The Montreal Children's Hospital Newsletter

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Where do the days go? Even though it feels like just yesterday we were talking about back to school, it's been a full month since classes have been in session and most of us have settled down into a standard routine. What happens, however, when your teen goes back to school and still hasn't adjusted to a regular sleeping schedule? We spoke to Dr. Richard Haber, Director of the Pediatric Consultation Centre at The Montreal Children's Hospital about "sleep hygiene" and offer up some helpful tips in the Health, Well-Being and Prevention section of the newsletter.

If sleeping is not your issue, but you are concerned about crawling critters, we have some expert advice from our Infectious Disease specialists on how to treat bed bugs and head lice, including how to keep them from coming back. In research news, our own Dr. Myriam Srour discusses interesting studies that have identified a gene that may help patients with "mirror movement", and in our monthly Ask a Specialist column, Dr. Haber answers a mom's question about a teenager's severe peanut allergy.

With Halloween approaching in the coming weeks, our Trauma department has included some easy-to-follow tips to make sure your little trick-or-treater has a good time while remaining safe.

Until next month, happy reading!
The editorial team at Where Kids Come First


			Jade was born in Val d'Or on April 17, 2007. Everything seemed normal, and within minutes of a cesarean delivery, mother Stéphanie cradled her newborn in her arms. The pediatrician, however, noticed the baby's bluish complexion. [+]

Sleep Deprivation in Teens: How to Encourage Health "Sleep Hygiene"

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite: How to Identify and Treat a Bed Bug Problem

Halloween trick or treat safety tips


			Treating head lice can be difficult, especially when you have more than one child attending the same school or daycare facility. Lyne St-Martin, Infection Control nurse at The Montreal Children's Hospital separates fact from fiction about how to treat lice and keep it from coming back. [+]

ONE MILLION KILOMETRES, ONE MILLION DOLLARS, READY? SET? GO!

A crowd of over 200 people, including Olympic medalists Alexandre Bilodeau, Jennifer Heil and Danièle Sauvageau, ran, walked, biked and otherwise exercised their way to Parc Mont-Royal on Saturday, September 25, to help launch One million kilometres, one million dollars. [+]

BACKWARD KIDNEY SURGERY: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD?

Going behind the patient's back may be best way to remove their kidneys, according to pediatric surgeon Dr. J.P. Capolicchio of the Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre. He and his Urology Department colleagues have perfected a new minimally invasive technique to reach the kidney by entering through the patient's back, rather than wading through the abdominal cavity. [+]

FORMER MCH CYSTIC FIBROSIS PATIENT ASHLEY DYER GRACES PAGES OF MACKEAN'S MAGAZINE

Ashley Dyer, a patient of The Montreal Children's Hospital, is still fighting Cystic Fibrosis, a disease she was diagnosed with as a child. Although there is still no cure for her condition, this determined mother of one recently underwent a double-lung transplant and her health has stabilized. [+]

THE MCH LAUNCHES ITS 2010-2011 WEBINAR SERIES ON OCTOBER 13TH

Our next Webinar will be held on Wednesday, October 13th, at 8pm and will discuss How to Treat and Prevent Sports Injuries in Children. Presented by Carlo Galli, physiotherapist and member of the MCH Trauma Programme this 15 minute talk, followed by questions, will examine the most common injuries seen in children who play sports, including soccer, hockey and basketball, as well as on the playground. Sign up by emailing info@thechildren.com. [+]


	CHILDREN BREAKING GROUND FOR CHILDREN The construction of the future Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre was set in motion on September 7th during a ceremony held in the presence of Minister of Health and Social Services Dr. Yves Bolduc, and the patron of the event, Mrs. Michèle Dionne. Surrounded by 106 children whose presence symbolized the 106 years of the current Hospital's existence, they raised a symbolic shovelful of earth to underline the start of the construction of what will be, by 2014, one of the most modern pediatric institutions in North America. [+]


	Do you have a question of a general nature that you'd like to ask our specialist? If your question is selected, the answer will be published in the next edition of the newsletter. Ask a question [+]

	My son is a young teenager in high school with a severe peanut/nut allergy. I have been told these are the dangerous years. Now how can I help him avoid contact through a shared desk, computer, banister? He does not put his hands in his mouth, yet washing his hands extensively has caused his eczema to explode, and I am really worried about the peanut contact. R : I certainly understand your concern for your son. While it is true that peanut allergy is one of the more severe allergies, we have to use our judgment because we cannot put your son in a 'bubble' and protect him from every possible exposure. The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis and this only occurs after peanut antigen is introduced to a mucosal surface such as the mouth or respiratory tract. While we have all heard apocryphal stories of someone having a severe anaphylactic reaction and dying after touching a surface, there are no case reports documenting this. [+]


	Getting the wires crossed: New research identifies cause of mirror movements. Ever notice when babies kick, both legs move at the same time? This "mirror movement" between the left and right side of the body is normal for infants. However, as the brain and motor systems develop, we learn to move our right and left limbs independent of one another. Some people however, may never master this and movements on the right side are mimicked by the left into adulthood. For example, when an adult with mirror movement taps his right foot to music, his left foot will also keep beat. Now new research has identified a mutation in a gene called DCC that affects the nervous system and causes this inability to independently move one side and not the other. [+]


	Sodium levels in processed and fast foods are lower in Canada than in other countries. False: According to a July 2009 report released by World Action on Salt, a British-based group established in 2005 to help gradually reduce global salt intake, sodium levels in a selection of processed and fast foods tended to be higher in Canada than in other countries. The report found that for every 100 grams of Kellogg's All Bran sold in Canada, there was 861 mg of sodium – the highest level of any country surveyed. In the United States, 100 grams of All Bran contained 258 mg of sodium. [+]

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