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  • Too fresh for our own good (health)?

    There’s nothing better than a cool glass of fresh milk after a long day. But how fresh is too fresh?

  • Cutting and self-injury: what to do if someone you know is hurting themselves

    “Is it weird that I cut myself on purpose?”

  • Encopresis: is your child having a potty accident or is it something more?

    From time to time, people experience physical changes or symptoms that they might be embarrassed to talk about. Therefore, they might avoid seeking medical attention and the problem goes untreated for longer than it should. One such problem is encopresis. Encopresis is defined as involuntary passage of feces as a result of constipation.

  • Life without a safety net: what happens when kids age out of foster care?

    Like many parents, I could hardly believe it when my son turned 18. “How could he be this old already?” I thought and then “Why is he so different than I was when I turned 18?” My son Brandon, who is now 20, is still living at home, and we are gently pushing him to learn about living on his own. He is part of the generation of kids who are experiencing an extended adolescence. He’s been a little less mature than his peers and this decision makes sense for us and for him. We have some clear steps outlined and he’s following them.  And I’m sometimes tying myself to a chair so I don’t “help” too much.

  • Health benefits of circumcision outweigh risks

    The health benefits of circumcision in male newborns outweigh the risks, but parents should be free to choose what they believe is in the best interest of their child.

  • New Recommendations for Treatment of Ear Infections

    One of the most common illnesses in U.S. children is acute otitis media (AOM), which is a type of ear infection when the middle ear becomes infected. This type of ear infection is the most common condition for which antibiotics are prescribed for U.S. children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently updated its recommendations to physicians taking care of uncomplicated ear infections in children ages 6 months to 12 years. This new clinical practice guideline will be published in the March 2013 Pediatrics journal. These new guidelines help provide a more specific and stringent definition of a middle ear infection, pain management guidelines, recommendations for initial observation versus immediate antibiotic therapy, and preventive measures.

    What is an ear infection?

    Usually, a child will get an upper respiratory infection or a cold, and the middle ear can become inflamed. Fluid may build up and become trapped in the middle part of the ear during an acute illness. The tube that helps drain fluid from the middle ear to the back of the nose is called the Eustachian tube, and this tube is smaller and more horizontal in children as compared to an adult’s. So when a child becomes ill with a cold, it is more difficult for this fluid to drain out and bacteria can possibly grow in this fluid that is trapped behind your child’s eardrum.

    How do I know if my child has an ear infection?

    Symptoms of an ear infection may include: Fever Headache Difficulty sleeping Difficulty hearing Crying more than usual Fluid draining from the earThese symptoms may be difficult to detect. If your child has a cold and any of the above symptoms, your doctor will be able to use an instrument called an otoscope to look at your child’s ear drums to diagnose an ear infection.

    If my child has an ear infection, do I need a prescription for antibiotics from my doctor?

    The surprising answer is that your child may not always need antibiotics for an ear infection. In treating non-severe ear infections, less may actually be more because our body’s immune systems can usually handle and take care of ear infections on its own. Studies have shown that children with ear infections usually report similar symptoms after about ten days, whether or not they received or did not receive antibiotics.

  • The “thigh gap:” A skinny rule reigning social media sites frequented by teenage girls

    The thigh gap. Have you heard of it? No? Perhaps your teenage daughter has. This “rule” for skinny is permeating social media sites: tumblr, facebook, instagram, to name a few. Even though this seems like a relatively new trend, women have been using their thighs as a way to measure their body image for years. I know, because a particular Oprah show is forever engrained into my mind. A few years back, as I was watching this show, I recall a vivid image of Oprah, standing with her feet touching, looking at the space between her legs and proclaiming that “skinny” women strive to have at least two gaps showing (a gap between the ankles and a gap just below the knees), and if they are lucky, three – the gap between the thighs. I’m even embarrassed to say that I catch myself every now and then looking at my thighs to see if I have “the gap.”

    What exactly is the thigh gap?

    The thigh gap is a one to two inch gap between the thighs when the feet are touching together. However, this “gap” is almost impossible to attain, and the process of obtaining a thigh gap is risky, oftentimes sparking unhealthy fitness and eating behaviors. This trend has also raised concerns among eating disorder experts, as they recognize that in order to obtain a thigh gap, one would most likely take on some form of disordered eating.

  • What To Expect if Your Child Needs a Colonoscopy

    You might think colonoscopies are only for older adults to screen for cancer. But children sometimes have the procedure, too, to diagnose causes of abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding and unexplained weight loss.

  • How was your day?

    Every day since he’s been old enough to answer, I’ve been asking my son that question when I pick him up at the end of the day. Usually, I get a relatively enthusiastic “good” and not much else. Sometimes, he’ll offer a little more: a few details about kindergarten drama in the cafeteria, maybe a tidbit about how he and his buddies dug a hole on the playground big enough for them to fit inside (that explains the grubby, little fingernails!).

  • Keep your kids movin'!

    Growing up, recess was always one of my favorite times during the day. It was a chance to catch a break from the classroom and run around and play with my friends. And in my playground, there were so many activities to choose from! Do we play fort in the tire tower, or a friendly game of soccer? Or do we simply find a spot in the shade and talk about “life’s problems”?