spring 2009

A publicAtion of levine children’s hospitAl

Bringing specialty care closer to you

carolinas kids

plAy it sAfe this spring!

help for young night owls

� >> carolinas Kids

sitting in a rear seat instead of the front seat reduces fatal injury risk by about one-third among children ages 12 and younger, says the national transportation safety board.

Fast Fact ...

>> Parents’ pages• Ask your dentist about dental

sealants.

• Make sure your child uses

protective headgear and

mouth guards when playing

sports. n

Monitor your medicine

teens can get prescription

drugs more easily than

they can get beer, accord-

ing to a new survey from the

national center on Addic-

tion and substance Abuse

at columbia university.

researchers surveying

1,002 teens nationwide

found that 34 percent of

12- to 17-year-olds get

prescription medications

from home, parents or the

medicine cabinet; others get

them from friends or class-

mates (31 percent), dealers

(9 percent) or through other

means (16 percent). nearly

half (46 percent) said they

most commonly used pain-

killers.

The Office of National

drug control policy says

more teens abuse prescrip-

tion medications than all

protect those pearly whites

february is national

children’s dental health

Month. encouraging good

dental habits when children

are young can lead to a

lifetime of healthy teeth and

gums. it’s much easier to

prevent tooth decay than it is

to treat it.

According to the u.s.

centers for disease control

and prevention, tooth decay

is one of the most common

childhood diseases—five

times as common as asthma

and seven times as com-

mon as hay fever. More than

51 million school hours are

lost each year because of

dental-related illness.

follow these tips to keep

your kids smiling:

• schedule a visit to the dentist

after baby’s first birthday, or

sooner if there’s a problem.

• put only water in baby’s

bottle at naptime or bedtime.

• protect your child’s teeth

with fluoride.

• encourage your children to

eat nutritious meals and avoid

between-meal snacks.

illicit drugs except mari-

juana, yet only 36 percent

of parents talk to kids about

the risks of these drugs. n

start young to build strong bones

preschoolers who eat

dairy products at least

twice daily will have stronger

bones as adolescents, ac-

cording to a new study from

boston university school of

Medicine. researchers found

that children who started

consuming at least two dairy

products a day between

ages 3 and 5 had higher lev-

els of bone mineral content

and bone density as teens,

compared with children who

ate fewer than two dairy

servings a day. bone mineral

content levels were even

higher when children also

ate four ounces of meat or

nondairy protein

daily. n

when is my child old enough to stay home alone?

your child’s maturity

level is more important

than his or her age. some

experts say 10-year-olds

can be left alone; others say

12-year-olds, but you know

your child best. the amount

of alone time is another

factor: running an errand

for 20 minutes is different

than leaving your youngster

unsupervised mid-afternoon

through bedtime.

prepare kids to handle

any situation. show them

how to microwave a plate

you’ve left for dinner. tell

them whether to answer the

how to keep kids safe on the playground

while playgrounds can

provide you and your

child with a great way to

get fresh air and exercise,

they also can be dangerous.

careless behavior, broken

equipment and unsafe

surfaces can put your child

in harm’s way. each year,

more than 200,000 children

are treated for playground-

related injuries.

you can make the play-

ground a safe and fun place

for your child by checking

equipment to make sure it’s

clean and well-maintained,

and teaching the rules of

safe play. here are some

basics:

• Carefully supervise children. Adults need to

be present when children

are playing on equipment.

children should be in view

at all times.

• Use equipment properly. instruct children to slide feet

first, not to climb outside of

guardrails and not to stand

on swings. equipment should

be designed for 2- to 5-year-

olds, or 5- to 12-year-olds.

• What’s on the ground?

the surface under play-

ground equipment should

be soft and thick enough

to soften the impact of

a child’s fall. look for

>> Moms want to know …

>> Milestones door, where to find flash-

lights during a power failure,

how to escape quickly

during a fire and how to tell

whether a cut requires an

adhesive bandage or a call

to emergency services.

leave emergency

numbers posted near

every phone, including

your cell phone number

and contact information for

three trusted neighbors. And

don’t make your child worry

unnecessarily by showing

up an hour later than you

promise. n

materials like

wood chips, sand,

pea gravel, rub-

ber mats or shred-

ded tires. watch for

broken glass or

trash.

• Know the rules. Make sure

your child never

pushes or rough-

houses while on

slides, swings,

seesaws or other

equipment. And

don’t dress your

child in clothing

with drawstrings—they can

get caught on equipment

and accidentally strangle

him or her. n

www.levinechildrenshospital.org << �

>> A new indoor play area sponsored by levine children’s hospital has opened at carolina place Mall in pineville. it was constructed by plAytiMe, llc, one of the largest providers of children’s soft-sculpted interactive play areas.

1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203704-446-KIDS (5437)

Carolinas Kids is published as a community service of Levine Children’s Hospital, located on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center. If you are interested in receiving an e-mail when a new issue is available, visit www.levinechildrenshospital.org.

The information contained in this publication is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

Copyright © 2009 Carolinas HealthCare System

A publicAtion of levine children’s hospitAl

carolinas kids

when you have a child with special

healthcare needs, finding con-

venient access to that care can

sometimes be just as daunting as finding the best

physicians.

That is why Levine Children’s Hospital provides

a variety of specialized outpatient pediatric ser-

vices in multiple locations in our region through

our Children’s Specialty Centers.

We offer care for infants, children and adoles-

cents, focusing on the needs of patients and their

families. With centers located in Charlotte, Hickory

and Gastonia, we’re able to bring services in more

than 30 specialty areas—such as cardiology,

spring 2009

� >> carolinas Kids

coming soon!>> Susan Massengill, MD, a pediatric

nephrologist, sees patients at the Children’s

Specialty Centers in Charlotte and Hickory.

She will begin seeing patients in Gastonia in

early 2009. Call 704-381-8800 to make an

appointment.

taking family-centered carebeyond the hospital

>> Children’s Specialty Centers offer access to pediatric services throughout the region

gastroenterology and endocrinology—closer to you

and your children.

care that’s closeIt’s often difficult to find pediatric specialists outside

of urban areas. LCH addressed this situation by pro-

viding centers where specialists from Charlotte can

see patients closer to home when they need care.

“We placed our regional centers in referral areas

where there was a need,” says Vickie Hamann,

assistant vice president for Outpatient Services.

“Providing access to specialized physicians in

multiple outpatient locations allows patients and

families to stay closer to home whenever possible.”

There are many benefits to having access to

ongoing care in Hickory and Gastonia. Easier

access makes it more likely you’ll be able to keep

scheduled doctor visits, which is an important

part of maintaining good health.

Having multiple locations also allows parents

to take an hour for an appointment, rather than

missing an entire day of school or work to travel

for care. For instance, children with diabetes who

require multiple doctor visits to regulate insulin

levels benefit from having a specialty care center

that’s close by.

expert, personalized careOur pediatric specialists provide comprehensive

evaluation, treatment, education, diagnostic testing

and research services. Many of our physicians

undergo extensive clinical training to specialize

in treating a condition or aspect of pediatric care.

This training ensures the best, most personalized

care in all of our specialty centers, which have a

warm, family-friendly atmosphere.

For example, nephrology patients who have

undergone a transplant due to kidney failure can

often receive care at one of our regional centers.

“While surgery and initial care is provided at LCH,

patients can go to our specialty center in Hickory for

follow-up treatment,” says Susan Massengill, MD, a

pediatric nephrologist at LCH. n

www.levinechildrenshospital.org << �

>> children’s specialty

center outpatient

services include:

• cardiology and

cardiovascular

surgery (sanger clinic)

• eating disorders

• endocrinology

• gastroenterology

and hepatology

• general surgery

• hematology and

oncology

• infectious disease

• medical genetics

(down syndrome,

spina bifida and

others)

• neonatology

• nephrology and

hypertension

• neurology

• orthopaedics

• physical medicine

and rehabilitation

• pulmonology

• rheumatology

• sleep medicine

• transplant services

(liver, kidney, heart

and blood/marrow)

• urology (pediatric

urology Associates, p.A.)

our diagnostic and

support services

include:

• child life services

• diagnostic radiology

• nutritional services

• social work

• venipuncture

for more information,

call 704-381-8840 or visit

www.levinechildrens

hospital.org.

A host of pediatric specialties

care where you need it

>> our children’s specialty centers are

located at:*

‹ charlotte-Medical center plaza1001 Blythe Blvd., Suite 200 704-381-88408 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday

‹ pediatric hematology and oncology center1001 Blythe Blvd., Suite 600 704-381-99008 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday

‹ gastonia2550 Court Drive, Suite 203704-861-2100 or 877-821-97978 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday

‹ hickory1781 Tate Blvd., SE704-381-3950 or 866-926-02188 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday

*Some medical, diagnostic and support services are not available at all specialty centers

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n early 70 percent of children ages 10

and younger suffer sleep problems,

according to the National Sleep

Foundation. These troubles can lead to daytime

sleepiness and may even raise the risk of learn-

ing problems and attention deficit disorder. “If

something about your child’s sleep is keeping

you awake, chances are they need to be evalu-

ated,” says Thomas Stern, MD, a pediatric sleep

medicine specialist with University Pulmonary

Associates. Common disorders include:

1 Insomnia: More than 40 percent of kids

experience trouble falling or staying asleep,

poor-quality sleep or early-morning awakenings,

according to one survey.

>> How to help: A bedtime routine can help.

Teach your child to fall asleep alone so he or she

doesn’t need help to fall back asleep during the

night.

2 Snoring, sleep apnea: Nearly 20 percent of

kids snore. Enlarged tonsils may be to blame,

but snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, a

serious condition in which breathing is disrupted.

Sufferers often awaken, gasping for air.

>> How to help: If you suspect sleep apnea, tell

your pediatrician; he or she can arrange for a sleep

study to properly diagnose and treat your child.

3 Night terrors: If your child wakes up crying,

let him or her tell you about the dream. During

a night terror, your child may not fully awaken

and may scream uncontrollably, despite your

comforting gestures. He or she won’t remember

the incident in the morning.

>> How to help: Limit stress and irregular

bedtimes, since they can increase the likelihood of

night terrors.

4 Sleepwalking: Most juvenile sleepwalkers

are between ages 3 and 7, and the condition

sometimes runs in families.

>> How to help: Make sure your home is safe (no

unguarded stairwells or toys to trip over) and gently

guide the walker back into bed. Talk to your pedia-

trician—sleepwalking can indicate sleep apnea.

5 Bedwetting: Some children have delayed

development of the ability to wake up when

their bladder feels full. Kids should outgrow the

problem by adolescence.

>> How to help: Limit drinks before bedtime and

insist on a bathroom visit before getting under the

covers. Don’t punish your child for a situation he

or she can’t control. n

>> How to handle 5 common middle-of-the-night mishaps

� >> carolinas Kids

Recognizing sleep disorders

create a regular bedtime routine.

parentpractices

clear a path for your sleepwalker.

limit beverages after dinner.

a s more children fall victim to obesity,

doctors are noticing an increasing

number of youngsters with high blood

pressure (hypertension). “In the past, hypertension

in children and adolescents was rare and usually

secondary to surgically correctable causes. Now,

however, there’s an alarming increase in hyperten-

sion due solely to obesity,” says Donald A. Riopel, MD,

a pediatric cardiologist with Sanger Clinic. Catching

high blood pressure early is important, as it can lead

to heart failure or stroke later in life. If your teen’s

blood pressure is higher than 120/80 mm Hg, make

sure that a doctor monitors him or her regularly and

that your child follows the doctor’s advice, includ-

ing taking any prescribed medications and chang-

ing dietary habits. To lower your child’s chances of

developing hypertension, watch out for these five

triggers:

My kids get plenty of exercise when it’s nice outside, but how can i keep them active when bad weather keeps them indoors?

teens and high blood pressure

Q

House calls

Kids can still get

their recommended

60 minutes of daily physical

activity. encourage them to

use exercise videos or video

games that require them to

dance or jump around. limit

non-active screen time to

one hour or less. try taking

trips to the mall, then split

up into teams to see who

can walk to particular stores

quickest. check out com-

munity center calendars

for indoor activities, such as

volleyball, aerobics or bas-

ketball. on better days, go

hiking or head to the park.

A

www.levinechildrenshospital.org << �

Ana-Maria Temple, MD,Charlotte Pediatric Clinic-Pineville

physicians at levine children’s hospital provide an integrated and comprehensive approach to caring for children with kidney problems. board-certified nephrologists provide inpatient/outpatient evaluation and management for a variety of pediatric kidney-related problems. to further enhance our services, we will open a hypertension clinic in 2009.

>> Sleep, stress and salt raise the risk. What’s a mom to do?

1 Blood pressure booster: Excess weight.

>> Lower it: Limit high-fat foods and monitor

serving sizes. Encourage your child to eat healthy

foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and

low-fat dairy products.

2 Blood pressure booster: Inactivity.

>> Lower it: Regular exercise can help

regulate blood pressure and can often lower

hypertension.

3 Blood pressure booster: Lack of sleep.

>> Lower it: Teens need about 9¼ hours

of sleep a night. A shift in teens’ biological clocks

makes it difficult for them to fall asleep before

11 p.m. Encourage them to wind down for 30 to

60 minutes before bed.

4 Blood pressure booster: Salty foods.

>> Lower it: Cook with less salt, remove the salt

shaker from the table and limit packaged foods.

5 Blood pressure booster: Stress.

>> Lower it: If your teen’s schedule is truly

overloaded, suggest that he or she drop out of

an activity or two, and explain that asking for

help and practicing relaxation techniques

can help reduce stress. n did you know?

Levine Children’s Hospital. Caring for your children close to home.

Levine Children’s Hospital offers more than 30 pediatric specialties to provide the very best care for children in this region. Through our Specialty Centers in Charlotte, Gastonia and Hickory, our physicians bring this specialized care closer to your home. Services available include cardiology,

urology, gastroenterology/hepatology, endocrinology, neurology and more.

Our specialists have one focus:providing children the very best care now, for the sake of their future.

SpecialtyCenters

www.levinechildrenshospital.org

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