Newsletters

Healthy Child Spring/Summer 2001

Questions & Answers

by SUSAN J. MARGOLIN, M.D., M.P.H.
CHIEF, GENERAL PEDIATRICS

If you have a question for the pediatrician, please e-mail it to ESALAMON@SBHCS.COM or mail it to Elizabeth Salamon, Public Relations, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange, NJ 07052

Q.
My son is two years old and he has asthma. He has been on several medications, yet he still has breathing problems. I feel that these medications may be causing some of his behavior problems and from time to time I like to give his body a break from these medications, which I can do successfully in the summer. I am so stressed out having a child with asthma. Are there some preventative measures that I can take?
A.
Asthma is a disease caused by hypersensitivity of the airway tovarious environmental stimuli - viral illness, cigarette smoke, dustmites, molds, cold, etc. Your child may be sensitive to one of these stimuli or to many, all of which cause the airway to constrict. Your sonhas been prescribed medications called "bronchodilators" which open theairway and ease breathing.

Occasionally, some children may experience a side effect of the bronchodilators and may become a little "jazzed up." Your child may beone of these, but a summer break from medication is good only if agreed toby your physician. If your child's behavior improves, your physician maybe able to switch his medication to other drugs which may affect hisbehavior less.

Prevent airway constriction by eliminating some of the environmental stimuli that most commonly cause asthma. There should be NO SMOKING in the home. Carpets, which attract dust mites, should be removed fromthe child's bedroom, air filters can be used, pillows and mattresses can beplaced in hypoallergenic covers. Fortunately, a substantial number ofchildren outgrow asthma and medication can be decreased or discontinuedas your child's physician notices improvement in his condition.

Q.
What is swimmer's ear and does it lead to ear infections in children? Should I be concerned when my four-year-old begins swimming lessons, because he is prone to ear infections?
A.
Swimmer's ear is an inflammation of the external auditory canal, that canal between the external ear and the ear drum that most mothers are always trying to clean with a Q-tip. Occasionally, if that canal remains wet for a prolonged period of time (as it may when a child has been immersed in water during swimming), the skin in the canal may begin to break down. Bacteria normally found in the area can then penetrate the skin and cause redness and pain in the canal. This can be cured with ear drops and usually does not require oral antibiotics.

An ear infection, also known as otitis media, is the presence of fluid and bacteria BEHIND the ear drum in what is called the middle ear. This is often associated with cold symptoms. The eardrum is a barrier between the canal and the middle ear so that "swimmers ear" is unlikely to lead to an ear infection. Ear infections are treated with antibiotics given by mouth.

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