Comments for Christopher Johnson M.D. PICU Author

Comment on Reducing radiation exposure in x-rays for children: the Image Gently program by Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:42:05 +0000

My daughter had an abdominal CT scan done when she was 16 and then a CT head scan at 17. Of course, I am very concerned and have a lot of anxiety about all of the radiation exposure to her. I recently read that abdominal CT scans in girls can effect their eggs and cause problems for their future children. Do you believe this is true?

Comment on Reducing radiation exposure in x-rays for children: the Image Gently program by Jade

Jade — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:18:47 +0000

Thanks so much for this information! I commented back and June… I have since learned of a study done by Berkeley that says only 1-3 simple xrays (not CT’s) increase a child’s risk of Leukemia (ALL). What do you make of this? HOW much of a risk? A significant risk? Probaby not the study I should’ve read with my already present anxiety on this issue. It does not say how significant of a risk from what I read, but with two young children and multiple xrays each, I am freaked out now more than ever. Before, it looked like the research didn’t show much, but this study is scaring me! I believe it was done in October of 2010. Your comments on this research would be greatly appreciated. My daughter has had Deflux and a VCUG is scheduled for July (her 3rd one) to check and see if it worked…I wish there was an alternative. Ultrasounds of her kidneys have always been normal, but reflux was still present, so they kept telling me there was no other way. I was so scared!! Also, we live at sea level and have not had to fly with our children on a plane. Does this cancel out some of the radiation risk from the medical xrays they have received? Thanks so much…I am truly sick about this study and what it means for our children. My child’s pediatrician always says its just fine and she would be a mutant by now if xrays did anything to her as a child. Dismisses all of my concerns…

Comment on What’s the electronic medical record (EMR) really for, anyway? by Blogroll « Wright on Health

Blogroll « Wright on Health — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:59:46 +0000

[...] intensive care physician with much to say on a variety of subjects in health care, including a recent piece on the value of electronic medical records and why some physicians are more willing to use them [...]

Comment on What does “wheezing” mean, and what causes it? by Faye Ruffin

Faye Ruffin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:36:04 +0000

I was in an auto accident 12-21-2003 lately i,ve been wheezing. I went to an ear nose and throat specialist. He ordered an x-ray before i could get in house and get setteled his office called me and said you a ct scan the x-ray showed a mass on your lung. The next day I went for the CT Scan. The Doc didn’t call me back I had an appointment eight days later. He greeted me with you dont have cancer its just scar tissue from your accident. He didn’t give me anything for wheezing and he would see me in two months.I
facial scaring and facial spams. he ijects botox for the spams for my muscles.last time I got imjectons he didn’t do my vocal chords. The wheezing is getting on my one nerve.

Comment on What it was like to be a lone country doctor over a half-century ago: in pictures by Dianne McBrien

Dianne McBrien — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:01:43 +0000

What strikes me is the physical intimacy captured in the images–heads bowed together, worried onlookers huddling close, the doctor heaving the older guy upstairs. There’s almost a sense of ministry that pervades all of it.

I think he also did a series of pictures on Pittsburgh steel workers at some point.

Comment on Why is asthma increasing among children? by asthma

asthma — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:03:33 +0000

Asthma education plays a key role in helping you deal with both the condition of asthma and its effects. There is much you can do for yourself, both in terms of avoiding possible trigger factors and in keeping the body in a relaxed and calm state.

Comment on Wheezing in infants and toddlers — what to do? by Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:07:01 +0000

Hi Alicia:

It’s not appropriate for me to give specific medical advice over the internet (I hope you’ll understand), but I can say that the sort of thing your son is experiencing as not that rare. It’s common for children who have had RSV to have wheezing problems long after the RSV is gone, and to have a higher risk of developing asthma. Sometimes this continuing wheezing problem can be pretty severe. One thing I could suggest is that you might consider taking your child to see a pediatric pulmonologist — a lung expert — if you haven’t already. They’re expert in handling things like that.

The good news is that problems such as your son has tend to get better as they grow older. So statistics are on your side.

Good luck.

Comment on Wheezing in infants and toddlers — what to do? by Alicia

Alicia — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:44:22 +0000

I was wondering about not only the effects of the medicine but what it means for my son as a thriving three year old. He had RSV when he was six months old and it was a struggle to get the doctors to confirm it.We have been taking breathing treatments off and on for almost his whole life. Now he had what they think was Bronchitis but he was had severe wheezing since October and it is January. The doctor has given him 4 rounds of anitbiotics and 3 rounds of steroids. It has gotten to the point that I feel horrible about giving him his breathing treatments and I am worried that he will have to have them for even longer. Is there anything that could be recommended that might be a different approach for us to take?

Comment on A virtual pediatric intensive care unit? by The 50 best Mayo Clinic doctors. Ever. | freefromdiabetics.com

The 50 best Mayo Clinic doctors. Ever. | freefromdiabetics.com — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:33:53 +0000

[...] and Mayo Foundation. But aside from caring for children seeking intensive care, Johnson is also a blogger and author of several parenting books, including “How to Talk to Your Child’s Doctor: A Handbook for [...]

Comment on An ethical grey zone: the right of parents to refuse high-tech treatments for their child by Christopher

Christopher — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:59:51 +0000

I think it’s partly that. Also, they genuinely believe in what they are doing. From their perspective, the right thing is obvious — they are not conflicted by the choice.