VMC Kids Pediatrics

03/14/2026

03/13/2026

“Raising Kind Kids: Stand Up Against Bullying”

In my upcoming posts, I’ll be diving deeper into bullying—what parents and kids need to know and what to do if it happens.

As a pediatrician and a mother of three, I have seen firsthand the harmful effects bullying can have on children and families. No child should feel unsafe, unheard, or alone.

My goal is to help reduce bullying to the barest minimum—and ultimately eradicate it—through awareness, education, and advocacy.

Bullying is not “just part of growing up.”
It can affect a child’s mental health, confidence, academic performance, and overall well-being. But when parents, schools, and communities work together, we can create safer and kinder environments for every child.

Please like, share, and follow along as we raise awareness and equip families with tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to bullying.

A happy child is an emotionally and physically healthy child.
And a happy child is truly a gift to the world—and to the future.

03/08/2026

What’s Going Around

Seasonal allergies in kids, what parents should know:

1. Common Symptoms
• Sneezing, runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy, watery, or red eyes
• Scratchy throat or mild cough
• Dark circles under the eyes (“allergic shiners”)
• Fatigue, irritability, or trouble sleeping

Tip: Symptoms often happen at the same time every year, when pollen levels are high.

2. Common Triggers
• Tree pollen: early spring
• Grass pollen: late spring to early summer
• W**d pollen: late summer to fall
• Mold spores: damp areas or fallen leaves
• Dust and pet dander: year-round, indoors

3. At-Home Management
• Keep windows closed on high pollen days
• Use air conditioning instead of fans
• Shower and change clothes after outdoor play
• Avoid drying clothes outside during pollen season
• Use a saline nasal rinse for congestion

4. Over-the-Counter Medications
• Antihistamines (like cetirizine, loratadine, or fexofenadine) are safe for many kids
• Eye drops can help with itchy, watery eyes
• Nasal sprays (like steroid sprays) reduce inflammation but may need a few days to work

Always check with your pediatrician before starting medications, especially for young children.

5. When to Call the Doctor
• Trouble breathing or wheezing
• Fever or symptoms that don’t match usual allergy pattern
• Severe fatigue, poor appetite, or inability to sleep
• Symptoms not relieved by standard OTC treatment

6. Prevention Tips
• Track local pollen counts
• Plan outdoor activities when counts are low
• Consider allergy testing if symptoms are severe or persistent
• Discuss long-term treatment plans like allergy shots with your pediatrician

03/05/2026

Age-Appropriate Sports Participation cont’d;

Benefits of Sports (Strong Evidence)

Kids who participate in sports experience several physical, mental, and academic benefits supported by pediatric research.

Lower Obesity Risk
Regular physical activity helps children burn energy, maintain a healthy weight, and develop lifelong healthy habits. Active kids also tend to spend less time on screens, which further reduces obesity risk.

Better Mental Health
Sports help build confidence, self-esteem, and social connections. Physical activity also releases endorphins, which improve mood and help children manage stress.

Improved Academic Performance
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and improves concentration, memory, and focus. Sports also teach discipline, goal-setting, and time management, which support academic success.

Better Sleep
Children who are physically active often fall asleep faster and have deeper, more restorative sleep. Good sleep improves mood, energy, and learning.

Stronger Bones & Muscles
Weight-bearing activities like running, jumping, and team sports help build bone density and muscle strength during critical growth years.

Lower Risk of Anxiety & Depression
Sports provide a healthy outlet for stress and promote social belonging. Kids involved in sports often have stronger friendships and improved emotional well-being.

Key Takeaway:
When balanced and age-appropriate, sports help support a child’s physical health, emotional well-being, and academic development. ⚽💪📚

03/01/2026

What is Scarlet Fever?

Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness caused by Group A Streptococcus (the same bacteria that cause strep throat). It most often affects children ages 5–15 and is treated effectively with antibiotics.

What Causes It?

Scarlet fever is caused by Group A Streptococcal infection.
Some strains produce a toxin that leads to the characteristic red rash.

Common Symptoms

Symptoms usually begin 1–2 days after exposure:
• Sore throat (often severe)
• Fever (≥101°F)
• Headache
• Swollen neck glands
• Red, sandpaper-like rash
• Starts on neck/chest → spreads to trunk and extremities
• Brighter in skin folds (Pastia lines)
• “Strawberry tongue”
• Flushed cheeks with pale area around the mouth
• Rash typically peels after 1–2 weeks

How Is It Diagnosed?
• Rapid strep test (RADT)
• Throat culture (if rapid test is negative but suspicion remains)

Treatment

Scarlet fever requires antibiotics to:
• Shorten illness
• Reduce spread
• Prevent complications

First-line treatment:
• Amoxicillin (10 days)
• or Penicillin

For penicillin allergy:
• Cephalexin (if non-anaphylactic allergy)
• Clindamycin or azithromycin (if severe allergy)

Children are considered no longer contagious after 24 hours of antibiotics and being fever-free.

Possible Complications (Rare with Treatment)
• Ear or sinus infection
• Rheumatic fever
• Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
• Peritonsillar abscess

When to Seek Medical Care
• Fever lasting >48 hours after starting antibiotics
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Severe neck swelling
• Decreased urination or cola-colored urine
• Persistent vomiting

Home Care Tips
• Encourage fluids
• Soft foods for sore throat
• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever/pain
• Replace toothbrush after 24 hours of antibiotics
• Wash hands frequently

02/26/2026

Age-Appropriate Sports Participation cont’d;
Mental Health & Pressure

Youth sports should build the whole child — not just the athlete. Especially in pediatrics, we want sports to support emotional well-being, not undermine it.

🧠 1. Sports Should Promote Positive Mental Health
When age-appropriate and balanced, sports help children:
• Build confidence – mastering new skills increases self-esteem.
• Develop resilience – learning to lose, improve, and try again builds grit.
• Improve social skills – teamwork fosters communication, empathy, and cooperation.
• Strengthen identity – kids discover what they enjoy and where they thrive.
• Reduce anxiety and depression risk – physical activity supports mood regulation.

For younger children, this primarily comes from play-based participation, not performance-based outcomes.

⚖️ 2. Avoid Excessive Pressure
Pressure becomes harmful when:
• Winning is emphasized more than effort.
• Playing time is tied to parental expectations.
• Mistakes are criticized harshly.
• The child feels their worth depends on performance.

Excess pressure can lead to:
• Performance anxiety
• Fear of failure
• Loss of intrinsic motivation
• Decreased enjoyment

A helpful mindset for parents and coaches:

Praise effort, improvement, teamwork, and attitude — not just scores or trophies.

Children who feel psychologically safe are more likely to stay engaged long-term.

🔥 3. Recognizing Burnout in Young Athletes
Burnout is increasingly common, especially with:
• Early specialization
• Year-round single-sport participation
• Limited rest periods

Warning signs include:
• Irritability or mood changes
• Loss of enthusiasm for the sport
• Complaints of vague aches or fatigue
• Declining performance despite training
• Social withdrawal
• Increased anxiety before practices/games

Burnout is often a signal that:
• Training volume exceeds developmental capacity
• The child lacks autonomy
• Rest and recovery are inadequate

🛑 4. Prevention Strategies
• Encourage multi-sport participation, especially before adolescence.
• Ensure at least 1–2 days off per week from organized sports.
• Allow 2–3 months off per year from a primary sport.
• Let the child have a voice in whether they want to continue.
• Normalize that it’s okay to quit a sport that no longer brings joy.

💬 What to Ask in Clinic (Practical Pediatric Approach)
When counseling families, consider asking:
• “Is your child still having fun?”
• “If no one was watching, would they still want to play?”
• “Do they feel nervous or excited before games?”
• “When was their last break from this sport?”

These questions help distinguish healthy competition from harmful pressure.

Bottom Line

The goal of youth sports is not early elite performance — it is lifelong physical activity, emotional growth, and healthy development.

If a child’s mental health is suffering, the sport is no longer serving its purpose.

02/23/2026

Live free!

Sometimes, the greatest life lessons come from our children.

Years ago, when my son was nine, we attended a send-off party for some graduating residents. It was lively — music playing, people laughing, kids running around, everyone in great spirits.

At one point, I looked over and saw my son dancing like I had never seen before. He’s usually shy, the kind who avoids drawing attention. But that day? He was dancing freely — joyfully — wholeheartedly.

Then I noticed something: his eyes were closed.

Later, I asked him why. He said, “I really wanted to dance, but I was shy. So I closed my eyes. When my eyes are closed, I don’t see anybody… so I can just dance.”

That moment stayed with me.

What if we all lived like that nine-year-old sometimes?
What if we “closed our eyes” to judgment, to fear of embarrassment, to worrying about how we look — and simply lived?

Life is too short to sit on the sidelines.
Close your eyes.
Dance.
Laugh.
Be fully present.
Live freely.

02/20/2026

Age-Appropriate Sports Participation cont’d;
As our kids lace up their shoes/cleats and put on their helmets, let’s remember that their brains matter more than any scoreboard 🧠⚽️🏈 Concussions can happen in any sport, and the most important play is knowing when to pause — if a concussion is suspected, remove them from play immediately and no same-day return. A safe comeback always follows a gradual, stepwise return-to-play plan under medical guidance, and if symptoms return, we stop and rest. Properly fitted, sport-specific equipment like helmets and mouthguards helps reduce the risk of serious injury, but no gear can fully prevent a concussion. When in doubt, sit them out — protect the brain today so they can thrive tomorrow. 💛

02/14/2026

Valentine’s Day is more than flowers and chocolates — it’s about love in all its beautiful forms.

Love for your spouse.
Love for your children.
Love for your parents and friends.
Love for the patients you serve.
And even love for yourself.

Today is a reminder to slow down, appreciate the people who make your life brighter, and say the words we sometimes assume they already know. A simple “I love you,” a thoughtful message, a warm hug — they matter more than any gift.

May your day be filled with kindness, laughter, gratitude, and moments that make your heart smile. 💕

Happy Valentine’s Day to all — celebrate love today and every day.

💖

02/14/2026

What’s Going Around

🌡️ This week, I saw several cases of prolonged fevers. Some were persistent daily fevers, while others were intermittent fevers happening back-to-back.

💡 What’s interesting?
Many of these appear to be viral infections occurring one after another, rather than serious bacterial infections. When viruses overlap, it can feel like one long illness — but often it’s sequential viral exposures.

Prolonged fevers can be scary for parents, but most are caused by viral back-to-back infections.

Of course, always monitor:
• Fever lasting more than 3-5 days
• Worsening symptoms
• Signs of dehydration
• Difficulty breathing
• Lethargy or unusual behavior

When in doubt, get evaluated. Always trust your instinct.

❤️ Final Reminder

Viruses are still circulating, even if flu numbers are down. Prolonged fever doesn’t always mean something severe — sometimes it’s just back-to-back viral exposure.

Let’s keep our kids safe, hydrated, and active — but smart about it.

Everyone stay safe 💛

💧👩🏾‍⚕️