All Star Pediatrics has once again been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a certified Patient-Centered Medical Home.
What's New?
May 12, 2026
An estimated 60 million kids across the U.S. enjoy soccer, track, basketball, swimming, football, tennis, gymnastics and other healthy activities. For the most part, these choices are great for social and physical development. But when kids train or play too hard, they can get hurt. How overtraining can hurt kids in sports Overuse means a child's body can't keep up with the demands a certain activity places on them. For example, if a young baseball pitcher practices for hours every day and pitches several games each week, there may not be enough time in between for bones, muscles and other tissues to recover from the strain. Overuse and overtraining can also leave young athletes feeling exhausted, physically and mentally. ( See " Burnout in Young Athletes: How to Keep the Fun in Sports .") Click here to read the entire article
May 12, 2026
Many different HPV types cause cervical cancer. Two types (16 and 18) are the most common, accounting for about 7 of every 10 cases of cervical cancer. Similarly, many types of HPV cause anal and genital warts, but only two types (6 and 11) account for about 9 of every 10 cases. The HPV vaccine, known as GARDASIL®, protects against nine types of HPV that cause disease in people. The types in the vaccine are 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. Other viruses can cause cancer, too. For example, hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer; AIDS virus can cause sarcoma (cancer of skin and soft tissues), and Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes 'mono') can cause cancers of the head and neck and of the immune system. These types of cancers can also be caused by other things. For example, alcohol can cause liver cancer; the sun can cause skin cancer, and poisons can cause cancer of the immune system. Cervical cancer is unique in that almost all cases are caused by HPV. In some instances, HPV is not identified. Some of these cases are likely still caused by HPV, but the virus is not detected due to test sensitivity or inaccurate results. In other cases, the cancer could be misdiagnosed (i.e., metastasized or of a nearby tissue type) or a type of cancer, called adenocarcinoma, that is associated with local glands, rather than the squamous epithelial cells that line the cervix. Click Here to see a PDF From CHOP Click Here to read the full CHOP article about HPV and HPV Vaccine
May 12, 2026
Meningitis B is a cause of serious disease, similar to other types of bacterial illnesses. This particular bacteria is rare but has been the source of meningitis outbreaks on college campuses throughout the United States over the past few years. All of our older children have been immunized with the “Menactra/MenQuadFi” vaccine at age 11 and 16 for middle school and high school. This particular vaccine covers meningococcus strains A, C, W, and Y. Obviously Meningitis B bacteria is not covered by this previous administered vaccine. Some colleges “require” students to receive the Meningitis B vaccine prior to coming to campus while other schools simply “strongly recommend” the vaccine. Our families at All Star have asked “what to do?” All of the providers agree that the Meningitis B vaccine should be given to your college age student. The vaccine is a two-dose series separated by six months. Please plan accordingly and schedule the vaccine this summer before your child heads off to school. As always, if there are any questions, please ask to speak with one of the nurses or providers.
