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Health
Marijuana, or cannabis, has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes for many years. Doctors prescribe medical marijuana to treat numerous symptoms and diseases, including seizure disorders, muscle spasms, nausea, cancer, weight loss, and poor...
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Blog
Doctors hear the questions all the time: How safe are vaccines? Why do you have to give so many at once? Why can’t I spread them out more? What’s really in there? What about the thing I read on social media saying that vaccines are worse than the...
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Health
Your baby’s cough isn’t getting any better. In fact, it sounds worse — wetter and full of gunk — especially at night. You begin to question, is it pneumonia? Pneumonia is an infection inside the lungs. Babies with pneumonia have difficulty...
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Health
Selective IgA deficiency is a common primary immunodeficiency in which there is very little or no detectable immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the blood and body secretions (of the ears, nose, mouth, sinuses, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and...
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Health
Hepatitis is often thought of as an adult disease; however, children can suffer from hepatitis, too. Hepatitis is the word medical professionals use to describe inflammation and injury to the liver. In adults, hepatitis is often caused by risky...
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Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infection in North America. It is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a bacteria transmitted to humans through the bite of the tick species Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus. To infect the host,...
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The measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, or MMR, is probably the most widely recognized vaccine given to children. Parents often bring up the MMR at one of their child’s first well exams, wondering when the vaccine will be administered and sometimes...
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Pertussis is a contagious infection of the upper respiratory system. Also known as whooping cough, the illness is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. These bacteria affect the lining of the lungs, releasing toxins that cause narrowing of the...
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Human papilloma viruses, or HPVs, are a group of viruses attracting a lot of press lately thanks to increasing awareness about this cancer-causing virus. A vaccine was released in June 2006 that prevents people from being infected with HPV,...
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If your kids play outside in the summer, it’s almost inevitable that sooner or later, a tick will find your child if you live in an area that is prone to them. Ticks are blood-sucking insects that latch onto their host and engorge themselves...
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Health
Laryngotracheitis, otherwise known as croup, is a common upper respiratory illness of childhood. The condition usually affects children 6 months to 3 years old. Symptoms of croup usually include: a hoarse, dry, barking cough (sometimes described as...
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Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited group of disorders that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. People with this disorder have atypical hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin...
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Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a rare disorder that affects the brain and nervous system. It is cause by an abnormal gene that can be passed down from parent to child. While it is present from birth, most people with the disease don’t start having...
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Health
Not every sore throat is the same. Sore throats caused by a virus will go away on their own without treatment. However, if your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, here are a few things to know to keep you informed. Strep throat is caused...
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Blog
This week in Dear Bundoo, a parent worries about her child getting infected with anything from Ebola to D68. Dear Bundoo, I’ve been reading about all these diseases in the news, and it’s seriously freaking me out. When it was just Ebola...
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Blog
A 3-year-old boy was carried to the ER at my hospital late on a Friday night last fall. The parents reported he had cold symptoms and fever for the past couple of days, but that night, something was just not right. By the time my colleague got into...
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Health
Cancer refers to any condition that causes cell to multiply uncontrollably in the body. These conditions can occur in people of all ages and at any place in the body, including the brain. While brain tumors and cancer in general are rare in young...
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Health
Meningitis, or inflammation of the protective membrane that surrounds the brain or spinal cord, ranges in severity from mild to a life-threatening emergency. Because of this wide range, it’s important to recognize the early symptoms of...
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Health
When it comes to coronavirus and COVID-19, parents are understandably concerned how it may affect children. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about coronavirus and children: Does coronavirus infect children? Yes,...
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Health
You may not have heard of evidence-based medicine (EBM), but if you’ve recently visited a doctor or stayed in the hospital, chances are it has influenced your treatment plan. Sometimes known as evidenced-based healthcare or evidence-based practice,...
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Health
As mask orders spread across the country, you might be wondering how that affects your kids. First, we know that masks prevent the wearer from spreading SARS-CoV2 through sneezing, talking, singing, or coughing. Masks have been shown to help...
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Health
Norovirus is the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting in children — and winter is the time of year physicians report seeing the most cases. The virus, which can cause stomach cramping accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (or all of...
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Health
Your child will receive a total of four to five doses of polio vaccine between birth and age 6. The first three doses of IPV, or inactivated polio vaccine, are given beginning at age 2 months of age. The modern vaccine is unlike the polio vaccine...
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Health
Most people have heard of Cystic Fibrosis (CF), but unless a friend or loved one suffers from this genetic disease, you may not be aware of its devastating effects. Because of the defective CF gene, the body produces thick mucous, causing the...
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Blog
It’s 2015, and we’re talking about measles. Not Enterovirus. Not Ebola. Not RSV. Not influenza. Instead, we’re talking about a historical virus that was declared eradicated from the United States in 2000. Most pediatricians who began practicing...
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Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published its mid-year report recently totaling the number of measles cases in the US from January 1 through July 14. In that period, the US had 107 confirmed measles cases in 21 states as well as the...
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Health
Protection against Haemophilus influenza type b is included in your infant’s first set of vaccines at age 2 months. Hib, as it’s better known, is a bacteria that can cause severe invasive diseases, including meningitis, blood infections, and...
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Health
In 2014, an Ebola outbreak in West Africa captured headlines for months. The United States watched closely as eleven people were treated for Ebola at home, after being exposed or coming down with the illness while abroad. Naturally, many people...
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Health
Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Children (and adults) who are diagnosed with bacterial meningitis are admitted into the hospital for treatment. At the hospital,...
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Spending time out of doors is just one of the many benefits of summer. Keeping kids safe from outdoor pests is sometimes a chore, especially in the age of the Zika and chikungunya viruses. Both viruses are transmitted by the bite of infected...
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Health
Will the antibiotic protect against future infections? No. Antibiotics are intended to treat whatever illness was diagnosed initially. They will not prevent a child from catching something else later. The average toddler gets ten illnesses each...
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Health
RSV is short for respiratory syncytial virus. This is an extremely common virus in both children and adults. Nearly all children have had at least one experience with RSV by their second birthday, and most people continue to remain susceptible to...
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Health
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited group of disorders that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. People with this disorder have atypical hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin...
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Health
Mumps is a viral infection that most commonly affects the parotid gland, which is the major salivary gland in front of the ear. Mumps is not very common in the United States — it has decreased by about 99 percent since the MMR vaccine was first...
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Health
Pink eye—also called conjunctivitis—is the most common eye problem among children. Pink eye occurs when the lining of the eye and eyelid become irritated or infected, resulting in redness and inflammation. Both eyes are often affected at the same...
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Health
The lymph system is a part of the body’s immune system; it is responsible for filtering harmful cells from the blood and producing immune system cells. Cancers of the lymph system are known as lymphomas. Physicians diagnose an estimated 2,200...
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Health
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a variety of factors, including infections, medications, and autoimmune diseases. One of the most common infections causing liver inflammation is Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is a virus...
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Health
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the digestive system. Children and adults with this food intolerance are unable to eat foods containing gluten, which is a protein found in rye, wheat, and barley. In people with celiac disease,...
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Health
Measles cases are soaring in 2019 in the United States, with hundreds of cases diagnosed across the country in the first few months of the year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this most current measles outbreak is the...
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Baby
From the calming safety of your arms, your baby will begin life feeling secure and protected. As a new parent, you will do all you can to continue to protect your newborn as she grows and develops. One of the best ways to protect her, now and...
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Health
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a condition that generally occurs in children as a result of infection from a toxic strain of bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7. This infection commonly begins as diarrhea (which is often bloody)....
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A kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis, is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI). In most cases, UTIs are not serious and easily treated with antibiotics. However, frequent kidney infections can cause permanent damage to the kidneys. In...
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Health
Many adults are familiar with the term hypothyroidism, meaning that the thyroid gland fails to secrete it’s hormones in appropriate amounts. But not everyone knows that newborns can be born with low thyroid hormone, a condition referred to as...
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Health
Muscular dystrophy can be a devastating diagnosis for children and their parents. The progressive muscle condition causes long-term changes in a child’s functioning, which can leave him or her wheelchair-bound. Diagnosis Parents may notice a child...
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Health
If your pediatrician has prescribed your child antibiotics, it is essential that you give them as prescribed so they’re most effective and to minimize the possibility of side effects. Most side effects of antibiotics are mild, but some are more...
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If your child has asthma, severe allergies, or even eczema, your pediatrician has probably prescribed a corticosteroid at some point. But what exactly is it, and is long-term use safe for your child? Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory...
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Health
A child infected by the pertussis bacteria, wracked by violent and rapid coughing spasms, will only stop coughing when all air has been expelled from the lungs. Deprived of air, the child must inhale as much oxygen as possible—causing the telltale...
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Health
Helicobacter pylori is a common bacteria found in the stomachs of many children. In fact, some studies suggest that up to 50 percent of the world’s population carries this bacteria. In the industrialized world, however, the incidence is much lower....
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Health
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), formerly referred to as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, is a term used to describe chronic forms of joint inflammation in children. JIA is the most common form of arthritis in children, causing joint pain,...
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Health
Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases in which the muscles of the body are slowly broken down over time due to a faulty gene. The muscles become weak as the disease progresses, so mild muscle weakness slowly evolves to include even the muscles...
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Health
Outbreaks of diarrhea are extremely common among kids who spend time in childcare settings, but many parents don’t realize that these outbreaks are often caused by a parasite. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Giardia...
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Health
How common is it for a baby to be born with HIV and to develop AIDS? Not very. The National Institutes of Health estimates that fewer than 200 babies each year are born with HIV in the United States. Why? Access to prenatal care, medications, and...
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Health
MRSA is a serious infection that affects about 90,000 Americans annually, claiming 20,000 lives. In the past, MRSA affected mostly those with weakened immune systems, but there has been a rise in the number of healthy people infected with MRSA,...
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MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , is a bacteria that causes many different types of infections in children. Children can be exposed to MRSA in situations where they come into close contact with many other people, such as...
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Health
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are fairly common, affecting about 3 percent of children in the US each year. They are more common in girls, who have about an 8 percent risk of contracting a UTI, compared to a 2 percent risk in boys. In most...
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Health
Before nerve cells mature, they are known as “neuroblasts.” Neuroblastoma is a rare type of cancer in which these neuroblasts divide uncontrollably and form tumors. Although it is rare overall, accounting for less than 10 percent of all childhood...
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Health
You will be approached shortly after your baby’s birth, if not before, to either give or refuse permission to have her vaccinated against hepatitis B. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...
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Health
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder affecting a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Although CP has no cure, treatment should be focused on maximizing a child’s capabilities. In general, the sooner interventions are started,...
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Health
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder present at birth that results in a number of physical, mental, and behavioral problems, most notably a constant sense of hunger that usually begins at about 2 years of age. PWS is the most...
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Health
Telehealth is the ability to visit with your doctor through your phone or computer. While telehealth has been around for years in some places, its use has exploded since the coronavirus outbreak and national lockdowns. Now, nearly every doctor’s...
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Health
It used to be the norm for toddlers to get tubes in their ears when they suffered frequent ear infections. Tubes, also called tympanostomy tubes, allow fluid that had built up behind the ear drum to drain, relieving pain and allowing a child to...
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Health
Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal condition that affects 1 in 2,500 newborn females. About half are diagnosed by a pediatrician within the first few months of life because of characteristic physical features. The other half are usually...
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Health
Pneumonia, a general term for an infection in the lungs, is classified into two types: bacterial and viral. Either type occurs when bacteria or viruses found in the nose and throat infect a baby’s lungs. Infants younger than 2 weeks old typically...
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Health
Sepsis is a very dangerous medical condition that results from infection, usually by a bacteria, but a virus or fungus can also be a cause. Sepsis occurs when the infectious agent spreads from its initial area of infection into the bloodstream....
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Health
When a child suffers a stroke—or a cerebral vascular accident—blood flow is momentarily cut off to the brain, leading to symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, seizures, and more. Treatment options vary depending on a number of factors, including...
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Health
If you feel like the recommendations for personal safety in the time of COVID-19 are changing constantly, you’re not alone. This includes the use of masks to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Although some people started wearing masks...
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Health
Each day, hour, minute, and second, your heart is beating to a regular rhythm that provides life-giving oxygen, blood, and nutrients to your body. If something occurs to disrupt the normal heart rhythm, the effects can be fatal. A sudden arrhythmia...
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Norovirus, sometimes called the “stomach flu,” is the most common cause for viral gastroenteritis and affects people of all ages. Symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Millions contract Norovirus each year and thousands...
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Health
COVID-19 is teaching the world about the importance of washing our hands. Adults everywhere are taking handwashing seriously to help prevent the spread of the infection; but how do we communicate the importance of hand hygiene to toddlers? With...
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Health
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a species of bacteria normally found in the intestines of people and animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but others can make you very ill. One specific strain called O157:H7 causes severe diarrhea and can...
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Health
Every so often, an illness outbreak peaks in the United States, raising red flags with health officials. Inevitably, the ensuing coverage of the illness ignites fear and panic in the hearts of parents everywhere. Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a...
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Health
Achondroplasia is a rare genetic disorder affecting one out of every 26,000-40,000 babies. There are more than 250,000 people worldwide afflicted with this disease. If a baby has achondroplasia, it will usually be evident at birth. Many patients...
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Health
Many people think that strokes only affect the elderly. Stroke, however, can and does occur in children. In fact, statistics show that up to 13 children out of every 100,000 have suffered from the neurological event. Boys are slightly more likely...
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Health
If your child needs surgery, you may have spent days or weeks preparing your child (and yourself!) for the big day. Or perhaps you may not have that luxury—some children will need emergency surgery, leaving no time to think of anything else other...
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Health
Meningitis is a rare but serious condition caused by inflammation of the protective membranes (called meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord. It’s usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection, especially infection with Haemophilus...
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Health
There is a good reason your child’s pediatrician measures your baby’s head circumference at each check-up. A baby’s head typically grows in a very predictable pattern that can be followed on a standardized growth chart. However, when a baby’s head...
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A serious viral infection has spread from the Midwest across the country, hospitalizing hundreds of kids and possibly infecting thousands of others. Speaking to CNN, Mark Pallansch, a virologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,...