WHATS NEW AT AGOURA-WEST VALLEY PEDIATRICS? J&J Consumer Health Segment Recalls Infant Tylenol By LINDA A. JOHNSON AP Business Writer TRENTON, N.J. February 17, 2012 (AP) Johnson & Johnson is recalling all infant Tylenol on the U.S. market because some parents have had problems with newly designed bottles — just introduced three months ago — that the company had touted as a big improvement to make measuring the correct dose easier. Instead, some parents have complained that a protective cover on the top of the bottles meant to limit how much liquid pain reliever could be drawn into a plastic syringe didn't work correctly. When those consumers inserted the plastic syringe, it pushed the protective cover, or flow restrictor, into the bottle. J&J's McNeil Consumer Healthcare, plagued by about 25 product recalls since September 2009, said Friday that it is recalling all 574,000 bottles of a grape-flavored version of the liquid medicine on the market. The product, which was distributed nationally, was introduced in November. AP A container of grape-flavored Infants'... View Full Caption A container of grape-flavored Infants' Tylenol liquid medicine with the enclosed syringe and flow restrictor is posed in Moreland Hills, Ohio on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. A Johnson & Johnson consumer health business plagued by product recalls says it is pulling some versions of infant Tylenol off store shelves due to problems with a device that helps measure dosing. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta) Close It's one of the first nonprescription medicines reintroduced after all the recalls and an ongoing factory shutdown have kept most of McNeil's medicines off the market for well over a year, costing the company well over $1 billion in lost revenue, plus many millions for ongoing factory improvements. The new infant Tylenol bottle comes with a plastic syringe that's to be inserted into the flow restrictor at the top to help measure the right dose. The syringe has an opening in the tip but no needle. Consumers are to insert the tip of the syringe into the flow restrictor, turn the bottle upside down and then draw out the right dose. That's then squirted into the baby's mouth. McNeil changed the design to make it easier to get the dose right and to limit spillage if the bottle is knocked over, McNeil spokeswoman Barbara Montresor said. The prior version had an open-topped bottle and a dropper with a flexible bulb at the top, similar to a turkey baster. McNeil is part of the consumer health business segment at J&J, which is based in New Brunswick, N.J. The company's prescription drug and medicial device divisions each have issued at least two recalls in the last couple years. ——— Video showing how dose restrictor works: http://www.youtube.com/tylenol CHOLESTEROL TESTING NOW RECOMMENDED FOR ALL CHILDREN   The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that all children from ages 9-11 get a screening blood test for cholesterol levels.  This replaces the prior practice of doing cholesterol testing only on select children who have greater risk of having high cholesterol (such as a family history of high cholesterol, being overweight, having high blood pressure, or other health conditions).  Since high cholesterol levels can be found in childhood and early signs of atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries") can be found in children prior to age 18, the hope is that long term complications might be prevented with early attention and intervention in these children.  For more information, click on the following link to the AAP's "Healthy Children" website on this subject:  Cholesterol Testing in Children (weblink)  INFLUENZA VACCINE       We are still making appointments for influenza vaccine for the 2011-2012 flu season.  We have ample supply of the injectible, inactivated vaccine.  We no longer have the FluMist (live, intranasal, attenuated vaccine).  Influenza vaccine is recommended for all children (over 6 months old) and teens.  Please call the office to make an appointment.  (This posting last updated:  12/5/11)

FOLLOWING ARE CURRENT "TIPS" FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS:   CHILDHOOD ALLERGIES VACCINES ARE NOT A CAUSE OF AUTISM: The latest VACCINE INFORMATION FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS TREATING KIDS' COLDS WITHOUT DRUGS MRSA ("Resistant Staph") INFECTIONS TRAVEL TIPS SPORTS INJURY PREVENTION TIPS  SEASONAL TIPS FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: The American Academy of Pediatrics has many "safety tips" resources on their website.  The web links below connects you to each one BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIPS SUMMER SAFETY TIPS, Part 1 SUMMER SAFETY TIPS, Part 2 WINTER SAFETY TIPS HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS    VACCINES NOT LINKED TO AUTISM The link below takes you to the latest statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics on the subject of vaccine safety and importance, as well as a summary of what is known about autism and the evidence showing no link between vaccines and the rise in autism. Facts for Parents About Autism and Vaccine Safety      LONDON (Reuters) - The Lancet medical journal formally retracted a paper on Tuesday that caused a 12-year international battle over links between the three-in-one childhood MMR vaccine and autism. LANCET RETRACTS STUDY LINKING AUTISM, MMR VACCINE The paper, published in 1998 and written by British doctor Andrew Wakefield, suggested the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot might be linked to autism and bowel disease. His assertion, since widely discredited, caused one of the biggest medical rows in a generation and led to a steep drop in the number of vaccinations in the United States, Britain and other parts of Europe, prompting a rise in cases of measles. "It has become clear that several elements of the 1998 paper by Wakefield ... are incorrect," the internationally renowned scientific journal said in a statement. A disciplinary panel of Britain's General Medical Council (GMC) ruled last week that Wakefield had presented his research in an "irresponsible and dishonest" way and shown a "callous disregard" for the suffering of the children he studied. It also ruled he had brought the medical profession "into disrepute." Adam Finn, professor of pediatrics at Bristol University, welcomed the Lancet's move but said it had been too long coming. "This is not before time. Let's hope this will do something to re-establish the good reputation of this excellent vaccine," he said in a statement to reporters. "PROVEN TO BE FALSE" A rise in parents' refusal to have their children vaccinated because of fears of links to autism has caused a rise in measles cases in the United States and parts of Europe in recent years. Data released last February for England and Wales showed a rise in measles cases of more than 70 percent in 2008 from the previous year, mostly due to unvaccinated children. Vaccination rates are now recovering and Wakefield's research has been discredited worldwide. The Lancet said that following the GMC ruling, it was now clear that certain parts of Wakefield's paper were wrong. It highlighted claims in the original paper that children investigated for the study "consecutively referred" and that investigations were "approved" by the local ethics committee, and said these had now been "proven to be false." "Therefore we fully retract this paper from the published record," it said in a statement. Wakefield, who now lives and works in the United States, has always defended his work and accused those who argued against him of making "unfounded and unjust" allegations. The GMC is now considering whether Wakefield is guilty of serious professional misconduct, which could lead to him being struck off Britain's medical register.   JENNY McCARTHY ON OPRAH - A REBUTTAL TO HER MISINFORMED CLAIMS REGARDING AUTISM. For those patients who watched the recent Oprah show and were concerned by Jenny McCarthy's views regarding autism please click on the following link: Baby 411 Blog