1

Effective remedies for alleviating a sunburn range from a washcloth soaked in cool water to aloe vera lotions, but there are some unusual remedies that are also effective. And a couple that aren’t. Now, that doesn’t mean you should give your sunburned child a bath in oatmeal paste. But if you did, it will ease the pain and itch. Oats, it turns out, are rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. “Oatmeal is soothing to many kinds of rashes,” says Nicole Baldwin, MD, a pediatrician affiliated with Cincinnati Children’s. She’s a bigger proponent of more common remedies such as aloe vera lotion. “There’s a lot of research that aloe vera helps cool the skin and heal it,” she says. “The first key is cooling, to relieve the inflammation. A cool bath or applying a washcloth to the affected skin will help, too.” If pain persists, Baldwin recommends an age-appropriate dose of ibuprofen for children older than six months. She cautions against some remedies for sunburn that are readily promoted online. One is to add one cup of cider vinegar to a

bath to restore proper pH balance (acidity vs. alkalinity) of sunburned skin. “I didn’t find any research that advocated for that,” she says. Several other options have downsides that are important to remember. Witch hazel has anti-inflammatory properties, because it draws tissue together and constricts blood vessels, but some versions contain alcohol, which will sting and dry out the skin. Vitamin E has antioxidant properties and is effective in the healing process of scars and inflamed skin, but isn't ideal in alleviating the pain of sunburn. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, parents should avoid any ointments containing benzocaine or lidocaine, which can irritate the skin, or petroleum, which traps heat under the skin. As always, parents should do careful research and consult their pediatrician if a child’s sunburn begins to blister severely, Baldwin says. “The biggest lesson for parents is the reminder to re-apply sunscreen,” she says. “Parents are typically good with first applications, but the frequent reapplying sometimes gets forgotten.”

Friendships can help keep children healthy in the summer monthsOne in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese, but summer provides an excellent opportunity for all kids to be more active. One of the keys to physical health: the emotional health that comes from good friendships.

A new Cincinnati Children’s study shows that exercising with a friend is more effective for kids than simple encouragement or being active with a parent or family member.

As a part of the study, 104 adolescents were selected to identify the benefits and barri-ers to being physical active. The researchers found that the most frequently-cited barriers were feeling self-conscious, lack of enjoy-ment, lack of energy, poor health and lack of self-discipline.

Studies show that kids are much more active when they are outside with friends versus playing indoors. The key lesson: Take it outside! It works.

It could be as simple as taking a walk with a friend, walking the dog, going for a bike ride, or just going to the park on a nice day.

S umme r F I T N E S SS O OT H I N G a sunb ur n

Exercise program supervisor for the HealthWorks!

Program for kids ages 5 to 18 at Cincinnati Children’s.

L I V I N G A N A C T I V E L I F E S T Y L E

CHRISTOPHER KIST, MS

n S P F 3 0 n

Minimum

n R E - A P P LY n

after your child swims or

sweats, and every two

hours regardless

tipsS U N S C R E E N

“The biggest lesson for parents is the reminder to

re-apply sunscreen.”NICOLE BALDWIN, MD

n Nicole Baldwin, MD, is a community pediatrician affiliated with Cincinnati Children’s. She practices

at Northeast Cincinnati Pediatric Associates.Yes, an oatmeal bath makes the list, but common remedies might be more practical options

n S E T A T I M E R n

Set a two-hour timer on

your mobile device as

a reminder.

healthFOR YOUR

p e d i a t r i c i a nASK THE DENISE WARRICK, MD

Pediatrician, General and Community

Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s

2

THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

The center helps families,

community providers

and agencies find health

information, community

resources and support.

Call 513-636-7606 for

assistance.

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCE DIRECTORY Use this directory to find

information, resources and

advocacy strategies at

www.cincinnatichildrens.org/

special-needs.

JOIN SPECIAL CONNECTIONSOur new online community

connects with others

parenting a child with

special healthcare needs:

www.cincinnatichildrens.

inspire.com.

advocateFOR YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

Summer brings some of the best wonders of childhood outdoor fun, from swimming to biking and playgrounds to ball fields.

It’s a great time for kids to get exercise and forge friendships. Those opportunities rely on parents to ensure their kids practice good safety habits. The best scenario is direct supervision, especially near water.

Drowning is one of the most common causes of death in children and, for infants and toddlers, can even occur in water as shallow as an inch or two. Keep baby pools empty when they’re not in use. Drowning and near-drownings are preventable.

Every child old enough should have knowledge of how to swim, and to be comfortable in the water. It will help them avoid the panicking that often leads to drowning. This is especially

true in bodies of water like lakes and rivers that might be less closely monitored than public swimming pools. Many recreation departments, including the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, offer free swim lessons for kids.

It’s important for older kids to wear a life-jacket while boating and canoeing. Make sure they fit snugly on your child and have a label indicating they meet safety standards.

Trampolines present another potential danger. Trampolines should have safety nets around them, and parents should limit the number of kids playing on them at once.

Good safety practices are really just common sense. Kids – and parents – should always wear a helmet when riding bikes or scooters. In many states, it’s the law.

HOW CAN I ensure MY

CHILD HAS A safe SUMMER?

a time for fun and safety precautions

3

RESEARCHSTUDYJ O I N A

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s conduct hundreds of studies each year to figure out why people get sick and what treatments might help them. Discoveries researchers make in the lab can lead to even better treatments and ways to prevent diseases from happening in the first place. Did you know you could be part of the process of helping our scientists solve medical mysteries? You can participate by joining a research study. Here’s what we’re recruiting volunteers for now.

If you have a question for the pediatrician, email youngandhealthy@cchmc.orgHAVE QUESTIONS?

parents

> >01< < Set a good example by taking all the safety precautions you encourage your child to do,

especially helmets and life-jackets.

> >02< < Leave fireworks to the professionals. Even small

items like sparklers can reach temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees.

> >03< < Children should not be around while you

operate a lawn-mower, and never allow a child to ride as a passenger on a ride-on mower.

> >04< < On vacation or at amusement or water parks,

review what your child should do if they become separated from you. Be sure your child

knows your mobile phone number.

> >05< < Check playgrounds for dangers like protruding bolts, hard surfaces and slides that are hot from

the sun and can burn legs.

What: This study is designed to learn more about how changes in sleep affect the health-related behaviors of teens. Who: Healthy teens 14 to 17 years olds who are of normal weight may be eligible. Each teen and a parent will come to Cincinnati Children’s three Saturday mornings in a row during the summer.Pay: Families may receive up to $265 for their time and travel.Contact: Catharine Whitacre at catharine.whitacre@cchmc.org • 513-636-5360

DO YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAVE SICKLE CELL DISEASE? Cardiac MRI and Sickle Cell Disease Research StudyWhat: We want to learn more about how sickle cell disease (SCD) affects the heart and lungs. We also want to figure out the best way to look at the heart and lungs by comparing two tests: an echocardiogram (or “echo”) and a magnetic resonance imaging of the heart (or cardiac MRI). Who: Those eligible to participate are children, teens and adults 6 years of age and older and have SCD.Pay: Participants may receive up to $600 for completing all study visits as reimbursement for their time and effort.Contact: Courtney Little at courtney.little@cchmc.org • 513-803-0226

RESEARCH STUDY FOR HEALTHY TEENS 14 TO 17 YEARS OLD Eating and Activity of Sleepy Teens (EAST-2) Study

14 TO 25 YEAR OLD MALES WHO HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH STUDY Cholesterol and Heart Disease Research Study

What: We want to learn about the effects of cholesterol, both good and bad, on heart disease. We also want to look at blood cholesterol and compare it between teens who have type 2 diabetes, teens who are obese and teens who are normal weight.Who: Male teens and adults, 14 to 25 years old, who have type 2 diabetes, may be eligible for participation. Those who smoke or take medications for cholesterol will NOT be able to participate.Pay: Participants may receive up to $125 for their time and travel. Contact: Courtney Little at courtney.little@cchmc.org • 513-803-0226

ABOUT THIS ISSUE SUMMER 2015

YOUNG AND HEALTHY is a quarterly publication from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. For more health news and patient stories, subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter online at www.cincinnatichildrens.org/subscribe

© 2015 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

PRODUCED BY

The Department of Marketing & CommunicationsCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center3333 Burnet Ave., MLC 9012, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3026Phone: 513-636-4420

Advisers: Chris Peltier, MD, and Zeina Samaan, MDEditorial Consultant: Denise Warrick, MDEditorial Staff: Tom O’Neill/managing editorPhotography: Tine Hofmann, tm photographyDesign: Christina Ullman & Alix Northrup, Ullman Design

facebook.com/cincinnatichildrensfans youtube.com/cincinnatichildrens cincinnatichildrensblog.org@cincychildrens

A L B E R T S A B I N

a n a p r e c i a t i o n o f h i s t o r i c p r o o r t i o n s

4

DR . ALBERT SABIN ARRIVED AT CINCINNATI CHILDREN’S IN 1939.

NEITHER HE NOR THE HOSPITAL WAS EVER THE SAME. IN TIME,

HE WOULD LITERALLY CHANGE THE WORLD.

a c h i e v e m e n t sMEDICAL

> > A H I S TO RY L E S S O N the oral polio vaccine

In all, Sabin’s research included some 350 scientific papers on topics that also included pneumonia, encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, viruses, sandfly fever, dengue and cancer.

He died in 1993 at the age of 86. Cincinnati Children’s education and conference center is named for Sabin.

This month, Cincinnati Children’s opened its new Clinical Sciences Pavilion, making the hospital one of the largest pediatric research centers in the country. It’s on Sabin Way, which the city of Cincinnati re-named in his honor.

SabinH O N O R I N G

Recently, Cincinnati Children’s marked the 55th anniversary of its “Sabin Sunday,” the first testing in the U.S. of his crowning medical achievement here: the 1960 mass immunization of Cincinnati children with his oral polio vaccine.

It worked wonders.

The live oral vaccine he developed here vastly amplified the early gains against polio made by the injected Salk vaccine. It was more effective, less expensive, easier to administer and provided lifetime immunity.

As vaccination programs mushroomed around the globe, hundreds of thousands of lives were spared from the paralytic disease.

footnoteI N T E R E S T I N G

The oral polio vaccine led him to be honored with the National Medal of Science in 1970 (left) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1986, but it was hardly his only achievement at Cincinnati Children’s.

In developing the oral polio vaccine

at Cincinnati Children’s, he forever

altered the course of medical historyPeople line up for first mass immunization in

Cincinnati in 1960.

Albert Sabin, in his lab, in 1945.

5

CONSULT A DOCTOR

If you are considering exposing your baby or young child to peanuts, please consult with your primary doctor about

weaning and introductions of food during this process.

peanut allergies

N E W TA K E O N> > Peanuts can be very dangerous for kids who are allergic, but they are also the most common thing children choke on. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that introducing peanuts into a baby’s diet could decrease the risk of allergic reactions as they grow older. Charles Myer III, MD, an otolaryn-gologist (ear, nose and throat special-ist) at Cincinnati Children’s, says that the bigger issue is the risk of choking. He shares his thoughts on feeding peanuts to young children: The validity of those findings aside, as a pediatric otolaryngolo-gist, I would like to heed a warning to parents who might be considering introducing peanuts to babies and young children.

A caution about feeding peanuts to babies, toddlers

l earnLIVE AND Healthy living for parents and children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents avoid feeding their children nuts until the age of 4. The reasons is that infants do not have molar teeth and are therefore not able to chew the nut into a size safe enough to swallow. As an alterna-tive, the AAP suggests that parents spread a small layer of peanut butter on a cracker once a child is at least 12 months old. In addition to the choking risks, there is a possibility that a peanut could enter the lungs and not the stomach (meaning that they could aspirate). This is because the coordi-nation of the swallowing muscles in babies and infants is immature. When food enters the lungs, serious blockage can occur to breathing and the material must be removed as soon as possible so that there is no pro-longed decrease in the child’s oxygen. Removal of the food requires a trip to the emergency and operating rooms.

Study suggests peanut protein can decrease peanut allergies, but choking still a major concern

CHARLES MYER III, MD

Physician in Otolaryngology at Cincinnati Children’s

L I B E RT Y C A M P US E X PA N S I O N O N T R AC K for Summer Debut

6

7

More beds, broader array of services, same Cincinnati Children’s medical expertiseConstruction on the expansion at Liberty Campus continues on pace and is scheduled to open in August. With the completion of the new fourth floor, the number of inpatient beds will increase from 12 to 42.

The additional space and inpatient beds will provide greater capacity for a broader array of services, expanded clinics and more scheduling options for patients and families.

n FOURTH FLOOR 42 beds (including four sleep study beds), playrooms, therapies, respiratory therapy, Child Life, team work areas, community physician room, provider sleep rooms, Admitting, Protective Services

n THIRD FLOOR Future clinic space, shell space

n SECOND FLOOR Expanded pharmacy, offices, Information Services space

n FIRST FLOOR Kitchen and cafeteria, lab, blood bank, expanded dock and Materials Management

n PLANNED "ANCHOR" SPECIALTIES AT LIBERTY CAMPUS INCLUDE:

Surgical – Otolaryngology (ENT), general pediatric surgery, Orthopaedics and Urology

Medical – Gastroenterology, Neurology and Pulmonology

Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

F O R

Liberty

A N E W D AY

C A M P U S featuresABOVE CLOCKWISE: Patient rooms are spacious and

include distraction elements on the ceiling above the

bed. Stars and constellations decorate the entry to a

patient unit. A rendering of the fourth-floor lobby.

L I B E RT Y C A M P US E X PA N S I O N O N T R AC K for Summer Debut

THE LAYOUT

3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 9012Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026

S U M M E R 2 0 1 5

VOL26 ISSUE6

Tips to keep your child safe and healthy this seasonsummer safety

A guide to your child’s good health

healthyyoungand

>> S I G N U P F O R

Yo ung a n d Heal thy M O N T H LY E -N EW S L ET T E R

Our monthly online edition provides all the great tips for keeping your child young and healthy, in a convenient email version. s i m p ly c li c k o n www.cincinnatichildrens.org/subscribe

P E A N U T A L L E R G I E SThe pros and cons of

introducing peanuts to

young children

inside

V A C C I N E H I S T O R YHonoring Dr. Sabin and

a brief history of his

oral polio vaccine