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Dr. Hillary is a pediatric nurse practitioner with a doctoral degree in health promotion and risk reduction. She knows that when it comes to family, everyone has questions that can't wait for the next available doctor's appointment. She also knows that some questions are too personal to ask a doctor face-to-face. For these reasons, Dr. Hillary is here for you.

Here are a few of Dr. Hillary's recent questions and answers!

NEW!
Q: My daughter has 2 corns on her big toe. I made an appointment with a dermatologist but it's not for another month, and I just can't wait... Can you tell me what I should expect? Some people say there are pads and others say that they will have to cut it. I would appreciate your help.

A: Children typically do not get corns. Sounds to me that your daughter might have warts, which are caused by a virus, thus anybody can get them. I treat warts in my office frequently either with an application of cantharidin, an extract from a beetle, or with liquid nitrogen. Both methods are equally effective in eradication of warts, but I choose cantharidin ("beetle juice") as the first-line treatment, because it is painless. Warts are difficult to treat, but with patience and repeated treatments they eventually go away.

Q: I thought skipping meals would help me lose weight, but I recently heard that's not true. Which is it?

A: When you starve your body, it goes into “starvation mode” and tries to conserve as much energy as possible by burning a minimal amount. Therefore, the body’s metabolic rate slows down, and it is more difficult to burn calories, thus lose weight. Also, skipped meals may give you a voracious appetite later on, and you will make up for the calories that you saved (and then some!) by eating too large of a meal.

People who have the best success with weight loss start the day with breakfast to rev up metabolism, and eat lunch and dinner with healthy snacks in between. They focus on small portions, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Of course a healthy diet is only half of successful weight loss. It is very important to increase physical activity, which helps build muscles, increases your metabolic rate, and helps to burn fat.

Q: If my child’s runny nose turns green, does it mean she has a bacterial infection?

A: Green nasal discharge does not necessarily mean a bacterial infection. In the normal course of a cold, the drainage may change colors. It may run clear one minute, then change to yellow and green, and then go back to clear. As long as the colors change back and forth, there should be no concern. However, if the nasal drainage turns green and persistently stays green for a couple of day, perhaps accompanied by a fever, headache, or worsening cough, your child should be evaluated by her health care provider as she may have a sinus infection.

Q: Please help! I have thick calluses on my feet. Do you know any good home remedies to get rid of them?

A: Make a foot paste: Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon sour cream. Honey is a humectant (it helps retain moisture), and sour cream contains lactid acid that will aid in cell breakdown. Apply to your calluses and leave on for 10 minutes. Then soak your feet in warm water with some baking soda (baking soda softens skin). After drying feet, file your feet with an emery board. Afterwards, apply a thick moisturizer. Doing this procedure a couple of times a week will help reduce your calluses.

To prevent callus formation, never run barefoot (at home, wear house slippers) and wear well fitting shoes.

Q: When should I take my baby for her first dental exam?

A: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends your baby has her first dental exam by 1 year of age.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that dental decay is one of the most common chronic infectious diseases among U.S. children. Research indicates that 17% of children 2-4 years of age have tooth decay. In addition, by 8 years of age, about 52%, and by age 17 years, 78% of children experience tooth decay.

Since an ounce of prevention can make a difference, start to brush your child’s teeth as soon as they erupt. Use soft baby toothbrush and baby toothpaste without fluoride. Your child may start to use toothpaste with fluoride when she learns to spit it out reliably. Should she swallow fluoride-containing toothpaste, she would end up with permanent white spots on her teeth.

Q: Do bed bugs spread disease?

A: Bed bugs do not spread disease. However, their bites cause uncomfortable itching.

Q: Is it safe to fly during my 24th and 26th weeks of pregnancy?

A: A healthy pregnancy should not be a contraindication to flying during the 24-26th week of pregnancy. Many obstetricians consider it safe even until 35 weeks. However, consult your doctor for recommendations for you, as everyone's situation is different.

Q: What do you think about walkers? I don't know if I should put my 6 month old baby in a walker yet. She is not sitting yet and a lot of people say I should put her in a walker because it will strengthen her back and get her to walk quicker.

A: The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend walkers for infants of any age, as they increase your child's risk for injuries. To help to strengthen your child's muscles, give her supervised belly time every day. Before your child is ready to learn to walk, she needs to master sitting, rolling over, crawling, and pulling herself up to stand. At six months of age, an infant should be able to have a good neck control, be able to sit well with support, roll over, and bear weight on her legs. If your baby did not reach developmental milestones expected to be reached by 6 months of age, please talk to your child's health care provider asap.

Please read my articles on developmental milestones of infants:
Birth to 6 months
6-12 months

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