Car Safety Seats - Information & Guidelines 12/23/2009

 

Research Department - Current Studies & Information  2/18/2010

In addition to providing  high quality primary care, WPA is also committed to pediatric clinical research.  WPA serves as a clinical research site participating in research studies to improve the quality of medical treatments in children.

Since establishing our research department in 1999, we have participated in a number of clinical trial with major international pharmaceutical companies.  These trials include new vaccines for pediatric & adolescent patients, as well as nutritional products.  We are currently recruiting patients for several studies with a focus on infant formula & breastfeeding, adolescent depression, and vaccines to protect against meningitis, human papillomavirus, & influenza.  Please contact the Research Department at 781-638-1021 for more information, or stop by after an office visit.

All clinical research trials at WPA are Institutions Review Board approved.  Compensation may be provided for time & travel.

Ticks & Lyme Disease 5/15/2009

A tick is a small brown bug that attaches to the skin of humans and animals.  The bite is usually painless and doesn’t itch, but the tick can suck blood for 3-6 days.  If you do find a tick on your skin, don’t panic as most ticks are not infected.  In most cases, Lyme disease could only be transmitted after the tick has been on the skin for 24 hours or more.  Only the deer tick can transmit Lyme disease.  Young ticks are the size of a poppy seed, and adult deer ticks are the size of a sesame seed.

 

How do I remove a tick?

How do I help prevent tick bites?

How will I know if my child has Lyme disease?

The most obvious and common symptom of Lyme disease is a rash, which is usually surrounded by a light ring or halo where the bite occurred.  The rash resembles a target, and may occur from 3 to 30 days after the bite occurred.  Most children, but not all, will have a rash.  Other symptoms include:  headache, chills, fever, fatigue, swollen glands, aches and pain in the muscles or joints, usually 7 to 21 days after the tick bite.

For More Information

www.cdc.gov, www.aap.org, www.mass.gov

                                             

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