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Easing Kids' Cold Symptoms
Live Right Live Well: Kids' Health
As difficult as it is to see your baby coughing and sniffling, it's very important not to give cough and cold medicines to children under two years of age since it can cause serious and, in rare instances, potentially life-threatening side effects, including convulsions, rapid heart rate and decreased levels of consciousness. Fortunately, there's still plenty you can do
SIDS Prevention
Live Right Live Well: Kids' Health
While your baby may prefer to sleep on his tummy, you really should put him on his back to sleep, because that's the safest position for him. He may not sleep as deeply or as long as when he's on his tummy, but that might be a good thing, and here's why
Kid-friendly Foods That Soothe
Julie Bean - Sniffle Solutions
When children are under the weather, they usually turn to Mom for comfort. This season, be prepared with tasty treats that do double duty -- they soothe symptoms and help speed up the healing process.
Sick-day Strategies for Keeping Kids Entertained
Ella Brooks - Sniffle Solutions
There are lots of great ways to keep children entertained and distracted when they're home from school with a cold or the flu. Here are 11 comforting and clever ways often used by moms like you to help kids have fun while they recover.
Is Your Child Obese?
Daryn Eller - Live Right Live Well
It's just baby fat. But what is the statute of limitations on baby fat? And in light of the increase in childhood obesity, do you need to worry about your child's weight? If you suspect your child is flirting with obesity, get an objective assessment. And, If the results indicate a problem, consider the following strategies to help your child trim down
Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy
Jessica Goldbogen Harlan - Live Right Live Well
The next time you're tempted by a bag of potato chips, check to see if your kids are around -- because the old adage 'do as I say, not as I do' doesn't work when it comes to teaching children healthy eating habits. To raise a kid who grows up with healthy eating habits plus loving broccoli and whole grains, consider the following
Teaching Kids to Stop the Spread of Germs
Elizabeth Brownfield - Life & Beauty Weekly
If it seems as if your kids are always picking up germs and getting sick, it's not your imagination. With developing immune systems, packed classrooms and a tendency to taste and touch with abandon, kids are much more likely to catch and spread germs. Try these tricks for teaching kids to stay germ-free. With practice, the habits will become as ingrained as saying please and thank you
Spotting Your Child's Cold and Flu Symptoms at Every Age
Madonna Behen - Sniffle Solutions
When adults get hit with the flu, there's no mistaking it. You're feverish, your head feels stuffed up and you ache everywhere. But with kids, the signs aren't always as easy to detect. Here's your guide to spotting flu symptoms no matter what your child's age, and ways to bring relief.
When to Keep a Sick Child Home
Madonna Behen - Sniffle Solutions
It's cold and flu season, which means plenty of moms are facing that age-old parenting dilemma: Do I send my coughing, sniffly child to school? And if I make the wrong choice, will the school nurse call a few hours later asking me to take him back home? Figuring out when to keep your child home from school and when he's well enough to go back isn't always easy
Michelle Obama Vs. Childhood Obesity
Reader Comments
Michelle Obama is focusing on something vital for the future of America -- a healthy next generation. Mike Huckabee is showing sincerity in his commitment to the same cause -- and maturity as a human being, too. However, it looks like the USA has a fat chance for political and social maturity. Anyway, kudos to Mike and Michelle, and may you prosper in your endeavors!
Children's Health
Healthy Snacks for Children: Choices May Surprise You
Joanne Capano
Deciding what types of snacks to serve your children is important when planning your child's overall diet. In addition to increasing the risk of childhood obesity, snacks that aren't healthy can put kids at risk for poor dental health. Here's the best ways to promote healthy snacking
Making Baby Food: Easier & Healthier Than You Think
Lilian Presti
Many parents are beginning to make their own baby food in an effort to start their babies off on the right, and healthy, foot. Contrary to popular belief, making your own baby food can be easier than you think.
Make Your Own Healthy Breakfast Cereals
Joanne Capano
Ask anyone who's ever taken their child to the grocery store and they'll agree: Avoid the cereal aisle. Most children gravitate to the colorful boxes that feature their favorite cartoon mascot promising a tasty -- yet, sugar-filled -- breakfast. However, there is a solution to the cereal dilemma. Here's a guide and some simple breakfast ideas to get you started ...
Parents Influence Kids' Relationship With Food
Lilian Presti
In today's world of fast and convenient food, many people have disordered eating. The evidence of obesity, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and an obsession with dieting is proof we aren't healthy eaters. The problem is many of the people with unhealthy relationships to food are parents, and that makes them role models for their children.
Preparing Kids - And Yourself - For Their Hospital Visit: 11 Tips
Sarah Baldauf
Without thoughtful preparation, your kid's visit to the hospital has the potential to morph into a traumatic experience. Yet some upfront legwork on the part of Mom and Dad can ease a child's anxiety and also set the stage for his or her positive future dealings with the medical world. Here's 11 Helpful Tips ...
Recurring, Frequent Headaches in Child Should Prompt Visit to Doctor
Kenneth Mack, M.D., Ph.D., Neurology, Mayo Clinic
Once or twice each week, my 7-year-old complains that her head hurts. At what point do I need to have her see a doctor, and what could be causing headaches in such a young child?
Some mental-health experts think 'parental alienation' should be an official diagnosis
Lindsay Lyon
Parental alienation, highly controversial, is being described as one in which children strongly attach to one parent and reject the other in the false belief that he or she is bad or dangerous
The Lure of an ADHD Treatment Minus the Meds
Megan Johnson
Supporters say, and the evidence backing them up is increasing, that Neurofeedback therapy can improve a child's ability to focus on tasks that challenge his attention span. While neurofeedback therapy takes weeks and costs thousands of dollars, the prospect of an alternative to years of medication tantalizes parents and therapists alike
Help Your Kids Learn Better
Lilian Presti
In a country where nearly three million students are receiving special education services for a learning disability, many parents are hungry for ways to support their children's learning. The problem many children face is they've lost their zest for learning. Here's a few key steps to reinforce learning
Getting Kids to Eat Their Vegetables
Lilian Presti
We've all heard of the kid who won't eat anything except chicken fingers and hot dogs -- and maybe you recognize this child well because he or she is yours. Although most children aren't this extreme, many are still not eating as much healthy foods as their parents would like
4 Flu Vaccine Doses for Kids This Fall -- but Where and When
Nancy Shute
This may go down in history as the most confusing flu season ever, given that a vaccine for the new H1N1 swine flu isn't yet available, but the plain old seasonal flu vaccine is. Talk about a recipe for pandemonium at the pediatrician's office!
Neurofeedback: An ADHD Treatment That Retrains the Brain
Megan Johnson
A controversial treatment for overcoming attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is getting new respect. Called neurofeedback therapy, it supposedly retrains the brain to produce electrical patterns associated with calm and focus. While the technique is costly, time consuming, and far from proven, its promise is tantalizing.
Nutritious Meals Make Better Grades
Joanne Capano
Nutrition is important for all of us, especially our children. What children eat does make a difference, especially in school, reports a study published last year in the Journal of School Health, a journal published on behalf of the American School Health Association.
Trick-or-Treat? Conquer Sugar by Offering Kids Sweeter Alternatives
Lilian Presti
In an age when close to one in five kids in the U.S. is overweight or obese, should we be rethinking our manner of celebrating Halloween, or simply carry on with what we've been doing? The answer appears to lie somewhere in the middle, according to childhood obesity experts ...
Strong Genetic Component May be Associated with Asperger Syndrome
Robert Voigt, M.D., Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic
Asperger syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a child's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Children with Asperger syndrome typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest in specific topics. Doctors and researchers don't understand exactly what causes Asperger syndrome, there seems to be a strong genetic component associated with this disorder
Healthy, Natural School Lunch is Easier Than You Think
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer
As you cruise down the supermarket aisles with kids asking for all sorts of junk for their school lunches, it can be difficult to resist the urge to grab those pre-packaged, all-in-one lunch meals. But healthy, homemade lunches that your kids will want to eat are actually easier than you might think.
Newborn Screening Can Identify a Variety of Treatable Conditions
Dietrich Matern, M.D., and
The blood taken from your baby after she's born will be examined to find out if she has any of a variety of treatable conditions. This procedure, called newborn screening, is very important because these conditions can be most effectively treated when they are identified early, before symptoms appear.
Drug-Free Approaches to Managing ADHD
Megan Johnson
For decades, Ritalin and similar stimulants have reigned over other treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD or ADD. The meds are seemingly tried and true, with numerous studies backing their effectiveness. However, the latest results from the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD found that stimulants' effects wane over time. Here's 9 Drug-Free Approaches to Managing ADHD ...
What Parents Should Know About Swine Flu Shots
Nancy Shute
The questions I asked at my daughter's well-child doctor visit this week were not happy ones: They were all about what to do if the swine flu pandemic gets much worse this fall and she becomes sick. I left the pediatrician's office just as worried.
School Lunches Go Vegetarian
Zach Miners
A new nationwide survey by the School Nutrition Association says almost 2 out of 3 U.S. schools now offer vegetarian fare for lunch on a regular basis. That's a 40 percent increase since 2003, the first year veggie meals were tallied by the nonprofit group. However, rising prices are hitting districts hard ...
The Huge Health Toll Obesity Takes on Kids
Sarah Baldauf
Chronic disease in
Vitamin D and Kids: How Much Sun Should They Get to Stay Healthy
Nancy Shute
Right after I coated my kid with SPF 70 sunscreen and dropped her off at camp this morning, I picked up the newspaper and read: "Millions of Children in U.S. Found to be Lacking Vitamin D." Sunscreen was listed as a main culprit for the deficiency, which can put children at risk of developing high blood pressure, high blood sugar, heart disease, and weak bones. Yikes! ...
Keep Kids Hydrated in Summer Weather
Joanne Capano
Once summer hits, many kids want to spend all day, every day playing outside. In addition to wearing cool clothing, sunscreen, hats and sunglasses, it's important to send kids outdoors with enough water to drink to avoid becoming dehydrated.
How to Use Tylenol So It's Safe for Your Kids
Nancy Shute
Too much Tylenol can be a very dangerous thing, for kids and adults. So much so that the Food and Drug Administration is considering banning infant Tylenol as part of its efforts to reduce the risk of potentially fatal liver damage. But we parents can take steps on our own to make sure we're using Tylenol safely
Summer Safety: 8 Reasons Kids End up in the ER & How to Prevent It
Sarah Baldauf
Summer has arrived. And for all its pleasant, warm-weather pastimes -- pool parties, barbeques, bicycling, and more -- an emergency department near you is feeling the usual seasonal spike in children's unintended injuries. No wonder summer is known in the medical business as trauma season.
How Positive Psychology Can Increase Your Happiness
Lindsay Lyon
You can thank your parents -- in part -- for how happy you are; roughly half of human happiness is genetically determined. Another 10 percent comes from your life circumstances, like how happy you are with where you live. according to longtime happiness researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology.
Teens Who Think They'll Die Young Take More Risks
Teenagers tend to wildly overestimate the odds of dying young, and teenagers who think they'll be dead before age 35 are far more likely to abuse drugs, attempt suicide, get arrested, or contract HIV. Scientists have known for quite a while that teenagers tend to think that an early death is much more likely than the infinitesimally small risk it really is.
Avoid Tick-Borne Illness
Harvard Health Letters
The deer tick (also called the black-legged tick), which can carry and transmit the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. Considered somewhat rare in the mid-1980s, Lyme disease is now the most common vector-borne illness in the United States. About 20,000 cases are reported annually to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
5 Nutrition Facts About Milk & Healthy Kids
By Kerry Hannon
Here are five things you should know about your kids and milk.
New Gene Test Better at Detecting Autism Than Standard Genetic Testing
Chromosomal microarray analysis is more effective at identifying genetic abnormalities in ASD than other genetic tests and should be considered first-tier in initial evaluation of ASD.
Medscape Medical News
Hearing Loss After Childhood Meningitis
This large study examined the benefits of dexamethasone and glycerol in the prevention of meningitis-associated hearing loss.
Medscape Pediatrics
Researcher Urges Early Treatment of Pediatric Hypertension
Early detection and treatment are critical for managing children with essential hypertension.
Medscape Medical News
Bring Breech Babies Back at 6 Months for Hip Dysplasia Check
Breech babies can appear normal on ultrasound screening at 6 weeks, but they need radiographic follow-up at 6 months to rule out subsequent developmental dysplasia of the hip.
Medscape Medical News
Extensive Work-Up May Be Unnecessary for Pediatric Horner Syndrome
Pediatric Horner syndrome - typically including miosis, ptosis, and anhidrosis - is rarely associated with occult neuroblastoma, suggesting that the recommended extensive evaluations may not be necessary in such children, say researchers from Mayo Clinic in the March Archives of Ophthalmology.
Reuters Health Information
Routine Urine Dipstick Screening for Kidney Disease Not Cost-Effective
A low incidence of kidney disease and a high relative screening cost confirmed the 2007 recommendation by the AAP to remove urinalysis from the standard well-child examination.
Medscape Medical News
Multiple Barriers Exist to Care for Adults With Childhood-Onset Chronic Diseases
General pediatricians and internists note that improvements in office-based support may be most associated with perceived quality of care delivery.
Medscape Medical News
Complications Common With Nasal CPAP in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Infants treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) frequently develop nasal complications, including granulation and necrosis, new research shows. A low Apgar score increases the risk.
Reuters Health Information
Adherence to Guidelines Varies in Treatment of Pediatric Asthma
Adherence or nonadherence to asthma guidelines did not appear to affect clinical outcomes for many children with asthma.
Medscape Medical News
Pediatric Lyme Arthritis Twice as Common as Septic Arthritis in Endemic Areas of Lyme Disease
Pediatric joint effusions are more likely to be due to Lyme arthritis than septic arthritis in the Northeastern United States and other areas where Lyme disease is more prevalent.
Medscape Medical News
Improved Weight Attainment of Extremely Low-gestational-age Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Have changes in neonatal practice and morbidity since 2000 improved the growth attainment of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)?
Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
CDC Concerned About Spike in Mumps Cases in NY/NJ Hasidic Community
An ongoing outbreak of mumps in the Hasidic (Jewish) community in New York and New Jersey prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a Health Advisory this week.
Medscape Medical News
US Court Rules Again Against Vaccine-Autism Claims
Vaccines that contain a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal cannot cause autism on their own, a special U.S. court ruled on Friday, dealing one more blow to parents seeking to blame vaccines for their children's illness.
Reuters Health Information
Early Oseltamivir Use Shortens Shedding of H1N1 Virus
Patients with the H1N1 virus who started oseltamivir in the first 3 days of illness had shorter periods of viral shedding, according to an observational study reported in the April 1st issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Reuters Health Information
Complete HPV Immunization Rates Low in the United States
Only 11% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years receive all 3 doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to a new CDC investigation.
Medscape Medical News
Oral Ivermectin May Be Superior to Malathion Lotion in Head Lice Treatment
Differences in malathion potency and other factors are likely to limit ivermectin use in the United States.
Medscape Medical News
Democrats Will Use Budget Reconciliation to Pass Healthcare Reform Legislation
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the announcement on Thursday; Republican senators vow to block improper use of this parliamentary procedure.
Medscape Medical News
US Children Turn to Inhaling to Get High: Study
More 12-year-olds in the United States admit to using potentially deadly inhalants to get high than have used marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens combined, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.
Reuters Health Information
Severe Behavioral Problems in Childhood Predict Chronic Pain in Later Life
Children with persistent, severe behavior problems are at increased risk for chronic widespread pain as adults.
Medscape Medical News
Obama: Time for Talk Is Over on Healthcare Bill
President Barack Obama declared on Wednesday the "time for talk is over" and urged the U.S. Congress to vote on healthcare as his health secretary directly challenged insurers to forgo profits to make coverage more affordable.
Reuters Health Information
Medscape Pediatrics Headlines
Latest medical news, articles, and features from Medscape Pediatrics
Kids More Apt To Abuse Household Products Than Pot
By age 12, 6.9 percent of kids have gotten high by sniffing common chemicals around the house, compared with just 1.4 percent having tried marijuana, government data show.
Panel Recommends Rethink On Repeat Cesareans
Most women who give birth by cesarean section should have the option for vaginal delivery of subsequent children, experts recommended. Existing medical guidelines would have to be changed to make that approach more common.
As Lice Grow Treatment-Resistant, Drug Could Help
Lice in children have been treated for years with lotions, creams and shampoos. But the little critters are becoming more and more resistant. Now an oral drug already used to treat certain parasites in people appears to kill lice as well. Researchers say it could be an alternative when standard treatments fail.
Vaccinating Kids Helps Adults Avoid Flu
Researchers studying isolated communities in Canada showed that immunizing children against influenza lowered flu rates among unvaccinated adults by 60 percent.
Consumer Group Gives Food Advertisers An 'F' On Kids
The Center for Science in the Public Interest gave most companies failing grades for the way they market food to kids. The group called for a uniform set of rules to govern the activity.
Sugary Drinks Grow Scarcer In Schools
An initiative to reduce sodas and high-calorie drinks in schools has worked, says a progress report. The changes have been most dramatic in elementary and middle schools. Some work remains for high schools.
Home Births Rise, Mostly By Choice
More women are forgoing the hospital when it's time to give birth. The medical establishment doesn't endorse the idea, but some groups say deliveries at home and in birthing centers are fine for low-risk pregnancies.
Short-Term Cuts, Long-Term Consequences For Kids
As cash-strapped states slash programs across the board, police chiefs and sheriffs around the country are pushing to keep funding for efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. In Oklahoma, a safe haven for victims of the worst sexual and physical abuse is among those feeling squeezed.
Kids Feed Capitol Hill To Beef Up School Lunch Money
Chicago high school chefs serve up a school lunch they designed on Capitol Hill today to encourage Congress to boost funding for the program.
New Trend Shows Kids Snacking Every Few Hours
Not only are kids snacking more compared with a generation ago, but they're noshing on increasingly unhealthful snacks. Kids tend to eat calorie-dense and nutritionally poor foods, like salty and fatty snacks. And, they're starting these behaviors earlier in life, with kids as young as 2 having increased their snack intake the most.
State Budget Cuts Threaten Child Welfare Programs
States facing big deficits are cutting programs to prevent abuse and protect children. This comes at a time when many on the front lines say they're seeing a growing need. More than 1,000 children die in the U.S. each year from abuse and neglect; hundreds of thousands more are affected.
Interactive Map: U.S. Rates Of Child Abuse Fatalities
Using data from a report by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, this map chronicles child fatalities by maltreatment in most states. However, state data on child fatality from maltreatment is difficult to compare: There is no federal definition of child abuse, so cases are interpreted differently.
Despite Evidence, 1 in 4 Parents Skittish About Vaccines And Autism
A national survey of parents found more than 1 in 10 had refused a vaccine over worries about safety. Twenty-five percent agreed with the proposition that "some vaccines cause autism in healthy children." Researchers conclude better communication is needed.
Kids' Doctors Want Safety On The Menu
Choking is a leading cause of death for youngsters. A national group of pediatricians called for more attention to the hazards posed by common foods and toys.
Group Seeks Hot Dog Redesign To Prevent Choking
The American Academy of Pediatrics has a message for parents — Hot dogs can be dangerous to young children — and it's calling for a redesign. Eric Hummel, director of marketing at Hummel Brothers Meat Products, has his own message: Cut them up into bite-sized pieces.
NPR Topics: Children's Health
NPR reports on children's health and medical news including health insurance, new treatments for diseases, and child product safety recalls. Subscribe to the RSS feed.
Insect Repellent Helps Prevent Insect-Borne Diseases - Naturally
Many people are changing their perceptions about mosquitoes - from an itchy annoyance to a potential health risk. Already this year, reports of mosquito-borne encephalitis (West Nile and St. Louis) have been recorded in central Florida and Louisiana. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20,000 confirmed cases of insect-related illnesses in humans are reported each year.
Got Kids? Keep Them Cool This Summer
With June 21 -- summer's official start -- just around the corner, the experts at DANNON Natural Spring Water are offering these tips to help keep your children healthy and hydrated this summer and beyond.
Stress and the Expectant Working Mom
For nearly one million working women who become pregnant each year, juggling stress in the workplace along with stress that comes with being pregnant can be a tall order. First among them is how to work and manage a healthy pregnancy at the same time.