Ellenton Pediatrics

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

The children will pay the price…😒
Please, please, please write to our legislators.

02/06/2026

The student has not been in school since January 27. The high school has a 99.2% vaccination rate. That’s quite an impressive herd immunity!

St. Petersburg Catholic High has confirmed a case of measles in one of their sophomore students.

02/05/2026

With a rapidly growing measles outbreak at Ave Maria University in Collier County, just a couple of hours south, it’s especially important to ensure everyone is protected. Measles spreads extremely easily, and adults can experience serious complications. On Januray 29th there were only 2 cases. Now there are 20.
1. People without proof of immunity
If you don’t have documentation of two MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) doses or lab-confirmed immunity, get vaccinated.
2. Adults who may need a booster
Vaccinated before 1968: early inactivated vaccines were less effective—get at least one modern MMR dose.
Vaccinated 1968–1989: many received only one dose—consider a second dose, especially if at higher risk.
3. High-risk groups
College students or anyone in campus settings
Healthcare workers
People living with or caring for immunocompromised individuals
Travelers internationally or to areas with active outbreaks
4. Children and infants
Ensure children have two MMR doses. The initial dose is usually given at age 1. In case of an outbreak, the second dose may be given as early as 4 weeks after the first one - no need to wait until age 4. Also, infants 6–11 months may get an early dose during outbreaks, or if traveling to an outbreak area.
5. Anyone unsure of their vaccination or immunity status:
There’s no harm in getting a shot—MMR is safe and highly effective.
Why it matters now:
The outbreak is rapidly growing, which increases the chance of exposure in nearby communities.
Measles is airborne and highly contagious.
Adults over 20 are at higher risk for serious complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling.
Bottom line: Check your vaccination status and get up to date with MMR, especially if you live near Collier County, travel there, or interact with people who might have been exposed.

The Florida Department of Health in Collier County is providing additional resources at Ave Maria University to monitor for suspected measles cases and minimize further transmission as cases continue to grow.

02/05/2026

Newborns receive a vitamin K injection at birth to prevent a rare but serious condition called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). This disorder occurs because infants naturally have low levels of vitamin K, a nutrient essential for proper blood clotting. Without it, bleeding can occur in critical areas, including the brain.
Since 1961, routine intramuscular vitamin K administration has dramatically reduced VKDB in the United States. However, recent anecdotal reports suggest that more parents are declining the shot, potentially increasing the risk of VKDB. This study is the first to document nationwide declines in intramuscular vitamin K administration rates since 2018.
We can often predict that many families who decline the vitamin K injection at birth may unfortunately also choose to skip standard vaccines, which is common among those rejecting decades-old science.

Scientists identified an ongoing drop in newborns receiving a vitamin shot that helps to prevent dangerous bleeding.

02/04/2026

We’re sharing this article again for families of children who are picky eaters, experiencing slower growth, or may require additional calories due to chronic medical conditions. It offers practical guidance and includes a PDF list of high-calorie food options to support healthy growth.
https://blog.cincinnatichildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/High-Calorie-Food-Choices-to-Encourage-Weight-Gain.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawPwqVNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFScmJFNFY5YjRLT01ybHpYc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlIF3EHJJkAXHfUap9ABbKe8CwxAUHkU_gErenDFZ9CuO4szw84a05WtjBrt_aem_CpyvuuS9nCB4ngsc_n3L6g
If you have concerns about your child’s diet, growth, or eating habits, please consult one of our pediatric providers. Together, we can determine whether additional calories are appropriate and create a plan tailored to your child’s needs.
https://blog.cincinnatichildrens.org/healthy-living/how-to-increase-calories-in-your-underweight-childs-diet-draft/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPwqwNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFscEl0VjQ2S3Bvb2lDZ3BMc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmF8qRNqV9ZXwB9iso0ad5kZZeckmnNYHWb8nVtMbnxcafM3cnRx25oLAzda_aem_QxSlXQZbiVD1Xrf46sapDA

If your child needs to gain weight, here is a list of high calorie foods and other tips to consider to help increase their calorie intake.

02/04/2026

Depending on their ingredients, smoothies may be used to loose or gain weight, as a meal replacement or as an add on to a solid meal. Their benefit over juice is indisputable: smoothies retain the fiber in fruits and veggies, hence they are healthier. Careful though: one of the advantages of solid foods over smoothies is that they take longer to consume, especially if one takes the time to chew them completely. This allows more time for the brain to receive the message from the stomach that they are full, before overeating. Therefore, unless carefully pondering the ingredients and the amounts, one may drink an excess of calories that they would take a much longer time to eat in a solid form.
Some great smoothie ideas here:

Help your toddler get their recommended dose of nutrients with this yummy and healthy toddler smoothie. One recipe, 10 flavors to try—with veggies!

02/04/2026

Bedwetting: this too shall pass.
It’s far more common than people talk about, and it’s not a sign of laziness, bad parenting, or something “wrong.” Even some adults still struggle with it.
Yes, there are medications that can help reduce wet nights in certain cases — but they don’t usually cure the issue. For most kids, the biggest helpers are time, consistency, and patience.
That said, if bedwetting is new, or if a child is urinating excessively both day and night, it’s important to have them evaluated by a healthcare provider.

What should you do if your school-aged child is still wetting the bed? Learn more about what causes bedwetting and how to solve this problem at home.

02/04/2026

A recent sleep lab study found that continuous pink noise (waterfall, rain etc) can actually worsen sleep, not improve it. People exposed to pink noise overnight had less REM sleep, lighter sleep, and more awakenings compared to silence. The researchers specifically raised concerns about children because they spend a larger proportion of their sleep in REM. That means if pink noise really does reduce REM time, it could theoretically have a greater impact on kids’ overall sleep architecture — though direct pediatric studies are still limited. REM sleep is vital for memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and cognitive processing — so reducing REM sleep might diminish some of sleep’s restorative benefits.
Additional studies are needed to confirm the long-term effects and how volume or individual differences matter.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4, 2026 (HealthDay News) — "Pink noise” has become a trendy sleep aid, but a new study says it actually might interfere with brain activity duri

02/02/2026

Meningitis is unpredictable and can sometimes occur even in perfectly healthy children. The good news is that many forms of bacterial meningitis are preventable with vaccines. Early childhood protection includes the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). Later protection includes the MCV4 vaccine at ages 11 and 16, and the MenB vaccine at age 16—especially important for teens heading to college. Staying on schedule helps save lives.

Amid vaccine rollbacks at the federal level and rising cases of meningitis and other vaccine-preventable diseases across the country, we hope you will take a moment to read Emily Stillman's story today, as we remember her life and legacy 💜.

Emily was vibrant, unbelievably funny, and known for making everyone around her laugh. One late-January morning, she called home from her dorm with what seemed like a regular headache. She and her mom thought it might be the flu or exhaustion from studying. She took some Motrin and planned to rest, but hours later, the pain intensified. She packed her backpack and went to the hospital, still unaware of how sick she truly was.

At first, Emily was treated for a migraine. As her symptoms rapidly escalated, doctors suspected —but her family thought it must be something else, as Emily had been vaccinated against meningitis as a child and again before leaving for college.

Just 36 hours after her first symptom of a headache, Emily lost consciousness and never regained it. She passed away on February 2, 2013, from , at just 19 years old.

Emily did not have the chance to be vaccinated against the type of meningitis that took her life, as the Meningitis B vaccine was not yet available in the U.S. Today it is.

Many parents assume their child is fully protected because a school requires a “meningitis” vaccine. That is not always the case. Protection requires coverage against all five serogroups: A, B, C, W, and Y—and one vaccine alone is not enough.

Take a moment to double-check your loved one’s protection. Learn more at meningitisprevention.org.

02/02/2026

Ave Maria is in Florida's Collier County. For many years, their kindergarten immunization rate has been under the required 95%, and it currently sits at 86.6%. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. This can spread like fire. There were only 2 cases reported this past Friday... now there are 11. :(

Lee Health has confirmed 11 measles cases at Ave Maria University, with 24 more individuals awaiting test results.

02/01/2026

"We can’t keep our kids covered in bubble wrap, safe from all harm. But by combining a little planning, some child locks and a lot of common sense, we can prevent a whole lot of injuries and accidents."

Is your little one starting to crawl? It’s time to think about babyproofing your home. Options include installing cabinet locks, outlet covers and safety gates.