Checkup Newsroom

Three Reasons Why The Doc Smitty Predicts an Active Flu Season

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:20:45 -0500

By Justin Smith, M.D. aka The Doc Smitty

There’s been a ton of surprises related to the COVID pandemic and skipping flu season last year was another one I never saw coming.

Masks and social distancing definitely played a role but the absolute lack of cases was still shocking.

So, will we get lucky again this year?

I doubt it.

And here’s 3 reasons why:

Social distancing and masking are going away or gone. And we all want to get to that place…but it does mean we’re likely to have flu cases spread among classmates and families.
Skipping a flu season last year may make individuals more vulnerable to flu this year. Our bodies haven’t seen flu for almost two years. And just like our other colds went wild in kids this fall, flu could do the same this winter.
A mild or absent flu season last year may make people more likely to skip their flu shot this year. “Do we really need one after last year?” is a common question I have been asked.

What can you do to protect your child and their friends?

Get them their flu shot. Now’s not the time to get cute. Just do it.

Start to work with your child on hand-washing and covering their coughs. We need to protect ourselves and others.

Keep your child home if they are sick. If something seems to be brewing, give it a day to develop at home.

Get to know Justin Smith, M.D.

Justin Smith, M.D., is a pediatrician in Trophy Club and the Medical Advisor for Digital Health for Cook Children's in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Smith is an experienced keynote speaker for a variety of topics including pediatric/parenting topics, healthcare social media and physician leadership. If you are interested in having Dr. Smith present to your conference or meeting, please contact him at thedocsmitty@cookchildrens.org.

He has an active community on both Facebook and Twitter as @TheDocSmitty and writes weekly for Cook Children's checkupnewsroom.com. He believes that strategic use of social media and technology by pediatricians to connect with families can deepen their relationship and provide a new level of convenience for both of their busy lifestyles. Dr. Smith’s innovative pediatric clinic, a pediatric clinic “designed by you,” open now. Click to learn more. To make an appointment, call 817-347-8100.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease on the Rise in North Texas

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:07:41 -0500

By Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O.

With the beginning of summer well underway, I have seen many kiddos in the office with a very typical summer rash. It’s a rash that usually appears on the hands, feet, and around the mouth, giving it the name Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD). It’s caused by a group of enteroviruses that are common in the summer months. While this big group of viruses can cause more serious illnesses, this presentation of illness is typically mild and commonly infects infants and toddlers. While it can affect older children and adults, it is less common and these individuals typically have milder symptoms of the disease, if any.

The most common symptom of HFMD is the rash for which the disease is named. The rash usually begins as tiny little red dots that get bigger and then look like small blisters. The areas that are typically affected include the skin around the mouth, mucous membranes inside the mouth (including tongue/back of throat), hands (including the palms) and feet (including the soles), as well as buttock and diaper area.

Other symptoms of HFMD include fever, runny nose and sore throat. Like all other viruses, treatment involves supportive care and caring for symptoms, including the use of fever-reducing medications as well as pain control. While rash is typically not bothersome or painful, the lesions in the mouth can cause sore throat or mouth pain. There is no particular treatment necessary for the rash, as it will typically self-resolve within two weeks. It is important to watch for any spots that look like they are oozing or not healing well because secondary bacterial infections can occur. If you have any worries, call your pediatrician as we can usually diagnose this by examining your child and getting a history of the symptoms.

Get to know Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O.

Dr. Soria-Olmos is a Cook Children's pediatrician in Haslet. She was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, so Cook Children's has always had a special place in her heart. She came to know Cook Children's when she was just a kid herself. She went to the medical center a number of times with her active younger brother, who needed care following several mishaps with broken bones. The visits inspired her to decide, "I want to be a Cook Children’s doctor one day."

In pursuit of her dream, Dr. Soria-Olmos attended Texas Christian University (TCU) for a degree in biology and to fulfill the pre-medical school requirements. After graduating from TCU, she chose to stay local and attended medical school at University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. She completed part of her pediatric clerkship at Cook Children's, learning about pediatric medicine by attending rounds with pediatric hospitalists. It was then she knew she wanted to be a pediatrician.

She began her career with Cook Children's in 2014 as a pediatric hospitalist caring for sick children admitted to the hospital. Today, she works at Cook Children's primary care office in Haslet. Her special interests include child safety, child development and asthma.

My Kid Minute: Sore Throat

Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:25:03 -0600

Got a minute? Spend it learning about the topics that affect your child and your family. It only takes a minute to watch, but you will gain valuable information from our experts.

Watch Doc Smitty talk about the causes, treatments and concerns of your child's sore throat.

Watch all of our My Kid Minute videos here.