News & Announcements

Feb 27

As of February 27, 2024, we are proud members of Privia Medical Group!

Feb 2

Talk About Nitpicking!

Head lice are tiny, gray bugs. They are 2 to 3 millimeters long. They move fast and are difficult to see. Head lice live in the hair and bite the scalp to suck blood.

They attach their white eggs, called nits, to the hair. Unlike dandruff, nits can’t be shaken off. The nits are easier to see than the lice because they are white and very numerous.

The back of the neck is the favorite area for lice and nits. Lice and nits may cause your child’s scalp to itch and have a rash.

What is the cause?

Head lice live only on human beings. They can be spread quickly by using the hat, comb, or brush of an infected person, or simply by close contact. Anyone can get lice despite good health habits and frequent hair washing. The nits (eggs) normally hatch into lice in about 1 week.

How long does it last?

After you use anti-lice shampoo most lice and nits will be killed. If the lice come back, it usually means your child has had contact with another infected person or the shampoo wasn’t left on for 10 minutes. There are no lasting problems from having lice and they do not carry other diseases.

How can I take care of my child?

• Anti-lice shampoo or rinse
• Apply any of the commercially available products, such as Nix or Rid. Follow the directions. Most products must be used on dry hair. The shampoo kills both the lice and the nits. Repeat the anti-lice shampoo once after 7 days to prevent re-infection.
• Removing nits
• To make sure the nits are dead, wait at least 8 hours after using the shampoo before removing them.
• Remove the nits by back-combing with a fine-tooth comb or pulling them out individually. Even though the nits are dead, most schools will not allow children to return if nits are present. The head does not need to be shaved or hair cut to cure lice.

Cleaning the house

• Head lice can’t live for more than 24 hours off the human body. Your child’s room should be vacuumed. Combs and brushes should be soaked for 1 hour in a solution made from the anti-lice shampoo. Wash your child’s sheets, blankets, and pillowcases in hot water and dry them in the dryer. Items that can’t be washed (stuffed animals, hats or coats) can be sealed in plastic bags for 2 weeks (the longest that nits can survive). Anti-lice sprays or fumigation of the house is unnecessary.

Contagiousness

Check the head of everyone else living in your home. If lice or nits are seen, or they start to get an itchy scalp rash, they should be treated with anti-lice shampoo. Bedmates of children with lice should also be treated. If in doubt, have the person checked. Your child can return to school after the first treatment with the shampoo. Remind your child not to share combs and hats.

Feb 2

Reminder!
New patients should bring copies of their medical records including all immunizations, prior to their first visit with our practice. If your child receives care out of town or after hours from another practitioner, or has seen a specialist, please bring a copy of the visit, or ask them to mail / fax a copy so we can keep your child’s medical record complete. Our fax number is (305) 599-8023.

Flu season (seasonal flu) is here!
We started vaccinating against seasonal flu in September and October and continue until January. Everyone 6 months and older should get the flu vaccine. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus.

Please call our office to schedule appointments for the vaccine.

September, October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but you can still get vaccinated in December and later. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.

The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. For more information from the CDC:

Seasonal Flu
There are two types of vaccines:

• The “flu shot” – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the thigh of infants or the arm in older children. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine (Flumist®) a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 2 years to 49 years of age and are not pregnant.

Call our office for more details. Flumist is covered under most health plans, please check with your insurance carrier.