Antibiotics: Needed or Not? Now that cold and flu season is in full swing, I’d like to take a moment to talk about antibiotics and when they should or shouldn’t be used.  As most of you are probably aware, cold and flu season brings loads of infections into every family’s

Perioral Dermatitis Recently we have been seeing a lot of a rash called “perioral dermatitis” or POD. We describe this as a dry or bumpy rash (small, inflamed dots) or a red, inflamed, scaly rash that occurs around the mouth, nose and/or eyes. POD often looks similar in appearance to

Happy holidays! We are entering a season full of celebrations–Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, Diwali, and more. Regardless of your religious or cultural traditions, the holidays are often portrayed as a happy time filled with love and giving. However, not everyone is able to embrace the

Hello HPA families.   This month’s topic is a common issue in preadolescent children and teens.   Ingrown nails most commonly affect the great toenail.  This problem may affect other toes and fingers but less often. Ingrown toenails affect males twice as often as females.  Ingrown nails have different subtypes.

The Importance of Reading with Your Child Reading to your child at a young age is one of the best gifts you can give your son or daughter. Not only has early reading shown to help kids in school academically, it provides a wonderful opportunity for you and your child

The newest virus in the news- Monkeypox! I am sure a lot of parents have heard about the monkeypox outbreak that has spread worldwide over the past several months. Today I will review some pertinent information for parents about monkeypox. What is Monkeypox? Monkeypox is a viral illness that consists

Hello HPA families! Dare I say it… school is just around the corner. I hope you’ve been soaking in the sunshine, quality family time, and made it out with minimal mosquito bites. As the “s” word continues to loom closer, you may start to observe some nervousness in your child

Hello Holland Pediatric families! This blog will help you discuss internet safety with your family and friends. Plus, help you become more sensitive to methods people use to exploit children on the internet. A few questions to focus the facts: 1.) Who should care about internet safety? -Anyone with a

Where did October go?  It is has been a busy back to school season.   There have been multiple respiratory illnesses going around.  RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) made a reappearance after taking a break last winter.  Various viruses, such as parainfluenza, that cause croup have been present in high numbers. We

I don’t think anyone would have predicted this is where we would be at the start of this next school year.  The summer seemed so promising and I think we all enjoyed seeing each others smiles for a bit!  COVID-19 however has continued to evolve and, unfortunately,  we are in

This month on our blog we will be discussing COVID 19 and returning to school! We know that going to school in person is how our children learn best. In this blog, we will be discussing how to keep our children safe when they return to school. 1. Children 12

A common concern that we hear from children and their parents is difficulty with sleep. How much sleep does a child need? Every child is different but in general the following chart is a good rule-of-thumb for sleep needs based on age. If your child is not getting the recommended

Sorry the blogs have not been as consistent as in the past.  As things hopefully get closer to normal over next few months we will resume our monthly blogs.  We hope you have all been staying healthy, both physically and mentally. The Pfizer COVID vaccine is close to approval and

We are continuing to see record numbers of COVID-19 cases in West Michigan. Although we have been fortunate so far that most children that get COVID-19 have done well, that is not 100% of the time.  We do not have a vaccine yet.  Many older adults are getting very sick

Ticks Michigan summers are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful times of the year.  We have loads of sunshine, gorgeous sunsets and beaches, great hiking and camping spots, and an endless amount of other outdoor activities to keep us all busy for 3 or 4 months out of the year. 

Recently, it has been hard to stay up to date with the latest recommendations regarding COVID 19 (SARS CoV 2). Today, I will summarize the most recent recommendations from the CDC as of July 2, 2020. Who should get tested for the virus (nasal swab)? This type of test is

Despite challenging times, your family can still have a great summer! From beautiful weather and limitless options of things to do, summer is what families in Michigan tend to love most! Here is a list of how to kill boredom this summer. Although many organizations are opening back up, please

Like most of the United States, Holland Pediatric Associates has been making changes to try to limit the spread of infection in our community and follow the recommendations of public health officials. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work together to safely continue to provide advice and healthcare

2019 Novel Coronavirus  In recent weeks there has been much news coverage about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Parents and patients are curious about what this means for them specifically. Is this something that we need to be worrying about here in Holland, Michigan? The immediate health risk to the general

“Frenotomy, frenulotomy, frenulectomy…what a tongue twister!” Anterior Tongue-Tie Frenotomy, frenulotomy, frenulectomy…what a tongue twister! Many names for one procedure…but can this tongue twisting tongue-tie fixing procedure help with breast feeding?  Interestingly, there is no general consensus amongst experts about its effectiveness, and according to current reviews- 10% of pediatricians, 30%

Do you ever worry that your child has a frequent cough, wakes up at night with a cough, has trouble breathing or has trouble exercising because they can’t breathe?  If your child has any of these symptoms more than twice a week during the day (or twice a month with

  This month we’re taking a moment to discuss a common issue called stuttering. Stuttering is an issue labeled as a communication disorder. Communication disorders can be described as an impairment in the ability to receive, send, process and comprehend concepts or verbal, nonverbal and graphic symbol information. Stuttering falls

  TIPS FOR SCREEN TIME Your baby always grabs your bright screen, your toddler constantly asks for a show, or your teen is constantly caught with their phone in hand.  Sound familiar? Technology is an important part of modern day life, but how do you know when it’s keeping your

Today on the blog we will be discussing one of the most challenging parts of having a newborn – colic. It can be very confusing to diagnose colic and often during the diagnostic process parents make many unnecessary changes thinking that these changes will help with their child’s fussiness. What is colic? Colic comes in all

Welcome to Spring!  It is this time of year that it is important to plan ahead for your child or adolescent’s “Preparticipation Exam” or  “Sports Physical”.   MHSAA  (Michigan High School Athletics Association) requires a sports physical for athletes competing in sports at school, usually starting in 6th or 7th grade. 

Today on the blog we will be discussing eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. This is a very common skin condition, especially in areas with colder temperatures (MICHIGAN!). In the United States, it is estimated that about 11 percent of the population is affected. Most commonly, if eczema will occur in an individual, it

Sore Throat (Pharyngitis) Now that winter is in full swing, so are colds and sore throats. This article will focus on helping you care for your child with a sore throat and know when to call the office and seek treatment.  Most sore throats are part of a cold and

Hello, and thank you for reading about headaches in children! This may come as a surprise to you, but just like adults, children can also suffer from headaches. In fact, 90% of children complain of headaches at some point in their life by the time they reach 18 years old.