There is a stomach bug going around, giving diarrhea and "bad feelings".
If you get it, remember to drink lots of fluids, like pedialyte and gatorade, and to eat starchy foods, with nothing greasy or spicy.
You can try the BRATTY diet:
Bananas
Rice
Apples / Applesauce
Toast
Tea
Yogurt.
Please see your doctor if you have severe abdominal pain, high fever, blood in your stool or frequent vomiting and you can't keep down anything.
Otherwise, it should pass in a few days. You can take tylenol for pain and peptobismol or imodium to help with the diarrhea.

I have seen a few patients with Chicken pox today.
The incubation period is about 2 weeks, so if you are going to get it, it will happen about 2 weeks after you have been exposed to it. Unfortunately chicken pox is contagious before the rash appears so you can catch it from someone before they even know that they have it.
It sometimes starts with fever and malaise, and then a few days later the rash appears. It is a generalised rash with fluid filled vesicles that eventually crust over. You are contagious until all the bumps are dried up, so please don't go to work or school until then.
You can take tylenol or motrin for the pain and fever and histal or benadryl for the itching. You can bathe as usual and use calamine or caladryl for the itching. Bathing with tamarind or sage leaves is said to help.
There is an anti-viral medication that your doctor can give you to help make the episode less severe if it is given in the first few days of the rash appearing, but you will still get better if you don't take the medication.

Gastroenteritis is going around. It's usually caused by a stomach virus. If you are having vomitting and diarrhea, the most important thing is to keep up with your fluids and avoid dehydration.
Here are some suggestions:
 You should drink something every time you have an episode of vomiting or diarrhea. Take small slow sips of a cup Pedialyte or  Gatorade. You might also try drinking clear soda, such as 7UP or Sprite; clear broths; or non-caffeinated sports drinks, such as Gatorade. Affected adults should try to drink plenty of liquid every day, taking small, frequent sips.
 Ease back into eating. Gradually begin to eat bland, easy-to-digest foods such as soda crackers, toast, gelatin, bananas, rice and chicken. Stop eating if your nausea returns. 
 Try the BRATTY diet: Small amounts of Bananas, Rice, Apples / apple sauce, Tea, Toast, or Yogurt
 Avoid certain foods and substances until you feel better. These include dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and fatty or highly seasoned foods.
Adapted from the Mayo Clinic.

Protect yourself from the flu, wash your hands often with soap, and try to avoid putting your hands to your face.
Have you had your flu shot?

I am reading a great book on parenting called "All Children Flourishing, Igniting the greatness in our children" by Howard Glasser. 
Don't we all want to inspire greatness in our kids?
If you want to know more, sign up for their free 10 lesson e-course here:
10 Ways to Greatness

I have been seeing kids coming in with impetigo this week. Impetigo is a contagious skin infection that causes pustules that ooze, crust over and spread. It often starts around the nose and mouth and spreads. It is common in children and can be spread by close contact with an infected person. It can be spread to other parts of the body by scratching.
It is treated by antibiotics and a child is usually safe to go back to school after 24 hours of treatment.
You can help to prevent impetigo by encouraging your child to wash their hands often, keeping their fingernails short, discouraging scratching and avoiding contact with an infected person.
See WebMD for more info.

Come see me at the clinic if you are not feeling well or you need a check up. 
Call 327-6407 for an appointment or walk right in.
Love yourself, take care of your health!

Influenza viruses are always changing, so annual vaccination is recommended. Each year scientists try to match the viruses in the vaccine to those most likely to cause flu that year. Flu vaccine will not prevent disease from other viruses (like cold viruses), including flu viruses not contained in the vaccine.
It takes up to 2 weeks for protection to develop after the shot. Protection lasts about a year.
From: The CDC

Come see me at the clinic if you are not feeling well or you need a check up. 
Call 327-6407 for an appointment or walk right in.
Love yourself, take care of your health!

What are you feeding your kids? Overweight kids are at risk for developing diabetes and high blood pressure in later life. Give them healthy choices at home - fruits and vegetables, nuts, dried fruits. Try to always have something green on their plate. Do you buy lots of chips, snacks and sodas? Do you eat at Wendy's, KFC, Sammy's and Bamboo Shack every week? Lots of fast food and snacks are not healthy choices for you or your kids. Encourage salads, fruits, water and send them outside to play, or get them involved in sports.