Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
Some things have come up.
Recently there is a new product out that advertises itself as
a replacement for chocolate spread since it combines
chocolate and cheese flavor. This type of food can result in
a fat kid with no teeth and early heart disease.
An interesting article appeared in the journal called
Spine that was done in Israel. Youngsters can develop
low back pain that will plague them throughout their adult
years. This survey indicated that school furniture is not
designed for the growing kid and often puts undo strain on
the backs of kids. Furthermore, many kids get no physical
activity at recess or have no exercise activities or physical
education at school. In addition, many younger kids have
backpacks that are more than 15 percent of their weight. If
you weigh 150 pounds as an adult (that is 75 kilo give or
take) then this is like walking around with 22.5 pounds on
your back (11 kilo) — ouch.
We can help by making sure our children get the physical
activity they so vitally need and making sure they do not
have to walk around with such loaded backpacks.
I am answering more questions sent to me:
The most common food allergy remains nuts, specifically
peanuts. Treatments remain antihistamines, and steroids in
more severe cases. Adrenalin is reserved for the very severe
cases where there is a shortness of breath. Most people at
risk know they have a possibility of this problem, either due
to past experience or close relatives with the same.
Polyps in the nose and sinuses are very common. They can be
shrunken or removed, but aside from frequent sniffling and
snoring, they cause few problems. They may make upper
respiratory problems more difficult to deal with and more
frequent. They are easily diagnosed through looking in the
nose or with a CT of the sinuses.
Birthmarks can be dangerous. They are what most people call
moles. Black ones are the most dangerous and they must be
carefully followed by a skin doctor. The concern here is
melanoma, a skin cancer which is vicious. It is more common
in light-skinned people and those who get lot of UV exposure,
such as North Americans who come to live here. Fortunately,
awareness on this subject is high now, and tanning salons,
reflectors and sunlight are recognized dangers.
Write me in care of the Yated.
A message from GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of this
column. Zofran is the most powerful anti-vomiting product
available and it works, unquestionably. It costs more than
Pramin, but often one pill can control the vomiting
completely.
