Newborn jaundice, or the appearance of a yellow color on your baby’s skin early in life, is virtually universal. Yet for many parents it can be deeply upsetting, even scary. For the vast majority of babies, jaundice — caused by a pigment called bilirubin released with red blood cells break down naturally — is a…
While still adjusting to retirement, I was watching the 2016 Summer Olympics one recent evening when I was struck by a television ad. It was selling audible books, not just for adults, but also for kids — a father and his two children “transported to an imaginary world” as they sat side-by-side in bed listening…
As I prepare to retire at the end of this month, I wish to share some reflections and concerns which arose from my reading of a rather profound book. The book is called Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, by Sherry Turkle, Ph.D., Abby Rockefeller Mauze Professor of the Social Studies of…
This article was edited May 21, 2018 to reflect updated FDA guidelines for Montelukast (Singulair) dosage. I retired from the Salem Pediatric Clinic July 29, 2016. As an intern in 1978, I was terrified of asthma, because I had no idea how to treat it. Many years of subsequent work with asthmatics has taught me…
An article describing Colic was posted on this blog in September. But today I learned of a website designed to help parents better understand and survive this difficult period of early-infant crying: The Period of Purple Crying. “Purple” is an acronym developed by Dr. Ronald G Barr and Marilyn Barr of the National Center on…
Nothing is likely as intimidating or discouraging to parents as a screaming infant — especially a newborn. Last week my wife Kathy showed me this amazing YouTube video of Dr. Robert Hamilton, of Pacific Ocean Pediatrics in Santa Monica, California, demonstrating his calming technique for infants 3 months or younger. Literally, I had opportunity to try…
Most of my patient families have, at times over the past few years, felt almost harassed as I have (at virtually every check-up) sung the praises of Vitamin D. It’s time for me to explain what all the fuss is about. Most people know that Vitamin D is important for maintaining strong bones. Without Vitamin D…
Ear Infections are the most common bacterial infection in children, and account for a substantial percentage of all visits to a pediatrician’s office. Why is that? This article will help you understand why. We will also briefly discuss antibiotics for ear infections as well the use of “tubes” for children who keep having them. An…
Few pediatric conditions are as likely to cause as much consternation in families as constipation! Little wonder that it can make for very unhappy kids, and very frustrated parents, as everyone seeks the “magic cure” to make it better — NOW! Constipation is very common. It accounts for up to 5% of all visits a general…
A sick child who suddenly awakens in the middle of the night making a terrible sound and having trouble breathing can be terrifying. The two conditions most likely to produce this situation are croup and wheezing. Because the immediate home treatment of croup is quite different from that of wheezing, it is helpful to try…
Research into the complex nerve connections of the developing brain has exploded in the last 20 years, and one conclusion is clear: From Day 1, every day counts. We know that children who from birth have parents and family members who talked to their baby, and responded immediately to every cue made by that child,…
Few diseases commonly affecting children are as confusing to families as asthma. The presenting symptoms can vary, causing parents to debate even whether or not they should start treatment. This discussion will attempt to clarify what asthma is, which will hopefully lead to a rational approach for treating your child. Asthma is a long-term, often…
A beloved Virology Professor, C. George Ray, uttered the immortal words “fever is your friend” during my training. He was not trying to discount the genuine concern, at times bordering on terror, which grips many parents at the first sign of a fever in their child. Rather, he was trying to get us, as Pediatric…
Colds are part of life; we all get them, regardless of our age or state of health. Yet for parents, particularly parents of young children in daycare, they can seem almost like a perpetual problem. Why is that? Glad you asked! There are likely close to 200 different respiratory viruses that can cause the common…
Thrush is a remarkably common, harmless, yet frustrating condition which many of us have had to contend with in our newborns and infants. I still shudder when I recall, as new parents, how long it took for us to eliminate those nasty little white patches from our daughter Emily’s mouth. The basis for our repeated…