Guest Contributor, Author at Nemours Blog - Page 29 of 29

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Guest Contributor

Welcome to Promise

At Nemours Children’s Health System, we’re always looking for new ways to improve the well-being of all children and families, not just the ones we see in our clinics and hospitals. So, we’ve focused on building a conversation with parents throughout the country, to address the common (and not-so-common) health issues that so many of us face. We decided to do what any forward-thinking children’s health system would: we built a blog. Here, you’ll find wisdom, understanding and practical advice from our physicians and care teams. It’s all meant to address your everyday questions, and provide answers you can be confident in. We welcome your input, feedback and discussion, as well. It’s all part of what we’re here for. Get to know our doctors, browse a list of topics, and stop back often. We’ll post new insights on your child’s health every week. You may not always be able to call […]

Swimmer’s Ear: Summer’s Party Pooper

Swimmer’s ear (or external otitis or outer ear infection) is an inflammation and infection of the outer ear canal. It is different from otitis media in that it does not typically extend to the eardrum and is not usually associated with fever or other cold symptoms. However, like a middle ear infection, it can be extremely painful and your child may have pain when you touch the outer ear. But not all outer ear infections are caused by swimming. Here’s what you should know: What increases your child’s chances of getting external otitis? There are two main risk factors associated with external otitis: change in pH balance of the canal or trauma to the canal. Let’s start with the first, because this is where swimming pools come in to the discussion. Highly chlorinated pools can change the normal pH balance of the canal and break down its natural defenses. Humid […]

How Much Spit-up Is Too Much? from the experts at Nemours Children's Primary Care

How Much Spit-up Is Too Much?

For most infants, spitting up is an inevitable part of life. But for their parents, deciphering how much spit-up (or reflux) is acceptable can be confusing. Is there such a thing as too much spit-up? First, let’s talk about the normal aspects of infant reflux. Normal or physiologic reflux can start somewhere around two to four weeks and occur several times a day. Reflux hits a peak around four months, and usually resolves somewhere between 6 months and 1 year of age. Only about 1% of infants still experience symptoms at 1 year of age. One reason your infant may be having reflux is that the band or sphincter around the lower part of your child’s esophagus has intermittent periods of relaxation. When the sphincter is relaxed, food and fluids are more likely to come back up. If your infant continues to be mostly happy and comfortable, has a good […]

Kids and Cholesterol: What Parents Need to Know Now from the experts at Nemours Children's Health System

Kids and Cholesterol: What Parents Need to Know Now

Pediatricians have been getting a lot of bad news about their patients lately: More children at younger ages are developing high cholesterol. I certainly don’t need to tell you that obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Obesity and a family history of high cholesterol levels certainly play a significant role in the development of childhood hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels). However, you should know that not all children with high cholesterol are obese — or even overweight. Over the last 40 or so years, research has shown that the atherosclerotic** changes that can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) begin early in life (as early as 2 years old) and continue to progress throughout life***. We know that genetics play an important role in susceptibility to early CVD, but factors like diet and excercise are just as important in determining the progress of the disease. And in some cases, an […]

Page 29 of 29

Page 29 of 29

Page 29 of 29