Medication Safety Giving kids medicine safely can be complicated. And many parents feel the pressure when a young child needs certain medications, knowing that giving too much or too little could cause serious side effects. But with a little knowledge and a lot of double-checking, you can give your kids medicine safely and …
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Reye Syndrome
Reye syndrome is an extremely rare but serious illness that can affect the brain and liver. It’s most common in kids who are recovering from a viral infection. Reye syndrome is named after Australian pathologist R. Douglas Reye, who first reported it in 1963. It’s still not well understood, but studies …
Talking to the Pharmacist
If your child is sick, you’ll probably have many questions to ask your doctor. But have you made a list of questions and concerns to share with your pharmacist? If you’re like most parents, the answer is probably “very few” or “none.” But today’s pharmacists are trained to provide valuable …
Teaching Your Child How to Swallow Pills
Swallowing a pill is an important skill that many of us take for granted until we have a child who needs to swallow a pill. Many things — from anxiety to stubbornness — can make it harder for some kids to swallow pills. But don’t worry. Just like any skill, …
Appendectomy
Appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix when an infection has made it inflamed and swollen. This infection, called appendicitis, is considered an emergency because it can be life threatening if untreated — occasionally, an inflamed appendix bursts after a day of symptoms. So it’s very important to have …
Blood Transfusions
A blood transfusion is a fairly simple medical procedure. In a transfusion, a patient receives whole blood or one of its parts through an intravenous line, or IV. This is a tiny tube that is inserted into a vein using a small needle. While patients are likely to feel a …
Cardiac Catheterization
It’s normal to be nervous about a procedure that involves your child’s heart. But cardiac catheterizations are usually no cause for alarm. These procedures are often successful in kids and teens and carry a very low risk of complications. Kids are usually released from the hospital the very same day …
Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube)
About G-Tubes Some kids have medical problems that prevent them from being able to take adequate nutrition by mouth. A gastrostomy tube (also called a G-tube) is a tube inserted through the abdomen that delivers nutrition directly to the stomach. It’s one of the ways doctors can make sure kids …
Laryngoscopy
About Laryngoscopy Laryngoscopy is a visual examination below the back of the throat, where the voice box (larynx) containing the vocal cords is located. It helps doctors identify the causes of voice and breathing problems, throat or ear pain, difficulty in swallowing, narrowing of the throat (strictures or stenosis), and …
Retinopathy of Prematurity
About Retinopathy of Prematurity Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease that occurs in premature babies. It causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina, the layer of nerve tissue in the eye that enables us to see. This growth can cause the retina to detach from the back …