George, stop pulling your hair out!

The term alopecia refers to hair loss.  There can be multiple causes all of which are bothersome to the affected person.

Causes of alopecia include the following:

Tinea capitis (fungal infection)- Very common cause in children 6 and older, seen more commonly in tightly coiled hair, loss of hair and usually associated with scalp irritation and treated with oral antifungal medications as topical medications are not useful

Alopecia areata- Loss of patches of hair usually with NO scalp irritation and is self-limited (ie without treatment) in the majority of cases

Trichotillomania- Patient is hair pulling, tugging, or twisting the hairs resulting in patchy hair loss with differing lengths and usually on the side of the child’s dominant hand.  Usually brought on by stressful events, divorce, death, etc and often needing psychological intervention to cope with the root causes.

Telogen Effluvium- Hair loss precipitated by moderate to severe stress that can ultimately result in partial or full loss. Lower stress will usually resolve this condition but it is more likely to recur when stress returns.

Nutritional deficiency- This is a rare occurrence and usually only associated with chronic disease such as immunodeficiency or autoimmune conditions that

hypothyroidism- Not so uncommon particularly in teenage girls.  Usually associated with neck fullness (ie goiter), constipation, cold intolerance and less likely depression.

I cannot think of one redeeming feature of cow’s milk. The milk carbohydrates, lactose and galactose, cause abdominal discomfort and “intolerance”, the milk protein, casein, is acidic with a pH= 6.7, therefore causing bone loss as our bodies to neutralize acidity by eroding our bone matrix, while the milk fat is saturated and fosters plaque buildup within our small heart arteries.  I just cannot think of a worse food source, one that certainly is linked to heart disease.

http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/11/can-drinking-too-much-milk-make-your-bones-more-brittle/

http://www.ilri.org/InfoServ/Webpub/fulldocs/ilca_manual4/Milkchemistry.htm

At the current rate the number of measles cases will top 2014 cases of 644.  The main states with measles are California, Illinois, Nevada, and Washington.  The majority of cases in 2015 are in unvaccinated individuals.

http://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html

HIVES (picture above)

Rashes in children can have many causes.  The most common cause in pediatrics are overwhelmingly viral infections, but rashes could be caused by other infectious diseases that are bacterial such as Strep Group A or fungal (ie ringworm). We should be aware of non-infectious causes such as allergic reactions to foods and contact sensitivities to sunscreens (ie hives). Rashes that have broken down the skin surface or are blistering are worrisome (toxic reactions). Rashes that are associated with headaches or neck stiffness (ie meningitis) could be dangerous. Rashes that do NOT blanch with gentle pressure, then consider a possible blood disorder or a traumatic cause. Painful rashes could be a sign of an autoimmune disorder or a drug eruption (ie from antibiotic). In all cases of pediatric rash, one should contact the physician to seek medical advice and guidance.

Fortunately cardiac disease is highly preventable.  This is great nutrition advice promoting quality of life well into the 7th and 8th decade.  Click the video, a very worthwhile move, you are not too young to watch this. Guaranteed to give you pause, goosebumps, and possibly a reality check.

http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

Misinformation and lies from the food industry are pervasive regarding carbohydrates and fats . WARNING: Be a smart and educated consumer with your food choices and how you interpret health information from blogs and other media sources on these topics!

Click the link below to discover overwhelming scientific proof about foods that may save your life or a love one.

http://www.forksoverknives.com/embracing-fat-for-a-healthy-heart-is-a-notion-based-on-flawed-science/

Having eclipsed141 cases in 2015, there is an urgent need to vaccinate our communities against measles (Rubeola) and other vaccine preventable diseases. Measles virus is extraordinarily easy to transmit to others and that impacts 90% of susceptible individuals who are exposed to a measles case. Parents, do not forget to get your adult recommended vaccine boosters, including the Measles vaccine, particularly individuals who have high exposure risks.

Measles component of the MMR:

• A routine second dose of MMR vaccine, administered a minimum of 28 days after the first dose, is recommended for adults who:
  • are students in postsecondary educational institutions,
  • work in a health care facility, or
  • plan to travel internationally.

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/2/07-040089/en/

http://www.cdc.gov/measles/parent-infographic.html

Middle-school children who consume heavily sweetened energy drinks are 66% more likely to be at risk for hyperactivity and inattention symptoms, a new study led by the Yale School of Public Health has found.

“Our results support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that parents should limit consumption of sweetened beverages and that children should not consume any energy drinks.”

In addition to hyperactivity and inattention, heavily sugared beverages also impact childhood obesity, notes Ickovics, and sugar-sweetened beverages are a leading cause of added calories in the diets of obese children. Currently, about one-third of American schoolchildren are considered overweight or obese.

Journal Academic Pediatrics

Narcolepsy – extreme bouts of sleepiness that can strike at any time – affects around 1 in 2,000 people in the US. A new study raises concerns about its diagnosis in adolescents, after it identified marijuana in the urine of some teenagers who had symptoms consistent with narcolepsy.

The researchers say their findings indicate that marijuana use may be linked to EDS in some adolescents, and that urine drug screening should form a part of clinical evaluation for narcolepsy.

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Low-fat, plant-based vegan diet ‘may reduce heart disease risk’ in obese children

The Journal of Pediatrics.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/289453.php