Radio spots for the week of 08/29/10.  Broadcast on KKOY, KALN, KKOW, KINZ and KIND

Topic #1

Answer:  Drink more water!  Question?  Name one way to lessen kidney stones.  A recent study with from over 40 pediatric hospitals affiliated with the Child Health Corporation of America; found that 10 times the number of kids were treated for kidney stones in a 10 year period.  Kidney stones, formed in the kidneys or the bladder come from substances in the urine that are in too high a concentration and so form crystals, which then can grow into stones.  Many of these pass on their own, but can cause pain in the belly or back, blood in the urine, nausea or vomiting, or a feeling of urgency to urinate.  Some kids are more likely to get stones if they have other medical concerns, like cystic fibrosis, or have abnormally formed kidneys or other parts, take certain medications like Lasix, Diamox or Allopurinol, or have inherited disorders that can cause stone formation.  What seem to be making the problem worse now?  No one knows why, for sure, but not drinking enough, especially water, probably tops the list.  So how much water should your child drink?  Well, some general information from the web offering, UpToDate, which is at www.uptodate.com, offered guidelines by knowing how much urine a child should make.  The average infant makes 3 cups of urine a day, the average preschooler, 4 cups of urine a day, a child from 5 to 10 years of age, 6 cups of urine a day, and kids from 10 years up, 8 cups of urine a day.  If your child isn’t making that much urine, he needs to drink more.  Diet can help, but first a stone should have been collected and analyzed to know which chemicals are causing the stone.  Then specific diets can be suggested.  It can be dangerous to change a diet, before you know what the real problem is.  Be sure your child knows and practices the answer to that question about avoiding kidney stones.  Give that kid a hug, I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.

Topic #2

Attack of the Family Jewels, by the Lumpy Mumps!  Sound like a bad science fiction thriller?  OK, so I won’t quit the day job to invent movie titles, but seriously, does anyone remember one of the side affects of mumps that can attack the family jewels?  The family jewels, of course meaning the male sperm producers, the testicles. Well, to give a little history, the vaccine for the measles, mumps and rubella, the MMR, was introduced in 1968, and within a very few years, we had a decline in the US mumps disease by 99%.  This was absolutely phenomenal!  But, as you are aware, in the mid-1990 vaccine usage drastically cut down due to shortage and the unfounded fear that the MMR caused other conditions.  This was especially found in the United Kingdom, where by 2004, there were close to 60,000 cases of mumps reported and as many as 40% of men who were infected had other complications, enter the family jewel problem.  Mumps, in addition to causing lumps in the neck, can cause testicle infection, which can lead to abnormal sperm production, and infertility.  And, no, this is not an acceptable form of birth control.  In up to 50% of post pubertal males who get mumps, 1 or both testicles will initially enlarge, but then decrease in size, a process called atrophy.  Abnormal sperm may be produced for up to 3 years later.  If both testicles are involved the infertility is more likely.  If you have only had 1 MMR and you are over the age of 4, or if you will be going to a place where immunizations may be lagging, ask your doctor about that MMR.  The CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations are watching closely to be sure immunity stays at a protective rate, so will suggest other shots as needed.  But in the meantime, keep the Attack of the Lumpy Mumps from your family jewels.  Give that kid a hug, I’m Dr. Greta McFarland. 

Topic #3

What is the weather like, where your child lives?  And I’m talking about inside the house.  When we think of weather, we consider temperature, and humidity, among other things.  We usually think of weather as being outside, but the topic today is the dampness of your child’s house – whether it is humidity or the results of humidity, especially mold, and whether on-going exposure can cause worsening of nasal allergies.  The formal definition of nasal allergies, or allergic rhinitis, means congestion, sneezing and runny nose caused by things like pollen, dust, animal hair and dander and mold.  According to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, about 1900 Finnish kids who were followed for 6 years, were analyzed for nasal symptoms, and the parents routinely reported signs of dampness problems in the home, such as visible signs of water damage to the ceilings, walls or floors, and whether there was visible mild or a mold odor in the home.  Kids who had high dampness factors at the beginning of the study had a 55% greater chance of developing nasal allergy symptoms over the 6 years, as compared to the kids who didn’t have the dampness factors.  While mold is certainly a problem by itself, the moist conditions also encourage growth of other allergens, like dust mites and can attract cockroaches.  Moisture may not be good for certain chemicals in building materials, as well.  So the bottom line is if there is water damage in your child’s environment, get it fixed.  Nasal allergies can affect a child’s ability to sleep well, and thus can affect mood.  If you have a grumpy child, be sure it isn’t due to allergies, and if the allergies are caused by the indoor weather at your house do something about it!  Give that kid a hug, I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.