Monkeypox 2: Containment

On June 11, 2003 the federal government authorized the use of its stores of smallpox vaccine to help contain the U.S. monkeypox outbreak. Meanwhile, the outbreak investigation continues to spread, from the 3 original affected states to a new total of 16 states (Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, […]

Pediarix Combination Vaccine

Fewer needle sticks… the same protection! On Tuesday, December 16, 2002, the FDA approved a new five-vaccine combination for children. Pediarix contains vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and hepatitis B, all in one syringe. The injection is to be given at the 2, 4, and 6 month well-baby exams. These 3 shots […]

Biggest Study Yet on MMR and Autism

Once the question was raised about whether the MMR vaccine might trigger autism in some children, even mounting evidence to the contrary had not put fears to rest. The vaccine rate has plummeted since the study, while autism continues to rise. But a study of over 500,000 Danish children published in the November 7, 2002 […]

Zoster (chickenpox): A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to chickenpox: Chickenpox is one of the classic childhood diseases. A young child covered in pox and out of school for a week is a typical scene. The first half of the week feels miserable from itching; the second half miserable from boredom. Since the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine, classic chickenpox is becoming […]

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to SIDS: Everything dear to us causes pain. Becoming a parent opens up new landscapes within us: new hopes, fears, delights, and sorrows. There is no magic moment when you will stop worrying. Sometimes, even when we do everything right, babies die. The fragility and unpredictability of life underscore how precious each life is. […]

Smallpox: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to smallpox: Smallpox long reigned as the king of dreaded contagious diseases. It killed more people than any other virus in recorded history — about 500 million people in the 20th century alone. For about 20 years, it seemed to have vanished, no longer haunting the dreams of most people. Many had never even heard […]

Sinusitis: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to sinusitis: That runny nose and cough just won’t go away… Perhaps your child has a sinus infection. Sinusitis is a common problem in children. Nevertheless, it is often over-diagnosed in children with green runny noses, and missed in children who really have a sinus infection!

Sickle Cell Anemia: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to sickle cell anemia: Normal red blood cells are soft, gel-like discs that can squish as needed to slip through the tiny capillaries of the body. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells are brittle. What is sickle cell anemia? Sickle cell disease is caused by a genetic variation of hemoglobin, the molecule […]

Otitis Media with Effusion (OME): A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to otitis media with effusion: Parents are often surprised to learn that their child has an ear infection. The infection is discovered during a visit for another purpose altogether. Even though silent ear infections cause no obvious symptoms, the child’s hearing is decreased while fluid remains in the ear. Moreover, OME often comes during […]

Rubella: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to rubella: How tragic when a mild illness, scarcely worse than a cold, can cause such devastating effects on babies. Young parents, beware! What is it? Rubella is one of the classic rash illnesses of childhood. In ancient times, it was lumped in with measles, scarlet fever, and smallpox. For a while, it was […]

Tetanus: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to tetanus: Even though the bacteria that cause tetanus are common in the United States, the vaccine has made infections rare. Nevertheless, tetanus remains a major worldwide cause of illness and death. What is tetanus? Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is caused by a toxin created by a bacterium found in the soil. When this germ gets […]

Mumps: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to mumps: Mumps has been a common disease for centuries. Hippocrates wrote about it almost 2500 years ago. It’s not all that serious an illness. It doesn’t even affect male fertility the way that most people think. So why was a vaccine developed? Well, about 1/3 of the men who get mumps develop exquisite […]

Pertussis: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to pertussis: I stood outside the closed door of the hospital room where an adorable 6-week-old baby lay all alone in her crib. As I scrubbed my hands in the sink outside the isolation room, an electronic monitor allowed me to hear her breathing peacefully. Suddenly the quiet was shattered by a fit of […]

Respiratory Distress: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to respiratory distress: Is your child’s breathing ok? A child who has significant breathing difficulty needs immediate medical care. What signs should a parent look for? What is it? Respiratory distress is the name given whenever a child’s respiratory system is in danger of not being able to keep up with the child’s needs […]

Rabies: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to rabies: The vampire myth may have been inspired by the reality of a severe rabies epidemic in Hungary from 1721 to1728. Rabies may be transmitted by the bite of infected bats, wolves, other animals, or people. People with rabies are extra-sensitive to light, water, strong odors (garlic), and may refuse to look at […]

Polio: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to polio: In 1988, polio still ravaged about 350,000 people each year, causing damage that will last for the rest of their lives. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, the CDC, and Rotary International saw that polio could be entirely eradicated from the world. By the turn of the millennium, they had been 99 percent […]

Nightmares: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to nightmares: Mommy, I had a bad dream… What are they? Nightmares are unpleasant dreams that awaken a dreamer from sleep. We’ve learned much about nightmares from traumatic events, which are known to cause a predictable pattern of nightmares: first dreams that relive the event, then dreams that relive the primary emotion of the […]

Meningitis: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to meningitis: Bacterial meningitis is one of the most dangerous infections in children. Meningitis can be swift and deadly. It can also lead to chronic disability. The fear of meningitis often haunts parents. Thankfully, most cases of bacterial meningitis can now be prevented.

Measles: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to measles: We’re now in the beginning of the 21st century, and about one million children still die of measles each year around the world. Measles has been a major cause of suffering and death at least since the societies of ancient China, Persia, and Rome. Before the measles vaccine became generally available in […]

Hepatitis B: A-to-Z Guide from Diagnosis to Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to hepatitis B: The hepatitis B vaccine is the first one that babies get – for good reason. The most likely time for children to catch hepatitis B is around the time of birth. More than two million adults in the United States have chronic hepatitis B infections. About 1/3 of them were first […]