Thalassemia is a group of blood disorders that is genetically passed on and is very common in Southeast Asian countries. There are many, many different kinds of Thalassemia and it can be overwhelming to learn about them all if your child is diagnosed with some form of the disorder. During you first medical exam after you come home with your newly adopted child, your doctor will perform a battery of blood tests. It is upon receipt of the results of these tests that is when most Thalassemia diagnoses will be given.

It is important that you have a pediatrician who is familiar with Asian children and the illnesses, disorders and diseases that are prevalent in Vietnamese people. A doctor... more

When you adopt a Vietnamese child there are some medical issues to be aware of. The one that I want to discuss today is certainly not a medical problem, just something that not all prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) may be familiar with.

Mongolian spots are flat birthmarks that range in color from grayish blue to dark tones of brown and black; and often resemble a bruise. They are extremely common among Asians as well as Africans, Native Americans, Latinos and East Indians. Some Americans have never seen a mongolian spot and have been known to confuse them with a bruise, so it is a good idea that you familiarize yourself with them before meeting your child.

Most mongolian... more

Take a look at this article about my buddy Diem. Faced with aplastic anemia, a potentially life threatening illness and needing a bone marrow transplant, she found that there were no matches for her in the donor registry. None. Zero. Diem is Vietnamese American and faced what many Asian, Hispanic, Black and African Amerian and other minority groups are faced with regularly. There are simply not enough (or in some cases, any) people from minority groups registering to be... more

A few weeks ago (July 8, 2007,) Reuters reported that the rising number of incidents of Dengue Fever in Viet Nam were causing concern. As of July 8th the disease had taken the lives of 27 Vietnamese people. It had also infected over 20,000 people in the first half of 2007, which is 23% more cases than last year. A warden message was issued by the United States Embassy in Hanoi... more

Ella’s second PPD test (for tuberculosis) came back negative this week!!! Many months ago she was tested and her result was 5 millimeters, which is viewed as a borderline reaction (depending on who you ask.) We had her tested as a precaution due to the prevalence of tuberculosis ( TB ) in Viet Nam. She had received one TB vaccination while she was there, and bears the scar on her upper arm to prove it. This vaccine is very common in Viet Nam and other countries in Asia.

When her first test came back as a five, my husband and I were worried, but our doctor wasn’t too alarmed. She felt it would be best to wait a few months, let her immune system develop a little more and re-test her.... more

Questions to ask your pediatrician

From the Post Adoption Learning Center:

Questions that you should ask of the office staff:

1) How long do patients usually wait to see the doctor? 2) What are the office hours? 3) How does the office handle routine questions? 4) How does the office handle emergency calls and after hour calls? 5) Does the office have... more

The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) maintains a list of doctors with a special interest in adoption.

Ohio Deborah Borchers, MD, FAAP Ohio and Northern Kentucky Phone: 513-753-2820 Fax: 513-753-2824 E-mail: debbiborch@zoomtown.com Dr. Borchers is a primary care pediatrician with a specialty in adoption and foster care. She provides preadoption... more

The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) maintains a list of doctors with a special interest in adoption.

Nebraska Edward M. Kolb, MD International Adoption Medical Consultants 13110 Birch Drive Suite 148, Box 366 Omaha, NE 68164 Phone: 402-680-3269 Fax: 402-496-7126 Email: adoptmedconsultants@cox.net

Nevada... more

The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) maintains a list of doctors with a special interest in adoption.

Maine Lisa A. Gouldsbrough, DO, FAAP University Health Care for Kids 295 Forest Avenue Portland, ME 04101 Phone: 201-772-KIDS

Maryland Robin Chernoff, MD Johns Hopkins School of Medicine CMSC 145 Baltimore, MD 21287 Phone: 410-614-3865... more

The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) maintains a list of doctors with a special interest in adoption.

Georgia Sorry; there are no pediatricians listed for this state.

Hawaii Sorry; there are no pediatricians listed for this state.

Idaho Renata Moon, MD, FAAP Boise, ID E-mail: crmoon@pol.net

Illinois... more