ABC Pediatrics of Corpus Christi

News and Announcements

New Pediatrician Joins Saratoga Office

Dr. Kimberly Martin has joined our southside office. Dr. Martin received her medical degree from Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed her pediatric residence in Tennessee. She is board certified in Pediatrics and accepting new families into her practice.

Changes in dosing for infant acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Beginning in 2011, the FDA has mandated changes to acetaminophen dosing. One major change affecting parents is the elimination of the concentrated infant drops. All infant acetaminophen products will be supplied with an oral syringe dispenser rather than the dropper, with different measurements and dosing. See our page on dosing acetaminophen for more details.

Lawnmower Safety

Using a lawn mower is often as routine as bike riding or barbeques during spring and summer months. But often, people find themselves in terrifying situations with these seemingly safe household machines. In fact, 200,000 people -- 16,000 of them children -- are injured in lawn mower-related accidents each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports. However, lawn mowers don't "attack" on their own. Most injuries -- such as severed fingers and toes, limb amputations, broken bones, burns and eye injuries -- are caused by careless use and can be prevented by following a few simple safety tips:

Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawn mower, and at least 16 years old for a ride-on mower.
Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.
Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing -- not sandals.
Young children should be at a safe distance from the mowing area.
Pick up stones, toys and debris first from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.
Always wear eye and hearing protection.
Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.
Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary -- always look for others behind you when you do.
Start and refuel mowers outdoors -- not in a garage. Refuel with the motor turned off and cool.
Blade settings should be set by an adult only.
Wait for blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel roads. (As a safety feature, some newer models have a blade/brake clutch that stops the blade each time the operator releases the handle.)

Many lawn mower-related injuries require a team of physicians from various specialties -- plastic surgery, microsurgery, maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics, and orthopaedics -- to properly repair them. Often, patients must endure painful reconstructive operations for months, sometimes years, to restore form and function.

Insect Repellents

Protecting your child from insect bites is important. These bites can be itchy and uncomfortable, may cause swelling, and may become infected. They can also cause the spread of diseases such as West Nile Virus. Insect repellents are useful, but it's important to know which repellents to choose and how to use them.

Products containing DEET are some of the best for repelling mosqitoes and ticks. Products can contain different concentrations of DEET. Higher concentrations last longer, but don't repel the insects any better. 10% DEET lasts approximately 3 hours. DEET is safe for infants two months and older. Picaridin is a good alternative to DEET, and is safe for infants 6 months of age and older.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a good choice if you want a "natural" or plant-based repellent, but hasn't been proven safe yet for children younger than 3 years of age. It can last up to 6 hours, while other plant-based repellents such as citronella last for two hours or less.

Permethrin is a good insect repellent but is sprayed only on clothes, never skin. Allow the clothes to dry completely before wearing.

Tips for safe use of repellents:

Don't use repellents under clothing, or on broken skin.
Don't apply repellents to eyes or mouth.
Don't spray repellents directly on the face. Spray on hands first and then apply to the face.
Don't allow children to handle repellents. Apply repellent to your own hands first, then apply to the child's skin.
Avoid heavy application. If insects don't respond to a thin film, then apply a bit more.
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water, or bathe the child.
Follow the product label directions!