Mycoplasma pneumonia in kids
Mycoplasma pneumonia causes prolonged cough, along with fever, fatigue, and other symptoms in kids. We are seeing a lot right now. Here's what parents need to know.
Pneumonia in children
Hearing that your child has pneumonia is scary. Here's an overview of pneumonia in children for parents, written by a pediatrician mom.
Environmental allergies: treatment for kids
Environmental and seasonal allergies can be so disruptive and uncomfortable. The good news is that there are many OTC treatment options available, but filtering through and figuring out the right one for your child is tricky. Here is a simple explanation of the best medication for your child’s specific allergy symptom.
Seasonal allergies
Allergies occur when our immune systems overreact to triggers. Antibodies called Immunoglobulin E cause mast cells to release histamine, which then triggers symptoms. Some children are predisposed to allergies. They tend to run in “atopic” families (which means families with asthma and eczema as well as allergies). But it is possible to develop allergies even without a known family history.
Test to Treat program
Home Test to Treat is a nationwide program providing free testing, telehealth and treatment. Regardless of insurance status, anyone with a current positive COVID-19 test may enroll for free telehealth treatment. Read more here.
RSV bronchiolitis
Respiratory Syncytial Virus is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young infants, but it is not the only cause. For adults and older kids, RSV looks like any other respiratory illness: cold symptoms, some cough, often mild.
What to expect this winter
No one has a crystal ball. But here are my predictions for whether this respiratory season will be as bad as last year.
Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen?
Medicine is always evolving. I have no qualms about using these medications in my children when indicated. My advice to you is this: moderation is everything. Use these medications, only when needed, for a minimum length of time. Everything is a balance of risks and benefits.
What green snot means
Have you ever been told that green mucus or green snot means you have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics? This is a common misconception. Yes, mucus color can be a helpful piece of information. But it is not a diagnostic piece of information - it is just one piece of a puzzle.
The Lingering Cough
Why does a cough linger after an upper respiratory infection? Here are some of the possible causes, their signs and symptoms and when you should go back to the pediatrician.
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.