COPC - Step by Step Pediatrics

04/17/2026

04/14/2026

Spring and warmer weather mean more time outside, which we love! One thing we don’t love, however, are ticks! That’s right, it is tick season again and we have already had to remove several in the office. With tick bites comes the worry of Lyme Disease. We are seeing more reports of Lyme Disease especially in eastern communities like Licking County. In general, ticks typically need to be attached for 24 to 48 hours or more to transmit the Lyme disease bacteria. The blacklegged tick is the primary carrier and is found in wooded, brushy, or grassy areas. If you are going to be in the woods or the weeds, use an EPA-registered insect repellent with DEET or Picaridin. You can also treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin or buy special clothing with the permethrin already soaked in. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and do tick checks as soon as you come inside.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease do not show up until 2 weeks after the initial bite. Early symptoms include a red, expanding rash (erythema migrans) that looks like a bullseye, fever, fatigue, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes.
Late symptoms include severe joint pain and arthritis, neurological issues with facial (Bell’s) palsy and meningitis.
What to Do If You Find a Tick:
Removal: Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward with steady pressure.
Action: Wash the bite area with soap and water or alcohol.
Treatment: If the tick was attached for over 72 hours and you are in a high risk area, a single dose of doxycycline may be used to prevent infection. Call the office if you are concerned about a high risk bite or if you are concerned about symptoms of Lyme Disease.

04/13/2026

The story is a good reminder why we need to be careful about supplements and natural treatments. They are not as tightly regulated by the FDA and do not have to go through the rigorous testing that medications do.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday advised consumers to immediately dispose of two ADHD dietary supplements marketed as stimulants to enhance focus because they contain “unlawful and undeclared ingredients” whose ingestion could be harmful or life-threatening.

The safety advisory warns against consuming or selling orange-flavored Addall XR Shots and Addall XL capsules distributed by ZMB Enterprises LLC of Carlsbad, Calif., and sold online and at gas stations and convenience stores.

In lab testing by the FDA, both products were found to contain undeclared 1,4-dimethylamylamine (1,4-DMAA), a stimulant that can elevate blood pressure, leading to cardiovascular problems including heart attack. The capsules were also found to contain an illegal synthetic stimulant with similar side effects, 2-amino-6-methylheptane (DMHA).

03/30/2026

Today is National Doctors' Day, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate some of the heroes in our healthcare system who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities healthy. At Central Ohio Primary Care, our doctors embody compassion, skill, and commitment, making a lasting impact on the lives of their patients every day. 💙

To our incredible primary care doctors and specialists, your hard work and dedication to provide the highest quality of care possible is inspiring. We are honored to have such an amazing team of physicians that lead our organization and care for our communities in .

03/30/2026

Spring Break Time! Always great for families to get out of Ohio and spend some quality time together. We just got back from Arches National Park and Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. If you have dino crazy kids you HAVE to go to Dinosaur National Monument. Entire skeletons in the cliff face you can actually touch!
The Every Kid Outdoors Program provides a free year long pass to 4th graders for a full year to see America's National Parks. Follow the link below to sign up and get more information.
https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm

03/26/2026

This Women's History Month, we proudly celebrate our incredible female physician leaders at COPC! Their dedication to patient care and leadership in our organization is truly inspiring. We also want to recognize all the amazing women in our organization who contribute to our mission every day. Your hard work and commitment make a difference in the lives of our patients and community. Thank you!

03/26/2026

Nearly 90,000 bottles of children’s ibuprofen are being recalled due to the presence of unknown substances. The recall impacts 4-ounce bottles of children’s ibuprofen oral suspension manufactured for Taro Pharmaceuticals USA and distributed nationwide, according to a notice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recalled bottles are from lots 7261973A and 7261974A with an expiration of Jan. 31, 2027. Strides Pharma Inc. initiated the recall voluntarily after complaints of a “gel-like mass and black particles in the product.

03/25/2026

Pesticides, how worried are you? How worried should you be? Let me say first off that it is better to eat fruits and vegetables, even with pesticides, then to not eat them. However, if you want to decrease your pesticide exposure, The Environmental Working Group has released its Dirty Dozen list of the worst pesticide offenders. These are fruits and vegetables where it is worth it to buy organic if you are looking to decrease your exposure. The Clean 15 list are fruits and veggies that have little pesticide residue and are safe to buy non-organic. Today in my American Academy of Pediatrics news brief was the following article.
"The Environmental Working Group’s “2026 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce” released Tuesday found that “leafy greens such as spinach and perennial [child] favorites such as strawberries and grapes held the highest levels of potentially harmful pesticide residues based on government tests.” According to the report, “nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, blackberries, pears, potatoes and blueberries filled out this year’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables.” Researchers found that “samples of every produce type averaged four or more pesticides, except for potatoes, which averaged two.” Spinach, which held the top spot, “had more pesticide residue by weight than any other type of produce and contained, on average, four or more different types of pesticides.” Additionally, “over 60% of all Dirty Dozen samples contain pesticides that are also ‘forever chemicals’ called PFAS.” According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are “especially susceptible to contaminants such as pesticides, even while in the womb.”

The Environmental Working Group today released its 2026 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, finding ongoing widespread pesticide residue on popular non-organic fruits and vegetables – including pesticides that are the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

03/11/2026

I have to share this link not only because it has really good information, but mainly because I LOVE the picture. If you feel like your child is flying around home and school on a skateboard like this, then check the link for more information.

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) find it unusually difficult to concentrate on tasks, to pay attention, to sit still, and to control impulsive behavior. This ADHD guide offers parents the information you need to understand the behaviors associated with the attention diso...

03/11/2026

A new study has shown that over half of American children are not getting enough sleep and only 25% of teens get the minimal 8 hours of sleep that is recommended. You may have heard me say to kids that "sleep is your friend," but over half of parents underestimate the amount of sleep their child needs. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has some helpful guidelines.
- Spend time in the sun or bright light in the morning, to jumpstart your body clock.
- Play or exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
- Cut caffeine after noon, including coffee, sodas, teas, energy drinks and snacks containing caffeine.
- Eat dinner at least two hours before bedtime.
- Set a wind-down ritual, including a device-free window for at least an hour prior to bedtime.
- Set a consistent sleep and wake schedule, including weekends.
- Keep the bedroom cool, dark and quiet.

Lack of sleep can lead to disruption of growth hormone release and a weakened immune system leading to more frequent illnesses. It can lead to difficulty with emotional regulation with increased irritability, mood swings, and tantrums. School children can have lowered attention span, poor memory, and difficulty learning or remembering information, lower academic performance and increased school absenteeism.
So sleep really is your friend, go spend some quality time with your friend.

03/06/2026

Weather is warming up and kids will be eager to get outside and play and ride bikes. However, we are concerned about a growing trend of E-bikes and injuries. A study presented at a meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that electronic bikes, also referred to as e-bikes, are zooming in popularity, but they’re also responsible for more children landing in an ER with injuries. The researchers analyzed data on nearly 340 bicycle-related accidents treated at a pediatric trauma between 2019 and 2023. Results showed that e-bike injuries rose from just 2% in 2017 to 64% in 2023. Researchers observed that children in e-bike accidents were three times more likely to sustain broken bones in their accidents. There are few laws regarding E-bikes, but the state of Hawaii does have laws that are a good framework. Check out the infographic for Hawaii's common sense laws. Ohio only has laws regarding Class 3 E-bikes that go 28mph.

02/25/2026

MEASLES.
The Columbus Health Department is investigating a measles outbreak in Franklin County. There are few details, as the investigation is ongoing. However, 6 children under the age of 5 have confirmed measles. 5 of the children were unvaccinated and 5 of the children have no history of recent travel. 3 or more cases are considered an outbreak. The health department is directly contacting families who may have been exposed , but there is good evidence that there has been community exposure.
We are recommending that any child who is eligible for a measles vaccine and has not yet received one, get vaccinated right away. If you are between the ages of 1yr and 4yrs and have had a MMR vaccine you are 90% protected. However, we would recommend boosting that to 98% with a second vaccine. This is not an extra shot and would count toward the 4 year old preschool vaccines that we give. It is considered as effective given early as given at 4 years. For children 6 months to 1 years old, you can consider getting a MMR vaccine early. However, it will not count toward your vaccine total and you will still need additional vaccinations at 1 year and at 4 years. We would recommend discussing with your doctor your risk of exposure and making that decision with them.
Remember, the ONLY way to prevent measles is the MMR vaccine. The vaccine is safe and very effective. Measles is the most contagious virus on the planet. 9 out 10 unvaccinated children who are exposed will get measles. We will continue to update as more is known.