Influenza is a viral infection that can be caused by different strains of Influenza virus. Although most people recover without incident, similar to COVID-19, certain groups are higher risk for severe illness (and even death): the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, and young children (under age 5y - and especially those under 2y).

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.

Hearing that your child has pneumonia is scary. Here's an overview of pneumonia in children for parents, written by a pediatrician mom.

Should parents worry about “dry drowning”? What are drowning symptoms in kids? Should you worry if your child chokes and coughs while swimming? Here are some answers from a pediatrician mom.

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.

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.

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.

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.

No one has a crystal ball. But here are my predictions for whether this respiratory season will be as bad as last year.

Hand, Foot & Mouth is a viral illness that most children encounter eventually. There is no treatment except time, but there are many things you can do to help your child through it. This post covers what parents need to know, plus practical tips!

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.

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.

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.

Increasing the body’s core temperature makes the body’s immune response more effective. Although the fever is not a cause for alarm, it is still true that whatever infection or process is causing the fever could be concerning, so we don’t ignore fevers.

Kids with croup sound like they swallowed a seal. Croup is the name given to the cough caused by a narrowing upper airway. In many cases, this is caused by infection, but there are many other possible causes as well. The tell-tale barky cough and stridor are a result of air passing through the narrowed upper airway (larynx, trachea).