What's New
What You Should Know About Using Antibiotics (October 3, 2008)
Winter is coming and so is the cold and flu season. If you suffer from a cold or the flu, then antibiotics will not work for you. Colds, flu, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats not caused by strep, and runny noses are usually caused by viruses; and antibiotics only kill bacteria. Antibiotics cannot cure a viral infection, keep others from catching it or help you feel better. Only time and your body's natural defenses can cure a viral infection.
In fact, taking antibiotics when you have a virus and/or when you don't need them poses one of the world's most significant public health risks. Overuse of antibiotics can cause antibiotic resistance; this is when antibiotics no longer work on disease-causing organisms. Diseases once easily treated by antibiotics become harder to treat, leading to longer-lasting illnesses, more doctor visits, extended hospital stays, and the need for more toxic medications. Some resistant infections can even cause death.
Taking antibiotics can also lead to potential side effects. If you do not need the antibiotic, then it is better to avoid any side effects like allergic reactions.
What Can You Do to Help Prevent Antibiotic Resistance?
-Do not insist on getting antibiotics when a physician says they are not needed.
-Take antibiotics exactly as your physician tells you.
-Do not skip doses.
-Do not share your antibiotics with others.
-Finish the prescription even if you feel better.
-Do not save the antibiotic for later.
-Help prevent illness by washing your hands frequently, getting the flu vaccine and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
This coming week, October 6-10, 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be observing Get Smart About Antibiotics Week. You can find out more information about the campaign and antibiotics at www.cdc.gov/getsmart.
Autism is Not Linked to the MMR Vaccine (September 5, 2008)
A recent study disproves any link between autism and the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is used to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella. It was first introduced in 1963 and has reduced the rate of infection for measles from up to four million people newly infected each year to only 55 cases reported during 2006.
In 1998, a study suggested that the measles component of the vaccine can cause inflammation of the bowel and the release of neuroactive chemicals that promote developmental neuropathology. Since then several studies have researched the timing of the disorders and found no link between the vaccine and autism or gastrointestinal disorders. However, this most recent study by researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University is the first to replicate the original 1998 study by also testing tissue samples for the existence of measles in the bowel tissue.
Neither part of the current study supported the hypothesis suggested in 1998 that there is a link to the MMR vaccine and autism.
If the hypothesis were true, the administration of the vaccine would come before the onset of GI symptoms and the GI symptoms would come before the onset of autism. This was not found to be the case. They also found no difference in the presence of measles viral RNA between the case and control groups.
Researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University are confident that there is no link between autism and the MMR vaccine.
Read the MedPage Today Article
Failure to Vaccinate Leads to the Most U. S. Measles Cases
Reported Since 1996 (August 25, 2008)
More measles cases have been reported in the United States since January
1, 2008 than during the same period in any year since 1996, according to a
report recently released in the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Between January 1 and July 31, 2008, 131 cases were reported to CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). In contrast, 66 cases were reported during all of 2006 and only 37 were reported during 2004.
"These cases resulted primarily from failure to vaccinate, many because of philosophical or religious belief," said Dr. Schuchat. "The vaccine against measles is highly effective in preventing infections, and high immunization levels in the community are effective at preventing or drastically decreasing the size of outbreaks."
Measles is consistently one of the first diseases to reappear when immunization coverage rates fall. If individuals refuse to vaccinate themselves or their children, it could lead to large-scale outbreaks in the U.S.
In the decade before the measles vaccination program began, an estimated 3 to 4 million persons in the United States were infected each year. Of these, 400 to 500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and another 1,000 developed chronic disability from measles encephalitis.
"Measles can be a severe, life-threatening illness," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of NCIRD. "These cases and outbreaks serve as a reminder that measles can and still does occur in the United States."
Dr. Phil Freestone Returns to His Practice After Serving a Mission in Mexico (August 18, 2008)
Dr. Phil Freestone and his wife have returned from a three-year church mission in Puebla, Mexico. Dr. Freestone started seeing patients on July 7th after reopening his practice in our Orem Cherry Tree Office. He is excited to be back in Orem and plans to continue practicing medicine in the area well into the future.
Having served in Mexico, Dr. Freestone has learned to speak Spanish. He specializes in the care of infants, children and adolescents. You can call (801) 224-4550 to schedule appointments with Dr. Freestone.
Autism (July 29, 2008)
Harvard researchers have discovered half a dozen new genes involved in autism that suggest the disorder strikes in a brain that can't properly form new connections.
To track down the genes, researchers studied large Middle Eastern families. This facilitated tracking the genes since it is common in Arab countries for cousins to marry, which increases the likelihood of children inheriting rare genetic defects. The new research supports the idea that autism stems from a breakdown of the brain's ability to form new neurological connections based on experience. Remarkably, researchers found that autistic children's genes for mapping such connections were not damaged but nearby enhancers (which tell the gene whether to express or not) were missing. This offers hope that treatment, perhaps medication, may be able to activate these genes and lessen the effect of autism.
The study appears in the July 11 issue of Science and is available at the Children's Hospital Boston website.
Web Alerts For Children with Asthma (July 29, 2008)
Summer can be the worst season for asthma and allergy sufferers. At www.azma.com, operated by medical data company Surveillance Data, asthma sufferers can enter their zip code to see a forecast for the allergy and air quality levels for up to four days. You can sign up for asthma alerts to be sent by email on the days that your asthma index level is above low.
New Electronic Medical Record will cause delays
starting April 14th.
(April 2, 2008)
Utah Valley Pediatrics will implement a new scheduling and billing computer system April 14th. This will initially cause delays in scheduling, check-in, check-out, and billing as we verify patient information that has been transferred to the new system. When you check in, you may be asked to fill out some paperwork verifying your information. Coming a little early to your appointment will help speed up the process. We thank you for your patience as we make this transition.
During the months of May and June, the physicians will transition to a new Electronic Medical Record or EMR. The new EMR will give us greater capability and help us serve our patients better. For example, we will be able to automatically fax prescriptions (except schedule II medications, the law still requires those be carried into the pharmacy) to your pharmacy making it so that you longer have to come in to pick up prescriptions. During the transition, we ask for your patience as our physicians become accustomed to the new system.
We believe the new computer system will give us better information about our care and be a valuable tool in helping us provide better quality care to you and your children.
During the transition and as our staff becomes more proficient using the new system, we thank you for your patience.
Autism and Immunizations (March 25, 2008)
The Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program recently gave compensation to a child with mitochondrial disease. This led to people questioning whether vaccines or other environmental factors would bring on or worsen autism-like symptoms in children.
The media has not accurately represented this case. It was a unique and isolated event which does not change the immunization recommendations for children under ordinary circumstances.
As pediatricians, we vaccinate our own children, the people we love dearest. We have no doubt about their benefits.
Vaccines continue to be a safe and effective way to prevent life threatening illnesses. We are concerned because we continue to see parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. This winter, we saw an outbreak of whooping cough, which affected many children who were not immunized. In San Diego this year there was an outbreak of measles among children not immunized. We see over and over cases of preventable disease among children because parents choose not to vaccinate.
For a more complete review of the facts, please review the following: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/autismfactsforparents.pdf
Dr. Nielsen is Moving to Our Provo Office! (March 25, 2008)
Dr. Nielsen is moving from the Cherry Tree office to our Provo office at the end of March. His patients will enjoy his new location because it has lots of parking and is closer to UVRMC in case they need lab work. Dr. Nielsen is excited for this chance to work with the doctors at our Provo clinic.
Influenza Vaccine Alert (February 18, 2008)
Utah Valley Pediatrics has seen many flu cases in recent weeks. Influenza is spreading throughout the United States and many cases are caused by a strain of the disease that is not directly covered by this year’s flu vaccine. During the last two years flu mortality in adults has been higher than in the past but deaths in children, usually caused by severe strains, have been rare.
Experts develop the flu vaccine eight months before it begins to circulate in the fall. "Most years, the prediction is very good," said Joseph Bresee, an influenza epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "In 16 of the last 19 years we have had a well-matched vaccine." This winter the vaccine is probably not a good match.
The viruses are constantly mutating. When one appears that is different enough from the old strain, even a person protected by vaccination or previous infection can become victim of the new strain.
That doesn’t mean that vaccines provide no benefit. CDC officials say vaccination even now may be of some benefit. Antiviral drugs can lessen symptoms and sometimes prevent infections and are especially useful people at high risk for complications due to other illnesses. To reduce the risk of spreading infections the CDC says to cover your coughs, wash your hands often and stay home if you are sick.
References: Brown, David. February 10, 2008. "Flu Spreads Despite Vaccines," The Washington Post.
Article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/09/AR2008020902324.html
Additional information: http://www.kidshealth.org/research/flu_2008.html
Thimerosal Not Linked With Autism (January 2008)
Using data reported to the California Department of Development Services from 1995 to 2007, researchers from the California Department of Health compared the prevalence of autism with exposure to Thimerosal. Their results were published this week in the Archives of General Psychiatry (Jan. 2008). The data showed that the prevalence of autism for children at each year from 3 to 12 years increased throughout the study period — even after 2000 when Thimerosal began disappearing from vaccines. From 1999 to 2004, average exposure to Thimerosal among infants and 2-year olds was reduced by more than 90 percent and 84 percent, respectively — yet reported cases of autism continued to increase in unabated fashion. A classic test in epidemiological study is to observe what happens to the rate of disease when the suspected agent is removed. When Thimerosal was removed, the rate of disease was unaffected. Thus the research continues to add to the body of knowledge that Thimerosal does not cause Autism. Use of Thimerosal in vaccines began in the 1930s in response to tragedies such as the January 1928 deaths of 11 of 21 children given a diphtheria vaccine inadvertently contaminated with staphylococci. Since that time, Thimerosal has been used to improve the safety of vaccines. Recently, however, Thimerosal has been or is being removed from vaccines.
More Information:
NY Times Article
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/65/1/15 (abstract of paper)
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) (January 2008)
We have recently had an outbreak of pertussis in the area. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, begins as a mild cold which progresses to fits of coughing. The child will often vomit, turn blue or stop breathing due to prolonged coughing fits. The typical duration of illness from pertussis is 6- 10 weeks or longer. This illness can be especially dangerous in children under 1 year of age. Routine childhood vaccinations include DTaP which immunizes against pertussis. This is typically given at 2, 4, 6 and 15 months as well as 5 years. If your child has not been immunized please consider having this done as soon as possible. If your child is exhibiting these symptoms or has been exposed to someone with pertussis please call your doctor's office.
Flu Vaccine (October 2007)
The flu vaccine is now available at your pediatrician’s office. The CDC recommends that healthy children ages 6 months up through their 5th birthday, their close contacts (people who live with them), and out-of-home caregivers (nannies, daycare providers, etc.) should get a flu vaccine. This expands last year’s recommendation to now include vaccination for children 2 years old up to their 5th birthday this flu season.
For more information http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm (CDC)
Thimerosal does not raise risk of neurological problems (October 2007)
A mercury-based preservative once used in many vaccines does not raise the risk of neurological problems in children, concludes a large federal study that researchers say should reassure parents about the safety of shots their children received a decade or more ago. However, the study did not examine autism. A separate study due out in one year will look at this issue.
For more information http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Thimerosal/
Dr. Jonathan Peterson joins Dr. Garron Miller in our
Payson Office (July 2007):
Dr. Jonathan Peterson successfully completed his Pediatric Residency at the University of Nebraska/Creighton University in Omaha and joins Dr. Garron Miller in our Payson Office. Our Payson Office is located at 50 Medical Drive, Suite 2, Payson, UT 84651. You can schedule an appointment by calling 465-2800.
Chris Broken Leg has joined our Timpanogos Office (April 2007):
Christine H. Broken Leg, MPAS, PA-C, has joined our Timpanogos Office in Orem next to Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Drs. Greg Wynn, Kendall, Cornish and Bailey along with Laurie Anderson are excited about her joining their practice.
CDC Warns of Infant Deaths Associated with Cough and Cold Medicines (January 2007):
The CDC reported that during 2004– 2005, an estimated 1,519 children aged <2 years were treated in U.S. emergency departments for adverse events, including overdoses, associated with cough and cold medications. The dosages at which cough and cold medications can cause illness or death in children aged <2 years are not known. Also, FDA-approved dosing recommendations for cough and cold medications do not exist for this age group. Because of the risks for toxicity, absence of dosing recommendations, and limited published evidence of effectiveness of these medications in children aged <2 years, parents and other caregivers should not administer cough and cold medications to children in this age group without first consulting their pediatrician. For more information (PDF).
Payson Office, (January 2007):
Utah Valley Pediatrics opened an office in Payson. Dr. Garron Miller has joined Utah Valley Pediatrics and started seeing patients in January in Payson next to Mountain View Hospital. His address is 50 Medical Drive, Suite 2, Payson, UT 84651. You can schedule an appointment by calling 465-2800.
Timpanogos Office remodeling is complete (December 2006):
Our Timpanogos Office at 716 West 800 North in Orem was getting too small. In the summer, we began an expansion and remodeling project. Unfortunately, this project took longer than anticipated and is now complete. We appreciate your patience during the dust and noise.
Dr. Brinton retires from our Timpanogos office November 2006:
After much deliberation, Dr. Brinton decided to retire so that she can spend more time with her family. We are sad to see he leave, but happy for her in this new phase of her life.
Dr. Bailey moves to the Timpanogos Office (October 2006):
We recently expanded our Timpanogos Office to better meet the needs of that area. This office expansion allows Dr. Bailey to move into a “new” office where we can better meet the needs of children in that community.
Dr. Farnsworth returns from his church service (September 2006):
Dr. Farnsworth began seeing patients the end of September after returning from a two year public affairs mission for his church in South Korea.
Todd Chidester, FNP, joins our American Fork Office:
Todd Chidester, FNP, a well known and respected nurse practitioner has joined our office in American Fork. Drs. Glade, Wilcox, Conner and Mumford are excited about him joining their practice.
