Kids Considered™ Podcast

Spot the Tooth! Teething in Toddlers

Teething is something all infants and parents will experience. Although all children will experience teething differently, there are common patterns. In this podcast we discuss the myths surrounding teething, general symptoms of teething, typical timing of teething, teething toys to use and avoid, as well as the dangers of some medications marketed for teething. 

This episode was written by Dr. Lena van der List, Dr. Dean Blumberg and Neha Valluri.

We would like to thank Dr. Mary Metcalf, now retired clinical professor of pediatrics at UC Davis Children’s Hospital for reviewing this episode, although Dr. Lena and Dr. Dean take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation. 

 Supplemental information:

Photo from Dream Smile Family

Tensed about pediatric hypertension?

5-7% of children have abnormally high blood pressure. Pediatric high blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when one’s blood pressure reaches a predetermined threshold. In kids this threshold is determined by their sex, age and height. In today’s podcast, we discuss the basics of pediatric hypertension—including common causes, risk factors, screening, symptoms and reading the systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) numbers - with pediatric nephrologist Dr. Lavjay Butani. We debunk the misconception that hypertension is an “adult disease,” and explore why nephrologists, or kidney doctors, are the go-to physicians for children with high blood pressure.

This episode was written by Dr. Lavjay Butani, Dr. Dean Blumberg, Dr. Lena van der List & Aarya Gupta.

We thank Dr. Lavjay Butani, a pediatric nephrologist at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, for joining us for this episode, although Drs. Lena and Dean take full responsibility for any efforts or misinformation.

Supplemental information:

Photo from Everyday Health

Heat Safety: Protect Children & Beat the Heat

Staying safe in hot weather is more important now than ever as we are seeing an uptick in temperatures due to climate change. In today’s podcast, learn all about how to stay safe in the heat and different heat illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Kids are at a higher risk of being affected by hot weather compared to adults as their bodies’ heat up 3 to 5 times faster! We discuss these issues and more in this episode with our special guest Dr. Shaina. Spoiler alert: fluids are really important!

This episode was written by Drs. Shaina Kaye, Lena van der List, Dean Blumberg & Abby Michalak.

We thank Dr. Shaina Kaye, a pediatrician at UC Davis Children’s Hospital for joining us for this episode, although Drs. Lena and Dean take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Supplemental information:

Photo from RollerCoaster.ie

Unravelling the Wonder Drug: Penicillin Allergy

Although antibiotics such as penicillin are life saving drugs, many people opt to avoid using them due to assumptions of being allergic to penicillin. In today’s podcast we are joined by Dr. Victoria Dimitriades, a pediatric allergist immunologist, to discuss the myths surrounding antibiotic allergies, how pediatricians may consider attributing the characteristics of a rash to antibiotics related to penicillin, and when it may be appropriate to be referred to an allergy specialist for further allergy testing. 

 This episode was written by Drs. Victoria Dimitriades, Lena van der List, Dean Blumberg and Neha Valluri.

 We thank Dr. Victoria Dimitriades, a pediatric allergist immunologist at UC Davis Children's Hospital, for joining us for this episode, although Drs. Lena and Dean take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

 Supplemental information:

 Penicillin photo courtesy of Julia Serat, award winning photographer at Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California.  Penicillin vial courtesy of Jesse L. Steinfeld, MD.

Pain is an individual and subjective experience. In today’s podcast, we explore techniques used to assess pain, non-pharmacological treatments for pain management, and common medications used to control pain—both before and after surgery. Pediatric surgeon Dr. Jonathan Kohler joins us in detailing risks associated with opioid pain medications, and why opiates like codeine and tramadol are never used to treat pain in children. We also discuss disparities in the administration of pain controlling medication, and what can be done to ensure that biases do not interfere with treatment of pain.

This episode was written by Dr. Jonathan Kohler, Dr. Dean Blumberg, Dr. Lena van der List and Aarya Gupta.

We thank Dr. Jonathan Kohler, a pediatric surgeon at UC Davis Children's Hospital, for joining us for this episode, although Dr. Lena and Dean take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Supplemental Information:

Healthy Children: Managing a Child’s Pain After Surgery

American Pediatric Surgical Association- Safe and Effective Pain Management

American College of Surgeons: Safe and Effective Pain Control After Surgery

Safer Opioids- Codeine and Tramadol- Not worth the risk

New York Times- New guidelines for opioids in kids after surgery

Ann & Robert E. Lurie’s Children Hospital of Chicago: Post-Operative Pain Relief

Cincinnati's Children’s Hospital: Pain After Surgery

UCLA Mattel’s Children Hospital: Helping Your Child Manage Pain After Surgery

Racial Disparities in Pain Management of Children with Appendicitis in Emergency Departments. JAMA Pediatrics. Chamberlain, et al.

Guidelines for Opioid Prescribing in Children and Adolescents After Surgery: An Expert Panel Opinion

Photo from Medical College of Wisconsin

What’s with the bulge? Hernias in children

Pediatric hernias such as inguinal (groin) and umbilical (belly-button) hernias are common in children. In today’s podcast, we discuss what a hernia is and how inguinal and umbilical hernias are diagnosed and treated with pediatric surgeon Dr. Jonathan Kohler. Inguinal hernias are present in about 1-5% of babies and more common in male babies born prematurely, and most will require surgical correction. While umbilical hernias are found in approximately 20% of children and most often resolve on their own without surgery. We discuss what surgical correction of these hernias involves, and complications of hernias to be aware of. 

This episode was written by Dr. Jonathan Kohler, Dr. Dean Blumberg, Dr. Lena van der List and Abby Michalak. 

We thank Dr. Jonathan Kohler, a pediatric surgeon at UC Davis Children's Hospital, for joining us for this episode, although Drs. Lena and Dean take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Supplemental Information: 

Surgical Collaborative of Wisconsin Pediatric Umbilical Hernia Repair: For Parents

Heathy Children: Inguinal Hernia in Infants and Children 

Healthy Children: Umbilical Hernia in Babies and Children

Boston Children's Hospital: What is an inguinal hernia?

Stanford Children's Health: Inguinal and Umbilical Hernias in Children

Healthy Children: Umbilical Hernia Surgery (Herniorrhaphy)

Photo from verywellfamily.com

Coronavirus--Special Update Edition 14 July 2021

 In this special episode, we discuss the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccine for teens, including discussing inflammation of the heart (myocarditis).  We also discuss the impact of variants, including the Delta variant, and how that affects the course of the pandemic.  And we talk about opening up schools to in-person learning and how schools can do this most safely.  What about mask wearing for younger unvaccinated children?

 Note that the information provided was accurate at the time this episode was recorded, and that this is a rapidly changing situation.

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

 Photo from the University of California

All About Appendicitis

 Appendicitis is something that nearly 1 in 10 people will experience at some point in their lifetime. In this podcast, we discuss this common presentation with pediatric surgeon Dr. Jonathan Kohler. We review the cause of appendicitis, the classic presenting symptoms of appendicitis, how clinicians diagnose appendicitis with physical exam maneuvers, imaging and labs. In addition, we discuss management of appendicitis, including surgery or when non-operative management may be indicated.

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

We thank Dr. Jonathan Kohler a pediatric surgeon at UC Davis Children's Hospital, for joining us for this episode, although Drs. Lena and Dean take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Supplemental information:

Kids Health- Appendicitis

Healthy Children- Appendicitis in Teens

AAP news release on non-operative management for appendicitis

JAMA article- Association of Nonoperative Management Using Antibiotic Therapy vs Laparoscopic Appendectomy With Treatment Success and Disability Days in Children With Uncomplicated Appendicitis, Minneci et al.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia- Appendectomy

Photo from Medical College of Wisconsin

The Egg Episode

Children like to eat eggs, but are they healthy?  We know that eggs contain cholesterol, and this may be bad for heart health and also increase the risk for strokes.  Are there benefits to eating eggs?  How many eggs are too many eggs?  There are so many egg choices at the market, how do you choose?  We discuss cholesterol concerns, the nutritional value of eggs, how they can best fit into your child’s diet, and also the benefits and cautions about backyard chickens.  Plus Dr. Lena gives some hints how to stretch an egg!

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

 We thank Senior Outpatient Dietitian Staci Collins, RD, CNSC, Clinical Nutrition Services at UC Davis Children's Hospital for reviewing this episode, although Drs. Dean and Lena take responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

We also thank Dr. Dean’s mother-in-law, Gen Steinfeld, for her recipe for Gen's steamed egg (below)

Supplemental information:

Photo from Egg Farmers of Canada