Kids Considered™ Podcast

This episode reviews atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema! Eczema is a very common skin condition in children. Eczema presents as dry, scaly patches of skin that are itchy. While eczema has a genetic component to it, it can also commonly be caused by triggers including hot or cold weather, pet dander, wool, strong fragrances and many others. The most effective way to treat and prevent eczema flare ups is by moisturizing! We also discuss topical steroids and other common treatments. Be sure to listen to learn more about causes, characteristic features, common triggers, and importantly how to treat it.

This episode was written by Dr. Lena van der List, Dr. Dean Blumberg & Abby Michalak. We would like to thank Dr. Smita Awasthi, a pediatric dermatologist at UC Davis for reviewing this episode. 

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Photo from healthychildren.org

In today’s podcast we talk to Dr. Sara Aghamohammadi, a pediatric intensivist and chief wellness officer at UC Davis Health. We discuss burnout, and how to recognize when this may be occurring in your own career. We talk about wellness and what strategies actually work to combat burnout. We contemplate self care, including Dr. Sara’s journey to finding her love of improv comedy…and test out our own improv skills! 

We would like to thank Dr. Sara Aghamohammadi, pediatric intensivist and chief wellness officer for joining us for this episode. 

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Photo from jimmycarrane.com

In this episode, we talk with patient safety advocate Dr. Ulfat Shaikh about preventing home medication errors. We review the common ways mistakes are made, some of the most common medications that can lead to errors in administration and how to avoid an error with your child. We emphasize the importance of reviewing all the medications a child takes, both prescription as well as over the counter, at each doctors visit. We also discuss the challenges of liquid medications- and why you should never measure medication in a household spoon! Tune in for this safety spotlight! 

This episode was written by Dr. Ulfat Shaikh, Lena van der List and Dean Blumberg

We would like to thank Dr. Ulfat Shaikh, a general pediatrician at UC Davis and the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Quality Improvement and Patient Safety for joining us for this episode. 

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Photo from HealthyChildren.org

In this episode, we talk to Keaton’s Cancer Alliance about pediatric cancer. Unfortunately, 1 in 285 individuals will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20 and cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease in children. We review the most common types of pediatric cancer and presenting symptoms. We also review the different work-ups and various treatment regimens. 

We talk to Jessica Alonso, the executive director at Keaton’s about the immense emotional, physical and financial toll on a family after receiving a cancer diagnosis. We discuss how families process a new cancer diagnosis and how we can best support families going through this challenging period. We also review some of the amazing services offered in our region to families of children with pediatric cancer. 

We would like to thank Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance for joining us congratulate the organization on their 25th anniversary. 

In this episode we talk with Dr. Pritha Multani about chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain in one part of the body that lasts for longer than 3 months. Up to 1 in 4 children will experience an episode of chronic pain. We discuss how trauma can double the risk of a child having chronic pain and review the most common locations of prolonged pain in children. We also discuss non-pharmacologic evidence-based strategies for reducing chronic pain including meditation, therapy, exercise and daily doses of joy and play. Be sure to listen to the full episode to learn more! 

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PFAS or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of human-made chemicals that are used in many consumer and commercial products. They are often referred to as  "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment. Studies have shown a possible link between exposure to PFAs and significant health effects. In this podcast we review these forever chemicals. We discuss what they are, what they are used in and how to reduce our risk of exposure. 

This episode was written by Drs. Dean Blumberg and Lena van der List.

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Photo from Chelseagreen.com

Teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. However, 70% of teens report they do not meet this recommendation. In this podcast we review the importance of sleep- and how to get more of it! The effects of inadequate sleep are far reaching, ranging from poor academic performance, increased engagement in risky behaviors, and higher rates of depression and anxiety. Adequate sleep can even benefit your health such as better immune system function and lower risk for obesity. Be sure to listen to the full episode to learn tips on how to help your teen sleep better!

We would like to thank Dr. Kiran Nandalike and Dr. Sanjay Jhawar, pediatric pulmonologists at  UC Davis Children’s Hospital for reviewing this episode, although Dr. Lena and Dr. Dean take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation

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Influenza is a common respiratory virus that typically causes high fevers, chills, muscle aches, cough and congestion. This flu season has seen particularly high transmission in the United States with many kids falling ill. We spend this episode reviewing this common virus. We discuss how it is transmitted, what's the difference between the different strains of the flu and which populations are most at risk for severe illness. We review the indications for antiviral medications to treat influenza and the importance of getting a flu shot yearly for all adults and kids over 6 months of age. 

This episode was written by Drs. Dean Blumberg and Lena van der List 

Photo from LiveWell

Happy New Year! As we take a short break for the holidays, we are bringing back one of our old episodes to help ring in 2023. 

We hope this reminds all of us about how powerful and important unstructured play is for kids!

Play is vital to a child’s development and promotes stable and nurturing relationships. The benefits of play also include practice at problem solving, collaboration and creativity. Drs. Lena and Dean also discuss how play results in positive brain changes and prepares children for school. So why is there a crisis in playtime? And what can parents do to increase beneficial play opportunities for children? Appropriate activities are discussed starting from the first few months of life and for older children. In addition, tips for choosing toys for different ages might be surprising comparing old-fashioned toys to the latest modern gadgets.

This episode written by Dr. Dean Blumberg and Dr. Lena van der List.

Driveway Dinner mentioned by Dr. Dean (photo courtesy John Banchero).

The authors thank Dr. Rachel Talamantez who is a Marriage Family Therapist in private practice in San Jose California for reviewing this topic, although Drs. Dean and Lena take responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

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Photo from Rhythms of Play

Respiratory Syncytial Virus, known to most as RSV, is a common respiratory virus that affects children. Amidst a current surge of RSV infections and hospitalizations, we spend this episode reviewing this common virus. We discuss how it is transmitted, the natural course of the illness, which populations are most at risk for severe illness. We review which signs and symptoms warrant evaluation and testing, and which can be monitored at home. We also discuss prophylaxis for high risk babies and hopes for an RSV vaccine in the near future.

This episode written by Dr. Lena van der List and Dr. Dean Blumberg.

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 Photo from UCSF- RSV