Accidental Battery-Ingestions on the Rise in Children and Can be Fatal

Pediatrics, 6 June 2010

Recent cases suggest that severe and fatal button battery ingestions are increasing and current treatment may be inadequate.There has been a 6.7-fold increase in the percentage of button battery ingestions with major or fatal outcomes from 1985 to 2009 (National Poison Data System-U.S.). Ingestions of 20- to 25-mm-diameter cells increased from 1% to 18% of ingested button batteries (1990–2008), paralleling the rise in lithium-cell ingestions (1.3% to 24%). Outcomes were significantly worse for large-diameter lithium cells (20 mm) and children who were younger than 4 years. The 20-mm lithium cell was implicated in most severe outcomes. Severe burns with sequelae occurred in just 2 to 2.5 hours. Most fatal (92%) or major outcome (56%) ingestions were not witnessed. At least 27% of major outcome and 54% of fatal cases were misdiagnosed, usually because of nonspecific presentations. Injuries extended after removal, with unanticipated and delayed esophageal perforations, tracheoesophageal fistulas, fistulization into major vessels, and massive hemorrhage.

Bottom Line: Have a very low threshold to call your doctor if there is any potential that you child has swallowed a battery.

Adult Medicine

Writing down your thoughts and emotions might help relieve the
symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers say. This
early researchis the first to test so-called “expressive writing” in
people with IBS, and the results are still very preliminary. Studies
looking at this type of writing, in which the writer is encouraged to
“really let go” and get to the bottom of their feelings, has shown
that it can be beneficial for some.

The exercise has helped people with depression, rheumatoid arthritis,
chronic pain, high blood pressure and AIDS, the authors of the new
study noted online in the June 15th issue of the American Journal of
Gastroenterology. According to Dr. Albena Halpert of Boston Medical
Center, the 82 patients in the IBS study reported improvements in
disease severity, coping and thinking at 1 and 3 months after they
started writing and also described their quality of life improving.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/724078

Leumit Health Services(Kupat Cholim)-Simply the best medical care in Ramat Beit Shemesh

Do swimming lessons reduce drowning risk?

A recent study in Archives of Pediatriac and Adolescent medicine says that the answer in 1-4 year olds is YES by 88%. This was after adjusting for income, education, risk taking, and race. However, swimming lessons were not predictive of drowning risk in the 5-19 year old age group. This article reopens the discussion as whether swimming lessons may make parents less cautious near water and that children this young are developmentally unprepared to learn to swim.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/123/5/e857

Adult Medicine

are you getting too much folic acid? recent studies have shown that too much of this b vitamin can lead to increase risks of colon, lung and prostate cancer. As medical science continues to evolve, we are learning more and more about the possible dangers of excessive vitamin and mineral supplementation. Pregnant women need 400mcg of folic acid to protect their fetuses against neural tube defects. Doses in excess of this have recently been found to increase the incidences of certain cancers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35874922/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/page/2/from/ET

Leumit Health Services(Kupat Cholim)-Simply the best medical care in Ramat Beit Shemesh

Leumit Health Services(Kupat Cholim)-Simply the best medical care in Ramat Beit Shemesh

“When I arrived (at the kupa), I was surprised by the pretty garden, climbing structure for kids, fresh paint on the walls, etc. but was totally unprepared for what lay ahead. When I went in to see Dr. Wolff, I found a frum, American woman who actually introduced herself (no, I don’t think I’ve had a doctor do that in the past six years), spent enough time with me, asked questions, and quickly helped iron out a red tape problem with a prescription that I needed. After meeting with (the staff)and hearing about their vision for American style health care in Israel, we switched the rest of our family over to Leumit and couldn’t be happier. All of the doctors are friendly, thorough, helpful, take their time, available by email and cellphone and go out of their way to make things as easy as possible. It is great to feel like we are in such good hands. And my five year old BEGS to go to the doctor so he can climb on that play structure.”

“I recently switched over health insurances to
Leumit. Dr. Rosenbaum (pediatrician) has made the usually dreaded health visits quite pleasant, and he has been most helpful with information about anything and everything during the switchover.

One of the family doctors, Dr. Wolf has calmly answered my gazzilion questions and even still told me to give a call if I have any others.

Most importantly we are extremely satisfied with the complete english
speaking staff assisting our every need. They remember who we are, dont need a card to remember our names and are friendly and personable. The doctors all have a cell phone number and are reachable 24 hours a day.

I may be forgetting some things, but over all I am quite pleased with the
change.

I thank you all at Leumit for finally giving the anglo community of RBS A
something very much needed.

> “You guys call yourselves the “A-team”, but we call you the “Dream
> Team.” Finally, I feel like a doctor is taking of all my and my family’s
> issues instead of having to do everything myself. Thank you that you
> opened.”
>
> “It was so wonderful to have my doctor to call at 11pm when I got sick
> and to have my doctor calling me and the doctors in the hospital when I
> was in the hospital. I felt very cared for.”
>
> “The nurses and staff in the hospital were shocked to see my primary
> care doctor appear in the hospital after my child had had open-heart
> surgery. It was the first time they could recall a doctor visiting and
> coordinating the care for discharge. We felt very thankful to have
> doctors like this.”
>
> “After going from doctor to doctor to doctor, and paying hundreds of
> shekels for specialists to see me, I went to Leumit and was given 45
> minutes of Dr. Wolf’s time and the correct diagnosis was made. Thank
> you.”
>
> “These doctors wont just give your blood test or prescription, they
> take time, ask questions, and are very thorough. I didn’t appreciate it
> at first. Now I do!”

Leumit Health Services(Kupat Cholim)-Simply the best medical care in Ramat Beit Shemesh

Hundreds of people have joined the Leumit Health Servcies revolution in Israeli medical service in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef

THE MOST PERSONALIZED MEDICAL SERVICE IMAGINABLE

By David Harmati

A special pilot program run by Leumit Health Services puts special emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship*The physicians are available 24 hours a day for consultation*The physicians visit their patients in the hospital in order to allow better care for their patients* The director of the branch, Dr. Efraim Rosenbaum says. “many, many people have joined due to the level of service we are giving.”

Hundreds of residents of Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef have joined Leumit Health Services in the last eight months due to the amazing revolution in medical services that are offered in the branch. The doctors develop a special, personal relationship with the patients, are available for phone consultation 24 hours a day, and even go to the hospital to visit and make sure that they are receiving optimal medical care at the hospital.

The medical director of the branch, Dr. Efraim Rosenbaum, explains that these are not minor cosmetic changes, but rather changes that Leumit Health Services hopes to put into place throughout Israel. “If this pilot succeeds, and to date, it has been very successful, the model will be applied to other parts of Beit Shemesh and then to other parts of the country.

One of the essential elements of the revolution is that each patient receives the pelephone of his own personal physician and can call 24 hours a day. If a baby is burning up from fever in the middle of the night, you don’t necessarily need to go to an urgent care facility. You can call the doctor, and get guidance of what to do to get your baby through the night and see your doctor in the morning.

According to the medical director of the branch, he and his colleagues were not surprised to find that 90% of the phone calls that they receive are able to resolved with information from the doctor over the phone. About 10% of the cases require an urgent care facility or emergency room. “There are some parents that don’t like to give medicine such as Acamol or Nurofen without discussing it with a physician, but after they give the medicine, the child improves and the family can stay home until the morning,” says Rosenbaum.

Another aspect of the service, is the direct, special relationship between the doctor and the patient, which is demonstrated by the physicians being actively involved in the care of the patient in the hospital via phone discussions with the hospital staff, and actually going themselves to the hospital. “Most of us trained in the United States and in Anglo countries, “says Rosenbaum, ” where it is an unwritten rule that the doctor visits his patients in the hospital. Currently we are starting a trend in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef that we hope will take root throughout Israel. ”
Of note is that the branch of Leumit Health Services in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef is located on Nachal Dolev. The staff also possesses unique tools to increase the doctor-patient relationship such as Smart Phones that receive email from patients, and a website that they themselves developed for their patients which contains articles, information on the branch, a bimonthly newsletter, the ability to renew prescriptions, make appointments, and much more. “Baruch Hashem, the patients have been very appreciative of our services and many have joined our wonderful care which is given from the heart.”

For a look at the original article click here 100300_140310090502_7

Leumit Health Services(Kupat Cholim)-Simply the best medical care in Ramat Beit Shemesh

Does less sleep in childhood lead to ADHD?

A recent study in 280 children done in Finland noted that children who on average slept less than 7.7 hours a night or who had sleepng difficulties, had more ADHD symptoms that children who slept longer. The question, of couRse, is whether lack of sleep leads to ADHD or whether children with ADHD are prone to less sleep.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/123/5/e857

Adult Medicine

Mothers who breastfeed seem to have a lower long-term risk of developing a collection of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease than women who bottle-feed, a new study suggests.

A recently published study followed 700 women for 20 years. They found that the women who breast fed for more than one month had lower instances of metabolic syndrome, a collection of health risks including high blood pressure, obesity, high blood sugar and high cholesterol. These findings were especially true in women who sufferred from gestational diabetes.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34332877/ns/health-womens_health/from/ET

Don’t forget to pick up you Passport to Health: the newest innovation from YOUR doctors to keep your child (through age 18) healthy.

http://rbsmedical.com/?p=617

Leumit Health Services(Kupat Cholim)-Simply the best medical care in Ramat Beit Shemesh

A new Israeli study reveals that too much sweetened soda and even FRUIT JUICE may cause LONG_TERM LIVER DAMAGE. Switching to water is the best preventive measure to contribute to long-term health.

http://israel21c.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7022:israeli-study-soda-and-fruit-juice-drinks-cause-liver-damage&catid=57:health&Itemid=63

Adult Medicine

Radiation from annual mammograms may INCREASE THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER in women with genetic mutations or family histories of breast cancer. It’s important to weigh the benefits and risks of mammography and decide on a screening strategy together with patient and doctor. The new findings are not conclusive, but alternative screening techniques, like MRI, should be considered.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172704.php

And don’t forget to pick up you Passport to Health: the newest innovation from YOUR doctors to keep your child (through age 18) healthy.

http://rbsmedical.com/?p=617

Leumit Health Services(Kupat Cholim)-Simply the best medical care in Ramat Beit Shemesh