The Web may be chock full of information, and that’s great. When it comes to learning more about your child’s health issue, particularly at 2 a.m. during a semi-crisis, it can also make it hard to decide which sites provide trustworthy facts versus unscientific opinions.
Here are the top seven Web sites I come back to time and again when I need dependable resources to write about a pediatric health condition.
All of the information on these sites is written and/or reviewed by doctors and other healthcare professionals. I’ve broken this list into local and national resources.
National
1. Centers for Disease Control: Put your tax dollars to work. The CDC’s web site is updated daily with terrific information about what’s in the news, research and other helpful health tips.
2. Kids Health: A great site that breaks each health topic into three levels of understanding; for parents, for teens and for children.
3. American Academy of Pediatrics: The AAP offers a terrific library on everything from preemies to poison prevention. Their information represents the consensus view among member pediatricians of what is best for children’s health.
4. National Institutes of Health: The NIH publishes gobs of information about pediatric diseases and conditions. It can be a little more research-oriented (since that’s what the NIH does) but if you’re looking for the latest research, it’s a good place to start. This link takes you directly to their Child & Teen Health section.
5. Web M.D.: If I know absolutely nothing about a health condition, I’ll often start at Web M.D. because they do a good job of explaining things in simple terms. From there, I can jump to other sites for more detail.
Local
6. Texas Children’s Hospital: Browse the sections under For Parents, signup for their newsletter, get news and information targeted to children in Houston.
7. Children’s Memorial Hermann: Under its Children’s Services section, Memorial Hermann features an encyclopedia of pediatric health information, back issues of its pediatric newsletter, and a signup for children’s health emails.
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Thanks to the Texas Medical Center, our many universities and non-profits, Houston boasts great children's health resources. But it's a big town, and it can be hard to find what you need to know.
We created Healthy Houston Kids to help. We give you a one-stop-shop to the practical news and information you need to keep your children healthy in Houston, Texas.
Founder and webmaster
Jessica Johns Pool: I lived all over the country before landing in Houston with a job in the Texas Medical Center. Finally, I’d found something I never got tired of writing about -- health! A few years of knocking about Houston’s medical community taught me that, yes, world-class healthcare is available in our fair city, but, size and complexity make it hard to find information when you need it, particularly if you’re a parent desperate to help your child. HealthyHoustonKids was born. When I’m not blogging, I develop communications for hospitals, oil and gas companies and non-profits with JJP Editorial Services and admire my nieces and nephews.
Founder
Dawn Dorsey: In the past 20-plus years, I’ve written about everything from peacock farmers to train treks in the Andes, but health care keeps drawing me back. While I can’t stand the sight of blood, and even a scuffed knee makes me squeamish, I’m curious about and fascinated with the way our miraculous bodies work. And, I believe raising a healthy child is a calling of the highest order. I did my best (that’s all you can do, really) with my son, who’s now 20 – though of course I had to withstand loud and frequent protests for limiting his caffeine and sugar. When I can use my words and natural inquisitiveness to help parents create a healthier future for their kids, I’m in my “sweet spot.”
Regular contributor
Jennifer Patrick: I launched my own freelance writing business, J.Patrick Communications, in 2006 after working in public relations, marketing and media relations for the healthcare and non-profit industries for more than 15 years. I specialize in script, speech, feature and copy writing for small businesses and publications in Houston. Read about my adventures as a mom to two young children on Living the Dream.
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One child’s chronic health condition often invades the entire family’s day-to-day life and makes a significant emotional impact on well siblings. That’s why it’s vital for parents to recognize symptoms of distress in their well children so they can help those siblings play a positive role in family.
Well children often feel jealousy and resentment. Depending on the child’s age, those emotions may be caused by:
• Fear of developing the illness themselves.
• Feeling responsible for their brother’s or sister’s condition.
• Changes in the family’s eating habits, financial hardship and scheduling conflicts.
• The real or imagined perception that their sick brother or sister receives more attention, less discipline or more privileges.
Parents can help well siblings handle their feelings in a variety of ways. These include:
• Encourage your child to talk about how their sibling’s illness makes them feel. Or, let them express how they feel through art, writing or music.
• Plan a regular activity for just you and the well child. Arrange time to buy back-to-school clothes, go for a bike ride or get an ice cream. Anything that gets you out of the house together that you both enjoy will work.
• Praise all of your children for their helpful habits, such as performing chores on time or without you asking the chore to be done.
• Ask your doctor, nurse or social worker about extra support for siblings.
Remember, a child doesn’t think of what’s happening in the family the same way an adult does. It’s important to help your well child understand that chronic illness affects the entire family and thank your child for their help, patience and support.
A hospital stay is stressful for anyone, but it can be especially hard on a child too young to understand why they hurt or a teenager old enough to be concerned about their own mortality. However, friends and family can help relieve the strain and boredom of a young person’s time in the hospital in a variety of ways.
First, call a family member or a nurse on the child’s ward to ask a few questions. The questions to ask are:
· Is the child ready for visitors?
· What are visiting hours? Are some times better to visit than others?
· Are there any limits to the child’s mobility?
· Are there any dietary restrictions?
· Is there something in particular the child needs or would like to have?
The answers to these questions will tell you if the child is in a restricted access area, such as an intensive care unit, what times of the day the child feels best or is most alert, and if there are any limitations on how the child can play and what he or she can eat.
Armed with this information, the next step in creating a much-needed diversion from the hospital routine can be targeted by considering the child’s age and interests.
Choosing the right gift
In general, any gifts should be small (easy to put away or pack to take home), quiet (no clanging that might disturb other sick children) and inexpensive (the parents don’t need to worry about keeping track of an expensive new toy in addition to caring for their child).
Good at any age, and free, are messages from classmates, family and neighbors. Most hospitals now host an online message service that allows people to send email to a patient. The messages are usually printed out and delivered by hand, sometimes by volunteers who are trained to provide a friendly chat if the patient desires.
Be sure your message includes news about what’s going on in the neighborhood, on the basketball team or in class. Children enjoy hearing what’s happening outside their hospital room. Teenagers especially may feel isolated and out of touch with friends and school during long absences so a newsy letter helps.
You can also volunteer to collect well wishes from classmates, neighbors and teammates and deliver one giant card or poster to the room.
Consider age and hobbies
When choosing gifts, be sure to consider what’s appropriate for the child’s age as well as the child’s hobbies and after-school activities. For instance, a set of small cars may be fun for a 5-year-old boy while a 15-year-old would probably prefer a selection of car magazines.
Music helps distract and sooth all ages. A teenager with an iPod may appreciate some new tunes, while a toddler may enjoy a singing doll or a musical toy (just so long it’s not a loud one).
A snack basket may provide a welcome relief from institutional food and much needed energy for busy parents, but be sure the patient isn’t on a restricted diet.
Other widely appreciated items include magazines, books, audio books, pajamas, art supplies and small craft projects.
Don’t forget a visit
Depending on the patient, perhaps the best way to help a hospitalized child is to visit. The friendly, familiar face of a neighbor can help a child pass the time, give parents a much-needed break, and distract the child from pain, loneliness and boredom. A small group of the child’s friends might bring in pizza and a game, especially if the patient is hospitalized during a holiday or their birthday.
Remember to tailor the gift, whether a gift of time or a toy, to the child’s health restrictions and interests, and both the patient and parents will be grateful for your effort.
