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Author: Charish Barry, MD

Asthma and your child

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in

Asthma affects children in different ways. Some children have only occasional asthma attacks. Others have many asthma attacks that send them to the doctor often. If your child has asthma, the first thing to know is that treatment can control it. And, as a parent, you can do a lot to help your child learn to live a healthy and active life. Start by understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments of asthma. Then find out what you can do to prevent your child’s asthma attacks. Here’s more information about asthma in children.

Request an Asthma Consultation

If your child is showing symptoms of asthma, call (805) 845-1221 to request an appointment at our pediatric office in Santa Barbara today.

 (805) 845-1221

child with asthma.

 

 

Things to Know This Flu Season

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in

The flu is caused by several influenza viruses (which are not the same as the virus that causes COVID-19). Most flu outbreaks happen in late fall and winter. Getting a flu shot in the autumn can help prevent the virus for the entire flu season. Most people with the flu get better after a few weeks, but they can pass it to other people who are higher risk of health problems, such as babies, pregnant women, older adults, and people with other serious illnesses. Find out the symptoms of the flu and what to do if you get sick.

Request a Sick Child Appointment

If your child is showing symptoms or you are interested in learning more about flu prevention, call (805) 845-1221 to request an appointment at our pediatric office in Santa Barbara today.

 (805) 845-1221

sick child being cared for my mother

What To Expect During Your Child’s Well-Child Visit

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in

Just as adults need to see their physician at least once a year for a wellness visit, so do children. You wouldn’t hesitate to take them if they are sick, but it’s just as beneficial to take them when they are not. It’s a way to be sure your child is developing according to certain benchmarks and that there are no medical or developmental issues. If this is news to you, here is what to expect during your child’s well-child visit.

Continue reading “What To Expect During Your Child’s Well-Child Visit” →

Pod Care Program

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in

The mission of Petite Pediatrics has always been to optimize medical care and provide services that parents desire and children deserve. With this in mind, I am excited to introduce the Pod Care Program at Petite Pediatrics. The Pod Care Program encompasses home visits, virtual care, and our Pod Care site, which is a secure outdoor care space with a Basecamp Airstream Trailer and adjacent pergola. As patients of Petite Pediatrics, your Peapod Membership provides direct access to the Pod Care Program.

Petite Pediatrics has long offered conveniences such as telehealth and virtual care through the Peapod Membership Program. These features have been our standard-of-care, distinguishing us from a general pediatric office. By establishing the Pod Care Program at Petite Pediatrics, we are able to further distinguish our care services for children and offer more choices for families who desire secure, safe and convenient delivery of medical care.

With safety as a top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic, launching our home visit service for children with a telehealth and virtual care platform has been an essential way for us to continue to care for our patients. Additionally, our enhanced office safety features, environment controls and outdoor care site provide more security for families and staff during the necessary in-person experiences at the office. I am pleased to be able to extend the Pod Care Program to patients at Petite Pediatrics as we adapt to the changing needs of our community.

The Pod Care Program will have complete physician oversight with direct care provided by Board Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and requires a signed Home Visit Financial Policy/Agreement (provided below). A pediatrician house call visit may be arranged separately (terms and fees are confidential and available upon request). Please contact us for more information about the Pod Care Program or for scheduling future visits.

On behalf of the providers and staff at Petite Pediatrics, thank you for trusting your child’s care with us.

 

Sincerest Regards,

Charish L. Barry, MD, FAAP

Summer 2020 Update

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in

Summer 2020

During these difficult times, I would like to personally update patients and families at Petite
Pediatrics and our greater community about our “Practice Commitment” and the modifications
we are making to ensure the safe delivery of care for children.
– Charish L. Barry, MD, FAAP

Practice Commitment

Petite Pediatrics remains committed to providing personalized care for children in an
environment that is inclusive, safe and nurturing.
Environment of Inclusivity
We treasure the uniqueness of each child and we support and celebrate all aspects of the
diversity of each child and family. As a medical home for children providing wellness and acute
care, fostering an environment of non-discrimination is paramount. As such, at Petite Pediatrics,
we believe patients and parents/guardians have the right to be treated considerately and
respectfully regardless of the patient and/or family’s race, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity/expression, cultural background, economic status, education or illness.
Environment of Health & Safety
We are dedicated to ensuring that our office meets the highest standards of safety to help
decrease the spread of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Our Pueblo Street location has
expanded on-site services to provide separate locations for well and sick visits by utilizing both
indoor and outdoor space. Additionally, we will continue to care for children via telemedicine
and provide home visits. Updates of our practice modifications are provided below.

Practice Updates

The in-office hours have been modified for the summer months.

SUMMER SCHEDULE:
Hours:
M/F: 9 am – Noon (Dr. Barry)
T/Th: 9 am – 2 pm (Dr. Barry) / 2 pm – 4 pm (Catherine Cordero, PNP – Telehealth)
W: 9 am – 4 pm (Erin Baird, PNP – Home Visits) / 9 am – 4 pm (Dr. Iris Office Location – Acute Visits)

CARE SITES:
Patient care will be provided either indoor, outdoor, virtually or by home visit.
A. Indoor:
The main office is reserved for all well-child visits, vaccines, behavioral or non-infectious
acute care with Covid19 guidelines:
(1) Pre-visit Covid19 symptom screen
(2) On-site temperature check for parent/guardian
(3) One parent/guardian with patient per visit
(4) Use protective facial coverings (face masks) unless under 3 years of age,
developmental or behavioral limitations, or any safety concerns.
(5) Practice social distancing (as able) by use of outdoor space
B. Outdoor:
During the COVID19 health crisis, our parking lot will serve as our Acute Care Site. This
secure and private outdoor space provides a safe perimeter for children and has
adequate social distancing capability for adults and providers. The handicap parking
space and will remain accessible, however, general patient parking will be unavailable.

  • Petite Pediatrics Acute Care Pod: An Airstream Basecamp trailer has been set-up as our Acute Care Unit for
    children.
  • Petite Pediatrics Car Visit: A select parking space has been designated for drive-up testing / car visits.

C. Virtual:
Telehealth to continue via Spruce and arranged as clinically indicated or requested.
(Services are covered by and billed to insurance.)
D. Home:
Currently available on Wednesday to minimize exposure risk for patients with health
issues or concerns that prohibit ability to come to the medical office site.
(Home visit services incur a separate fee that is not covered by insurance.)

PATIENT PORTAL:
Passport is our new patient portal for direct access to your child(ren)’s immunization records,
lab results, patient visit summaries and informational handouts. Passport does not replace
Spruce for secure messaging, but will increase access to your child(ren)’s health profile.
Stay posted for your invitation to Passport!

BILLING SERVICE:
As of June 1, 2020, Petite Pediatrics has partnered with Accuquik, a local medial billing
company for all of our patient insurance billing needs. Sheryl Hopkins is the liaison for Accuquik
and will be able to directly assist with any insurance billing needs. Katie Welch will continue to
assist with billing needs for services rendered prior to June 1, 2020.

STAYING CONNECTED:
• website: www.petitepediatrics.com
• social media links:
– Instagram: @petitepediatricssb
– Facebook: PetitePediatrics
– Twitter: drbarry@petitepeds

SUPPORTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND BODY:
To help boost our immune response, we are offering Springboard pediatric supplements,
vitamins for kids.

  • Shoots & Vines Product Page

    Springboard Supplements & Vitamins (Shoots & Vines) online purchase/onsite pickup members-only.
    Excellent for overall immune support include: D-Hist and D-Hist Jr, Buffered Vitamin C,
    Reacted Zinc, Probiotics (Flora Bites and FloraBoost), Imu-Max, Natranix immune
    support for respiratory health, Kid-D liquid and Vitamin K/Vitamin D and Wholemune,
    an immunity supplement for older kids, teens and adults. These are available on our
    website or directly at the office via curbside pickup.

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS:
Petite Pediatrics’ goal is to offset the burden on Emergency Departments by offering acute
care and telemedicine services for our patients. Additionally, visiting family or friends this
summer can access care through our Virtual Peapod memberships. Overview of plans:

  • Virtual Peapod Membership: Patients can have regular telemedicine services, which
    are billed to insurance and may include acute care visits, vaccine planning, behavioral,
    growth and developmental visits. Ideal for short-term residence in Santa Barbara area.
  • Virtual Visits: Telemedicine Virtual Visits for patients who may need a single visit or
    brief follow-up concern. If you have family or friends who are in need of assistance with
    their child’s care, please direct them to our website to learn how to join.
  • Annual Peapod Membership: This will continue for existing members as is. However,
    we are aware of the significant impact the COVID19 pandemic has had upon our
    economy. If there is a financial concern directly affecting a family’s ability to continue
    the PMP service, please reach out to our office directly to discuss possible options. Any
    inquiries are completely confidential and will be treated with the upmost respect and
    understanding.

    Charish L. Barry, MD, FAAP Petite Pediatrics

Schedule an Appointment at Petite Pediatrics

Dr. Charish Barry offers concierge-style care that is designed to provide highly personalized care to infants, children, and teens throughout the Santa Barbara area. She and her team of highly trained nurse practitioners will take the time to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a well-child visit at Petite Pediatrics today! Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 845-1221.

(805) 845-1221

Cloth Face Coverings for Children

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in , , , ,

Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19

 

Why are people wearing cloth face coverings right now?

  • Since so many people who have COVID-19 don’t have symptoms, wearing cloth face coverings reduces the chance of transmitting the virus through the spray of spit or respiratory droplets. This is especially true for when someone with COVID-19 comes within 6 feet of you, which is the range of transmitting infection through acts like sneezing or coughing.​​

Should children wear cloth face coverings?

  • Children under the age of 2 years should not wear cloth face coverings.

When do children need to wear cloth face coverings?

  • There are places where children should wear cloth face coverings. This includes places where they may not be able to avoid staying 6 feet away from others. For example, if you have to take them to the doctor, pharmacy, or grocery store.
  • However, there are other places where children do NOT need to wear a cloth face covering:
    1. At home, assuming they have not been exposed to anyone with COVID-19.
    2. Outside, as long as they can stay at least 6 feet away from others and can avoid touching surfaces. For example, it’s fine to take a walk as long as your children stay 6 feet away from others and do not touch tables, water fountains, playground equipment or other things that infected people might have touched.​
  • Caution: you may need to reconsider the use of cloth face coverings if:
    1. The face coverings are a possible choking or strangulation hazards to your child.
    2. Wearing the cloth face covering causes your child to touch their face more frequently than not wearing it.

Staying home and physical distancing is still the best way to protect your family from COVID-19. Especially for younger children who may not understand why they can’t run up toward other people or touch things they shouldn’t, it’s best to keep them home. Children who are sick (fever, cough, congestion, runny nos​e, diarrhea, or vomiting) should not leave home.

What if my child is scared of wearing a face covering?

  • It’s understandable that children may be afraid of cloth face coverings at first. Here are a few ideas to help make them seem less scary:
    1. Look in the mirror with the face coverings on and talk about it.
      Put a cloth face covering on a favorite stuffed animal.
    2. Decorate them so they’re more personalized and fun.
    3. Show your child pictures of other children wearing them.
    4. Draw one on their favorite book character.
    5. Practice wearing the face covering at home to help your child get used to it.
  • For children under 3, it’s best to answer their questions simply in language they understand. If they ask about why people are wearing cloth face coverings, explain that sometimes people wear them when they are sick, and when they are all better, they stop wearing them.
  • For children over 3, try focusing on germs. Explain that germs are special to your own body. Some germs and good and some are bad. The bad ones can make you sick. Since we can’t always tell which are good or bad, the cloth face coverings help make sure you keep those germs away from your own body.

One of the biggest challenges with having children wear cloth face coverings relates to them “feeling different” or stereotyping them as being sick. As more people wear these cloth face coverings, children will get used to them and not feel singled out or strange about wearing them.

What about children with special health care needs?

  • Children who are considered high-risk or severely immuno-compromised are encouraged to wear an N95 mask for protection.
  • Families of children at higher risk are encouraged to use a standard surgical mask if they are sick to prevent the spread of illness to others.
  • Children with severe cognitive or respiratory impairments may have a hard time tolerating a cloth face covering. For these children, special precautions may be needed.
  • What is the “right way” to wear a cloth face covering?
    1. Place the cloth face covering securely over the nose and mouth and stretch it from ear to ear.
    2. Remember to wash your hands before and after you wear it and avoid touching it once it’s on your face.
    3. When back inside, avoid touching the front of the face covering by taking it off from behind.
    4. Cloth face coverings should not be worn when eating or drinking.
  • Wash cloth face coverings after each wearing.
  • What kind of cloth face covering is best?
    1. Homemade or purchased cloth face coverings are fine for most people to wear.
    2. For children, the right fit is important.
    3. Pleated face coverings with elastic are likely to work best for kids.
    4. Adult cloth face coverings are usually 6×12 inches, and even a child-sized 5×10 inch covering may be too large for small children.
    5. Try to find the right size for your child’s face and be sure to adjust it for a secure fit.

Due to very limited supply now, professional grade masks like N-95 masks should be reserved for medical professionals on the front lines who have increased risk of exposure to coronavirus.

More Information:

For a complete list of COVID-19 content for parents, go to the AAP HealthyChildren.org website and link to the HealthyChildren.org 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Most resources are also available in Spanish.

Practice Update COVID-19

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in

Please review the following updates to our practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OFFICE HOURS:

Shared daytime coverage with Dr. Iris Castaneda Van Wyk:

Mon & Wed – Dr. Iris

Tue, Thur & Fri – Dr. Barry

Nighttime: Dr. Barry on-call

Weekends: Dr. Barry & Dr. Iris alternate on-call coverage

TELEMEDICINE:

(All covered by and billed to insurance)

-Virtual Well-Visits:  Pre-visit surveys will be emailed in preparation for a virtual well-visit; vaccine plan of care to be determined with Dr. Barry at that time; will arrange for in-office or home-visit for vaccines, testing for vision/hearing or labs for screening iron, lead levels and urine tests as needed;
-Virtual Care-Visits: Non-emergent care visits set-up with Dr. Barry; May include Spruce-visits, direct  Spruce video visits, image or video transfers and/or text messages;
-Virtual Check-ins: Communication using voice call, text message, transfer of information via image or video; can be used for any concern about a child’s health;
-Virtual  E-Visits: Communication through our online patient portal. (We are launching our new patient portal called Passport. Stay tuned, as it will become available this month.)

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTION:

We want to stay connected with you!  Keep up-to-date via our website www.petitepediatrics.com, the hub for all practice updates and a great resource for parents. It’s also has our social media links including our newly launched instagram page. Follow us and share our links with your friends!

-Instagram:  @petitepediatricssb,
-Facebook:    PetitePediatrics,
-Twitter:         drbarry@petitepeds

COMMUNITY SUPPORT:

During this COVID19 crisis Petite Pediatrics will help offset the burden on the Emergency Departments by providing Telemedicine Virtual Visits for patients who aren’t established members of Petite Pediatrics. If you have family or friends who are in need of assistance with their child’s care, please direct them to our website to learn about our Virtual Peapod Membership Program that can provide as needed Telemedicine services.

HOME VISITS:

We are launching a Peapod Visiting NP Program as a separate home visit service that will allow us to provide vaccine visits or simple evaluations that require an in-person assessment. We believe this is  a safe way to deliver necessary care for children and protect families during the COVID19 health care crisis. Pediatric Nurse Practitioners will work directly with Dr. Barry to provide medical care for Petite Pediatric families.

SUPPORTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND BODY:

We are strong supporters of staying healthy and active. Home exercises and finding ways to let kids get their wiggles out is always good for our response to stress both physically and emotionally.  Other ways to support our bodies is through a healthy diet. Supplements can benefit a balanced diet in unique ways as well. We offer supplements for our patients exclusively. The OrthoMolecular Products line called Springboard has products for overall immune health: D-Hist and D-Hist Jr., Buffered VitC, Reacted Zinc, Probiotics (Flora Bites and FloraBoost), Imu-Max, Natranix, Kid-D liquid and Vit K/Vit D and WholeImune immunity supplements for older kids, teens and adults.  Available on our website soon.

Schedule an Appointment at Petite Pediatrics

Dr. Charish Barry offers concierge-style care that is designed to provide highly personalized care to infants, children, and teens throughout the Santa Barbara area. She and her team of highly trained nurse practitioners will take the time to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a well-child visit at Petite Pediatrics today! Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 845-1221.

(805) 845-1221

Novel Coronavirus Update

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Human Coronaviruses (https://www.cdc.gov /coronavirus/about/index.html) are a family of viruses that usually cause illnesses like the common cold. Almost everyone gets one of these viruses at some point in their lives. Most of the time the illness only lasts for a short time.

COVID-19: a new coronavirus

It was discovered in December 2019 and has now spread throughout the world. As the virus spreads, we are seeing some people with mild illness, some who get very sick, and some who have died. The reason health officials are concerned is because the virus is new, which makes it hard to predict how it will continue to affect people. Researchers and doctors are learning more about it every day, including exactly how it spreads and who is most at risk.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

Who is at risk?

According to the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html), children do not seem to be at higher risk for getting COVID-19. However, some people are, including older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like:

  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung disease
  • Suppressed immune systems

How to protect your family:

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, but there are a few things you can do to keep your family healthy:

  • Wash your hands (/English/health-issues/conditions/prevention/Pages/Hand-Washing-A-Powerful-Antidote-to- Illness.aspx) often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer (/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Keep-Hand-Sanitizer-Out-of-Childrens-Reach.aspx). Look for one that is 60% or higher alcohol-based.
  • Keep your kids away from others who are sick or keep them home if they are ill.
  • Teach kids to cough and sneeze into a tissue (make sure to throw it away after each use!) or to cough and sneeze into their arm or elbow, not their hands.
  • Clean and disinfect (/English/health-issues/conditions/prevention/Pages/Cleaners-Sanitizers-Disinfectants.aspx) your home as usual using regular household cleaning sprays or wipes.
  • Avoid touching your face; teach your children to do the same.
  • Avoid travel to highly infected areas (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/locations-confirmed- cases.html#map).

A note about facemasks:

The CDC only recommends facemasks for people who have symptoms of COVID-19, not for people who are healthy. Healthcare workers and anyone taking care of someone with COVID-19 should wear facemasks.

Preparing for School and Daycare Closures:

The COVID-19 outbreak in our community and many others has resulted in the temporarily closure of schools and childcare centers in order to help slow the spread of the virus. Many schools use email to update families. Be sure your child’s school knows how to get in touch with you.

Working parents can be prepared by having alternative childcare plans or talking with their employers about work from home options during school closings. If your child attends a college or university, encourage them to communicate with their school’s plan for the COVID-19 outbreak.

While your children are at home try to keep their days as routine and scheduled as possible. Here are a few tips that can help:

  • Read books with your child. It’s not only fun, but reading together strengthens your bond with your child AND helps their development.
  • Make time for active play. Bring out the blocks, balls, jump ropes and buckets and let the creativity go. Play games that kids of all ages can play, like tag or duck duck goose. Let your kids make up new games. Encourage older kids to make up a workout or dance to keep them moving.
  • Keep an eye on media time. Whenever possible, play video games or go online with your child to keep that time structured and limited. If kids are missing their school friends or other family, try video chats to stay in touch.

Talking to children about COVID-19

There’s a lot of news coverage about the outbreak of COVID-19 and it can be overwhelming for parents and frightening to kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents and others who work closely with children to filter information and talk about it in a way that their child can understand. These tips can help:

Simple reassurance. Remind children that researchers and doctors are learning as much as they can, as quickly as they can, about the virus and are taking steps to keep everyone safe.

Give them control. It’s also a great time to remind your children of what they can do to help – washing their hands often, coughing into a tissue or their sleeves, and getting enough sleep.

Watch for signs of anxiety. Children may not have the words to express their worry, but you may see signs of it. They may get cranky, be more clingy, have trouble sleeping, or seem distracted. Keep the reassurance going and try to stick to your normal routines.

Monitor their media. Keep young children away from frightening images they may see on TV, social media, computers, etc. For older children, talk together about what they are hearing on the news and correct any misinformation or rumors you may hear.

Be a good role model. COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate and neither should we. While COVID-19 started in Wuhan, China, it doesn’t mean that having Asian ancestry – or any other ancestry – makes someone more susceptible to the virus or more contagious. Stigma and discrimination hurt everyone by creating fear or anger towards others. When you show empathy and support to those who are ill, your children will too.

Stay informed

Families are encouraged to stay up to date about this situation as we learn more about how to prevent this virus from spreading in homes and in communities. Your local and state public health department will have up-to-date information regarding your community and the most current health and safety recommendations.

Schedule an Appointment at Petite Pediatrics

Dr. Charish Barry offers concierge-style care that is designed to provide highly personalized care to infants, children, and teens throughout the Santa Barbara area. She and her team of highly trained nurse practitioners will take the time to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a well-child visit at Petite Pediatrics today! Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 845-1221.

(805) 845-1221

Spruce Telehealth: A Standard of Care

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in

Petite Pediatrics has offered this technology as a standard of care for our patients since 2018.

The current COVID-19 global pandemic, requires families to remain home to minimize exposure to the novel corona virus.  We want to assure our families that this is the latest technology in the delivery of medical care and we are committed to ensuring confidentiality while maintaining the safety and well-being of our patients.

Spruce provides the following services:

● Direct text messaging with Petite Pediatrics
● Virtual visits for pediatric rashes, allergies, cold/cough and flu symptoms, and newly added COVID-19 risk questionnaire to assist with care during the MERS Cov-2 global pandemic
● Secure Video Visit for complaints that need a live interaction
● Prescription refills and requests

How do I get started?

1. Navigate to Spruce.care/petitepediatrics on your iOS or Android phone.
2. Click on “Get the App & Connect” to download Spruce.
3. That’s it! You should be welcomed by Petite Pediatrics in the app.

Spruce won’t replace all in-office visits.  This service has been offered to enhance our member’s patient-care experience so that we can extend care on occasions when coming to the office is not available, can be efficiently handled remotely, or as a way to better decide that in-person care is needed. We will continue to work with families to deliver excellent pediatric care and will update families via Spruce regarding the latest developments related to COVID-19 and how we can continue to provide pediatric care to our community.

Schedule an Appointment at Petite Pediatrics

Dr. Charish Barry offers concierge-style care that is designed to provide highly personalized care to infants, children, and teens throughout the Santa Barbara area. She and her team of highly trained nurse practitioners will take the time to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a well-child visit at Petite Pediatrics today! Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 845-1221.

(805) 845-1221

Flu Update for 2018

Posted on by Charish Barry, MD in ,

 A Message for Caregivers & Teachers

Get Vaccinated for Seasonal Flu Now!
Flu activity is quite elevated in the US. Getting vaccinated is still the single best way to protect against influenza and reduce the risk of becoming sick from it. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older, including all child care staff. It is recommended that everyone get vaccinated NOW if you have not already had the vaccine this season. Because young children pass on infections to others in the community, vaccination of every person in a child care setting is an incredibly valuable step in protecting the public’s health.

Prevent the Spread of Germs
With flu activity increasing during the winter months, as it does every year, the challenge is to keep these flu germs from spreading. Staff members and children should be taught to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when they cough or sneeze (and then put the tissue in the trash right away) or cough/sneeze into their elbow or upper arm.
Everyone should be encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Consider displaying educational materials in Head Start or early education and child care programs to encourage proper hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette. “The Flu: A Guide for Parents”, “Everyday Preventive Actions that can Help Fight Germs, Like Flu”, and “Teaching Children About the Flu” are examples of free materials available on the CDC Print Materials Web page.

If You Get the Flu, Antiviral Drugs May Be an Option
Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that are used to treat the flu. They can shorten a person’s flu illness, make it milder, and can prevent serious complications. Antivirals can be given anytime during the illness, but they work best when started during the first 2 days. Antiviral drugs are recommended to treat flu, especially those who are at high risk of serious flu complications, are very sick, or are hospitalized. Antivirals can be given to children and pregnant women.
Ready Wrigley and Preparedness for Flu Season

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a Ready Wrigley Activity Booklet on influenza. This book includes tips, activities, and stories to help families prepare for influenza. The book is designed for children 2 to 8 years of age. The Ready Wrigley Activity Book series is produced by the CDC Children’s Preparedness Unit and CDC communication specialists. Child care professionals can print copies of the book for their center or share a link to the book with families.
Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide (4th Edition)
This AAP manual provides child care directors, teachers, and caregivers with important information about the prevention and management of influenza and other infectious diseases that circulate in group care settings. The guide contains helpful reference guides, including quick reference sheets on specific conditions or diseases. Detailed chapters address infection control measures, immunizations, and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Information within this manual can be used to implement new strategies within the center.

Archived Webinar
In January 2018, the AAP collaborated with CDC to conduct a webinar titled, “Preparing Head Start/Child Care and Communities for Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza.” By watching this archived webinar, the viewer can learn about the recommendations for this flu season and find out why everyone who works in Head Start and child care programs should get the vaccine each year. The webinar also shares strategies to prevent and control the spread of influenza in child care settings and explores ways to prepare for an unlikely but dangerous flu pandemic. The webinar is available online.

Schedule an Appointment at Petite Pediatrics

Dr. Charish Barry offers concierge-style care that is designed to provide highly personalized care to infants, children, and teens throughout the Santa Barbara area. She and her team of highly trained nurse practitioners will take the time to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a well-child visit at Petite Pediatrics today! Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 845-1221.

(805) 845-1221

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