Codeine Can Kill?

Posted by drgracesun on September 27, 2009 under Children, Current News Events, Information, Smart Smile | Be the First to Comment

How could this be happening? Medication that is supposed to help and make a patient feeling better produces a deadly reaction?

Simple outpatient surgical procedures – which are performed in clinics, doctor offices and dental practices on a daily basis – which require mild to moderate painkillers is customary and routine  may turn out to be fatal. The case in question occurred last weekend when an otherwise healthy 2-year-old boy died after being prescribed codeine to relieve pain from having his tonsils removed. The sad fact is that cases like this even the protocol of post operative was followed, and very little could have been  done to avoid such a tragedy.

The child mentioned above had a history of snoring and sleep apnea (when a person momentarily stops breathing during sleep throughout the night). In an effort to clear the boy’s airway, he had a routine tonsillectomy outpatient surgery and was sent home. Doctors prescribed codeine syrup and told the boy’s mother to give it to him for pain, but two nights later, the child developed a fever and wheezing. He was found dead the next morning, according to the report.

Although the coroner’s office noted that toxicology tests showed the mother had given the child the proper dosage, the boy had high levels of morphine in his system, which is metabolized from codeine. Further investigation determined that the child had an ultra-rapid metabolism genotype, which causes the body to metabolize codeine at a faster rate than the norm. The only true way to have avoided this tragedy would have been to keep the child in the hospital overnight, for 24 hours, for observation to see whether his breathing had improved, and whether pain medications (such as codeine, which suppresses the respiratory system) could have put him at risk.

The take home message here is that common, routine dental procedures which involve pain relievers (like wisdom tooth extraction or implant surgery) must always be treated with the utmost care and attention.Be aware the potential risk of toxicity and allergic reaction of any medication . If you are unsure of your body’s reaction to certain medications or pain relievers, consult with your dental professional or primary care physician. If you have a child who is about to undergo an outpatient procedure, speak with his or her physician before the procedure. Are there any potential risks associated with the procedure, or with the post -operative medications ? Know your child and know their body – proper supervision is essential, especially with children.

“What About Swine Flu?”

Posted by drgracesun on May 2, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information, Smart Smile | Be the First to Comment

Swine Influenza H1N1, more commonly known as Swine Flu, has continued to grow and expand worldwide over the past week, and concerns are (rightly) high about how we can stay healthy and safe. The World Health Organization may even declare swine flu a pandemic! Apart from not gathering in large groups and washing your hands, is there any way you can stay safe?

Transmission of the virus is from human-to-human contact, and all reported cases worldwide have stemmed from some sort of exterior human interaction. A high-running fever (over 100* Fahrenheit), fatigue, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and respiratory problems are among the most common symptoms of having the virus. In attempting to prevent transmission of this virus, be sure to wash your hands frequently and always cover your mouth, preferably with tissues or your forearm instead of your hands when coughing or sneezing (especially if you are in a doctor or dentist office).

Now, how to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the swine flu or any flu: prevention rules.

1. The first step to fight any flu is prevention. Stay away from people who have caught any disease or have symptoms of it. Avoid public restrooms at all costs. Wash your hands after you touch any public door knobs or hand rails, and wash your hands before you touch your toothbrushes or contact lenses. Use hand sanitizer.

2. Boost your immune system. A healthy lifestyle is always beneficial for your overall health. Eat a proper diet rich in fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, keep yourself well hydrated, exercise, get a good night’s sleep, and keeping a positive attitude are all important. Regarding alternative remedies to boost the immune system and against flu, consider garlic. Cooked garlic has less odor, or you can cut up small pieces and swallow like a pill, or take it in a pill form. Cloves, oregano oil, zinc, echinacea, and vitamin c are few suggestions.

If you are noticing any respiratory problems or prolonged flu symptoms and are running a temperature, schedule a visit with your primary health care physician. Brush and floss twice daily, and after meals (a clean mouth prevents introducing pathogens into your system). If you have a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water and increase your vitamin c intake to around 2000 mg/day. Limit your bad habits like alcohol drinking, smoking as well as your soda intake! Treat your body well and it will do its best to fight outside invaders.

“Latex Allergy?”

Posted by drgracesun on April 14, 2009 under Healthy Smile | Be the First to Comment

Got an itchy nose when you are in the dental chair? Have you felt itchy and red on your cheeks when you last visited your dental professional? You might be hypersensitive or have latex allergies.  The reactions are most likely from powdered latex gloves. In recent years, latex allergies have become much more predominant in health care provider offices, meaning people must be aware and knowledgeable about how their bodies react to such materials.

Latex is derived from the Rubber Tree.

Natural rubber latex products (like powdered latex gloves) come from rubber trees located throughout South America and elsewhere. This naturally occurring product contains proteins which are the primary source of allergens. There are different types of adverse reactions that occur with latex gloves: the most common is irritant contact dermatitis, which is not an actual allergy, but a skin reaction to the detergent, additives or powders that cover most latex gloves (usually your skin will appear red, dry and cracked). If it is allergic contact dermatitis, you can get a skin rash after a few hours and up to 48 hours after contact. The non-contact exposure to airborne particles when removing the gloves can cause signs and symptoms similar to those of hay fever or asthma. An actual latex allergy is a systemic allergic reaction which is caused by IgE antibodies in the blood to the proteins in natural latex. The response is immediate, such as itching, redness, swelling, sneezing and wheezing; the most serious reactions can be a life threatening and result in anaphylactic shock .

If you do have a latex allergy , be sure to communicate with your health provider, because there are alternatives. Because health care providers are repeatedly exposed to latex quite frequently, they are at a higher risk factor of developing latex allergies – as many as 17% of all health care providers are estimated to have latex allergies. Also, the allergy-causing proteins in latex are found in foods (such as avocado, banana, chestnut, kiwi and passion fruit) – so you might be allergic both latex and some related food.

There is no cure for a latex allergy, although medications are available to reduce the symptoms of latex allergies like antihistamines. If a severe reaction occurs, you will need an emergency injection of adrenaline (epinephrine ). For those prone to anaphylaxis, an epi-pen should be carried at all times. The best treatment is prevention, avoid all products that contain latex and ask for advise from your doctor who might be able to suggest ways you can avoid latex in your daily life. Keep identification on you that clearly alerts others of any allergies you have, choose alternative products, and inform your health care professional of any developments.