Fevers: a simple explanation
Increasing the body’s core temperature makes the body’s immune response more effective. Although the fever is not a cause for alarm, it is still true that whatever infection or process is causing the fever could be concerning, so we don’t ignore fevers.
Croup
Kids with croup sound like they swallowed a seal. Croup is the name given to the cough caused by a narrowing upper airway. In many cases, this is caused by infection, but there are many other possible causes as well. The tell-tale barky cough and stridor are a result of air passing through the narrowed upper airway (larynx, trachea).
Childproofing for grandparents
Low effort babyproofing tips that provide major payoff in terms of keeping your child safe, and maintaining your peace of mind.
What to try for a cough
I know coughs can be frustrating. But I promise you, your pediatrician isn’t holding out on you with some magical home remedy that they want to keep to themselves.
Hopefully these remedies help, but otherwise the best thing for most coughs is tincture of time.
How to assess your child’s breathing
As mothers and physicians, we really believe in the intangible gut instinct that comes with parenting, and while it is unfortunate that sometimes it falls upon us as parents to be persistent and advocate for our children, this is sometimes the case.
Nasal irrigation in kids: safe? effective?
Nasal irrigation, or using a neti-pot, has been around for centuries as a remedy for blocked noses. The idea is that you use a sterile solution, like saline, and flush out the mucus. If you’re going to try it, please do it safely.
Why is this viral season so wild?
Cold after cold, fever after fever. Non stop, without any real break for a parent to recover. It feels endless, and its easy to worry about whether or not things will always be this way.
Yes, pediatrics hospitals are full
We are at the start of respiratory season, but are seeing have unseasonably high numbers of RSV, Rhinovirus, and many other respiratory viruses - and in many parts of the country, flu season has also begun.
RSV: 5 things to try
Most children have been infected with RSV by the age of 2 years and recover just fine. We worry most about those children who are very young (under 6 months) or have underlying medical issues, such as prematurity, lung or heart disease, or immunosuppression.
My kid has a fever! What now?
A fever is a normal body response to infection. If your child is handling it well, most of the time you can keep take a holistic approach and focus on closely monitoring them (barring a few specific situations, such as when your child is very young or has underlying medical conditions).
Swollen lymph nodes: a primer
In the vast majority of cases, lymph node enlargement is just a signal of a healthy immune response, rather than something sinister. The goal of this post is to help provide some reassurance and information so you don’t have to Google.
The flu vaccine: an overview
Immunization is the most effective way to mitigate the severity of flu infection, but there are many misconceptions about the flu vaccine.