Dr. Greene’s Blog
SIDS And Wine: Is There A Link?
Does mom’s having a glass of wine increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? How about a cup of coffee? Might pacifiers cause it? Several studies were published in the August 1999 editio…
Help for Eczema: Surprising Advice
I received a letter from a mother in St. Clair, Missouri, who reported that she found that her daughter’s eczema (a skin condition we talk more about here) improved with daily bathing. Eczema is…
Ritalin and Tics?
Parents and doctors have observed that some children with ADHD who have taken Ritalin have developed tics (involuntary movements) or other symptoms of Tourette syndrome. These symptoms have often not …
Disposable Diapers
In our online community, someone inquired about a baby who had eaten some of the gel out of her diaper. I was pleased to answer this query, but I want to be sure that every parent and grandparent and …
No More TV?
In a startling announcement in August,1999 the American Academy of Pediatrics officially recommended that children under age 2 watch no television at all. They pointed to the importance of face-to-fac…
EPA Bans Fruit & Vegetable Pesticides
In August 1999, the United States Environmental Protection Agency made a truly historic move by banning certain uses of two organophosphate pesticides commonly used on fruit and vegetables in order to…
TV Safety for Vision
I’ve been asked to help solve a family dispute between Nathaniel Toney and his wife of Laurel, Maryland. One was taught that children should always watch TV with a lamp on to protect the eyes; t…
Newborn Test For Cerebral Palsy
After a traumatic birth that involves oxygen deprivation, some children go on to develop cerebral palsy, while others show no ill effects. For years, parents were simply told they must wait for months…
A Solid Foundation
When your children are grown, much of their long-term health will depend on what they ate as kids, nutrition experts reported at the July 1999 National Conference on Advances in Pediatric Nutrition at…
Could Childhood Obesity be a Genetic Disorder? Yes!
The July issue of Pediatrics reports convincing evidence (from an investigation of twins growing up in different environments) that up to 80% of the variation in body fat between children is genetic a…
Trampolines and Summer Fun!
I fondly remember summer evenings spent jumping on the big trampoline in my neighbor’s yard. I also remember the flashing lights as an ambulance carried away an injured friend.…
On Her Tippy Toes…
A mother from Texas inquired “My 20-month-old daughter constantly walks on her tip-toes. Should I be concerned?”…
Never use this while nursing!
Nursing delivers a banquet of powerful, beneficial substances to growing babies. Some medicines are safe to take when nursing; others are dangerous. Nicotine is dangerous! Second-hand smoke is bad eno…
Don’t use that vaccine!
A public health advisory issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics now warns against giving children rotavirus vaccine because it might cause a rare condition called intussusception.…
Vaccine Ingredients That May Cause Allergic Reactions
Many people are unaware of the problems associated with allergic reactions to vaccine components. According to the 2012 Red Book, allergic reactions to vaccine ingredients are rare. The most common di…
Guidelines for Finding a New Family Doctor
There was a time when the first question one would ask when looking for a doctor was, “Who is the doctor in the nearest town?” For most people who have the ability to access this Web Site,…
New Treatments for Psoriasis
For years, the mainstays of psoriasis treatment have been steroid creams, coal tar preparations, and moisturizers. For mild rashes, these have been sufficient. For severe psoriasis, people have resort…
Avoiding Salmonella – Guidelines for Handling Reptiles as Pets
Dr. Greene’s advice on how to avoid salmonella when you have reptiles as pets: As a child, I enjoyed keeping pet turtles, frogs, lizards, and snakes (and many, more cuddly, pets). But some child…
Guidelines for Germ Prevention
Minimizing the number of disease-causing germs that you are exposed to is easier than you might think. The key to success is knowing where the bugs reside – at home and elsewhere – and what to use…
Healthy Eating, Part V – Good news for vegetable haters everywhere!
Is your child a picky eater? Good news for vegetable haters everywhere -- learning to love vegetables can be acquired. Here are Dr. Greene's tips to help kids of all ages learn to love vegetables.…