Providing Support If your child needs to have an operation, you probably have plenty of questions, many of them about anesthesia. You may wonder if your child will feel pain during the operation, be aware of what’s going on, wake up in the middle of the surgery and be scared, …
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School-Based Health Centers
Getting health care for your child can be complicated. Many doctors only offer appointments during the school day, and their offices might be far from school. To see the doctor, your child might have to miss school and you might have to leave work — which isn’t always an option. …
Taking Care of You: Support for Caregivers
If your child has a serious illness, the caretaking that falls to you is undoubtedly intense. But of course you do it willingly. After all, you’d do anything for your child, including switching places in a minute if only that were possible. Instead you give all that you can, in …
Types of Anesthesia
If your child is having surgery or a procedure, it can help to understand how the various types of anesthesia make the experience more comfortable. Anesthesia is broken down into three main categories: general, regional, and local, all of which affect the nervous system in some way and can be …
When Your Child’s in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
It can be stressful whenever kids are in the hospital — and even more so when they’re admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). But a basic understanding of the people and equipment in the PICU can help you feel better prepared to help your child recover. What’s the …
Chemotherapy
Numerous medical advances have helped health care professionals manage, lessen, and prevent certain side effects of cancer treatments. But parents whose kids need chemotherapy — one of the most common treatments for childhood cancer — often have many questions and concerns about it. About Chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often just called “chemo”) …
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine might make you think of pungent herbal teas, chanting, or meditation. In fact, both herbal remedies and meditation, as well as dozens of other treatments, fall under the heading of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Although there is no strict definition of CAM, it generally includes …
Frequently Asked Questions About Immunizations
Since the start of widespread vaccinations in the United States, cases of once common childhood illnesses like measles and diphtheria have dropped dramatically. Immunizations have protected millions of kids from dangerous diseases and saved thousands of lives. In fact, certain diseases crop up so rarely now that parents sometimes ask if …
How to Safely Give Acetaminophen
How to Safely Give Acetaminophen Acetaminophen (uh-see-tuh-MI-nuh-fen) is an over-the-counter medicine taken to relieve fever and pain. It’s a safe drug when used correctly for a wide variety of problems, but taking too high a dose can make a child very sick. Overdosing can lead to liver damage and, in …
How to Safely Give Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen (eye-byoo-PRO-fen) is an over-the-counter medicine taken to relieve aches and pain and reduce fever. It’s a safe drug when used correctly, but taking too much can make a child very sick. Overdosing can lead to stomach or intestinal problems. So it’s important to know how to properly give the …