Tag Archive for: babies

RSV in Infants

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Our daughter-in-law, Kerri, is a pediatric respiratory therapist with 32 years of experience, so she was an obvious choice to talk to about RSV, especially in babies. You need to know more about RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), especially if you’re parents or grandparents of infants less than six months old. The CDC reference at the end has more information for all age groups.

RSV is very common, and most of the time it seems like a common cold; the CDC estimates virtually all children will have RSV by the time they’re two. But with higher infection rates this year, there will be more severe cases than normal. Treating the symptoms, especially the inflammation of the lungs and the potential for pneumonia, is critical if the infection progresses.

How Bad Is It?

How bad is RSV this year? This is the worst year my daughter-in-law has seen. In Charleston where Kerri works, they’ve got beds in the hallway of the NICU because of overflow cases. Her mentor in Virginia has been an RT for 40 years, and it’s the worst she’s ever seen. Cases are up in Grand Rapids, and we’re not even in the critical part of the season yet, which is winter and spring. So it’s serious.

What You Need to Know

Infants will have symptoms, but they can’t tell you directly. A decrease in energy level, decrease in appetite, irritability, runny nose, and coughing are common. The child may or may not have a fever.

This info from my daughter-in-law was surprising to me: infants are nose breathers. The most important thing adults can do is suction the mucus from the nose to keep their breathing pathway open. Yes, you’ll hear the wheezing in the lungs, but the pathway goes through the nose. Use saline drops to keep the tissues moist and a suction bulb to keep the nasal passages open.

More tips from Kerri:

  • Keep a humidifier going; that helps with maintaining the mucus’s fluidity.
  • If the infant has a fever, keep her cool. Don’t pile on a lot of blankets, although that’s seems counter-intuitive. The baby’s breathing rate is higher to dissipate heat, so keep her cool—not cold, just cool.
  • Finally, watch the baby. If he’s really struggling to breathe, especially though his mouth, seek medical attention immediately.

The Bottom Line

Let me repeat: for most people of all ages, RSV seems like a cold. A weakened immune response can cause serious illness, so we have to be cautious. That’s especially true for infants, but also applies to elderly people and anyone with a chronic health condition. As with a cold, you’ll want to manage fever and pain; keep the liquids coming to avoid dehydration.

If there was one good thing that came out of the COVID pandemic, it was that the general public is more knowledgeable about dealing with viruses: wash your hands, keep surfaces clean, don’t touch your face, and cover your coughs and sneezes. RSV is especially communicable, so wearing masks can be beneficial.

Remember, there’s no RSV vaccine yet so prevention is the best option. We want to keep those who can’t speak for themselves as safe as possible, so always pay attention.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html

Men, Their Microbiome, and Infertility

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What role does a man’s microbiome play in infertility? Maybe a lot more than we thought. There are many more factors that affect fertility, with more studies published every day, but this week’s posts have focused on the microbiome. We’ll finish with a study on men.

Researchers examined the sperm of men who contributed semen to an in-vitro fertilization clinic before IVF with their partners. They wanted to determine whether there was a relationship between periodontal disease and sperm quantity and motility—how many sperm and how well those sperm moved. They found that men with periodontal disease had low sperm counts and the sperm were not as active. Those two problems can contribute to infertility.

Just as with women who have periodontal disease, the pathogenic bacteria appear to have an affect on fertility. The same type of treatment for periodontal disease may help fertility issues for both partners. But let me be clear: the microbiome is only one aspect of fertility; there are other issues that contribute to infertility that may also need to be addressed.

What are you prepared to do today?

Dr. Chet

 

Reference: J Clin Periodontol. 2011 Jun;38(6):542-6.

 

Your Oral Microbiome and Infertility

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Is there a relationship between the health of your teeth and your ability to conceive? Yes, and in today’s message, I’ll give you the latest research to come to that conclusion. This week’s messages provide insight into some of the health issues surrounding infertility. It’s also a kick-off of the second edition of my Healthy Babies CD and download.

In a review article, researchers examined the literature that was related to periodontal disease and women’s health. The examined systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and narrative reviews to evaluate all possible associations between periodontitis, systemic diseases, and women. The strongest association they found in the published literature was between infertility and periodontal disease, a growth in pathogenic bacteria in the gums surrounding the teeth. With open access to the bloodstream, these bacteria can affect many disease conditions such as heart disease. They can also contribute to infertility. And let’s be realistic: carrying a baby is a health challenge. You don’t need any rogue bacteria attacking your mouth or the rest of your body.

In this case, the solution for periodontal disease is simple: treat the periodontal disease and begin good oral hygiene including flossing, regular brushing, and regular dental check-ups. That will contribute to a healthy oral microbiome. There may still be other factors related to infertility that should be addressed, but you’ll have ruled out one possible obstacle as well as doing something great for your overall health.

What are you prepared to do today?

Dr. Chet

 

Reference: Curr Med Res Opin. 2017. Mar 24:1-11.

 

How Your Microbiome Affects Infertility

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Many couples struggle with infertility; they want to start a family but time passes with no results. This week, I’ll cover three recent studies that examine some factors that may affect fertility.

Researchers tested the fluids from the cervical-vaginal area in 96 subjects to examine the microbiome: were there any differences in the microbes in these women when compared to an established database of microbes typically found in that area? They found differences in the quantities of several bacteria. The researchers commented that the pattern of the microbiome was similar to women with bacterial vaginosis; it didn’t mean they had the condition, simply that there was a similar pattern in the microbiome. The researchers concluded that testing techniques could be developed along with treatment specific to the microbiome that could help infertility.

In this case, the researchers provided more questions and areas for further research. Where’s the solution? What can we do now? Ask yourself this: what makes the microbiome healthy in general? Without question, one of the primary ways is through diet. Eating vegetables, yogurt, and fermented foods contributes to a healthy microbiome.

What are you prepared to do today?

Dr. Chet

 

Reference: J Cell Physiol. 2017 Jul;232(7):1681-1688. doi: 10.1002/jcp.25806.

 

Baby Bones

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If you read the message regularly, you know I frequently mention my pretend grandson Riley. He’s 18 months old and he has one speed: fast. As a result, he occasionally falls. While sometimes he does fall hard enough to hurt himself, he doesn’t break any bones as I might if I fell that often. Why not?

Most of a baby’s bones begin as cartilage. A baby has about 300 bones at birth. As they grow, their bones begin to get solid; the cartilage cells gradually become bone cells by absorbing minerals such as calcium. Some bones fuse . . .

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Breastfeeding? Take Vitamin D

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To recap the week, breastfed infants do not appear to be getting enough vitamin D. Neither the moms nor the infants are exposed to enough sunlight to make their own vitamin D, especially in winter. Moms who breastfeed and don’t supplement their infants with vitamin D don’t have adequate amounts of vitamin D in their breast milk. That leaves a logical question: what happens if the moms supplement their diet with vitamin D? Two recent studies asked that very question.

In the first study, Australian researchers gave pregnant women either a placebo, 1,000 IU vitamin D3, or . . .

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Vitamin D for Babies

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The next logical question is this: if babies aren’t getting enough vitamin D from breast milk, will supplementing the babies’ diet with vitamin D3 increase vitamin D levels? Researchers examined data collected from the TARGet Kids! primary healthcare research network, a large cross-sectional study conducted in Canada, to answer the question.

The researchers examined data from over 2,500 breastfeeding mothers and infants who had vitamin D levels checked regularly. Those infants who were supplemented with vitamin D while breastfed had higher levels of vitamin D than those who were breastfed without taking a vitamin D supplement. The . . .

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