All Search Results
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Would you protect a child from abuse?
Recently, the headlines have been dominated by case after case of sports figures or other leaders of youth-serving organizations being accused of harming children in their care. Often, these stories are made worse by revelations that others had suspicions of abuse or even witnessed it occurring, yet failed to report their concerns to the proper authorities. I bet most of you were like me when you first read or heard about these stories and thought, “I can’t believe these people knew of threats to children and didn’t act to help them,” all the while telling ourselves that if we were in their shoes, we know we would have done the right thing and reported our suspicions.
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Does my child need Antibiotics?
Does My Child Need Antibiotics?
About once a month, I will get a phone call from any one of my girlfriends who is looking for a friendly “second opinion” about their child. She tells me that her child hasn’t been feeling well for a few days, and she finally got an appointment to see their pediatrician on short notice. She becomes disappointed because her doctor did not give her a prescription for antibiotics for her child. She is upset because her child “always gets better on antibiotics.” My friend voices her frustration because she feels like her doctor “didn’t do anything.” Then she may ask me to “just prescribe something” for her child. I gently have to tell her no, because it is not right for me to do that since her child is not my patient, and I have not examined her child. I reassure her to trust her pediatrician, and to definitely keep her doctor in the loop if her child’s condition is not improving, or actually worsens over the next day or two.What are Antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medications that can be used to treat bacterial infections. For example, if your child has an ear infection or strep throat, your pediatrician will prescribe an appropriate antibiotic to help treat the infection. Anti-virals are medications that can treat viral infections, such as influenza or herpes simplex. Anti-fungals work against fungal infections, such as ringworm or yeast infections. -
The pink slime controversy
Pink Slime. Ever heard of it? The nickname originated between two scientists within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) who were concerned about the safety and lack of labeling of the beef additive. The term "pink slime” became increasingly popular when Jamie Oliver brought attention to the controversial product on his Food Revolution TV show, created to bring awareness to the foods Americans are consuming and the link to childhood obesity.
I’ve heard of it. But what is pink slime?
In short, it has been termed “lean, finely textured beef”, an additive used in ground beef and beef products to help reduce consumer cost. Pink slime consists of beef scraps and connective tissue that have been mechanically removed from fat through a high-pressure, high-temperature process. The beef mixture is then treated with ammonium hydroxide to help eliminate possible pathogens, such as E. Coli and Salmonella. It is then finely ground and frozen into blocks to be shipped out to suppliers to use in their beef products. -
The Tin Man - Holden's Story
During a 20-week pregnancy checkup, Nicole and Trey learned they were having a son. At the same time and still in his mother's womb, their son, Holden, was diagnosed with a heart defect. He was born with only one heart valve, and at 4 months old, he needed open heart surgery. Watch his journey unfold.
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Have you laughed today?
“Laughter is the best medicine.” We’ve all heard it. But do we really believe it?
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Questions you may have about vaccines
Over the last few weeks, we’ve had a few . Here are some answers to common questions that parents may have about vaccines.
Should I be concerned about thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative?
Preservatives have been used in some vaccines in the past to prevent contamination with bacteria and other harmful substances. Contamination with such substances could cause serious and even fatal bacterial infections, and thimerosal was used to prevent these harmful events. -
The Heart Center delivers world-class cardiac care
Dr. Susan DesJardins is a cardiologist at the Heart Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital. In honor of February's focus on heart health, she shares what makes The Heart Center the leader in children's cardiac care in Central Florida.
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12 things you can do to support families dealing with childhood cancer
No one expects a cancer diagnosis, especially not for their child. When cancer shows its ugly face, it comes like a thief in the night, stealing the normalcy the family once enjoyed. Instead of spending time in the carpool line, at playdates, or friends’ birthday parties, these families are spending time in hospital rooms, helping their child cope with the side effects of chemotherapy, and weighing life or death treatment decisions. After spending time with many families who have walked this journey, I can tell you the one thing that nearly every parent of a sick child has said: that the care and support of their friends and family during their difficult time made a world of difference to them. What you do to care for these families really does matter, and they will remember it for the rest of their lives.
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12 ways to support families affected by military service
I recently wrote about some of the parented by active military troops. While not all of us have a loved one serving in the military, we can all support the troops and the loved ones they leave behind. There are organized efforts to provide support to these families, especially around holiday time. In addition to these activities, we can provide emotional and practical support in some simple, every day ways.
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Coping strategies for families impacted by military service
I was eating lunch in a local restaurant yesterday and saw a young woman in military clothing sitting with a slightly older woman. I imagined they were mother and daughter and I could see that the mother’s face was animated and smiling. As I left and nodded to them, I almost felt tearful. I have not served in the military, but it seems that those who do make a significant sacrifice on behalf of the rest of us. I am touched by their willingness to serve.
