10 QUEENS TOP DOCTORS • JANUARY, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com TOP DOCTORS BABIES How to help protect babies From RSV, a common & contagious virus This time of year brings cold/flu season and the spread of germs. It’s especially important for parents and caregivers to keep this top of mind and be aware of seasonal illnesses that often circulate during winter. In particular, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a highly contagious and common virus contracted by nearly 100 percent of children by the age of two. RSV occurs in epidemics, typically from November through March in most of the US, but the “RSV season” can vary by geography and from year to year. In many babies, the virus leads to a mild respiratory infection with symptoms similar to the common cold or flu, but can develop into a much more severe infection in high-risk infants including babies born prematurely (earlier than 35 weeks gestation). In fact, preterm infants are twice as likely as full-term infants to be admitted to the hospital for RSV-related symptoms. Dr. Paul Checchia, Professor of Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine and Cardiology, Texas Children’s Hospital states, “RSV disease is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies during their first year of life in the United States and results in up to 10 times as many infant deaths each year than the flu. It’s critical for parents to keep a close eye on their infants and go to their pediatrician when they show signs of illness.” Dr. Checchia says the potential signs and symptoms of severe RSV disease that parents need to pay attention to are coughing or wheezing, fast or troubled breathing, spreadout nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe, bluish color around the mouth or fingernails, and a fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F rectal). Currently, there is no treatment for RSV disease, so taking the proper preventive methods is crucial to helping to protect your baby’s little lungs. Preventive methods include diligently washing your hands and asking others to do the same, avoiding those who may be sick during RSV season, and asking your child’s pediatrician if he or she may be at high risk for RSV disease and ways you can help protect a high-risk baby. For more information about RSV disease, visit www.RSVprotection. com. Here you can find helpful tips on talking to your pediatrician, data about the RSV season in your area, and real stories of families’ experiences with RSV disease. Courtesy BPT Heartburn Is your heartburn more than just a symptom of overeating? Heartburn, that painful feeling in your chest or throat that can follow a heavy meal, may be more than an inconvenience. Heartburn is actually the most common symptom of a medical condition that impacts up to 40 percent of Americans in their lifetime, and is also called gastroesophageal acid reflux disease, or GERD. If left untreated, chronic GERD can increase a person’s risk for a precancerous condition of the esophagus called Barrett’s esophagus (BE). BE is the primary risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer of the esophagus. Often referred to as acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be diagnosed by a doctor. It occurs when stomach acids back up into the esophagus, causing painful symptoms such as heartburn or regurgitation. O b e s i t y , increase in age and smoking are all additional risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of experiencing reflux. Some people who suffer reflux may find symptom relief through the use of acid-controlling medications such as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs. PPIs are acid-reducing drugs that are available over-thecounter as well as in prescription strength. In recent years, experts have grown concerned that PPIs are being overused. In fact, PPIs use has been associated with osteoporosis and bone fracture, hypomagnesaemia, the development of gastric polyps, enteric infections, interstitial nephritis and pneumonia.If you or a loved one has been taking PPIs, or other acid reducing medications, for more than eight weeks, it is important to consult with your physician to periodically review your treatment plan. Over time, chronic acid reflux due to GERD can damage the lining of the esophagus (the swallowing tube that carries foods and liquids from the mouth to the stomach), possibly leading to a precancerous disease called BE. BE affects up to 12 million American adults. Left untreated, BE can increase someone’s risk of developing a certain type of esophageal cancer (called esophageal adenocarcinoma). In contrast to more common cancers in the U.S. such as breast cancer, melanoma and prostate cancer, the yearly mortality rate of esophageal cancer nearly matches the yearly incidence rate. Once diagnosed with esophageal cancer, a patient’s five-year survival rate is only 18%. There are powerful ways to treat BE, including an innovative and proven approach called radiofrequency ablation that delivers heat energy to the diseased lining of the esophagus, which allows physicians to remove the problematic cells before they become cancerous.The important thing is that there are now effective diagnostic tools, such as reflux testing, that provide physicians with more accurate, actionable information, which can lead to early treatment and possibly better symptom relief for patients. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of reflux, talk to a doctor about testing options. Receiving a confirmed diagnosis is the first step in developing a treatment plan to best help you. For information about GERD and to find a physician near you, visit www. learnaboutgerd.com. Courtesy BPT
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