sumers should read the list of
active ingredients to see if they
include magnesium.
Still, one would have to con-
sume a lot of magnesium to be-
come toxic, and it's a risk mostly
for people who have conditions
that cause excessive absorption
of magnesium. People who are
more vulnerable include:
• Anyone with improperly
functioning kidneys.
• Older individuals, because
kidney function declines with age.
• People who have had in-
testinal surgery.
• Those with longtime dia-
betes.
• Anyone taking medication
to slow intestinal transit.
Symptoms of magnesium
overdose include nausea, vom-
iting, clumsiness, weakness,
paralysis, drowsiness and con-
fusion. Because these symptoms
can mimic other conditions, such
as stroke, doctors may not real-
ize the patient is suffering from
magnesium poisoning. ❑
Ways To Gauge
A Child's Fever
KATHALEEN ROBERTS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
he advertising depicts a
bug-eyed infant tugging di-
rectly at parental guilt
strings by asking, "You're
going to put it where?"
Health professionals say those
pricey new ear thermometers
aren't really as necessary as their
cringing mascot would have par-
ents believe.
Some families still rely on sim-
pler methods for fever-gauging,
rejecting even the old glass-and-
mercury antiques for a warm
palm. Others opt for those plas-
T
an accurate" temperature, he ex-
plained. "The reason is because
the baby's ear canal is so short."
Babies aren't ready for oral
thermometers because the glass
might shatter in their mouths,
he added. Less squeamish par-
ents can insert the reliable mer-
cury-and-glass kind into the
rectum.
Glass thermometers are cheap
and accurate. But they're frag-
ile, and the tiny numbers can be
hard to read, he acknowledged.
"Fussy children may not sit
k
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tic digital devices that slip under
the arm as well as within deli-
cate baby bottoms. But many
parents say they're willing to
shell out up to $100 to measure
temperatures in less-sensitive
orifices.
Doctors say those old-fash-
ioned silvery thermometers still
reign as the best choice for in-
fants. Pediatrician Javed Ban-
gash discourages parents from
using the tympanic or ear-mea-
suring gadgets on babies.
"It is almost impossible to get
Kathaleen Roberts writes for
Copley News Service.
still for this type," Dr. Bangash
said.
The digital devices are easy to
read, and they beep when they're
ready. But squirmy youngsters
can complicate this method, too.
An armpit reading takes a min-
imum of five minutes, Dr. Ban-
gash said.
Susan Panther takes her 19-
month-old daughter Kathryn's
temperature using a digital ther-
mometer under the arm, but
says it takes too long. She wants
to try the tympanic model used
in her doctor's office.
FEVER page 50
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855.2666
31390 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills
Dr. Stanley B. Levine • Dr. Robert W. Levine