University Health System Blog

Caroline Barangan, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, appeared live and in-studio on KTNV Las Vegas midday news report to answer the question: Child depression: What are the warning signs? [video] The program aired on March 3, 2010.

Edgar Antonio Nunez is creative director at University Health System, the clinical practice of the University of Nevada School of Medicine. For media inquiries, contact him by email or call 702-671-2230.

Have a health question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Jack Lazerson answers the question: “What’s the difference between Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?”

Both of these diseases fall under the general category of lymphoma.

They are considered separate diseases as they have, in general, different clinical manifestations and treatments. Both are malignancies of the lymph nodes, or lymphoid tissue, and diagnosed by lymph node biopsy.

There are various stages of these disorders, ranging from “localized” to “wide spread dissemination.” Within each category of lymphoma, there are different cellular subtypes, which in combination with the stage of the disease, dictates the type of treatment and prognosis.

Jack Lazerson, M.D. is a board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Dr. Kami Larsen answers a question from Alison in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey: “I am now breastfeeding my four month old.  As she gets older, I assume I will introduce her to rice cereal as this is the norm. As I read the box for rice cereal it did not look all that nutritious–should I skip rice cereal and jump right into healthy baby food instead? Why rice cereal before baby food?”

We generally start with rice cereal first because it’s fairly palatable by most infants.

The taste is not very strong and it’s easy to digest.

Also, it’s got a low-risk of allergy and most manufacturers fortify their cereals with iron, which can be important, particularly for breastfeeding babies.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “How often should I take my baby to the pediatrician in the first year?”

This is a frequent question that is often answered in a prenatal interview with your prospective physician.

In general, most pediatricians like to see new born infants at three to four days of age depending on how long the baby initially stays in the hospital.

After this it’s possible that a two-week weight check may be needed.

Most pediatricians then do standard well baby visits at one month, two months, four months, six months, nine months and one year. These visits are for well care, growth and development checks, anticipatory guidance and immunizations.  Use these opportunities to ask your physician any questions you may have about feeding, sleeping patterns, safety concerns or any other questions that have come up during the period between visits.

It is important to factor in at least one or two visits for acute illness like viral respiratory infections or ear infections.

Most infants will have five to six viral infections in their first year of life.  This number will increase if the child attends daycare.

Anytime your child has prolonged fever, irritability, or excessive vomiting or diarrhea, you should at least speak with the nurse at your pediatrician’s office.

It’s also important to remember that any temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the first two months of life is considered a medical emergency and the child should be seen by a physician immediately.

Most importantly, families need to remember that your physician should be accessible to you and your sick child. Don’t feel like you’re bothering the doctor with a trivial question. It’s their job to help you decide if the child needs to be seen.

Anytime you have a concern about your child’s health get in contact with the pediatrician’s office. It’s always better to be safe.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “Is it worth the cost to buy organic baby food?”

This really is a personal decision that each family must make on their own.

While organic baby foods may be ideal for some, most baby foods are just fine for your child. In fact, making your own baby food at home is likely the most cost-effective and safest for your child.

While it is more time consuming, fresh fruits and vegetables can be steamed or boiled and then purred in a food processor. Once they are processed you can simply pour into an ice cube tray and freeze for ideal portion sizes. This way you know what exactly your child is eating.

It is always important to remember however, not to add additional spices or flavoring for very young infants and to stay away from high allergy foods such as strawberries and citrus until most other plain fruits and vegetables have been tried first.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “Is it okay for me to travel by plane with my infant?”

It is a common misconception that infants shouldn’t travel by plane because of the altitude.

While the pressure changes that take place during initial takeoff and prior to landing may cause some discomfort, it’s unlikely this could cause any real damage.

The bigger concern for most infants is the contact they have with all the other passengers in the plane and at the airport.  Simply put, planes are full of germs.

I typically counsel patients to avoid air travel if possible in the first two months of life. If however, travel is necessary, I encourage parents to pack a container of antiseptic wipes to clean the arm rest, tray tables and surrounding areas on the plane.

I also suggest they avoid the more crowded areas of the airport if possible.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “When is a baby considered low birth weight?”

This depends on the baby’s gestational age. Low-birth weight for a pre-term infant is different from that of a full-term infant.

Typically we think of newborns as being full-term if they are 37 weeks gestation or greater.

In this case, low birth weight would be considered any child weighing less than 2,500 grams or five pounds, eight ounces.

This may occur for several reasons. It is important to remember these babies may need extra time in the hospital nursery or neonatal intensive care unit.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “Should I wake my baby when it’s time for her feeding?”

This depends on the age and size of your infant. It is generally recommended that newborns be woken every two to three hours to be fed in the first few weeks of life.

This is especially important for mothers who are breastfeeding their infants. Because mom’s milk supply depends on frequent feedings, for example, the more frequently you are nursing the better the milk supply will become, and because it’s important for newborns to get the benefit of the colostrum, frequent feedings are essential.

As infants mature, these frequent feedings are important, but parents can begin to relax a little. Once a good feeding schedule is set and the infant has regained any weight that may have initially been lost shortly after birth, you can allow your infant to sleep longer at night.

It is still very important to wake the infant during the day to ensure they are receiving at least six to eight separate feedings per day.

As your child gets beyond the first few months of life a feeding schedule should be firmly in place and while the child may wake on his or her own to feed. They typically don’t need to be awoken to feed.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “I’ve heard fruit juice is bad for kids because it contributes to obesity. But it’s a good source of vitamins. What should I do?”

The amount of fruit juice consumed by children is definitely a contributing factor in our battle against childhood obesity. While in some cases it may be a good source of vitamins, typically the carbohydrate (sugar) content is far too high.

If parents want to ensure their children get vitamins in the diet, they should be focused on whole fruits and vegetables, not solely on juice.

In moderation (four to six ounces per day), juice can be acceptable, even helpful.

Parents should check the label to look at vitamin content and go for those that offer the most bang for the buck. Simply pumping 32 ounces a day of apple juice into a child is typically just giving them empty calories.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Kami Larsen answers the question: “Should I be concerned if my 2-year-old child can’t talk yet? She just grunts a lot.”

Absolutely! By the time a child has reached two years old, they should have a vocabulary of 50 to 100 words, and should be putting two words together to form small sentences or phrases. Anytime we see a child that has a speak delay by this age, an evaluation for the delay needs to be done.

This may involve hearing testing, evaluation by a speech pathologist, and possible evaluation for autistic spectrum disorder. Which path we, as health care providers, choose to take first depends on a number things, including the child’s ability to follow instructions, how they interact with other kids, how they ask for things, whether or not they pretend play, and various other things. The bottom line is making sure your pediatrician knows about these things and getting an evaluation started sooner rather than later.

Kami Larsen, M.D. is a pediatrician at University Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Larsen is assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and medical director of Kids Healthcare Clinic.

Have a question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.