Patients are sometimes confused when doctors differentiate the terms pain and tenderness. The reason we use these words differently is because they mean different things when it comes to making a diagnosis. If something is painful, that means it hurts. If something is...
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Why does constipation cause stomachaches after kids eat?
Although the human body isn't perfect, there are lots of awesome ways that it functions. One of these is called the gastrocolic reflex. In this context, "gastro" refers to the stomach and "colic" refers to the colon or large intestine. When we eat, the stomach...
Can you wash a baby’s face with soap?
Many childrearing books tell you not to use soap on a baby's face. One of the reasons for this is because soap may irritate a newborn's sensitive facial skin. Another is that a newborn's skin is slightly acidic, which helps prevent infection. Soap can reduce the...
Why do kids have to be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school?
Body temperature varies throughout the day whether you’re sick or healthy. If you take your daughter's temperature three times a day for a number of days, you will see that the highest readings come in the evening. Similarly, if she is sick, you are more likely to...
Is baby powder safe?
It's common for people to use baby powder after showering to keep dry, especially during the warmer months. Similarly, parents often use baby powder on their baby's bottoms after diaper changes. I disagree with the latter use for two reasons. First, I'm not convinced...
Should you compare your kids?
Parents frequently hear that they should never compare children to each other. As a pediatrician, I can unequivocally state that this is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. Not only do we compare our children to each other, but we also compare them to other...
Tips to help adolescents avoid drugs and alcohol
While every parent hopes his or her teenager will be able to “just say no” when asked to use drugs or alcohol, it’s clear that many adolescents will have difficulty resisting peer pressure. One way to handle this situation is to give teenagers an excuse so it won’t...
Are spider bites dangerous?
Although a fear of spiders is on everyone’s top ten list of phobias, most spider bites are (a) not dangerous and (b) occur without the victim even knowing it happened. Because I’m a pediatrician, most of the spider bites I see happen to children. I have also noted...
Swallowing capsules versus pills
This is a simple tip, but one that makes a big difference when you have to take a medication for 10 days. The basic difference between capsules and pills is that capsules float and pills sink. If you put a capsule in your mouth, take a sip of water and throw your head...
Is it good idea to know your blood type?
The most common blood test doctors order is a CBC, which stands for complete blood count. The test provides information about a person’s red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. We get CBCs for different reasons, but the two most common are to check for...
A small but helpful safety tip
Many years ago, I took my 3-year-old son to the Montgomery County Fair. We were having a grand time until I lost sight of Ryan for a second. When I turned around to find him, he was lost in a sea of parents, babies and screaming children. As my heart raced, I vainly...
When does medication really expire?
Most medicine cabinets contain a variety of prescription and nonprescription medication. Some drugs, like allergy medicine, are used intermittently or for long periods of time. Other drugs, like antibiotics, are generally used short-term for an infection. If a doctor...
Can a teenager be immune to mononucleosis and not know it?
It’s common knowledge that people are usually diagnosed with mononucleosis (mono) during adolescence. This is the reason it’s often referred to as the “kissing disease.” What lots of people don’t know, however, is that about 20 percent of children get mono before age...
Is it advisable to travel overseas with a 2-month-old?
This is a hard question to answer because there are so many places you could visit. That being said, pediatricians have a number of concerns about travelling abroad with young infants. It’s important to make sure your baby has had all of his standard immunizations...
Don’t force kids to say they’re sorry
Altercations between young children are common. If parents are around to witness the squabble, they usually ask the aggressor to say he’s sorry. This is a reasonable thing to do because adults are supposed to teach children how to behave in social circumstances....
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