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Infants under 8 months: protection against RSV!

Now available: Immunization to protect babies from RSV, a yearly cold-like illness that is particularly serious in newborns and very young infants. Unlike other colds, it frequently goes to the chest, and because babies have tiny lungs they fill up with mucus quickly. They can have wheezing, labored breathing, pneumonia, or stop breathing. About 2/3 of babies catch it their first RSV season, approximately October through April. About 20% of these infants develop wheezing, and 2% of healthy, full-term babies are hospitalized and 6% of preterm infants, with the youngest at the highest risk. We all continue to catch RSV every year or two, but with fewer symptoms each time because of stronger immune systems and bigger lungs (until over 50, when it worsens again; people over 65 are also advised to get this immunization). This RSV immunization (Beyfortus) is different from vaccines in that it is actually an injection of antibodies against RSV. A single dose will circulate for at leas
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Daylight Saving Time ending! Helping kids adjust to the upcoming time change so they don't start waking up at 5am.

 My favorite sleep expert, Dr Craig Canapari of the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center, has a great article on this.  "Falling Back"
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 Affected by the infant formula shortage or just wondering about the differences in brands?   Substitute formula recommendations during the shortage Everything you wanted to know about choosing a baby formula
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Looks like we should all be getting blackout curtains...

 Small but fascinating study suggesting that even low levels of light when we are sleeping can activate our sympathetic ("fight-or-flight") nervous system and adversely affect our blood sugar regulation and cardiac health.   Original article in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences And the NPR summary
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COVID vaccines now recommended by CDC for ages 12 & up

  Today's announcement from the LACDPH: Starting tomorrow, Los Angeles County vaccination providers may begin offering the Pfizer vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds at vaccination sites that offer the Pfizer vaccine. All eight county run sites will be open tomorrow and able to vaccinate children 12-17; teens should be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult, and present a photo ID and verification of age.  For a full list of sites across the county offering Pfizer vaccines, please visit  http://bit.ly/PfizerSites  . To schedule an appointment, visit  www.VaccinateLACounty.com  beginning this evening; walk-ins are welcome at all 8 county-run sites.  Parents or teens with questions about the vaccine should contact their healthcare provider or visit the  Public Health  website for more information on vaccine safety and efficacy. From the American Academy of Pediatrics: Safety Pfizer and CDC officials reviewed data on safety and efficacy of the vaccine during Wednesday’s ACI
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Stop the ice for sore muscles?

It is important to me that the advice we give as doctors is based on evidence, but sometimes when we don't have that, we rely on tradition.  I am glad when "the way we've always done it" is given a fresh look.  In this article, the author discusses new studies that suggest that the common practice of applying ice after muscle injuries may do more harm than good... No ice for sore muscles ?
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Is coronavirus still a big deal? YES. Just because we are tired of this doesn't mean it is going away. The virus doesn't care how we feel about it. I continue to get calls EVERY DAY from families in my practice who have been exposed to or caught coronavirus.  Some family members have become seriously ill,  fortunately none of them children.  As studies have shown, symptoms in kids range from nothing at all to mild congestion and runny nose, or low-grade fever, to high fevers, coughing, vomiting, and loss of taste or smell.  So potentially any sign of illness could be coronavirus.  Please continue to wear masks and socially distance to prevent spread and stay home for 10 days if your child has any sign of illness.  1500 people died from the flu in L.A. County in all of 2019, but 5381 people have died from COVID in L.A. County as of today, only 6 months after it started. See  publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/data/index.htm Back-to-school time Because kids themselves (a
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