Healthy Children

What should you do if your child gets whooping cough?Pertussis, or whooping cough, was much more common before a vaccine was developed. There were several hundred thousand cases each year in the United States. Now that there is a pertussis vaccine, most children are immune. There are approximately one million cases of whooping cough a year in the United States, mostly in adolescents and adults. With whooping cough, the pertussis bacteria attacks the lining of the breathing passages resulting in severe inflammation. Severe coughing is a prominent symptom, as well as narrowing of the air passageways. Whooping cough can be passed to those in close contact with the infected person if not diagnosed properly. What should you do if your child gets whooping cough? Listen in as Naveen Mehrotra, MD, shares what you need to know about whooping cough.

Can monitoring your child's Body Mass Index (BMI) prevent obesity?Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to determine one's mass in relation to height. To calculate BMI, a person's weight in kilograms is divided by the square of height in meters. BMI is specific by age and sex for children and teens, and it can be seen on charts in pediatric practices. This is called BMI-for-age. A high amount of body fat can lead to weight-related issues. Being underweight can also put one's health at risk. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is considered with more direct measures of body fat to help determine overweight-related issues. A high BMI can be a symptom of high body fat content. BMI is an inexpensive, simple method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems. Listen in as Naveen Mehrotra, MD, discusses how you can use BMI to monitor your child for weight-related issues.

Positive parenting can help you deal with difficult children and challenging situations.Your child is your little angel, but sometimes your little angel is not so angelic. At some point, your child will present you with challenging behavior. Temper tantrums, backtalk, and power struggles can crop up with even the most polite child. Children require gentle guidance, which is difficult to provide when you're confronted with sass. It's helpful to learn some positive parenting skills now so you are prepared when challenges arise. Listen in as Corinn Cross, MD, shares tips on positive parenting and how you can use it to provide the best environment for your child.

What is the Zika virus? More importantly, how can you protect yourself and your children from this virus?Talk about the Zika virus is everywhere. The CDC is advising pregnant women to avoid travel to several countries in order to prevent risk to their unborn babies. With all of the reports of cases of the Zika virus, you may wonder what it actually is. The Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (pink eye). The illness is usually mild, with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe symptoms requiring hospitalization is uncommon. While the illness is usually mild in adults, it can produce complications in newborn babies. Listen in as Corinn Cross, MD, discusses how to protect yourself and your children from the Zika virus.

What are the symptoms you should be looking out for?Colds are caused by viruses, which are extremely small infectious organisms (much smaller than bacteria). A sneeze or a cough may directly transfer a virus from one person to another. What are the symptoms of the common cold? Once the virus is present and multiplying, your child will develop the familiar symptoms and signs: • Runny nose (first, a clear discharge; later, a thicker, often colored one) • Sneezing • Mild fever (101–102 degrees Fahrenheit [38.3–38.9 degrees Celsius]), particularly in the evening • Decreased appetite • Sore throat and perhaps difficulty swallowing • Cough • On-and-off irritability • Slightly swollen glands • Pus on the tonsils, especially in children three years and older, may indicate a strep infection. What are some treatment options? Listen in as Corinn Cross, MD, shares the symptoms you should look out for in your child and how to treat them.

How can you help keep liquid nicotine out of the hands of your children?Liquid nicotine comes in a variety of bright colors and in flavors... many of them appealing to children, such as cotton candy and gummy bear. It's no surprise that these products have found their way into the hands of children who have ingested them by accident. In February 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 215 calls to poison control centers related to e-cigarette exposures, a drastic spike from one call per month four years ago. What are the FDA requirements for liquid nicotine? Listen in as Corinn Cross, MD, shares the FDA requirements for liquid nicotine and how you can keep your child safe.

Recent studies suggest U.S. children today are developing some signs of sexual maturation earlier than in the past.Recent studies suggest U.S. children today are developing some signs of sexual maturation earlier than in the past. While this remains a common cause of parental anxiety and medical referrals, a new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics says these early signs of development don't necessarily mean a child has started puberty. According to the authors of "Evaluation and Referral of Children with Signs of Early Puberty," to be published in the January 2016 issue of Pediatrics, in many cases, signs such as early development of pubic hair or body odor are often normal variations of puberty that do not require extensive testing or treatment. The report cites data highlighting puberty's age differences that can vary with patients' ethnicity, race, or obesity status. One recent study found that among seven- to eight-year-old patients, 23 percent of black, 15 percent of Hispanic and 10 percent of white girls had some degree of breast development. Authors of the AAP report said it serves as a guide to knowing which signs simply require observation by a primary care provider and which merit referral to a pediatric endocrinology sub-specialist. How do you know if you need to see a specialist? Key warning signs of medical disorders possibly requiring treatment include progressive breast enlargement and rapid growth in girls younger than age eight or genital enlargement in boys younger than age nine. Listen in as Paul Kaplowitz, MD, PhD, discusses the distinct differences between sexual maturation and puberty.

How can you encourage your children to talk about their school day?Constant feedback for your child and frequent communication between you and her teacher are necessary components in keeping your child on track, and can make an enormous difference in how quickly positive results are seen. Other than having a relationship with your child's teacher that allows for open and honest communication, it's also important to talk to your child about his/her school day. Fostering a positive attitude about learning and going to school is crucial; this can help encourage your child to do well in school and want to learn new things. How else can you help bridge the gap between school and home? Adrienne Weiss-Harrison, MD, FAAP, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how you can bridge the gap between school and home.

What are some healthy homework habits you can teach your children?When it comes to school work, it's important to teach your child habits they can use while working on homework. That means designating a regular location and time to work on daily assignments. Some children get right down to work without much encouragement. Others need help making the transition from playing to a homework frame of mind. Sometimes, providing a ten-minute warning is all it takes to help a child get ready mentally, as well as to move to the place she intends to work. There is no universally "right" time to do homework. In some families, children do best if they tackle their homework shortly after returning home from school in the mid-afternoon; other youngsters may do best if they devote the after-school hours to unwinding and playing, leaving their homework until the evening when they may feel a renewed sense of vigor. How can you help your children with homework? Listen in as Adrienne Weiss-Harrison, MD, FAAP, shares how you can help set up healthy homework habits with your children.

How can you have fun during the holidays while also remaining safe?The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Trees When buying an artificial tree, make sure it's fire resistant. Or, if it's a live tree, make sure it's still fresh. When putting the tree up in your house, make sure it's not covering (or near) heaters, and keep the tree stand full of water to prevent it from drying out. Lights Check all the tree lights and make sure there are no frayed wires or broken or loose connections. Make sure you never use electric lights on a metallic tree, and always read the light labels. Make sure you turn off all lights before going to bed, or before leaving your house. Decorations Use non-combustible or flame-resistant materials on both artificial and real trees. Make sure to take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation, and remove all wrapping papers after gifts are open. Fireplaces Before lighting any fire, remove all greens and paper from the fireplace area. Do not burn gift wrap paper in the fireplace and be cautious if you're using fire salts. You may want to use a screen or grate to keep children away from the flame. Listen in as Corinn Cross, MD, shares the top safety tips from the AAP and easy ways you can keep your family safe during the holidays.