Chicken soup has been used for treating common respiratory illnesses at least since the 12th century. A study published in the October 2000 issue of Chest explains why this home remedy has held on so long -- it may really help! In addition to the...
Exercise during the teenage years may be one of the most important ways to prevent osteoporosis. The July 2000 issue of Pediatrics reported results from the ongoing Penn State Young Women's Health Study that show an association between adult hip...
A study in the April 2000 issue of Thorax found that eating citrus fruit or kiwi might reduce asthma symptoms in children. In this Italian study of over 18,000 children, eating fruit rich in vitamin C five to seven times a week was dramatic in...
Obesity among teens has become a major epidemic. More teens are overweight now than at any time in history. A January 2000 report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the single most powerful change teens can make to...
The Lyme disease vaccine is not yet proven safe and effective for children under age 15, although the vaccine looks promising for children in studies currently underway. In the meantime the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued January 2000...
Some of my most heart-rending experiences as a physician and as a friend have been watching the devastation caused by inborn errors of metabolism. This group of 30 individually rare disorders can cause mental retardation, coma, or death. Many of...
Music is a key to the inner world of children. It's also a great way to teach adolescents (and younger children) about health and social responsibility. Between the ages of 13 and 18, the average teen listenes to 10,500 hours of music. Two family...
Once again in chat I spoke with a mother whose baby had just been put on cisapride (Propulsid) for reflux. I have long cautioned against the overuse of this drug for minor problems. Now the manufacturers, a unit of Johnson...
Most of us would now look with horror if we saw a car speeding down the highway with an unrestrained baby crawling about. Thankfully, infant car seats have become the standard. But what about 4-year-olds? According to the March 10th, 2000 Morbidity...
A study in the August 2000 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology analyzed the data collected from almost 50,000 births and concluded that newborns sent home from the hospital within 30 hours of birth have an increased risk of death during the first...
Teenage marijuana use has decreased slightly for three years running (after peaking at 44% who had used the drug at least once in 1997). According to the 2000 annual report of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 40% of today's 7-12 graders...
No, once again, breakfast emerges as the most important meal for parents to focus on with their kids. Many children (and adults) still skip breakfast. A study, published in the November 2000 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, found that...
The August 2000 electronic issue of Pediatrics contains a study that looked at how many kids age 4 to 9 years use booster seats in cars (only 27.7% -- only 10% by age 6). The authors asked the parents about their reasons for not using booster seats...
I recently heard from an anxious mother in Kuwait,"My son has been vaccinated twice with the MMR by mistake, one was at 1.5 year and the second at 3.9 years. Please kindly advise."
Antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal infections have become a major health problem. In February 2000 the FDA approved Prevnar, the exciting new vaccine that can prevent pneumococcal infections - the leading cause of serious meningitis and pneumonia....
More than one in four children in the United States now live with a family member who has an alcohol abuse problem, according to a report in the January 2000 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. This has a major impact on these children,...
As many as 500 different species of bacteria form a society in the intestines, in a delicate balance with each other and with their 'earth' - us. We are outnumbered in our own bodies! Click here to read more about the beneficial bacteria found in...
Under a magnifying glass the roughened surface of a wart often looks like a tiny cauliflower. The little black dots sometimes seen are the ends of blood vessels that the wart has recruited to bring it food. Contrary to well-established belief, the...
All of us are insulin dependent; it's just that some of us stop producing our own. Click here to read about the causes of and treatment for Type 1 diabetes.
You've asked a question I've heard over and over from parents all around the world. We love to hear the quaint expressions our kids come up with as their language skills blossom, but sometimes their insistent questions seems a bit like the drip,...
Chronic yeast infections (or other skin infections) can be an early sign of diabetes. Healthy kids in diapers commonly get yeast diaper rashes, but if these infections pop up often or don’t clear up easily, it’s time to consult your pediatrician....
Often the quickest way to potty success is to make steady, little steps forward, rather than just trying again to get him to go straight from diapers back to the fearsome potty.
Most children are ready to tackle the challenge of potty use somewhere between age 2 and shortly after their third birthday, with boys generally at the latter end of this range. Click here for potty training tips.
