Jerald S. Altman's Blog
May 3, 2016
New guidelines lead to cheaper, more effective treatment for middle ear fluid
Otitis media with effusion or OME is so common in children that almost all kids will have experience middle ear fluid and many will have at least one ear infection by the time that they reach school age. Acute otitis media is a painful ear infection. This infection develops when the middle ear becomes infected.
The common symptoms of this infection include; crying and fussy behavior in infants, pulling or tugging the ears in toddlers, and complaining about pain in young children. Children may also suffer from sleeplessness, headache, feeling of fullness in the ears, and may have fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
It’s diagnosed with the help of an otoscope (an ear instrument) to look inside the child’s ears and detect swelling, redness, blood, pus, fluid accumulation in middle ear, air bubbles, and occasionally a perforation of the ear drum. The doctor may also perform a tympanometry test in which the air pressure inside the child’s ear is measured in order to determine the presence of middle ear effusion.
One of the reasons for developing acute otitis media is accumulation of fluid in the space behind the ear drum called the middle ear. When it is normal, the middle ear is filled with air and is separated from the outer ear by the paper-thin eardrum. Inside the middle ear are three tiny ear bones. When sound waves strike the eardrum, it vibrates the bones to transmit the energy to the inner ear. Air enters the middle ear through the eustachian tube which connects the ear to the back of the nose.
90% of the time, fluid accumulation clears up on its own. However in many cases, chronic otitis media with effusion does not resolve and ear tubes are inserted which allows the middle ear to be aerated. At the time of tube placement, the fluid is removed from behind the eardrum.
A recent scientific study published in pediatrics suggests that the use of proper vaccinations and higher rates of breastfeeding significantly reduce the chances of ear infections during the baby’s first year, because they strengthen the immune system of the infant to enable it to fight against infection-causing bacteria, fungus, and virus.
azfamily.com 3TV | Phoenix Breaking News, Weather, Sport
AZFamily.com
GLENDALE, AZ (KPHO/KTVK) –
Four-year-old Wyatt Westergard was on his best behavior recently as he headed into a west Valley surgery center for what would be a quick operation to put in ear tubes.
His mother, Lori Westergard, says it’s something doctors have looked at for several years due to ear infections and hearing problems. But the final factor that led doctors to recommend the surgery was something unexpected. Read the full article …
The post New guidelines lead to cheaper, more effective treatment for middle ear fluid appeared first on Don't Stick, Don't Stuff!.
New guidelines lead to cheaper, more effective treatment for middle ear fluid
Acute otitis media is a painful ear infection. This infection develops when the middle ear becomes infected.
The common symptoms of this infection include; crying and fussy behavior in infants, pulling or tugging the ears in toddlers, and complaining about pain in young children. Children may also suffer from sleeplessness, headache, feeling of fullness in the ears, and may have a fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
It’s diagnosed with the help of an otoscope (an ear instrument) to look inside the child’s ears and detect swelling, redness, blood, pus, fluid accumulation in the middle ear, air bubbles, and occasionally a perforation of the eardrum. The doctor may also perform a tympanometry test in which the air pressure inside the child’s ear is measured in order to determine the presence of middle ear effusion.
One of the reasons for developing acute otitis media is an accumulation of fluid in the space behind the eardrum called the middle ear. When it is normal, the middle ear is filled with air and is separated from the outer ear by the paper-thin eardrum. Inside the middle ear are three tiny ear bones. When sound waves strike the eardrum, it vibrates the bones to transmit the energy to the inner ear. Air enters the middle ear through the eustachian tube which connects the ear to the back of the nose.
90% of the time, fluid accumulation clears up on its own. However, in many cases, chronic otitis media with effusion does not resolve and ear tubes are inserted which allows the middle ear to be aerated. At the time of tube placement, the fluid is removed from behind the eardrum.
A recent scientific study published in Pediatrics suggests that the use of proper vaccinations and higher rates of breastfeeding significantly reduce the chances of ear infections during the baby’s first year because they strengthen the immune system of the infant to enable it to fight against infection-causing bacteria, fungus, and virus.
NEWS ARTICLE
AZFamily.com
GLENDALE, AZ (KPHO/KTVK) –
Four-year-old Wyatt Westergard was on his best behavior recently as he headed into a west Valley surgery center for what would be a quick operation to put in ear tubes.
His mother, Lori Westergard, says it’s something doctors have looked at for several years due to ear infections and hearing problems. But the final factor that led doctors to recommend the surgery was something unexpected.
The post New guidelines lead to cheaper, more effective treatment for middle ear fluid appeared first on "Don't Stick Don't Stuff" book teaches kids to be safe.
September 24, 2015
Education
• If you teach children that foods high in sugar and fats are unhealthy, will they eat more of them?
• If you teach sexual education, will more teenage Moms have babies?
• If you teach young kids to avoid putting objects in their noses and ears, will they do it more often?
The answer is NO!
Supporters of Making Proud Choices! for instance, say that sex education curriculum arms teenagers with essential information to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Its detractors claim the curriculum simply encourages sexual activity among minors. Well, low and behold, the Obama administration and Congress in 2010 eliminated two thirds of federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage education, and allocated close to $190m for comprehensive sex education. In fact, SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States ) acknowledges that comprehensive programs are effective in helping young people delay sexual activity.
“Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let’s Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping kids become more physically active.”
Additionally, the SNAP Education and Evaluation Study (Wave II), evaluated the impact of several nutrition education programs on fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income elementary school children and seniors. The results demonstrated that children participating in certain nutrition education programs increased their daily fruit and vegetable consumption at home by a quarter- to a third-cup, and were more likely to choose low-fat or fat-free milk.
A very large study funded by the Don’t Stick Sticks Council has demonstrated conclusively, that if you read the book, Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose, Don’t Stuff Stuff In Your Ears! to your children, they will be significantly less likely to put a foreign object in their ears and nose. The authors of the study stated this: “Through colorful illustrations and clever rhyming schemes, “Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose! Don’t Stuff Stuff In Your Ears!” provides a fun and engaging way to teach kids not to put dangerous objects where they don’t belong. As anyone with children knows, youngsters’ curiosity can often prompt them to “close” their nostrils and ears by placing a surprising variety of foreign objects into them, including beads, blocks, batteries, coins, rocks, sticks, nuts, and much more. Unfortunately, this leads to serious injury and steep healthcare expenses.” By educating children in a gentle, fun, stress-free way, such as reading, they are much less likely to put things in their ears and nose.
”
Education plays an critical role in promoting lifelong healthy eating.
WAIT A SECOND, are you saying, Dr. Altman, education is proven to reduce teen pregnancy and STD rates?
AND, are you saying, Dr. Altman, that nutrition education is successful in promoting healthy eating?
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August 30, 2015
Hiking Camelback Mountain-Tips
Camelback Mountain is an absolutely beautiful mountain to hike. When you get to the top, you are 2,704 feet about sea level and have to get there you have hike about 1,200 feet in elevation and have hiked a distance of about 1.2 miles. It takes anywhere from 16 min to about an hour to hike up the mountain.When you get to the top, you can see 360 degrees around Phoenix and the surrounding suburbs. Many people take pictures at the top. They also tend to linger too long…
Click here for video of the summit
Accordingly, here are some tips to remember when you hike Camelback Mountain.
Dress appropriately.
Bring enough water and drink while going up and while hiking down. A 12 ounce bottle isn’t enough.
Wear ear buds or turn off the music. No one else wants to hear your music.
Hikers going up the mountain have the right-of-way. That means when you are going down and reach a narrow area, let the people ascending pass the narrow area first.
If you take a break, move off the path so other hikers can get by.
At the top, take a short break, take your pictures, drink your water and hike down as quickly and as safely as possible. Why do you think the parking lot is always full? People are lingering too long…
Don’t litter.
Have fun.
It is great exercise, and great place to meet friends for an activity, and a great place to meet new people. A following a few tips will make it even better.
Jerald S. Altman, M.D. is an Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeon (ENT doctor) and is the coauthor of Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose! Don’t Stuff Stuff In Your Ears! He was recognized as a Phoenix Top Doc in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Dr. Altman loves taking care of children’s ear, nose, and throat issues. After publishing many peer-reviewed journal articles, he recognized the need for a children’s book dealing with a common problem in his practice. He also hikes Camelback Mountain nearly every week.
Check out our website at www.dontstickdontstuff.com. Follow @dontstickdont on Twitter and “Like” us at Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose! Don’t Stuff Stuff In Your Ears! on Facebook. For questions, contact Dr. Altman at Jerry@dontstickdontstuff.com
The post Hiking Camelback Mountain-Tips appeared first on .
Hiking Camelback Mountain-Tips
When you get to the top, you can see 360 degrees around Phoenix and the surrounding suburbs. Many people take pictures at the top. They also tend to linger too long…
Accordingly, here are some tips to remember when you hike Camelback Mountain.
1. Dress appropriately.
2. Bring enough water. Drink while going up and while hiking down. A 12-ounce bottle isn’t enough.
3. Wear earbuds or turn off the music. No one else wants to hear your music.
4. Hikers going up the mountain have the right-of-way. This means that when you are going down and reach a narrow area, move out of the way and let the people hiking up, go through the narrow area first.
5. If you take a break, move off the path so other hikers can get by.
6. At the top, take a short break, take your pictures, drink your water and hike down as quickly and as safely as possible. Why do you think the parking lot is always full? People are lingering too long…
7. Don’t litter.
8. Have fun.
It is great exercise, a great place to meet friends for an activity and a great place to meet new people. Following these few tips will make it even better.
The post Hiking Camelback Mountain-Tips appeared first on "Don't Stick Don't Stuff" book teaches kids to be safe.
August 17, 2015
Grandma’s Brief Review of Jerry’s Book
“A fun one that should be required reading for all youngsters!”
Yes, this review is really that brief. Check it out for yourself! Short, sweet, and hard to beat.
The post Grandma’s Brief Review of Jerry’s Book appeared first on .
Grandma’s Brief Review of Jerry’s Book
“A fun one that should be required reading for all youngsters!”
Kids can’t resist cramming things into holes, include the ears and nose. This fun explanation from a doctor on why they shouldn’t do that will keep kids chuckling and, more importantly, keep their ears and noses protected.
Yes, this review is really that brief. Check it out for yourself! Short, sweet, and hard to beat.
The post Grandma’s Brief Review of Jerry’s Book appeared first on "Don't Stick Don't Stuff" book teaches kids to be safe.
July 13, 2015
NO Q-TIPS! 7 Tips to Safely Keep Your Ears Clean
This well-intentioned act, however, can actually risk our hearing ability.
The ear, particularly the inside parts, are extremely delicate. So, special care has to be taken when cleaning the ears.
The following tips will help you keep your ears clean in a safe way!
1. Stop using Cotton Swabs
Q-tips should not be used in the ear canal. People use them like a rammer is used to push the ball into a cannon before it firing.
Ear wax (also known as cerumen) is produced by the ears and is a self-cleaning agent. It is our body’s way to keep the ears clean. The body normally keeps moving old wax out of the ear, where it dries and falls out, taking any dust from the ear canal.
2. Clean the ears by not cleaning them
Confused? Well, the ear canals are generally self-cleaning. Thus, there is no need to poke things in your ear. If it seems as if your ears are plugged or if your hearing has decreased, get your ears checked by a doctor.
3. Wash external ears only
It’s perfectly fine to clean the external areas of the ear using a damp cloth. Just make sure nothing is inserted into the ear canal.
4. Use mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide to get rid of stubborn wax
If you have too much wax that refuses to come out on its own AND if there is no hole in your eardrum, a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear, once a day, is safe to use as well. If there is no improvement in 3 days, see your doctor.
5. Never use bobby pins to clean ears
Bobby pins scratch your ear canal which can lead to an ear infection. Also, it can rupture your eardrum, seriously affecting your hearing ability. Period.
6. Do not use ear candles
The FDA issued a warning back in 2010 stating that ear candles can lead to serious injuries and a possible loss of hearing. Never use ear candles!
7. Visit a doctor
If you feel things are not normal or if you feel as if your ears are producing too much wax, visit a doctor and let them recommend the appropriate treatment or cleaning procedure. Do not attempt to clean them yourself.
The post NO Q-TIPS! 7 Tips to Safely Keep Your Ears Clean appeared first on "Don't Stick Don't Stuff" book teaches kids to be safe.
NO QTIPS! 7 Tips to Safely Keep Your Ears Clean
Many people are used to cleaning their ears with Qtips. Their goal is to, well, keep them clean. This well-intentioned act, however, can actually risk our hearing ability. The ear, particularly the inside parts, are extremely delicate. So, special care has to be taken when cleaning the ears.
The following tips will help you keep your ears clean in a safe way!
1. Stop using Cotton Swabs
Qtips should not be used in the ear canal. People use them like a rammer is used to push the ball into a cannon before it firing.
Ear wax (also known as cerumen) is produced by the ears and is a self-cleaning agent. It is our body’s way to keep the ears clean. The body normally keeps moving old wax out of the ear, where it dries and falls out, taking any dust from the ear canal.
2. Clean the ears by not cleaning them
Confused? Well, the ear canals are generally self-cleaning. Thus, there is no need to poke things in your ear. If it seems as if your ears are plugged or if your hearing has decreased, get your ears checked by a doctor.
3. Wash external ears only
It’s perfectly fine to clean the external areas of the ear using a damp cloth. Just make sure nothing is inserted into the ear canal.
4. Use mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide to get rid of stubborn wax
If you have too much wax that refuses to come out on its own AND if there is no hole in your ear drum, a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear, once a day, is safe to use as well. If there is no improvement in 3 days, see your doctor.
5. Never use bobby pins to clean ears
Bobby pins scratch your ear canal which can lead to an ear infection. Also, it can rupture your ear drum, seriously affecting you hearing ability. Period.
6. Do not use ear candles
The FDA issued a warning back in 2010 stating that ear candles can lead to serious injuries and a possible loss of hearing. Never use ear candles!
7. Visit a doctor
If you feel things are not normal or if you feel as if your ears are producing too much wax, visit a doctor and let them recommend the appropriate treatment or cleaning procedure. Do not attempt to clean them yourself.
The post NO QTIPS! 7 Tips to Safely Keep Your Ears Clean appeared first on .
May 11, 2015
Sex Education- Analogy to Don’t Stick Sticks…
Teaching Sexual Education in schools is similar to reading our book to kids.
Reading Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose! Don’t Stuff Stuff In Your Ears! will NOT increase the likelihood that your child will put an object in their ears and nose.
2 Big Box #craft stores decided not to put this book on their shelves because they thought it would DECREASE bead sales (beads are a very common foreign body in kids’ ears and nose).
Additionally, we were told by an organization that “mails free, high-quality #Jewish children’s literature and music to families across the continent on a monthly basis” that “In the case of Don’t Stick Sticks Up Your Nose! Don’t Stuff Stuff In Your Ears!, our committee recognized that the #book would be valuable to parents dealing with a child who had a tendency to put foreign objects in the nose or ears, but we questioned whether #parents for whom this wasn’t an issue would want to raise the subject with their child.”
What the craft stores and the fantastic free #Jewish book mailing organization are basically saying is that if your child reads Don’t Stick… Don’t Stuff… they will be more likely to put objects where they don’t belong. Well, research shows quite the opposite. Take a look at a quote from an article by Advocates for Youth. Because many people have thought that “sexual education encourages youth to have sex”, the following is the fact:
“Numerous studies in peer reviewed literature,
including a comprehensive study by the World
Health Organization, have demonstrated that
sex education programs that teach young people
about both abstinence and contraception do not
increase sexual activity nor lead youth to engage
in sex at an earlier age.3,4,5,6″
So there you have it. The summary is the education provides an opportunity for conversation and does not encourage the behavior. It allows for discussion between parents are their child. It would NOT encourage the kids to put objects where they don’t belong.
Can you hear us BIG BOX CRAFT STORES and FANTASTIC JEWISH BOOK PROGRAM?
Thank you!
3. Kohler, PK, LE Manhart, WE Lafferty. 2008. Abstinence only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of
sexual activity and teen pregnancy. Journal of Adolescent Health. 42 (4): 344-51.
4. Kirby, DB, BA Laris, LA Rolleri. 2006. Sex and HIV Education Programs: Their Impact on Sexual Behaviors of Young
People Throughout the World. Journal of Adolescent Health. 40 (3): 206-217.
5. Kirby, DB. 2005. The Impact of Abstinence and Comprehensive Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs on Adolescent
Behavior. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. 5 (3): 18-27.
6. Mueller, TE, LE Gavin, A Kulkarni. 2007. The Association Between Sex Education and Youth Engagement in Sexual
Intercourse, Age at First Intercourse, and Birth Control Use at First Sex. Journal of Adolescent Health. 42 (1): 89-96.
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