Healthy Kids Zone

Cold sores are common in adults, but they can surprise parents when they appear in children. Caused by the herpes simplex virus, these painful blisters often return during illness, stress, or fatigue. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains how to recognize a true cold sore, what home treatments may help shorten an outbreak, and when children are most contagious. Learn when to ask your doctor about prescription treatment.

Your child may seem healthy, but annual well-child visits are still essential. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains why these checkups are about more than just updating vaccines. Learn how these visits differ from sick visits, what screenings to expect, and how insurance policies affect what gets covered.

More children are struggling with depression than ever before—and not always in ways parents expect. From fatigue and irritability to social withdrawal and self-injury, pediatric depression can take many forms. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, talks about the signs to watch for, how to talk to your child, and when it is time to involve your pediatrician or a mental health specialist.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for many of us. This can be particularly true for mother’s who are breastfeeding and may have concerns about the health of their baby. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why breastfeeding is perfectly safe and can actually be beneficial for both baby and mom, even during a viral outbreak.

Despite what you may read on the Internet, viruses—including coronavirus—are not impacted by vitamin levels. So how can you best improve your child’s immune system? Pediatirician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why exercise, diet, and sunshine are the best ways to keep your child strong against any virus.

There can be a lot of confusions surrounding Telehealth and when to visit the doctor's office. Whether to bring your child in or not depends on your child's health condition. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about what parents should do if your child gets sick during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exercise and sunshine are important, even during physical distancing. But a common concern parents may have is whether or not their kids can play outside. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about the guidelines for keeping safe while playing outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are you the parent of a teenager? Then you know how hard it can be to talk to them about, well, anything. This is especially true when trying to talk about their health. Dr. Cindy Gellner recommends a few tips on how to broach sensitive health-related topics with your teenager—and actually get a positive response.

Bringing up health concerns like body weight can be a challenge. It can be even trickier when speaking with a child. Dr. Cindy Gellner recommends a few strategies to constructively speak about lifestyle changes without damaging a child’s self-esteem or triggering a parent.

Vaping is a huge problem in the teen population. Not only because of how many teens have begun vaping, but also the potentially dangerous chemicals present in vape juice. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why vaping is not a healthy alternative to tobacco, especially for teenagers.