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  • Let's give children's teeth a biting chance!

    Written by Ha Vo, pediatric resident at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

  • A survivor of childhood cancer, 25 years later: Nessa’s story

    Twenty-five years ago in September of 1988, Nessa’s life was forever changed by words that weren’t talked about much back then: childhood cancer. After finding bumps on Nessa’s head and swollen lymph nodes, her mom knew something wasn’t right. After a trip to the pediatrician’s office, they were told to go to Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) to see Dr. Vincent Guisti, a pediatric oncologist, to find out what might be causing these symptoms. Since the visit required an overnight bag, Nessa’s mom, Carol, knew it wasn’t what she’d first suspected – it was something much more serious.

    Receiving a heart-wrenching diagnosis

    Nessa was eight years old and in the third grade at a local elementary school. That day was picture day- a day that many girls prepare for by selecting their best school outfit and making sure their hair looks just right. As her mom was combing Nessa’s hair, she noticed little bumps on her head, and Nessa had been saying she wasn’t feeling well. The next morning, Carol knew something wasn’t right after Nessa woke up with swollen lymph nodes. Thinking it might be a case of mononucleosis, they visited the family’s pediatrician, where they were told to go to ORMC to see Dr. Guisti, a pediatric oncologist.

  • What we do now may affect our future children’s genetics

    We are all aware that mothers who smoke while they are pregnant run a higher risk of having children who are premature, smaller than they should be, or stillborn. This is likely due to reduced oxygen supply to the baby through mom’s diseased body and to toxins shared by mom with baby. We also know that children who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic lung disease and even cancer due to direct lung damage from inhaled smoke.

    What you do with your body early in life can affect future generations

    But recent data suggests that a father’s behavior even years prior to conception may affect the health of his children and future generations. For example, early paternal smoking has been associated with increased body mass in children. Paternal alcoholism has been associated with smaller birth weights in babies, and hyperactivity in children. Most recently, smoking even early in life has been found to be associated with an increased risk of certain forms of asthma in a man’s children. A study which was recently presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress looked at 13,000 men and women and found that non-allergic asthma was significantly more common in children whose fathers smoked before the age of 15. In addition, the longer the father smoked, the higher the risk of his child having this kind of asthma. Interestingly, the same link was not found in children whose mothers smoked before they conceived.

  • How To Safely Introduce Allergens to Your Baby

    Food allergies in infants and children are becoming more common in the United States, which can make it nerve-wracking for parents trying to introduce new foods to their babies.

  • Kids with Autism are at Higher Risk to Go Missing from Safe Places

    Panic strikes in that moment when you look down to notice your child has vanished. How could it happen so fast? For most, it’s the mischievous toddler who plays a spontaneous game of hide-and-seek in the middle of the busy superstore or decides to run the opposite way when Dad announces it’s time to go home from the park. But if your child is affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the situation can be even more unexpected and more dangerous. Keeping your child safe can be quite a daunting challenge for every parent, but recent research sheds light on how difficult this can be for parents of kiddos with ASD. According to research out of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, children with ASD are at a much higher risk of bolting than their typical siblings, are likely to disappear for longer periods of time, and the risk of this happening continues long past the age that parents would expect.

  • The End of Hugs and Handshakes?

    As the new school year approaches, it’s important to discuss with your child about the upcoming changes that will be in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Limiting person-to-person contact is key to reducing spread of the virus. Yet healthy socialization and development still must be fostered among school-age children. How to keep young ones from touching surfaces and not their face is a difficult task, indeed — which is why hugs and handshakes will be discouraged for now. To ensure that social connections and well-being are maintained, other types of behaviors will be encouraged instead. 

  • Beware if Your Child Has Frequent UTIs

    Potty training marks a huge transition from toddler to young child, and accidents may feel like a setback. But a child who pees infrequently may be more worrisome. Not urinating enough can put your child at greater risk for urinary tract infections, leading to long-term kidney issues.

  • How To Help Kids with Social Anxiety During Pandemic

    Many parents, while trying to keep their children safe from COVID-19, worry their kids are missing important social skills. Some of the most common issues include social anxiety, gaps in social skills like sharing and parallel play, and separation anxiety. 

  • A miraculous first year: Myles’ story

    Written by Katie Murillo

  • Talking to Teens about Sex

    As an adolescent medicine specialist caring for youth at a time of life when first crushes, first dates, and first loves (and for some youth, the first time) happen, I cannot help but notice the obvious lack of communication between parents and teens about sexuality, and quite frankly, sex. For many parents, sex in the teenage years is something to be feared and forbidden and is often a source of family conflict. Many parents cringe at the idea of talking about sex with teens. And when they do talk to teens, conversations usually focus just on the dangers of sex and romance -- STDs, pregnancy and heartbreak.