If you’ve got an older teen with a chronic illness who needs to transition to adult services, there’s a seminar for you.

The 10^th annual Chronic Illness and Disability: Transition from Pediatric to Adult-Based Care conference takes place Nov. 5 – 6. 

The government says one in five families has a child with special health care needs. Understanding and addressing the gaps in access and quality of care between child and adult services is a critical health priority and one that requires planning. This conference is designed to help narrow this gap.

For parents and youth with special needs, the conference offers an opportunity to hear practical medical, legal and insurance information. Conference presentations this year also cover waiver programs, insurance and education. The conference includes time to meet and talk with healthcare professionals and to exchange ideas with other parents and teens.

The conference will be held at the Denton A. Cooley Auditorium, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. 6720 Bertner Ave., Green Elevators, Floor B1. Cost ranges from $75 for family members to $250 for physicians. 

Sponsors include Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau-sponsored Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Training Program. You can register online here. 

Keeping track of all the details that come with managing a child's chronic illness can be daunting. What with the medications, doctor visits, specialist recommendations about what you should do -- the details are enough to drown even the most organized parent.

Here is a free Excel template from SpreadsheetZone that we tried and found easy to use:

Medication Log - Let's you track medicines by dates started and stopped, prescriber and a notes area for side effects.

The company also offers a BMI calculator, gym activity calculator, ideal weight calculator and weekly blood pressure calculator.

We reviewed vaccine tracking applications for the iPhone earlier. Read that review here.

Whether we realize it or not, parents make decisions every day that can have long-lasting effects on our children’s health. Some things are decided in haste while others deserve careful consideration.

Vaccinations fall into the latter category. As children age, parents quickly become aware that certain vaccinations are mandated by the state for entry into elementary and middle school as well as colleges.

Some immunizations, however, are voluntary.

Gardasil is a choice

One of these is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine known as Gardasil. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended the HPV vaccine for girls who are 11 and 12 years old as well as girls and women age 13 through 26 years old who have yet to receive the vaccine.

“Gardasil is a great tool to help support preventive care among adolescents,” says Dr. Amy Middleman, an adolescent medicine specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital and director of adolescent and young adult immunization in the hospital’s Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research. “A parent’s job is to protect children and optimize their health so that they grow into happy, healthy adults. This vaccine is an important part of an overall strategy to do just that.”

As the parent of a 10-year-old girl, I’m learning all I can about the HPV vaccine and following up on any news I hear.

For example, several weeks ago, there was a great deal of press when a 14-year-old girl in England died within hours of receiving the HPV vaccine. What didn’t receive as much attention was when the National Health Service in England later reported that the girl had a large malignant tumor in her heart and lungs that led to her death. 

If you hear a story or rumor about the HPV vaccine that causes you concern, look into it. Contact your family doctor for more information.

As you deliberate whether you should vaccinate your daughter, the best thing you can do is know the facts about HPV and the vaccine:

FACT: Every year, approximately 12,000 women in the United States develop cervical cancer, and 4,000 of these women die from the disease. It is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide.

FACT:  More than 50 percent of sexually active men and women will be infected with HPV during their lives.

FACT: Gardasil protects against four major types of HPV, including the two types that lead to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. While the vaccine does not protect against 30 percent of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer, it is the only medication available that offers a protection from the majority of HPV that can cause cervical cancer.

by Heather Wiederhoeft

Tell us: Has your daughter already gotten the HPV vaccine? If not, will she get it?

H1N1 vaccines in short supply

Try not to act too surprised, but H1N1 vaccine production is behind schedule. Read about some of the reasons in this recent Houston Chronicle article.

Houston hospitals cope with swine flu

Texas Medical Center hospitals are making and updating plans to deal with H1N1. KTRK-TV (Channel 13) hosted a chat with six physicians and interviewed Medical Center leaders.

Toddlers among first to receive shots

Some Texas Children’s Pediatric Associates practices have received vaccines and will give to their staffs and 2- and 3-year-olds. Also read a related article from the Chronicle.

The March of Dimes is one of our favorite organizations. That's why we're spreading the word about National Prematurity Awareness Day on Nov. 17. 

Did you know?
Premature birth is a health crisis that jeopardizes the lives and health of nearly half-million babies each year in this country alone. That's between 10 and 12 percent of newborns. It is the #1 killer of newborns and can lead to significant lifelong disabilities.

• Premature birth has increased 36 percent in the last 25 years in the U.S.
• Women at higher risk of premature delivery are those who have had a previous premature birth, those with multiple gestations (twins or more), and those with certain uterine or cervical abnormalities. 
• At 35 weeks a baby's brain is only two-thirds the size it will be at 39 to 40 weeks.
• Babies born at 34 to 36 weeks are more likely to experience breathing and feeding problems, jaundice and problems maintaining her temperature.
• The average first-year medical costs are about 10 times greater for preterm infants ($32,325) than for full-term infants ($3,325).

What you can do
Houston is extremely lucky to have phenomenal, high-level NICU care at Texas Children's, Memorial Hermann and Women's Hospital, but families who live in smaller cities and rural areas aren't so lucky. For them, premature birth can mean death.

You can support the March of Dimes in its efforts to reduce the rates of premature birth by:

• Don't schedule an early delivery for non-medical reasons. Learn why.
• Celebrate, honor or remember a preemie that you know on the March of Dimes site.
• Help raise awareness by adding the Fight for Preemies banner or badge to your blog, Facebook page or Web site.

See our earlier post, Houston docs talk about growing problem: premature birth.

A recent spike in severe injuries from Houston-area children riding ATVS (all-terrain vehicles or four wheelers) has prompted a local trauma expert to advise against any child riding one.

Already this year, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital trauma specialists have already treated 37 children with serious injuries, including one child who died. In all of 2007, they treated 29 children with ATV-related injuries, and in 2008 they treated 46 children, an increase of 58 percent, year-over-year.

“Allowing children to operate adult ATVs is like handing them a loaded gun to play with,” says Dr. Stephen Fletcher, pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and associate professor of clinical surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

ATVs aren't toys

“These are powerful motor vehicles, and many well-intentioned adults do not understand how easily they can lose control of an ATV until it happens to them," he says. "Children should not be driving adult ATVs at all.”

Fletcher gives these safety tips for ATVs:

• Never let children ride without supervision and do not let children drive adult ATVs
• Wear a helmet and protective gear
• Take an interactive, hands-on safety class for ATVs
• Never use alcohol while operating an ATV

National figures alarming

Nationwide, children under 16 suffered 40,000 ATV-related injuries, including 107 deaths, in 2007, the latest year for which numbers are available. This accounts for 27 percent of all children’s injuries and 20 percent of children’s fatalities, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

See our earlier article with safety tips for children on ATVs.

Editor's note: Mental Health Notes brings you news about children's mental health. If you have topics you'd like us to cover, please email HealthyHoustonKids (at) gmail (dot) com.

Pushing Boundaries May Signal Future Leadership
Good parenting may better prepare children for future leadership roles if the children happen to challenge the boundaries set out by their parents. This gives the children an opportunity to learn why the rules are in place and then learn from their parents how to achieve their goals without breaking the rules.

The Debilitating Effects of TV on Children
Most of us know that television isn’t the healthiest of activities for our children. But did you know that children who watch too much television do poorly in school, are more likely to smoke, to be overweight and suffer from sleep problems? Articles from the Boston Globe and Psych Central reminds us that TV is not this passive device you sit your children in front of with no ill effects. 

Spanked children have lower IQ
U.S. researchers studied more than 17,000 university students in 32 countries and found that children who are spanked aren’t as smart and don’t do as well in school as children of the same age who were not spanked. Slaps on the hand and spanking were both considered corporal punishment.

Can the Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control?
Think 'executive function' is something that CEOs do? Nope. It's an indicator of your preschooler's short-term and long-term success. This article explains what it is and why it's important for your toddler's well-being. 

Young Adults May Outgrow Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder has been thought of traditionally as a lifelong disorder. Now, a large national study shows that nearly half of those diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 25 may outgrow the disorder by the time they reach 30.

For a kid, Halloween is about as good as it gets. Think about it.

The entire holiday centers on going door-to-door to receive candy while pretending to be a pirate, dinosaur, princess or action hero. 

Candy and dressing up

But while you’re getting your ghosts and goblins ready for the big night, keep some things in mind so that while they’re having fun, they’re also keeping safe.

Watch for increased risks

Bob Emery, Dr.P.H., associate professor of occupational health at The University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, says an estimated 36 million children, between the ages of five and 13, will trick-or-treat this year.  Up to 111.4 million households participate in Halloween, and 93 percent of these believe their neighborhood is safe.

“Yet, Halloween can present a number of risks including an increase in neighborhood traffic and interacting with the public

Keep Halloween fun and safe by following a few simple and easy safety tips. 

Neighborhood safety for grownups

• Turn on exterior lights if you would like trick-or-treaters at your house.
• Clear your yard of any trip hazards.
• Report any suspicious activity.
• Drive slowly through your neighborhood.
• Keep candlelit jack-o'-lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
• Keep indoor jack-o'-lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other furnishings that could catch fire.
  

Safety tips for trick-or-treaters

• Trick-or-treat with at least one adult. Never trick-or-treat alone.
• Walk, don’t run, from house to house on a sidewalk - if available.
• Never run between parked cars.
• Map out a safe route before leaving home.
• Never go into a stranger’s house.
• Carry a bright flashlight.
• Inspect candy before you eat it. Never eat candy if the label or packaging has been tampered with or removed.

Sources: Houston Police Department, Halloween Magazine, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

By Jennifer Patrick

More articles on Halloween safety:

• Halloween video offers great tips for parents
• 8 tips for safe Halloween costumes

Tell us: Is there a safety tip we forgot? Share it here!

If a parent or other family member is diagnosed with cancer, children may feel the effects as well.


CLIMB® (Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery), a program at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, helps children deal with the many emotions they may experience when someone close to them has cancer.


"In most cases, children aren't yet equipped with the coping tools to help them verbalize questions and seek help when they are worried or scared about what is happening to their parent and to their family," says Marisa Minor, an M. D. Anderson social worker and one of the program's facilitators.

Tips for talking about it


Minor, who says children experience stressful situations differently than adults, was quoted in a recent post on Cancerwise, M. D. Anderson’s blog. She gives these tips to help children process a family member or friend’s diagnosis:

• Use the three "C's" when you discuss it:
• It's called Cancer
• The patient or child did not Cause the cancer
• Children cannot Catch cancer like a cold or flu
• Be honest but don't give too much information; be sure it’s age-appropriate
• Reassure them there's a plan for their welfare and you will keep them informed
• Check in frequently; they may have questions even if they don't ask
• Ask the medical team or social worker for advice about talking to your children
• Look for resources, such as books, to help children cope

Program is open to all


The CLIMB program was developed by by The Children's Treehouse Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the emotional support of children whose parents have cancer. Through guided conversations and art, CLIMB meetings allow children to bond with children who are having similar experiences. A parent support group meets at the same time.


Children or their parents do not have to be M. D. Anderson patients to participate in the program. Call 713-792-6826 for more information.

Need a fun way to remind your children about Halloween safety? The company Safety Skills offers this colorful little cartoon video for free. They also offer several coloring sheets that you can print off and use for afternoon craft time.

While antibiotics often do a great job of killing the bad bugs in a kid’s system, they also kill the good bugs.

Is there such a thing as a “good” bug? Yes, says Dr. Bryan Vartabedian, a gastroenterologist at Texas Children’s Hospital.

But while good bugs, aka probiotics, are extremely helpful for good health, they are not regulated in this country like prescription drugs. It can be tricky to know what kind and which brand to give your child.

“The use of any probiotic needs to be tailored to the need of a child,” Vartabedian says. “Just like specific antibiotics have to be taken for particular infections, specific probiotic bugs need to be taken with particular problems in mind.”

Bugs help fight bugs

He recommends you ask your child's doctor about the following probiotics:

• Lactobacillus reuteri: One of the best preventive bugs and the only one to colonize nearly the entire length of the intestinal tract, it has demonstrated effects from the cure for colic to the prevention of diarrhea. It is available exclusively through Biogaia of Sweden as chewable tablets, chewing gum or reuteri-impregnated juice box straws.

• Lactobacillus GG: Another great preventative bug, it is one of the most thoroughly studied probiotics in children. It is claimed to help with everything from eczema to asthma. Culturelle offers a reputable product widely available in retail stores.

• Bifidobacterium lactis: Found in the colon of a typical breastfed infant, this probiotic has been shown to prevent infectious diarrhea, shorten the course of infectious diarrhea once it’s taken hold, and decrease rotavirus. B. Look for Nestlé’s Good Start with Natural Cultures.

• Sarcomyces boulardii: Not a bacterium but rather a yeast, it is best known for reversing the diarrhea often experienced during antibiotic use, and specifically against the infection Clostridium difficile. It is available as Florastor sachets.

Read more of Vartebedian's thoughts on probiotics and other medical topics on his blog,  33Charts.

Sources: Shine magazine, Colic Solved: The Essential Guide to Infant Reflux and the Care of Your Screaming, Difficult-to-Soothe Baby

By Jennifer Patrick, regular contributor


Tell us: Have you tried probiotics for you or your child? Did they work?

Houston's Health Museum recently opened “Surviving: The Body of Evidence,” an interactive exhibit that continues through Jan. 3, 2010.

The exhibit spotlights how humans have adapted through thousands of generations to meet the challenges of life in the world around them.

What traits do we all have that were developed in response to the environment? Find out how this metamorphosis has helped – and continues to help – humans and animals survive and learn about the scientists who have made pivotal discoveries in the field.

Hands-on visuals include:

• A model of the human body that is three time lifesize
• 3D rendering and original animations
• Sound chairs that bring famous naturalists such as Charles Darwin and Carolus Linnaeus to life
• 100 casts of fossil bones from humans and primates
• The progression and development of the human skull

For details, visit the museum’s Web site.

Tell us: Have you visited this exhibit? What did you think?

Nearly 13 percent of babies born in this country are premature. It's a growing problem and one that often means long-term health problems for the child.
Local doctors working at Women's Hospital who talk about the issues of premature birth in the New York Times include:

• Dr. Scott Jarriel, neonatologist
• Dr. George Grunert, fertility specialist

The article series, 21st Century Babies, includes these stories that focus on couples who have undergone fertility treatments and then face pregnancy dangers and the often premature birth of multiples:

• Grievous Choice on Risky Path to Parenthood - About the difficult choices that face parents of multiples during pregnancy -- choices they're often unaware they're likely to face
• The Gift of Life, and Its Price - The special risks associated with having twins

You can learn more about prematurity and its dangers and how to prevent it on the March of Dimes Web site.
Sources: New York Times, March of Dimes

Halloween costumes have come a long way over the past several decades. Remember those store-bought Ben Cooper brand “costumes in a box” from the 1970’s? A plastic “dress” to go over your clothes and an uncomfortable mask for just a couple of bucks at your local drug store, and you were good to go.

Fast forward to 2009 when Internet shopping provides access to almost any type of elaborate and authentic costume for kiddos who wish not just to “look like” but “become” Luke Skywalker.

Yet unlike the 70’s, today you can expect to pay from $12.99 to more than $100 for a night of trick-or-treating fun. 

Before you dole out the money, (or break out the sewing machine for those do-it-yourselfers) keep in mind some costume safety tips from Bob Emery, Dr.P.H., associate professor of occupational health at The University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston and from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

1. Be sure costumes, wigs, masks and beards are flame-retardant or flame-resistant material. Although this label does not mean these items won't catch fire, it does indicate they will resist burning and should stop burning quickly once removed from the ignition source.
2. Costumes should be kept short to avoid tripping.
3. Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have your child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If a mask is used, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.
4. Costumes should be made of light-colored clothing or reflective tape for greater visibility during dusk and darkness. Decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks should be light colored or decorated with reflective tape.
5. Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Mother's high heels are not a good idea for safe walking.
6. Hats and scarves should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes.
7. Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.
8. Remind your children about traffic safety rules before you leave the house. Excited trick-or-treaters can forget to look before crossing a street and your prompts may help.

Do you want to get your kids involved in Halloween safety? Offer them a pre-holiday treat for playing the official Halloween safety game for kids at www.halloweenmagazine.com.

If you find one of those Ben Coopers in your attic, you might not want to send Junior trick-or-treating in it because of the guidelines listed above. Consider selling it on eBay. Costumes from this era in good condition are fetching $50 and up depending on how rare they are.

By Jennifer Patrick

Tell us: What's your most clever Halloween costume idea?

Want to get the kids moving and try a new activity without spending a fortune? Head for the exercise classes at Discovery Green, Houston’s downtown park at 1500 McKinney. 

Discovery Green hosts a variety of free, fun exercise classes for all ages. These include:

• Pilates – Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Bring a mat.
• Zumba! – Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. 
• Yoga – Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Bring a mat.
• Bicycle Repair Workshop – Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Hip n’ Fit Club – Saturdays from 11:30 to noon

If these activities don't suit, try the park's walking tour of its grounds. 

Learn more about these and other activities at Discovery Green. 


Tell us: Do you know of other great free exercise classes for kids and parents alike?

A second concussion that happens shortly after a first can be even more dangerous, according to the Methodist Center for Sports Medicine in Houston.

This makes it even more important for young athletes to be diagnosed correctly if they are hit in or fall on the head.

“Second impact syndrome occurs when the brain swells rapidly after a person suffers a second concussion before symptoms of the first concussion have subsided,” says Dr. Patrick McCulloch with the Methodist Center for Sports Medicine in Houston.

“While this condition is rare, the results can be catastrophic, leading to permanent brain damage or even death. It doesn’t matter how severe it is or if the second concussion occurs days or weeks after the first concussion.”

Many players hide injury

About 65,000 high-school football players suffer concussions each year, according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. But experts think the figure may be even higher than reported.

Concussions – even if they are minor – can interfere with brain function and affect memory, judgment, speech and coordination.

Players often hide their condition from coaches so they can continue to practice or play. McCulloch says players, coaches and parents need to understand how serious concussions can be.

“Trainers and/or doctors need to do a thorough neurological exam on the sidelines,” he says. “Other symptoms they should be looking for include headache, blurry vision, and fogginess; difficulty concentrating or sleeping. Symptoms of post-concussive syndrome can last days or even weeks.”

Follow the rules

An athlete who is 18 or younger who is believed to have had a concussion should:

• Not be allowed back on the field or court the same day
• Get physical rest
• Get cognitive rest, for example limit video games, schoolwork and other mental activities

Tell us: Has your teen athlete ever gotten a concussion? Did he stop playing?

Yesterday we featured the first five of 10 tips to help your child succeed in school, as recommended by the United Way of Greater Houston. Today, the next five tips:

6. Use positive reinforcement
Never use the words “stupid,” “dumb” or other negative words to describe your children or their actions. Your children hear enough negativity from other children when adults are not present. Praise your children when they make the correct choice, especially in difficult situations. Encourage decision-making by give your child a choice between two activities that you suggest.

7. Establish a routine
Routines give children a structure and environment that fosters security, comfort, trust and reduces anxiety. When children know what to expect, they feel more in control and learn more easily. Routines give children a better understanding of their world and how they are expected to function in it. Have your children wake up and go to bed at the same time, complete homework by a certain time each day and give them specific play times. Also, make sure your children eat a balanced diet at regularly scheduled times.

8. Make sure your child gets enough sleep
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children consistently get at least 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night. When children are even slightly sleep deprived, it can have a negative affect on their health and behavior. Lack of sleep also make it harder to concentrate in school.

9. Speak to your child at eye-level
Talk with your children, not at them. For young children this usually means getting down on your knees or sitting on the floor. Eye contact also helps reinforce what you are telling them. Do not raise your voice.

10. Maintain healthy relationships with others
Whether it is with your spouse or your friends, it is important that you show your children healthy relationships. They in turn will model those behaviors with their teachers and peers.

To learn what United Way of Greater Houston does for children in the Houston area, go to www.unitedwayhouston.org/kids/.

United Way of Greater Houston offers 10 tips to help kids succeed in school. We'll feature the first five tips today, the last five tomorrow.

“Parents are busy making sure their kids get ready for school every morning, and we want to remind them to be prepared themselves,” says Anna M. Babin, president and CEO, United Way of Greater Houston. “We’re sharing some simple tips that every parent can use to help their child increase self-esteem and get the most from school.”

The first five tips for parents are:

1. Be an advocate for your child
Get to know your child’s teachers and become a regular presence at your child’s school. Communicate with the teachers and staff in person, by e-mail and by telephone. Your involvement helps your child see school as important.

2. Show appropriate affection to your children
Holding, hugging and touching are critical for children to thrive. The need for affection never ends. Even adolescents and teens need affection.

3. Validate your child’s feelings


When your child misbehaves, let him know that you understand or are trying to understand how they feel. Validate the emotions or intentions and explain what was not acceptable. Speak in a normal tone of voice.

4. Teach your kids to fish (rather than fish for them)


Many parents do everything for their kids. This robs children of the opportunity to learn self-reliance, which is vital to their self-esteem. Encourage your child and be supportive but make sure she completes her homework, chores and projects.

5. Have clear rules and boundaries, and enforce these consistently


It sounds simple, but we often forget to tell children our rules or set boundaries. Children understand cause and effect, so it’s important to communicate your rules and maintain consequences for misbehavior. Inconsistency teaches children to push your limits to get what they want.

To learn what United Way of Greater Houston does for children in the Houston area, go to www.unitedwayhouston.org/kids/.

Tomorrow: The next five tips to help your kids succeed in school

Several Houston families joined together to raise awareness of and money for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease that affects one in every 3,500 boys.  The families were featured in the Houston Chronicle.

Children normally are diagnosed around age 4 or 5, when they start to trip or fall more, or have difficulty going up stairs and show speech delays. While there is no cure, therapies can help slow the process of muscle being replaced with fibrous tissue. Up to 40 percent of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy also have cognitive impairment. Children with Duchenne have shortened life spans.


The boys featured include:

• Nicholas Bullers, of Cy-Fair
• Felix Hu, of Katy 
• Grant Meermann, of Spring
• Joel Poysky, of Ft. Bend County
• Jared Ward, of Tomball 

Learn more about Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, the largest national charity devoted exclusively to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.


Sources: Houston Chronicle, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

Here in Houston, where we have almost nonstop pollen action, nasal allergies – or hay fever – can last the better part of the year.

In some parts of the world, it’s a safe bet that nasal allergy symptoms during several months are caused by inside allergens, such as dust mites, animal dander or mold. But not here.

We don't get a break

“Allergies can be a year-round problem for children in Houston,” says Dr. Stuart Abramson, a doctor with the allergy and immunology clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital. “Allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nose), or hay fever, is by far the most common allergy in younger children.”

The problems stem from swelling of the mucus tissues inside the nose when allergens are breathed in. In addition, the ears, sinuses or throat may also be involved.

Take a look at symptoms -- then act

If your child is sneezing a lot or has a frequent runny nose or itchy, watery eyes, he’s not alone. As a matter of fact, about one in five kids in the U.S. has an allergy of some sort.

Common hay fever symptoms include:

• Runny nose with a thin and clear discharge
• Stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears, nose or throat
• Post-nasal drip into the back of throat, which may cause throat clearing or coughing
• No fever

If you suspect your child has allergies, talk to his doctor. Children usually can be treated safely by learning to avoid allergy triggers, plus:

• Nasal steroid sprays
• Antihistamines
• Inhaled corticosteroids
• Immunotherapy (allergy shots)

Sources: Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine

3 Suggestions for What to Do When Your Child Has Flu
Whether it's swine flu or seasonal flu, many parents are wondering what to do with their sick child. MedBlog covers three steps for deciding whether your child needs treatment.

Some Texas Districts Change Abstinence-only Sex Ed
In light of climbing teen pregnancy rates, some Texas school districts are abandoning abstinence-only sex education in favor of a program that encourages abstinence but also covers contraception.

The Latest Safety Recalls
BabyCenter makes it easy to keep track of child-related product recalls on this page. The latest recalls include wooden bunk beds, Clark shoes for infants and children, boys O'Neill sweatshirts and Roxy hoodies for girls.

Leg Movement Training May Help Preterm Infants
Researchers at Ohio State have found that leg movement training may help premature babies catch up on their early development activity of reaching for toys.

From Birth, Engage Your Child With Talk
An article on why it's important to talk to your child before they can communicate. No more pushing the stroller and talking on your cell phone!

Many Children Suffer Medication Side Effects
A new study finds that half a million U.S. children are treated each year for side effects to medicine. Most are treated in outpatient clinics but nearly 30 percent end up in emergency rooms.

As your child begins the new school year, keep a close eye on him for signs of learning problems.

Dr. Sherry Vinson, a developmental pediatrician at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, says certain behaviors can help parents recognize learning disabilities – especially at crucial transition points.

"When a child enters kindergarten, third grade, junior high and high school, the new learning environments add more stressors than the levels before," she says. "Because of these new stressors, a subtle learning disability may be easier for the teacher and/or parent to identify."

Here are the transitions and stress behaviors that may point to a learning disability:

Kindergarten

• Lack of attention in circle or story time may indicate a mild language delay
• Difficulty learning letters and numbers may be a warning sign of fine motor delay
• Watch conduct grades; a “needs improvement” may be a danger signal

Third grade

• Independence in learning becomes important in this grade
• Trouble focusingg or completing worksheets and assigned reading is a sign of learning delay
• Watch your child in the classroom to see if he is looking at the teacher or around the classroom
• As longer reading passages are required, a mild reading delay may become more obvious
• If a child consistently made Cs in the first and second grade, a learning disability is probable and may become more noticeable this year.

Middle school

• Having to change classes each period tests a tween’s ability to focus
• Getting lost, being inattentive in class, and disorganized (such as forgetting to bring homework to class) may be signs of ADHD
• Consistent Cs and Ds should be analyzed carefully, especially in reading and math
• A mild receptive language delay may slow a child’s reading at this stage

High school

• If a child has an undiagnosed or unrecognized learning disability, it may become more obvious as he has to juggle more in high school
• A C may not necessarily mean a learning disability, but consistent failing grades can mean the child has been struggling with a subtle, undiagnosed problem

Getting help
Federal law requires that public schools provide appropriate education to all children, including those with disabilities.

If a parent or teacher suspects a learning disability, the child can receive a variety of tests to confirm he may need extra support in reading, language and motor therapy.
For more information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, visit this site.

"If these subtle signs go untreated or overlooked, they could pose a much larger problem for the child later in life," Vinson says. "Parents can watch for these signs early in life to help their child achieve long-term academic success."

Source: Baylor College of Medicine

Tell us: Does your child have a learning difference? When did you first notice something was wrong? What were your child's signs?

Keep an eye on your child this school year for signs of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Dr. Ayesha Mian, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, says about 5% of kids over the age of 6 have one of the disorders.

“Children with moderate to severe ADHD or ADD who are not on medication are distractable and may have difficulty paying attention or concentrating in class,” she says. “They can be abnormally fidgety or impulsive and therefore unable to learn in an optimal learning environment.”

School may be able to help

If your child is diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, he may qualify for special modifications in the classroom. Speak to your child’s principal, who will arrange a meeting to discuss these measures, which are called 504 accommodations.

• Sitting in front of the class or close to the teacher
• Getting extra reminders about homework
• Receiving extra time on tests or assignments
• Taking tests in smaller classroom

Medication may be necessary

If other measures do not help, ADD or ADHD may be treated with medicine.

“Stimulants are the most commonly used medications,” Mian says. “These are usually short-acting medications that are taken every day and do not leave any long-lasting side effects.” 

These side effects include:

• Loss of appetite
• Headaches
• Disrupted sleep
• Irritability or mood changes

“These side effects should be watched closely,” Mian says. “A reduced appetite leading to weight loss may require lowering the medication dosage or trying a different stimulant. If treatment is medically necessary, medication holidays (not taking medications during the weekends or holidays) may be indicated for catch-up growth.”

Consider risks of medication

Since these medications are stimulant-based, they carry an associated risk of abuse. Strictly supervise their use, especially in older children or teens.   



“Teenagers with ADHD or ADD who are not treated tend to have a higher incidence for drug abuse, and are at an increased risk of accidents and early pregnancies because they are often impulsive and may have low self-esteem,” Mian says. “Parents must weigh the pros and cons of using medications.”

Source: Baylor College of Medicine

Tell us: Is your child on medication for ADD or ADHD? Were there side effects? How did you handle those?