[Shoshana]

If you want to skip the boring update, skip down to the bottom & see EYES - B for the interesting info...

EARS - The constant ear infections began last September when Xiomara turned 2. That problem is better since the tubes were installed in February and her hearing loss has completely resolved. Speech is improving dramatically as well.

THROAT - Tonsils are still very swollen. The very good, but not pediatric, ENT physicial won't consider surgery until she's 3. I certainly do not want surgery unless she needs it. Her sleep patterns are HORRIBLE and we're in a paraticularly bad period right now. I think it must have something to do with her breathing/tonsils. I'm a psychologist, for pete's sake! I can't figure out how to help this child sleep. AARGH. (Yup, I'm exhausted). I'm thinking of getting another opinion from the children's hospital.

EYES A - Also in September, Xiomara began to get what I thought were styes (sp?). They started on the upper eye lid. Then the lower. Since about December, her entire lower eye lid is swollen to the diameter of a pencil. Yesterday we went to one of the best children's hospitals in the US. There is a disorder called chalazion - it's similar to styes but they become encapsulated. There's a chance it will disappear, after months or years, a chance it will get worse. It's usually only a cosmetic problem but regardless, she might have to have surgery when she's a preteen/teen.

EYES - B -- the INTERESTING part. Thank goodness we went for the exam because they checked her vision. My 2.5 yr old daughter needs glasses! She's near-sighted & has significant astigmatism. There's a fairly large central american population in this area. The pediatric opthamologist said that a very high percentage of CA kids have astigmatism and are near-sighted. He's convinced there's a genetic predisposition.

Here's why I find this so interesting. I got my first pair of glasses when I was 10. No one knew I couldn't see and to this day my eyes cannot be corrected to 20/20 because I missed a critical period for visual acuity. I almost never see pics of Guate kids with glasses. Is it because kids aren't tested until they reach first grade? I would have never known that Xiomara needed glasses if I hadn't taken her for the other problem.

[Maggie Beth]

That is interesting! I grew up with two family members who were optomitrists... kids should have their first eye exam by about 4-5 years old... and sooner if they are showing are signs of squinting, eye train, etc. Thanks for the reminder!

[kelleymac]

Wow, thanks for the information Shoshana...we'll be having Jonah's eyes tested earlier than we normally would have to be sure we're not missing an important milestone.

Kelley

[mac308]

Thanks for passing this along. Very interesting!

[cheri25]

Shoshana,

Although my son who is now 4 (home in 2002) has had no ear infections or tonsil problems, he too has a chalazion and mild astigmatism. His pediatrican first confirmed my suspision of the chalazion (I researched it online ) and prescribed antibiotic eye drops and warm compress. This helped, but since it didn't totally go away, she referred us to a pediatric opthomoligist. The opthomologist put him on a different eye drop with a steriod in it, and diagnosed the astigmatism. His chalazion is really small, and she said the surgery, although outpatient and only about 10 min, is really not necessary right now. She said the scar tissue would probably be bigger than the chalazion. Also since his astigmatism is so mild right now, she said we would just monitor it and do yearly check ups to see if/when he needs glasses. I have heard of several other children from Guatemala having a chalazion, so maybe they are predisposed to this too. (?) Thanks for sharing.

[moelladeville]

Hi Elizabeth,
Jackson's been wearing glasses since age 2 -- astigmatism. We went to a gathering of Guatemala adoptive families, and more than half of the older kids had glasses. We talked about it, and it was astigmatisms across the board. I actually posted something about this on the forum last July or August, and I got lots of responses from parents whose children have the same condition. I would bet money that it's not a coincidence! I'm attaching a photo of my son and one from the gathering in which three of the five adoptees are wearing glasses!
Marjorie

[cr653]

im glad the tubes have worked so well, and your little daughter can hear and now speak lots better!

interesting regarding the eyesight issues...

i, too, had severe nearsightedness, and an astigm. that was diagnosed when i was in kind.
it was a time when the 'eyepatch' was used. it was awful!
i remember it to this day
BUT, like you, it was probably diagnosed to late and my left eye can NOT get to 20/20 not even close! arugh!

I am curious about when a good time would be to have kids eyes checked....
our Ped does the 'chart' test starting at 3 during wellness visits. and referrs from there if it's necessary.
Anyone know if that 'screening' is good enough?

I hope you get a solution for xiomara's tonsils, as the sleeping issues must be awful for her!

cris.

[Shoshana]

Cris - the opthamologist yesterday started the test by flashing shapes on a computer screen & giving Xiomara a sheet with 4 shapes on it. She had to point to the shape she'd seen. She matched the circle and heart-like object, but confused the house and the square. Next, he dialated her pupils and tested her vision by looking into the eye and using different lenses. I think the chart test you mentioned is only useful if the child is verbal enough to participate - maybe age 3, and I don't think it can dx astigmatism. The more accurate and sensitive test can be done, obviously, before that.

Marjorie! I'm so surprised. I've been to quite a few Guate adoptive family events and can only remember one or two kids with glasses! Thanks for posting the pics. Jackson is SO cute. Xiomara is well aware of mama's glasses and doesn't like me to take them off (which I rarely do since I can't see a thing). She loves to wear her "sun guh guh gasses" (the absolutely funniest mispronunciation she makes). Any tips for getting glasses for a child this young? We do not have a children's optician in town.

[alyssa&avery]

My eye doctor recommends having their eyes tested somewhere between 2 and 3. By testing early they can catch a lot of things that can then be easily corrected. The test that they do at the ped's office is just not comprehensive enough to catch many subtle things. We've already had Alyssa's done and she's fine, but we'll retest before she starts kindergarten. I'll schedule Avery's appointment soon. I have to admit that I was a tad skeptical about them testing such a small child, but I was really impressed with the scope of the exam. It really is amazing how well they can test little ones.

Elizabeth, thanks for reminding everyone how important it is to have this done.

[LauraP0322]

We knew that Joe needed glasses at an early age, and has been wearing them since age 4. It has made SUCH a difference!!! He is extremely near-sighted and has astigmatism. He's had 2 different Rx's so far and it will continue to be adjusted as he grows. I also HIGHLY recommend the prescription sports goggles. WalMart sells them in size XS! Joe wears them for tee-ball, wrestling, or just playing outside at the park.

Megan also has glasses for astigmatism in her left-eye. The opt. was most concerned about this causing a lazy eye. She's had them for about 6 mo., and only needs to read them while doing desk work -- reading, writing, coloring, etc.

Rosa is only 17 mo. old, but I'd bet money that she'll need glasses too. She already squints when looking out the front window of our house and stands right next to the TV, like Joe did. We'll probably take her to the ped when she's 3 or so.

The last health warning I want to tell you about is TEETH!!! Take your kids to a pediatric dentist as soon as possible! I have never met one Guatemalan child with no teeth issues. The main one is that their baby teeth have no or little enamel on them. So if they get a cavity, it goes like crazy. Our older daughter almost had to have a tooth removed, and our son's had one cavity so far. Also, too much fluoride too young will actually deter enamel growth. So our ped. dentist had us stop using toothpaste with fluoride until they were 5. (We have fluorinated water.)

Here's a picture of Joe in his glasses...

[angelkisses0102]

Elizabeth...

I strongly urge you to take her to a pediatric ENT regarding her tonsils (and possibly adenoids.) Alex had obstructive sleep apnea (I think that's the name) and removing his tonsils and adenoids COMPLETELY RESOLVED our sleep issues. Alex did not sleep thru the night until almost 6 weeks ago...he had his surgery a week prior. The ENT had seen how huge his tonsils were but after surgery commented more than once about the adenoids being so huge.

Also, Alex was only 2.5 years old (30 months) and the pediatric ENT stated they do not like to do it until 3, however they will do it prior if it is determined to be benefical to the child. He just required overnight hospitalization....or longer if the child doesn't drink. Dehydration is the major concern.

Alex is like a different child since his surgery..all for the good...especially the sleeping!
Good luck...I so know about sleep issues...it took Alex 23 months to sleep thru the night...

[ej-momtobe]

I used to do volunteer work in remote areas of Honduras with my father (a now retired Optometrist). I remember encountering a large number of children between 5 and 10 that had lots of vision problems correctable with glasses. It was really sad, because these children were generally very withdrawn with little self confidence because of their sight problems But, when we put glasses on them, they lit up with confidence. (even if the glasses were kind-of ugly)

We were never able to tell that there was a disproportionate number of children with these problems in because we really didn't see a cross section of society...and were more apt to see the children with the problems.

[momlooks4pink]

For the ears and throat have you considered a Chiropractor? I have not gone myself, but took my oldest child on the advice of friends and believe the Doc was heaven sent. I always recommend them now as an alternative to something you might not think about. HE WORKED WONDERS on my child who was not sick AT ALL the entire fall and winter with even a runny nose (even though my other 2 were).

[annaguat]

There are two children with glasses in my family and they are my Gautemalan children. I also found that they were misdiagnosed over and over before they got their glasses. My children were older and when they came home. anna

[tonyy]

Elizabeth:

Interesting about Eyes A - My son currently has a stye that will not go away. We went to the eye Dr. last Weds and she said to do a warm compress 3x a day. She said it will take about a month to clear. I am going to ask her about chalazion. Thank you so much for the information.