News
-
Aug 16 2010We have received our first shipment of flu vaccine: the nasal "Flu-mist." The Flu-Mist is appropriate for almost all healthy children over age 2, as long as they haven't had an asthma attack in the last year. For asthmatics and for infants under 2, we have not yet received our shipments of injectable flu vaccine. (We have not yet received any shipments of flu vaccine for our Medicaid population.) All flu vaccine this year will include protection... more
-
Aug 6 2010The Plumpton Park Zoo in Cecil County, Maryland has closed down. This small private zoo has entertained thousands of children and their families over the past quarter-century. But the owner is elderly and ill, and apparently he cannot continue to direct the operation of the zoo. Financial considerations are reportedly not an issue. The zoo's website has had all information removed, except for a notice that the zoo has been closed. The exotic animals will be d... more
-
Jul 9 2010A new website has games that you can play to learn about how our laws are made and defended. "Our Courts" teaches middle school and high school students about the workings of the Supreme Court, and how constitutional law is determined. "iCivics" has games and other material that teaches about the legislative process. I played some of the games; they're fun, and I learned something! They were developed with the assistance of Justice Sandra Day O&#... more
-
Feb 8 2010The British medical journal, Lancet, has officially retracted a 1998 study, which claimed to link the MMR vaccine with autism in children. Originally published by London gastroenterologist Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the flawed study has been retracted amid claims that he lied about his methods of patient selection and committed other ethics abuses during the course of his research. Several other studies, larger and better designed, have already disproven the study's claims. No credi... more
-
Jan 3 2010The Great Recession has caused Americans to spend more time with family. We seem to be valuing experiences over "things." Many people, including me, think this is a good thing! Click here to read the New York Times article.... more
-
Oct 25 2009The New York Times reported yesterday that Disney has offered a full refund for any Baby Einstein DVD purchased in the last 5 years. This action appears to acknowlege that these DVD's offer no educational value, although Disney disputes this interpretation. Click here, and read my blog to get the full story! -- David Epstein, MD... more
-
Jul 14 2009HiB vaccine is one of the standard shots given to kids under 2 years old. The recommended schedule calls for 4 shots to be given by age 18 months. Unfortunately, a manufacturing shortage caused us to ration the vaccine, by giving kids only 3 doses. But in July, the AAP announced that the shortage was over. Now it's time to get kids caught up who were affected by the shortage. If your child is between 2 and 4 years old now, he might be missing the 4th HiB vaccin... more
-
Feb 14 2009Honey may be the best non-prescription cough medicine. In an A.M.A journal article from December 2007, the authors write: "In a comparison of honey, dextromethorphan [Robitussin ™], and no treatment, parents rated honey most favorably for symptomatic relief of their child's nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty due to upper respiratory tract infection. Honey may be a preferable treatment for the cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood upper respirato... more
