A child who is born before the normal gestational age has not yet finished in-utero development. If the delivery is abrupt, a partially developed baby is born. If, on the other hand, the baby has been subjected to a period of chronic stress lasting...
By the time most people reach adulthood they have had some type of unpleasant rash caused by a contact allergy. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac together produce more cases of allergic contact dermatitis than all other allergens combined....
Play is your child's job. Toys are powerful tools. Nevertheless, don't be lulled into the misconception that more is better. More toys, more lights, more sounds, and more money do not make for a happier or healthier child. To find clues as to the...
The typical measles rash begins about 14 days after exposure (or 4 days after appearing ill). The fever is still at its height when the rash appears (in contrast to an infection called Roseola). The measles rash starts as spots, which then begin to...
A child is failing to thrive when she is not growing at the expected rate for her age, or if her weight is disproportionately low compared to her height and head circumference. The cause isn’t always obvious and finding it can be a frustrating...
Measles is a highly contagious disease, and is spread from person to person through the air. During roughly the first 10 days following exposure, there is dramatic viral and immunologic activity taking place inside the body, with virtually no...
There are as many opinions on breast feeding and timing as there are advisors. What works for one parent will not necessarily work for another. One of the most important tasks of parenting is learning to observe your baby's cues, observe your own...
The formation of the male urethra in utero is complex, and not completely understood. This development can go awry in a number of ways, including part or all of the urethra in the wrong location, valves blocking urine flow, or dilatation so that...
Is Olestra, a non-absorbable fat, really safe? Shouldn’t we avoid junk food anyway – regardless of how much fat it contains? Click here to read Dr. Greene’s article on Olestra.
Breath-holding spells shine a brilliant spotlight on one of the biggest challenges of parenting. We do not like to disappoint the little children that we love so much. Moreover, we don't want to get into yet another battle with our children -- in...
Septra and Bactrim are both brand names for a commonly used combination antibiotic called trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. If your child has been taking Septra for an extended period and you’re wondering about the long-term effects of taking such a...
The measles vaccine is an effective vaccine in preventing measles. After 2 doses of the measles vaccine, over 99% of recipients will be immune to measles. The initial dose of the measles vaccine is usually administered after a child is 12 months of...
Septra and Bactrim are both brand names for a combination antibiotic called trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This antibiotic is in widespread use. Click here for more information.
Growth is particularly noticeable and rapid during the beginnings of life. In the first four to six months, a baby typically doubles her birth weight. If a child is not growing well, first consider whether she is actually taking in an adequate...
This is a typical scene: A little child is playing happily, something upsets her, she exhales forcefully with a brief, shrill cry -- but she doesn't take another breath. You wait, but she still doesn't breathe.
Urushiol is the reason for those itchy rashes one gets when coming into contact with one of these plants. The oil found in the leaves, roots, and twigs of poison ivy and its cousins. Click here for some tips for avoiding the itchy-scratchies.
Most of the treatments for poison ivy, oak and sumac are aimed at reducing the itching, until the self-limited rash runs its course, which takes about two weeks. Click here for Dr. Greene’s tips on treating these allergic reactions.
