Health Issues

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 unfamiliar with Thalassemia may diagnose your child as anemic and prescribe iron… [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 spots appear right at the base of the spine, which is what leads uneducated… [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 donors. The National Marrow Donor Program states that there is an urgent need for more minorities to register to be a bone marrow or cord blood donor. People who are in need of transplants have a greater likelihood of matching a donor… [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 on July 11, 2007 to notify Americans of the situation and offer ideas on how to keep safe. The following information was gathered from the Embassy's message. Dengue Fever is transmitted by mosquito, so preventing mosquito bites is the only way to prevent transmission. It is most common during… [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 evening and weekend appointments? 6) How does the office handle Sunday and holiday emergencies? 7) Is your physician listed within the health insurance network? 8) How much lead-time do you need in order to make an appointment for a physical examination?. 9) Does the office see children urgently on the same day for sick visits? 10) How much lead time do you need in order to schedule a Post-Adoption Medical Examination? Here… [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 referral evaluation, postadoption medical evaluations and ongoing care and education for families and professionals. Ellen Kempf, MD, FAAP Director Oak Adoptive Health Center Akron Children's Hospital Two Perkins Square, Suite 6300 Akron, Ohio 44308-1062 Phone: 330-543-3550 Fax: 330-543-3512 E-mail: sblakemore@chmca.org Website: http://www.akronchildrens.org/adoptivehealth/ The Oak Adoptive Health Center offers pre -adoption consultation , post -adoption medical evaluations, psychological and developmental assessment services, and education programs for families. The Center addresses the needs and concerns of families adopting internationally or domestically. Shawn Taylor, MD, FAAP 3050 Harrodsburg Road #200 Lexington, KY 40503-2708 Phone: 606-277-6102 Fax: 606-276-3677 E-mail: lesk77@peoplepc.com International adoptions with a special interest in China. Anna Mandalakas… [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 Sorry; there are no pediatricians listed for this state. New Hampshire Jan McGonagle, MD, FAAP Dartmouth Hitchock Phone: 603-354-6666 Susanne M Powell, MD, FAAP 173 Daniel Webster Highway Nashua, NH 03060 Phone: 603-891-4550 www.nashuamedicalgroup.org Offers pre and post adoption evaluations, ongoing primary care of adoptive children, and will provide referrals as necessary to specialists as problems present. New Jersey Alla Gordina, MD, FAAP Global Pediatrics International Adoption Medical Support Services 7 Auer Court East Brunswick, NJ 08816 Phone: 732-432-7777 Fax: 732-432-9030 E-mail: drgordina@globalpediatrics.net Web site: www.globalpediatrics.net Primary care pediatrician with the specialization in international adoption management. Pre-adoption reviews and counseling for families adopting from the republics of the former Soviet Union. Post-adoption evaluations and management of internationally… [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 E-mail: Rchernof@jhmi.edu Barbara W. Siskind, MD Ch., Pediatrics Kirk U.S.Army Health Clinic Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005 Phone: 410-278-1717 Post-Adoption Initial Evaluation, General Pediatric Followup Care. Practice is limited to Department of Defense dependents with TriCare Prime Health Insurance. Over 25 years experience with domestic and international adoptees. Massachusetts Robert M. Abrams, MD, FAAP 19 Stanton Ave South Hadley, MA 01075 Phone: 413-536-4373 E-mail: rabrams19@mediaone.net Lisa M. H. Albers, MD, MPH, FAAP Children's Hospital Boston, MA Phone: 617-355-4125 Fax: 617-730-0252 E- mail: lisa.albers@childrens.harvard.edu Multidisciplinary clinic offering pre-adoptive and postadoptive consultations and classes for families involved with domestic and international adoptions. Special interest and expertise in working with child… [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 Cynthia Gould, MD MacNeal Hospital, West Suburban Hospital, Children's Memorial Oak Park, IL Phone: 708-848-8240 Fax: 708-383-2135 E-mail: cgould@macneal.com Pre- and post-adoption consultations; complete medical services through age 18 years. Special interest in medical issues of international adoption. Todd Ochs, MD, FAAP Adoption Pediatrics, S.C. Ravenswood Medical Professional Group, S.C. 1945 W. Wilson Chicago, IL 60640 Phone: 773-769-4600 or 773-975-8560 E- mail: t-ochs@northwestern.edu Preadoption referral evaluation speaking engagements (speaking to adoptive families); Postadoption medical evaluation (continuing pediatric care) Indiana Christopher Belcher, MD, FAAP Pediatric International Adoption Clinic St Vincent Pediatric Rehabilitation Center 1707 W 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46240 Phone: 317-415-5545 Fax: 317-415-5580 E-mail: JRKeller@stvincent.org International adoption consultations, complete medical care, immunizations, on site rehabilitation… [more]