Car Safety Seats - Information & Guidelines 12/23/2009
- HealthyChildren.org - for general info & guidelines
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - "New booster ratings: 9 best bets & 6 good bets"
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?
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Remove a tick from your skin as soon as you notice it. Use fine tipped tweezers to firmly grasp the tick very close to your skin. With steady motion, pull the tick’s body away from your skin. Clean the area with soap and water and discard the tick.
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Avoid crushing the tick’s body and do not be alarmed if the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin. Once these parts are separated from the tick’s body, they can no longer transmit disease. If you accidentally crush the tick, clean the area with soap and water or alcohol.
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A Tick Twister® may also be purchased to help with removal. This tool can be found at www.ticktwister.com.
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Do not use a lit match, petroleum jelly, fingernail polish, or rubbing alcohol to try to make the tick back out. The materials are either ineffective or could cause the tick to release infection into the skin.
How do I help prevent tick bites?
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Be aware of the areas where ticks live, such as areas with very low and high seasonal temperatures as well as high humidity. They are common in forests, grassy, or wooded areas. They can also be found near marshy areas, lakes, or oceans. Be careful if you walk or camp in tick-infested areas.
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When outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts tucked into pants. The pants should be tucked into socks or boots. Wearing light colored clothes can make it easier to spot ticks.
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Check yourself and your child everyday for ticks. Pets should also be examined for ticks. When doing checks, remember that ticks like places that are warm and moist. Pay extra attention to areas like the backs of knees, armpits, groin, scalp, back of neck, and behind the ears.
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