburn Aquatics Center and Opelika Seadawgs at the Sportplex are both very popular and a great way to get kids involved in the sport of swimming. Recreational swimming is also a great way to stay healthy. Our area has Lake Martin close by as well as numerous community pools/lakes in which to enjoy recreational swimming. As spring break draws near, I wanted to review some of the safety aspects of being around the water for kids, and adults too, so everyone can enjoy swimming and hopefully continue a healthy lifestyle.

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. This virus causes acute respiratory tract, (upper and lower), infections in all age groups and is seasonal here from November to April. RSV usually peaks in January and February. In fact, it is the most common cause of lower respiratory (lung) infection in infants - those less than one year of age. Almost all children have been infected by age two.

Do you know the latest recommendations for the appropriate use of car safety seats? Did you know that there are differences between what our state mandates and the national recommendations? Did you know that, according to the CDC, for those aged 5–34 in the United States, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death, claiming the lives of 18,266 Americans each year? Most people are not aware that the recommendations for car safety seats were updated in 2011 and that there were significant changes from previous recommendations. Hopefully, this will give you some additional information on how to keep your children safe while on the road:

The holidays are here and so is influenza, that nasty virus commonly known as the flu. How do you know if you have the flu? What can you do to prevent it?

Text messaging is just great--when used appropriately. Technology has so many advantages and can really enhance ones quality of life--again, when used appropriately.

For children and adolescents, sports can be a way to stay active and prevent obesity, improve academic performance, help teach skills such as teamwork and discipline, and be a source of pride and promote self-worth. Although we may be proud to see our children participate, many of us worry about the negative consequences of sports (e.g. injury). However, if done safely, we all can continue to enjoy one of our favorite pastimes.

Tick season starts in the southern United States in April when warm weather begins and continues on through the summer and into early fall. Tick exposure is usually experienced when a person is in a wooded area, but not always. I have found a tick on myself after being in my back yard cutting grass and cleaning up, etc. So, the first step in preventing tick borne illness is to do a thorough check of yourself and your children when either has been outside. The risk of acquiring an infection from a tick is actually quite low even if the tick has attached and fed and is actually carrying an infectious agent. Generally, a tick must have been attached for a least 36 hours before feeding begins. Here are CDC recommended daily checks. Check yourself and your children.

External otitis, or “swimmer’s ear”, is a very painful condition of irritation and inflammation in the outside part of the ear canal and/or the outer part of the ear. This is in contrast to otitis media, typically called an “ear infection”, which is located deeper in the skull and behind the eardrum. Although there are many causes of external otitis, this article will focus on bacterial disease most commonly seen in the summer months and is associated with swimming.