Saugatuck Pediatrics
191 Post Road West, Suite 201
Westport, CT 06880
We are located in the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center building, off the street and behind Schulhof Animal Hospital.
Phone
203-793-4747
Email
office@saugpeds.com
Fax
877-809-0848
Billing
978-208-5361 | biller@saugpeds.com
Patient Portal
Non-urgent medical or administrative messages can be sent through our patient portal. We will respond within 2-3 business days.
Sick visit requests may also be made through the portal on weekdays only.
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
1:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Weekends/Holidays
We offer urgent visits in the mornings only. Please call the office by 10 am for an appointment.
After-Hours Care
If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, please call 911.
For urgent after hours concerns, call our office. Our clinicians are on call 24/7.
Poison Control Hotline
800-222-1222
Well Visit Scheduling now Available via Patient Portal!
April 2, 2025
You can now conveniently schedule your annual well visit online through the portal. This update makes booking appointments easier than ever, giving you more flexibility and control over your family’s schedule.
Here’s how you can schedule an appointment:
1. Log in to your patient portal.
2. Navigate to the “Upcoming Appointments” section.
3. Select “Schedule a Visit.”
4. Select patient
5. Choose “Well Visit” from the available options.
6. Pick a date and time that works for you.
7. Confirm your appointment.
It’s that simple! Log in to your patient portal today to schedule your next visit.
*If your child is on medication prescribed by us for anxiety, depression or ADHD, please choose the option for a well visit + med check (this allows more visit time to help manage those medications.)
Measles: The Disease and Vaccine Options
March 6, 2025
Measles: The Disease and Vaccine Options
The Measles Vaccine:
IF you would like to give your child their second MMR prior to 4 years of age you have two options:
Both these doses replace the vaccine we could normally give at age 4. If you do only the MMR, your child will still need a varicella vaccine at age 4.
Measles Facts:
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. The virus is spread by small respiratory droplets. If 100 susceptible people are in a room with someone who is infected, 90 of them are likely to become ill with measles. Further, if someone who has not had measles enters an elevator or other small space up to two hours after an infected person has left, they can still contract measles.
Symptoms of measles:
Additional resources for your questions about measles, the vaccine, and dispelling many current myths circulating about both:
Vaxopedia Measles Information Page
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Measle Information Page
MMR Vaccine Misinformation
Your Local Epidemiologist on the Measles Outbreak
Vitamin A is not a Substitution for the Measles Vaccine
Vaccines and Autoimmunity: Separating Fact from Fiction
Cough, Cough, Cough…
September 16, 2024
It’s cough season, with a few causes that weren’t on our bingo card this year…
Coughing is an important physiological defense mechanism that helps clear the airways of germs, irritants and mucous. As a result, we try not to suppress coughs unless they are unnecessarily disturbing daytime activities or sleep.
Acute coughs are most often caused by an upper respiratory tract infection, usually a common cold. Coughs with colds can last a few weeks- unless it is accompanied by ear pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, gagging or vomiting after cough episodes or fever for more than 5 days you can treat at home. Any cough not improving by day 10-14 of an illness should be evaluated in the office as well.
Other causes of acute cough include:
*We now have an injection of monoclonal antibodies against RSV (Beyfortus) for infants under the age of 8 months as of 10/1. This will help avoid RSV infection in the first year of life (stay tuned for more information about scheduling this injection.)
The two less common infections in the community right now are:
Treatment of cough and congestion:
Water/fluids– water, juice, warm chicken soup or tea helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid caffeine, excess sugary beverages.
Salt water– a saltwater gargle (1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of warm water) can temporarily relieve a scratchy or sore throat
Saline nasal drops/sprays-
A new over the counter nasal decongestant spray called ASTEPRO can help with congestion caused by allergies and colds. Avoid afrin or neo-synephrine as they can cause rebound congestion if used more than 2-3 days at a time.
Honey– safe to use for coughs and sore throats in children older than one. 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of honey has been found to be as effective as cough medicines in a study of children with upper respiratory tract infections. Best given straight up, honey coats and soothes an irritated throat.
Pectin cough drops/lollipops– safe to use in children at least 3 years of age who don’t choke easily. Pectin coats the throat,and helps soreness and cough.
Humidification– cold viruses thrive in dry conditions, and dry air also dries mucous membranes causing a stuffy nose and sore throat.
Benadryl– a first-generation (sedating) antihistamine that may provide minor relief of congestion, sneezing and watery eyes, can be used in infants and children. Newer antihistamines like zyrtec and allegra are good for allergy, but not for colds. Can use with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Dosing is available by weight/age on our website HERE.
Delsym/Robitussin DM– long acting cough medications containing dextromethorphan that can be used for irritative coughs in children over age 4. This only suppresses the cough reflex, and does not decongest. Can use with Benadryl, acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen.
Delsym dosing:
· Children 12 and older- 10 ml (2 teaspoons) every 12 hours
· Children 6- 11 years- 5 ml (1 teaspoon) every 12 hours
· Children 4-6 years- 2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoon) every 12 hours
· Children under 4- discuss with physician prior to using
What NOT to use for coughs and colds:
Antibiotics- these attack bacteria, but do not work against viruses. You should have your child evaluated by the pediatrician prior to starting antibiotics, which are generally reserved for treatment of likely bacterial ear infections, bacterial sinusitis and bacterial pneumonia. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Over the counter cold and cough meds in children younger than 4- the FDA has recommended against the use of such medications due to serious and significant side effects and lack of efficacy in young children. You can use Benadryl for decongestion in young children, but recommend not using delsym in children younger than 4 unless directed by the physician.
Zinc- most high quality studies show no benefit to the use of zinc, and the mineral can cause significant side effects such as bad taste, nausea, and even permanent loss of the sense of smell in zinc-containing nasal cold remedies.
How do the symptoms of Flu differ from COVID19? Read more HERE.
Insect Bites and Stings
April 18, 2024
We are starting to see a lot of insect bites on our delicious patients. Here is some information on how to evaluate and treat a bite or sting.
We cannot usually distinguish between an insect, spider or tick bite without seeing the actual offender in action. However, these bites are all initially treated in the same way (providing symptomatic relief.)
Mosquito bites start as puffy, white bumps that appear a few minutes after the bite. The bumps usually swell and turn redder, itchier over 24-48 hours, and can sometimes become quite large. Occasionally there will be a small blister in the center. As the swelling goes down, the area may look like a ringed lyme rash, but the size does not increase as a lyme rash would.
Occasionally a mosquito bite causes a large area of swelling, soreness and redness that can last several days. This type of reaction is called “skeeter syndrome”. Using an antihistamine such as Zyrtec or Allegra for several days will help.
Tick bites are less likely to cause initial inflammation and redness, and are only an issue if followed (3-30 days later) by a steadily expanding, ringed, pain/itch free, flat rash that is present for at least several days (or an acute, febrile, flu like illness.) If you are worried about a possible lyme rash, take a photo daily and come in if the area is increasing in size over several days. If you think the tick has been in place for more than 24-36 hrs, and appears engorged, make an appointment for an evaluation and possible preventative antibiotic treatment (bring the tick with you if possible.)
Bee and Wasp stings can cause similar reactions as mosquito bites, and the area may look worse 24-48 hours after the sting. A bee sting feels similar to a wasp sting, but the sting and a venomous sac will be left in the wound. You should remove this immediately by scraping it out using something with a hard edge, such as a bank card. Don’t pinch the sting out with your fingers or tweezers because you may spread the venom.
Black Fly bites are common in the northeast from April to July, especially in wet areas. These flies secrete an anticoagulant (blood thinner) into the skin, which both numbs the area and causes bleeding. The bites often look like blood blisters, and tend to be around the neck and ears, or by the ankles. Localized swelling and itch can last as long as several weeks.
Spider Bites: THESE ARE VERY UNCOMMON IN CONNECTICUT!
The brown recluse is most commonly found in the South and is not native to any of the New England States. Brown recluse spider bites within 4 hours develop a “bull’s-eye” appearance, forming a blister in some cases. This blister may rupture in 8 to 36 hours, creating an ulcer or brown/black scabbed center. There is no special treatment or medication used to treat a brown recluse spider bite. If infection develops it is treated with antibiotics.
Black Widows may be found throughout New England, but true black widow spider sightings or bites are very uncommon. Very often, no serious symptoms develop. Occasionally, after 20 to 40 minutes the patient may develop a dull ache or numbing sensation near the bite site. Pain progresses and spreads to the abdomen (stomach cramps), back, and extremities. If muscle cramps develop or pain is severe, go to the nearest hospital for treatment of the symptoms.
Treatment:
When the reaction is mild, the majority of bites and stings can be treated at home. Wash the affected area with soap and water, and apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. Topical anti-itch creams (Cortaid, Benadryl, or Calamine), oral pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) and antihistamines (Benadryl, Zyrtec, or Allegra) may be used to control itch and swelling.
Benadryl, ibuprofen and acetaminophen dosages by weight can be found on the website https://saugatuckpeds.com/resource/medication-dosage-calculator/
If, after a few days, the bite develops a golden crust or scab, with some flaking and/or oozing, it may be infected. Please schedule an appointment if your child’s bites look suspicious.
Photos of various stings and bites can be found here
For more information on tick bites, click here.
For more information on bug repellents, click here.
A (near) Total Eclipse of the Sun….
April 5, 2024
We will be experiencing a partial (approximately 90%) solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th from 2:11-4:37 pm. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/westport?iso=20240408 We are expecting sunny weather with scattered clouds, so should have a great view!
Partial or annular solar eclipses are different from total solar eclipses – there is no period of totality when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s bright face. Therefore, during partial or annular solar eclipses, it is never safe to look directly at the eclipse without proper eye protection. Please make sure your children are properly protected during this fun event.
When watching a partial or annular solar eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard. NASA does not approve any particular brand of solar viewers.
Do NOT look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.
If you don’t have eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer, you can use a homemade indirect viewing method, which does not involve looking directly at the Sun. One way is to use a pinhole projector, which has a small opening (for example, a hole punched in an index card) and projects an image of the Sun onto a nearby surface. With the Sun at your back, you can then safely view the projected image. Do NOT look at the Sun through the pinhole! Here are more fun eclipse activities: https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/learning-toolkit-blog/7-activities-to-get-kids-excited-solar-eclipse.html