Articles

Heat Related Illnesses in Children

For Teens ONLY:
Fifty-Five Reasons not to start Smoking!

A Hole in the Heart

Antibiotics and Bacterial Endocarditis

Beware of Ticks … ... & Lyme Disease

Birth Defects - An Overview

Cardiomyopathy

Chest Pain Scares Youngsters Worries Parents

Children Challenge Big Tobacco

Children Need Body Mass Checkups!

Children's Blood Pressure Checks Urged

Cool Tips for Beating the Heat

Detecting Heart Problems in Athletes

Do (over the counter) medications really expire?

Do you know someone who is diagnosed with MRSA? (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus)

Exercise: Kids Go For It

Fight Antibiotic Resistance with Sensible Approach to Winter Colds

Get Rid Of Baby Walkers And Bath Seats

Heart Murmurs and the Dentist

Heart Palpitations in your child

Herbal Medicine and Your Child

High cholsterol affects children too

How Many Cigarettes Did Your Child Smoke Today Without You Knowing It?

Illnesses Caused by the bite of a Tick

Inhalant Abuse Information for Parents

Inhalant Abuse is on the Rise

Is breast milk always best?

January Is Birth Defects Prevention Month

Keep A Cool Head On Hot, Humid Days To Avoid Heat Stroke

Listeria Infections

Minor Problem or True Emergency

Monitor Children's Blood Pressure

Most Murmurs are of No Concern

My child complains of chest pain

Myocarditis

New Cholesterol Screening Guidelines in Children

Normal and Abnormal Heart Rates

Normal Blood Pressures in Children

Normal Vital Signs in Children

Number of Smoke-Free Households on the Increase

Parents: Your kids need you!

Put Your Legs in Gear before Opening Your Mouth!

Recognizing Heart Arrhythmias in Children

Reducing Heat-Rated Injuries in the Child-Athlete

Rheumatic Fever

Scarlet Fever - Is it serious?

Signs of Childhood Cancer

Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes

The alarming increase in smoking by teenage girls

The Importance of the Sports Physical

The Risks of Tobacco Use: A Message to Parents and Teens

What is a Patent Ductus Arteriosis

What is Aortic Stenosis?

What is Cyanosis

What is the hypoplastic left heart syndrome?

What to Say if Your Teen is Smoking

Which Sports When?

Why Immunize?

Why steroids are the new teen drug

Health Information from our Experts

How can I tell if my child is getting dehydrated when she is vomiting or has diarrhea?...

My five-year-old daughter grinds her teeth when she sleeps. I would like to know the cause, and if there is anything I should do about it....

When is a child's cut serious enough to require stitches?...

When is it safe to put sunscreen on my baby?...

If I have a breast infection, should I stop nursing?...

My toddler suddenly stopped using her arm and I took her to the pediatrician. He said she had "nursemaids' elbow. What is this condition? Should he have gotten x-rays?...

I am pregnant with my second child and want to breast feed the new baby. After my first child was born, the hospital nurses wanted my baby to have water out of a bottle. Is water necessary for new babies? I worry that if I give my baby water from a bott...

I recently took my one-year old to the pediatrician for her one-year checkup, She did not gain any weight and the doctor said he was going to do a workup for "failure to thrive." What does that mean?...

I have been on an antidepressant (Paxil) for a few years and just learned I am pregnant. Do I have to worry about continuing this medication during my pregnancy? ...

Whenever I take my three year old out in public, it is a nightmare. The grocery store is the worst. How can I get my youngster to behave better in public places?...

My twelve year old daughter seems too concerned about her weight. I think her weight is normal, but she says she is too fat. What should I do? ...

My pediatrician just prescribed an antibiotic for my child and the directions say "one teaspoon full three times a day." Does that mean the medication should be given at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or every eight hours?...

Is it necessary for my baby to have juice once a day?...

Does my child get sick at his pediatrician's office? ...

I would like to know what my child's prescription says. What are the meanings of all those little letters? ...

My teenage son went to our pediatrician for a sport physical and the physician said he had an "innocent heart murmur" and was okay to play soccer. What is an innocent murmur? Is it dangerous? ...

My four year old always has bad breath. What can cause this problem in a child?...

I've been told that families should eat their meals together no matter what. Is that true? ...

Should decisions in our family be handled in a democratic way? ...

I do not think it is correct to reward or bribe my child for work they do around the house. Do you agree?...

We must put our pet to sleep. What should we tell our children? ...

Is it okay to coax my child to try a new food by offering a cookie or sweat as a reward? ...

My daughter has a "lazy eye." What is meant by a "lazy eye?"...

My son recently started running cross country. He describes a dull aching pain on the lower front part of his shin bone. His running coach says he has shin splints. What are shin splints?...

What is a sty?...

My child's dentist uses nitrous oxide to treat my child. What is nitrous oxide and is it safe?...

Is there any way to prevent "swimmers' ear?" ...

Are there any support groups for mothers who do not work and stay at home with their children?...

What are those red boxes I see on the wall of our pediatrician's office?...

What things can I do to keep my child healthy?...

How can I tell if my child is really sick and should stay home from school? ...

Two of my child's adult teeth are coming behind the baby teeth. Is this normal?...

My child developed a strange rash over her face after a night of coughing. I took her to our pediatrician who said they were "blood spots." She also used another name for the rash that I cannot remember. Is this serious? ...

Is it okay to warm my baby's formula bottle in the microwave?...

My child was diagnosed with pneumonia by his pediatrician. Is pneumonia contagious and when can he go back to school?...

My baby is constantly pulling at his ears. The pediatrician checked and said there was no ear infection. What other conditions can cause a child to pull at their ears? ...

If fluoride for my baby is so important, what is the best way to give it to him?...

I wore braces throughout high school. Will my daughter need braces too, or is it too early to tell? ...

Are mouth guards important for student athletes?...

When should my child first see a pediatric dentist?...

How can I prevent tooth decay from breast feeding or using a bottle? ...

How does my child's diet affect his dental health?...

What should I do if my child complains of a toothache?...

I am pregnant. Is there anything I can do to help my baby's teeth develop properly? ...

Why do many newborns become jaundiced after birth? ...

How often does a normal newborn have a bowel movement?...

What is the best way to care for a newborn's umbilical cord?...

What causes newborns to have hiccups?...

My newborn makes all kinds of noises when breathing. Is this normal? ...

My new baby sneezes a lot. Does she have a cold?...

What are the small white spots on my baby's skin?...

At my newborn's two month checkup, her pediatrician said a rash on her face was "newborn acne." What is this condition? ...

What is the best way to wean my two and a half year old from the pacifier? ...

My three year old acts up every time we go to a restaurant. We have stopped going out to eat because of his behavior. How can I prevent this from happening? ...

Does it psychologically hurt my baby to cry herself to sleep? ...

My husband is seriously ill and the doctors say he will not live longer than six months. What is the best way to prepare my six and ten year old children?...

What do you do when time out does not work? ...

What do you do when your teenager starts hanging out with the wrong crowd? ...

My husband and I disagree on how to discipline our child. What is the best way to handle this? ...

While cleaning my teenage daughter's bedroom, I found an empty box of Vivarin in the wastebasket. Is this medicine dangerous? ...

Will changing formulas help a baby with colic?...

I am confused by the different formulas on the market. What is the difference between Similac®/Enfamil® , Isomil®/Prosobee®, and Alimentum®? ...

My three year old granddaughter is coming to visit. How can I make sure my home is safe for a little one?...

I live 2000 miles from my grandchildren. How can I stay in touch with them? ...

My son is marrying a woman with two children. What should they call me?...

My husband and I want to take our 12 and 15 year old grandsons on a vacation, but we do not know how to get started. Any suggestions?...

My grandchildren never acknowledge my Christmas or birthday gifts. I do not know what to do. I hate to stop remembering them with gifts, but it hurts when they do not call or write to say thanks, especially when I've spent a great deal of effort selecting ...

What should I do about my daughter who refuses all dairy products. I am worried she is not getting enough calcium....

The doctor told my sister-in-law that their new baby girl had a hole in her heart. Is that serious?...

During holidays, I want my child to be loving and giving and not always interested in "what is in it for me" or "where is mine?" How can I find a balance between raising a loving child yet can identify and ask for what he or she wants?...

What can be done to make a child more comfortable during a middle of the night ear infection?...

How do I know not to worry after a head injury?...

What is an epidural?...

This is going to sound so selfish, I almost hate to ask it. My daughter and her husband have a darling baby. They'll call me about Wednesday to ask what I have planned for the weekend. The first time it happened, I thought they were going to ask me out, so...

I feel that vaccine preventable diseases began disappearing before the vaccines were introduced. Can you give me an example of how vaccines have made a difference in modern times? ...

Are there any immunizations adults should have? ...

What does it mean that my pediatrician is "board certified?" ...

Is there still a need to vaccinate my child? Most of the diseases he is being vaccinated against no longer pose a health risk in the United States...

My child had a bad reaction to decongestants. When he was four weeks old he stopped breathing during a viral infection that stuffed up his nose. Six weeks later he had an episode of rapid heart rate (his heart rate reached 300!). I was nursing at the time ...

My 8-year-old nephew is extremely thin. He is about 3'10" - 3'11" tall and weighs 50 pounds. My sister and her husband are VERY "health conscious," eat only low- or no-fat foods, exercise 1-2 hours per day, and my nephew's diet is extremely controlled-...

Could you tell me how much school is necessary to become a pediatrician. I am only thirteen but would really like to be a doctor that takes care of children. ...

Do you have any ideas that will help make traveling with children easier? ...

What is your opinion about sending children to preschool?...

Can a child get rotavirus more than once?...

The breast bone of my son has caved inward since he was a baby. As a teenager, he is now embarrassed by the deformity and will not take off his shirt. What can be done about this condition? ...

At my twelve-year-old daughter’s sports physical our pediatrician noted a curve in her spine. He suggested that we see a specialist, but we could not get an appointment for two months. I am worried that she will need an ugly brace or worse, surgery. Can...

My doctor says calcium is important for teenagers. How can I tell if I’m getting enough calcium? ...

My daughter had her rotavirus immunization at four months of age along with her DtaP and polio vaccines. Two days later she had a temperature reaching 102 degrees for the entire day requiring cold wash cloths and wipe downs. She was basically miserable!...

How much tylenol should I give my 15 month old child for fever?...

At my daughter's last checkup (6 months) at the doctors, he noticed that the thigh creases did not match each other. When I asked if this meant anything, he pushed up on her hips and put her knees together etc.. He said it was nothing, but I am still c...

My pediatrician told me not to give my baby any water until age six months. My mother (the baby’s grandmother) said that I got water all the time when I was a baby. Is this a new policy? ...

I am a single mother who adopted a baby from China in Oct. of '96. I expect to travel to China again this summer to adopt another baby. My daughter will be 3 1/2 by the time it's time to travel. A lot of families traveling to China bring their childr...

I just had a doctor's appointment for a checkup. My doctor talked about all of this personal stuff including menstrual periods. She said I shouldn't douche and then left the room. Why not? It seems the only way to keep clean....

I a 13 month old baby girl who is only 16 lbs. and is below the 0% percentile in weight and 50% in height. My problem is that she will only eat what she finger feeds herself. She will not drink milk, Her appetite is very poor- and her energy output very...

I have a 6yr old granddaughter that just started 1st grade and refuses to eat lunch at school. That her mother packs for her. What can be done? ...

I received an email today warning about the dangers of using waterproof sunscreen. It said that getting sunscreen in the eye can cause blindness. I am very concerned. Is this true? ...

I was told by a nutritionist, not to give my one year old more than 14 oz of whole milk a day, because more than that doesn't get absorbed. Is that correct, because i've always though the more milk you drink the better. Also is it ok to give my one year ...

Should I have my child's cholesterol tested?...

Hi My daughter is now four years old. She was born with pulmonary hypertension, and other problems she was in ICU for almost three months, and didn’t hardly gain any weight at all and has been small ever since. She is 32 inches tall and only weighs 23lbs...

My 18 year old son will be starting college next fall. We are sure he had measles and mumps as a young child, but the university is requiring he take the MMR vaccine. Is that necessary?

...

My son was recently tested and found to have a blood triglyceride level of 331. He is 9 years of age and gets plenty of exercise. What foods would cause this level to be so high and what should we do? ...

Should I be concerned about my son's weight. He is 9 years old, 53 in. tall and weighs about 82 lbs. He's also perceptibly somewhat chunky, even overweight I would say.My preference would be to do nothing, but do worry that maybe I should try to chang...

My 7-week-old son has gas every day. Can anything be done to relieve his pain? Is this normal? I am breast feeding him, could something in my diet be causing this?...

Our daughter is going to be eight years old next month and I am starting to think about talking to her about growing up, getting her period, etc. What do I say? How much do I tell her about sex at this age? Is eight too young? I bought her a workbook and...

We have a 2.5 months old baby boy. We feed our two-month baby Similac formula. Lately, he has not been taking as much formula as before and the interval between feedings is quite long. Our pediatrician recommends changing formula to Isomil....

I breast fed my son (who turns three in October) for about nine weeks, but never really produced enough to satisfy him, so I switched to formula. While pregnant with him, my breasts were never tender. In fact, they never did hurt at all. I am currently p...

My Daughter is going to be 11 on July 2nd. I have tried several time to talk to her about what's happening to her body and what's going to happen in the near future. She doesn't want to hear it. She doesn't want to listen. Do you have any suggestions on ...

My teenage daughter often complains of chest pains. I have mitral valve prolapse. Could this be the cause of her chest pains?...

I recently received a note from my child's school saying that a new student had developed hepatitis B. Is my child in any danger? ...

I work as a nurse at a pediatricians's office. The doctor ordered Emla Cream for the parents who felt it would numb the baby's thighs and the baby would not feel the injections. I told them I felt the baby would still feel them because the medicine goes ...

At what age should my son change from a pediatrician to an “adult” doctor. ...

I have a friend who is breast-feeding her baby every other hour all day long, alternating between one hour of breast-feeding and one hour breaks. She has been doing this every day since the baby was born three months ago- is this normal? ...

When my grandson was born, he was given a shot of what the nurse said was vitamin K. Almost immediately, he went from a very active, squirming, crying baby to being very lethargic, non-responsive and quiet. We have watched the video of the birth many times...

My son is 7 months old and we have switched him from Emfamil formula to Mothers Choice (WalMart Generic). Is there much difference nutritionally between name brand formulas and generic ones? Both formulas are enriched with iron and the ingredients seem ve...

I have a concern regarding the different types of formula that are out on the market. I am sure that they all have to meet a certain type of standard, but how do I know that "cheaper" is better for my child or that the most expensive is going to be the ...

My 8 year old daughter is on the 5th percentile for height and was always small and underweight. She was hospitalized at 10 months of age for failure to thrive. However, over the past several months, she has been gaining weight rapidly and is now abo...

I have an eleven year old daughter who suddenly is having trouble falling asleep at night. She works herself up into such a frenzy that it takes a while to get her to sleep, and she sometimes is up even after my husband and I go to sleep. She is doing w...

Please help me. My son is 4 years old and has started having episodes when his lips suddenly turn blue. He is otherwise healthy. Our doctor checked him over and found nothing wrong and feels that perhaps the cold temperature in the house is causing the pr...

I have a son who is going to be one year old. He has Graves Disease and was born with an enlarged thyroid. My question is will he out grow this or does he have to be on medication for the rest of his life? His physicians said that he should have outgrown...

My son just had his one year well baby check. I was very disturbed to find that he has fallen considerably in the height and weight medians. At his sixth month check his height fell between the 50th and 75th percentile while this time it was between the ...

My son (aged 8) has complained consistently for the last three weeks of pain in the middle of his chest. His sternum area appears quite sensitive to touch. Today the pain was worse after gym class. What could it be? ...

My daughter is eleven months old and is due for her MMR vaccine at the one year old checkup. A friend told me that this vaccine increases her risk of developing autism. Should I worry? Should I withhold the vaccine?...

I have an active 5year old son. This spring he had Scarlet Fever and he now complains of different joint pains. Some days his wrists hurt, other days it is his elbow, knees, or ankles. He seems to always say his neck and spine hurt. It appears to alway...

Why is it important to have an infant facing the rear in their car seat, and when is a baby ready to face forward?...

I have a 10 month old daughter who has been eating table food for about a month. Is it okay to give her honey graham crackers for a snack? I know they have honey in them, but it is far down on the ingredients list and it is cooked. I don't want to take ...

My son just turned 9 and I'm concerned he is going to be overweight. In just a year it seems he has grown a little belly. He has always been pretty slim. He's 55" tall which I know is 90th percentile (he's always been in the 90th for height & weight) and...

I just read the response you gave to the parent that was worried about his/her son's weight. While I understand everything you said, I was wondering what you would tell a parent whose child is all ready what I consider to be obese? It's my nephew. He's 1...

My daughter is 13 1/2 months old and is nursing. Until recently I have been under the impression that babies should only nurse until their first birthday. My mother-in-law says it is time to wean. I feel strange about nursing an older child. Mostly b...

My wife recently took our four month old baby to the beauty salon spending over five hours making herself beautiful. Thee are a lot of chemicals being used in the shop. Is there any risk of our baby getting brain damaged or being affected in any way?...

I recently heard that the Hep B vaccine is being banned in Europe due to infant death. This web site's reference list for required vaccinations indicates that this vaccine is still recommended in the U.S. and states that side effects are rare. Can you te...

I am thinking about giving my 4 year old son Echinacea with gold seal to help boost his immune system when he gets a cold.(It seems to take him a long time to get over a cold). Is there any risk doing this and how much would I give him....

I've read your section on lead and still have a few questions. Our 12 month old just had her well baby check and we were told that she was looking just great, healthy and developing normally. (She's speaking 4-6 words and is "cruising" like crazy.) Havi...

How do you get a 5 year old to have better eating habits? She resists trying any type of vegetable or red meat. Any way to entice her to eat veggies. ...

My five year old daughter is prone to ear infections. She has had the problem for the past two years. I am resisting tubes which some professionals have said do little at this age. My daughter has become allergic to penicillins, cefla-sporins and sulpha ...

My question is about vitamins for my 11 year old son, and at what age the prescription vitamins that has been taking for years now (Polyvits with flouride) are considered babyish? In other words, when do I switch to an over-the-counter multi-vitamin? Than...

My 10 year old son has always been in the lowest percent in weight which we felt was normal as his father and I are both thin. In the past year he has jumped from 65 to almost 90 pounds. We wouldn't be concerned so much but lately he has also been tired ...

Is it okay to sniff nail polish?...

I have a 15yr old son who has been complaining of not being able to breath right, like a brick is on his chest. I have brought him to our pediatrician twice and she both times relates this to congestion in chest and says that he is ok. He had an ekg done w...

My daughter is 11 years old. She has always been very healthy. Lately her heart has started racing. It can start racing whether she is active or just sitting down. She says that it feels like her heart is going to come out of her chest and it's difficult t...

My son just turned 5 and has been delayed since birth. We have done all to rule everything out including Genetics Testing. They could not find anything that "stood out" but found just a few minor imperfections that they could only suggest was possible NOON...

I have just noticed my 14.5 month old daughter has quite an irregular heart beat. It races and then slows when she is sleeping. She sometimes makes a snoring sound when she is sleeping. It usually dosen't last for long. She hasn't had any serious medical p...

My son is 13 years old His blood pressure was taken recently for a football physical and was very high (160/92). We started modifying his diet (vegetables, fruits, lean meats, low salt, no snacks, no fast foods etc.) We then took him to our doctor a month ...

Why does the heart rate of children decrease as they get older? ...

My friend's baby was born with a hole in her heart and a mole in her genital area. Recently, she began having some blood on the baby's t-shirt due to a discharge from the nipple. Have you heard of anything? Does this have anything to do with the heart or t...

What are the long term effects of the chronic use of antibiotics. My daughter has reflux and is on long term sulfa antibiotics to prevent a urinary tract infection....

My child is now four years old and I have just been told that she has a heart murmur. Should I be worried? The doctor did not say it was normal or not. What should I do? ...

My 15-year old daughter has a resting heartrate of around 90-100bpm and with minimal activity 120-130. She 5'4" and 109lbs and otherwise healthy. Her pediatrician has checked her hematocrit, thyroid and has done an EKG. All were normal and the doc has said...

My 18 month old was on the drug Propulsid for several months. The drug has been linked to over 100 deaths and 400 injuries. At the time he was prescibed the drug over 80 people had already died. I was not aware this prior to him taking the drug. No one eve...

SIDE EFFECTS OF PROPULSID My son was born at 32 weeks and spent 1 month in the NICU. Upon discharge they recommended that he take Propulsid(cisapride) daily for what they believed to be reflux. I re ently saw an article regarding a lawsuit against te manuf...

. I have a 4 years old son and he like eating eggs very much. So would you please let me know what is the maximum number of eggs he can eat in a week? Thanks...