As a parent raising a child with a disability, you might find that “me time” is more fantasy than reality. Sure, you’d love some time to yourself, or one-on-one time with a spouse, partner, friend, or another child. But how can you find that perfect person to care for your …
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Giving Teens a Voice in Health Care Decisions
Since your child’s miraculous entry into the world, you’ve been responsible for most — if not all — of the decisions made regarding his or her health care. You scheduled the early-morning doctor’s visits, arranged for X-rays and other diagnostic tests, ordered prescriptions from pharmacies, asked the right questions, and …
If Your Child Has a Heart Defect
About Congenital Heart Defects It can be frightening to learn that your child has a congenital heart defect. But these are relatively common, affecting almost 1 in every 100 newborns in the United States. Advances in medical knowledge and diagnostic technologies can provide very detailed information regarding structural heart abnormalities. …
Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School?
I’m usually a pretty good judge of when my kids are too sick to go to school or daycare, but other times — like when my youngest seems to be dragging but has no fever — I’m just not sure. How can I tell when they’re well enough to go …
Is a Clinical Trial Right for Your Child?
If your son or daughter is struggling with a serious illness like cancer or has a chronic condition like asthma, your doctor might talk to you about enrolling your child in a clinical trial. About Clinical Trials A clinical trial is a research study that follows a predefined protocol, or plan of …
Managing Home Health Care
Intensive Health Care at Home Kids can need intensive health care at home after they have been in the hospital for many different reasons. Medical equipment and devices can: function as a monitor provide nutrition provide oxygen help with breathing be needed for giving certain medicines In each case, it’s vital …
Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome
Munchausen by proxy syndrome (MBPS) is a relatively rare form of child abuse that involves the exaggeration or fabrication of illnesses or symptoms by a primary caretaker. Also known as “medical child abuse,” MBPS was named after Baron von Munchausen, an 18th-century German dignitary known for making up stories about his …
Neurocutaneous Syndromes
About Neurocutaneous Syndromes Neurocutaneous syndromes are disorders that lead to growth of tumors in various parts of the body. They’re caused by the abnormal development of cells in an embryo and characterized by the tumors in various parts of the body (including the nervous system) and by certain differences in …
Neurofibromatosis
About Neurofibromatosis Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a neurocutaneous syndrome that can affect many parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, skin, and other body systems. NF can cause growth of non-cancerous (benign) tumors involving the nerves and brain. NF can range from mild to severe. Some children live …
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) treatment focuses on helping people with a physical, sensory, or cognitive disability be as independent as possible in all areas of their lives. OT can help kids with various needs improve their cognitive, physical, sensory, and motor skills and enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. Some …