Healthy Children

How can you give your children gifts but also teach them the importance of giving to others?If you have young children in your family, you know firsthand that the holidays can be very busy. It may seem easier to just go off the list of what your child wants. Even though you may want to give your child as much as you can, it's also important to set boundaries and not give in to spoiling your child an iPad or a brand new Smartphone. This time of year might be a good time to talk to your children about reflecting on what they already have and what they are thankful for. This doesn't mean you can't give your child a present, but it's important to remember the holiday spirit and giving to those who might be less fortunate, as well as being kind to others. How else can you teach your children about the importance of giving during the holiday season? Listen in as Corinn Cross, MD, shares her tips on how to teach your children the importance of giving, as well as some great gift ideas.

When should antibiotics be prescribed?A clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers updated guidance on treating respiratory tract infections in children, with the goal of reducing unnecessary antibiotics prescriptions. Studies have shown that as many as 10 million antibiotic prescriptions are written each year for infections they are unlikely to help. Recent evidence shows that prescriptions for broad-spectrum antibiotics have increased, even when no antibiotics are needed or when a narrow-spectrum antibiotic would work. Overuse of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, making infections more difficult to treat. Why is it important to understand the appropriate way to use antibiotics? Listen in as H. Dele Davies, MD, MS, explains how you can get smart about antibiotics.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough you should be aware of?Pertussis, or whooping cough, is less common in young children than it used to be, as the pertussis vaccine has made most children immune. Before this vaccine was developed, there were several hundred thousand cases of whooping cough each year in the United States. Now, there are approximately one million cases a year in the U.S., but mostly in adults and adolescents. What are the symptoms? Pertussis often acts like a common cold for a week or two. Then, the cough gets worse, and the older child may start to have the characteristic "whoops." During this phase (which can last two weeks or more), the child often is short of breath and can look bluish around the mouth. She also may tear, drool, and vomit. Infants with pertussis become exhausted and develop complications such as susceptibility to other infections, pneumonia, and seizures. Pertussis can be fatal in some infants, but the usual course is for recovery to begin after two to four more weeks. The cough may not disappear for months, and may return with subsequent respiratory infections. Who is most at risk? Listen in as Katherine Edwards, MD, discusses the symptoms of whopping cough, who is most at risk, and how you can prevent it.

How can you protect your children from this serious and often fatal disease?Most of you might have heard about pneumonia, but what do you really know about this serious and often deadly disease? Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that is primarily caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi that are transmitted from one person to another. It's important to know that it cannot be caused by cold and bad weather. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, pneumonia is the leading cause of hospitalizations among children in the U.S. What are some ways you can help protect your children from this serious illness? Listen in as Katherine Edwards, MD, shares everything you need to know about pneumonia and World Pneumonia Day.

Thursday, November 8, 2015, is the International Day of Radiology, which marks the 117th anniversary of the discovery of the x-ray.Thursday, November 8, 2015, is the International Day of Radiology, which marks the 117th anniversary of the discovery of the x-ray. In preparation for this day, health advocates want you to know the importance of radiology and how MRIs and CT scans can help you and your child's health. For example, do you know the difference between an MRI and CT scan and when they are needed versus when they are not? Dorothy Bulas, MD, FACR, FAIUM, FSRU, discusses what the International Day of Radiology encompasses, as well as why this day is important to your family's health.

What are common injuries in ice hockey?When your child wants to play in a recreational sport, you may be happy that his or her journey of a healthy lifestyle is starting at a young age. You may also be worried about the chance of your child getting injured, especially if he or she wants to play a contact sport like football or hockey. In the U.S., about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries occur each year. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 20,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice hockey-related injuries. Is checking in ice hockey a bad idea for kid's leagues? William Meehan, MD, FAAP, discusses the potential dangers of your child's participation in an ice hockey league.

American football remains one of the most popular sports for male high school athletes with more than 1.1 million players.American football remains an extremely popular sport for male high school athletes, with more than 1.1 million players. In addition, there are approximately 250,000 youth football players five to 15 years of age in Pop Warner leagues alone, making football one of the most popular sports for younger athletes as well. A controversial topic among doctors, coaches, and parents is the risk of head, neck, and other serious injuries your child may face. What are some common injuries in football? The most commonly injured body parts in football include knees, ankles, hands, and back. The head and neck sustain a relatively small proportion of overall injuries, ranging from 5-13%. Fortunately, most injuries are contusions, musculotendinous strains, and ligamentous sprains. What about head injuries? A study by Badgeley et al suggests that during high school football, the majority (64.3%) of concussions occur when an athlete is tackling or being tackled, a finding consistent with previous work performed by some of the same investigators, which showed that tackling/being tackled accounted for half of all high school football injuries. Listen in as William Meehan, MD, FAAP, discusses tackling and other injuries in youth football.

Why would you get the flu shot, since last year it failed?Each year around summertime, the CDC begins analyzing flu viruses that are circulating in the southern hemisphere, to get an idea of what we can expect during the winter months in the northern hemisphere. Last year (2014-2015) you might remember how the flu virus mutated and the flu vaccine wasn't as effective against that mutated strain. This left tons of you falling ill to the flu. Has anything changed this year? Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, shares information about this year's flu vaccine and if anything has changed since last year.

In the U.S., one child is killed every two weeks from being crushed under a television set.If you have a little one, you may already know how much they love to climb, pull, and reach for items all over your house. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 40 children are taken to the emergency room daily in the U.S. with injuries due to a heavy piece of furniture falling on them. Nearly half of these incidents are caused by televisions. And, one child is killed every two weeks from being crushed under a television set. What are the ways you can prevent your TV and other furniture from tipping over? Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, shares how you can properly set up your furniture and appliances so they won't accidentally fall on your child.

Today, more than 30 percent of U.S. children first play with a mobile device when they're still in diapers.If you're trying to find advice on how to manage your child's screen time, you may be confused on where to turn. However, the AAP guidelines promote positive media use and discourage potentially harmful use for children of all ages. One of the biggest arguments between you and your child could be screen time. According to Common Sense Media, more than 30 percent of U.S. children first play with a mobile device when they are still in diapers. Furthermore, almost 75 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds have smartphones, and 24 percent admit using their phones almost constantly, according to the Pew Research Center. What does the APP recommend for screen time and other media? David Hill, MD, shares what the APP recommends for screen time and other media for your children.