We're taking a short hiatus here at Healthy Houston Kids. We wish you a very happy and healthy 2010. We'll return to our regular schedule of posts on January 4. Meantime, please continue to send us your news, story ideas and comments at healthyhoustonkids (at) gmail (dot) com.

from the HHK team:
Jessica Johns Pool
Dawn Dorsey
Jennifer Patrick
Heather Wiederhoeft

Children's Memorial Hermann recently released these safety tips for the holiday season, but here at HealthyHoustonKids we think it's a list good for the whole year. They recommend:

Falls

• Be sure that doors to balconies and patios are secure.
• Install child-safety gates near stairs.
• If you open windows to balance the temperature in your home, keep children away from the area and be sure the windows are locked when closed.
• Supervise infants in “bouncy seats.” Keep seats flat on the floor and never place on furniture.
• Be aware of the dangers of falling televisions, which have caused serious injury and even death in toddlers.
• Be sure the TV is out of reach and on a stable surface. Toddlers may try to pull up or climb on the TV, causing it to fall.
• Do not run TV cords across the floor or through doorways. Toddlers may play with or pull on cords and cause the TV to fall.

Motor vehicle accidents

• Ensure that all passengers are secured in seat belts or safety seats. Find out where to get car seats checked in Houston.
• Children under 12 years old and 80 pounds must ride in the back seat. It's now Texas law.
• Read the directions on child safety seats; many seats are installed incorrectly.
• Be sure the safety seat is anchored to the seat belt. Improperly anchored seats can cause children to become projectiles in a crash.

Motor vehicle/pedestrian crashes

• Always hold your child’s hand near vehicles, especially near stores and in parking lots. Even children who know to be careful around cars can become easily distracted and dart into traffic.
• Teach your child the rules of the road and car safety rules.

Burns

• Never hold a child while preparing meals. Many scald burns to children are caused by steam or hot liquid spills near the stove.
• Do not put your child in a “bouncy seat” in the kitchen while cooking. The seats can easily turn over.
• Do not let children prepare hot foods such as popcorn, hot cocoa and soup.

Bicycle injuries

• Make sure all riders have properly fitting helmets and safety gear.
• Never let small children ride unattended.
• Instruct children not to play or perform tricks on bikes. Children can sustain serious injury if they are impaled by handlebars.

Family stress

• Before you react to a child’s behavior, count to 10 or leave the room.
• Reach out to family members for support.
• For additional parenting support, contact your local church or community outreach programs.

Over the past decade, we’ve all come to realize that extended exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. Slathering a child with sunscreen now is a daily ritual, and our kid’s skin is protected. But is there a downside?

Several recent studies have found that lack of the “sun vitamin,” more commonly known as vitamin D, is becoming a real problem for kids. Vitamin D gained its nickname from the fact that the sun is one of the most effective methods for producing vitamin D in a person.

According to a study published in Pediatrics magazine, about 9 percent of kids ages 1 to 21 can be considered vitamin D deficient, and another 61 percent should be considered insufficient in vitamin D. Insufficient vitamin D can lead to higher blood pressure, lower levels of good cholesterol and an increased risk of developing heart disease. Vitamin D also is necessary for bones to better absorb calcium.

The current daily recommendation for vitamin D for children is 200 international units (IU); however, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is planning to recommend the minimum IUs be increased to 400 per day

Make sure your kids get enough vitamin D

• Milk: Almost all milk in the U.S. milk supply is fortified with 100 IUs of vitamin D per cup. Just one glass of milk would reach 25 percent of a child’s daily vitamin D recommendation. Other foods fortified with vitamin D include some milk, cheese and fruit juices.
• Vitamins: Many children and teen multivitamins include vitamin D. Make sure to read the label to see how much vitamin D is in your chosen supplement.
• Sun: While long exposure to the sun minus sunscreen is a definite no, minimal exposure (10-15 minutes) can be done safely and boost your child’s vitamin D levels. One place your child may be out in the sun without sunscreen is during a school P.E. class – get in the habit of asking what is happening each day in P.E. to find out if they go outside. If not, spend that 10 minutes of non-sunscreen sun exposure time with your child and then apply the recommended amount of sunscreen.

By Heather Weiderhoeft

It's that time of year -- when children bubble with excitement as parties, presents, visiting relatives and no-school fun blur into a whirlwind of merrymaking. It's also an important time to keep your eyes open for accidents waiting to happen, say the specialists of Children's Memorial Hermann and Texas Children's Hospital.

The emergency center at Children's Memorial Hermann gets a variety of injuries between Thanksgiving and New Year's that ranges from bicycle accidents to car crashes. More than one-third of all injuries to children (36 percent) are falls, 12 percent involve motor vehicle accidents, 9 percent are burns, 8 percent are motor vehicle/pedestrian collisions and 4 percent are bicycle accidents.

Family stressors play a part in 16 percent of holiday injuries to children since parents are absorbed in holiday activities and social commitments, too.

"Children are very quick and very creative, and an accident can happen in an instant,” says Dr. Stacey Moore-Olefumi, surgeon at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, home of the largest pediatric trauma center in the Gulf Coast region and one of only three Level 1 pediatric trauma centers in Texas. “A parent might release a child’s hand while walking to the car at the mall, and the child darts in front of a car; or a toddler could pull on the electrical cord to the TV and cause the TV to fall on them.”

Tips for party safety

Parties often contain many hidden hazards for toddlers and young children. Dr. Phil Dreessen, a pediatrician with Texas Children’s Pediatric Associates, offers these tips to keep your partygoing safe for little ones:

• Keep plants out of reach. Poinsettias can cause skin irritation and severe stomach symptoms. Holly and mistletoe berries are poisonous, as are some plants, including amaryllis, azalea, Christmas rose, English and American ivy and mountain laurel.
• Snacks that can cause choking, such as peanuts, olives, grapes and cherry tomatoes should be placed at the center of the buffet or dining table out of a child’s reach.
• Keep children away from alcoholic drinks that may be discarded by guests.
• Remove pets from the party area.
• Make sure basement doors are locked and place safety gates at all stairways.
• Follow fireplace safety precautions and supervise children when the fireplace is in use.

On Thursday: More child safety tips from Children's Memorial Hermann

Need a new activity to get your children off the sofa and moving? Let them train for and participate in the 13th annual Texas Children's Kids' Fun Run on Jan. 16, 2010.

The non-competitive event includes a 3K and 1K and kicks off the big kids 2010 Chevron Houston Marathon weekend. Children ages 5 to 15, including those with special needs, can run or walk in the Kids Fun Run.

Your kids can even train like adult runners do, using the official fun run training guide and training videos.

The race begins and ends at the George R. Brown Convention Center and is limited to 5,000 children. Don't wait to register your child because the run fills up every year.

Preregister for the event at www.funrun.texaschildrens.org. Cost is $10 and includes a t-shirt and commemorative medal. Email funruninfo@texaschildrens.org or call 832-824-2247 with questions.

HoustonHealthyKids cofounder Dawn Dorsey knows cash is always the right gift for her 20-year-old son, but she believes Santa needs some additional recommendations for healthy, fun holiday gifts for younger children.


Rev up your kid’s interest in getting outside for some aerobic activity by giving him something fun to do when riding bicycles and shooting hoops gets old and boredom sets in. The following two gifts are also cool because all the kids in the neighborhood will want to come over and play. OK, maybe that’s not always a good thing.

Grow to Pro Pogo Stick by Fisher Price

I always wanted a pogo stick as a child, but my mother thought they were too dangerous. She also didn’t let me watch “The Three Stooges” because they were too violent.

This pogo stick is designed especially to be safe for young kids up to 60 pounds. The manufacturer recommends it for 5 years and up, but I think a 4-year-old could handle it. It has a special extra broad base that helps beginners balance and gain confidence. When they’re ready, you can remove the “trainer” base.

Grow to Pro Pogo Stick is available for about $39. at Amazon.com.

Geospace Walkaroo Stilts by Air Kicks

Maybe your child wants to prepare for a circus career – or maybe he just wants to be the first cool kid on the block to have stilts. This lightweight aluminum pair, which sells on Amazon.com for $35, is designed for kids 5 and older who weigh up to 110 pounds. They can be adjusted as your child grows. They’re also great for teaching balance and coordination.

The experts in charge of revising psychiatry’s diagnostic manual are considering one category, autistic spectrum disorder, for all types of autism.

The typically milder forms of autism known as Asperger’s and P.D.D.-D.O.S. (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) are currently categorized separately.

The doctors and scientists working on the D.S.M.-V, short for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, want to revise the manual to acknowledge that mental disorders such as autism often have multiple problems that affect both mind and body.

Supporters feel that a “spectrum” diagnosis will encourage health care professionals to recognize and treat the whole patient rather than a single issue. Some doctors are concerned how such a change would affect their patient's insurability.

The public will be able to comment on the proposed changes beginning sometime in January on the American Psychiatric Association Web site. The new edition will be published in 2012.

Source: New York Times

Tell us: Do you think Asperger's and PDD should be rolled into a general autistic spectrum category?

Did you know that when you see Life Flight in the sky, 25 percent of the time the patient is a child?

And, did you know that Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center is the only Level 1 pediatric trauma center in the Gulf Coast?

Finally, did you know that MIX 96.5 FM is hosting its third-annual fundraiser for Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital this month?

This year's campaign is called Any Size Saves Lives, and all funds will support the Level 1 pediatric trauma center at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and pediatric emergency services in the Memorial Hermann System.

This Thursday, Dec. 17, 6 to 9 p.m., Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital will be at Discovery Green for Silver Blades on the Silver Screen with MIX 96.5. Classic holiday movies will be shown and attendees can skate in the park's holiday ice rink for $10. Booths stationed throughout the event will collect contributions to support the campaign. You can also donate online.

Grandma may tell your child, “Be sure and take your vitamins,” but are they really important if you feed your child a well-balanced diet?

Not necessarily, according to Dr. Ann-Marie Hedberg, a dietitian, as well as assistant professor and dietetic internship director for the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living at The University of Texas School of Public Health.

Answer depends on diet

“But well-balanced is the key, and one well-balanced meal per day will not do it,” Hedberg says. “Kids are not like adults. They really do eat according to their hunger, and if the right foods are put before them they will meet their vitamin and mineral intake for growth and health requirements.”

She says it’s better to get the nutrients we need from foods, but meals and snacks need to be planned carefully to optimize nutrient concentration.

If you don’t think your child is getting all he needs from food, talk with your pediatrician or pharmacist about the best supplement.

Keep in mind:

• Don’t overdo it. Hedberg says: “The liver and kidneys must “filter” what we take in, and these organs are smaller in children. They do not need the stress of filtering excess vitamins and minerals.”
• Chewable vitamin supplements are high in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), which can cause problems with tooth development. Toxicity has been reported in small children who ate more of these “candies” than are recommended.
• Treat vitamin supplements like any other medication. Keep out of reach of children and provided only as directed.
• Check publications like Consumer Reports or Pharmacy Times for ratings.
• The most expensive products are not necessarily the better options.
• During adolescence, rapid growth requires calcium and vitamin D for bone maturation and iron for expansion of the blood system.
• A variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other factors found in foods are important for a healthy immune system, healthy skin and overall growth.
  

By Jennifer Patrick

A few years ago, Type 2 diabetes was known as “adult onset diabetes” because it was almost unheard of in children. Today, up to half of new diabetes cases in children are Type 2 -- and it’s largely preventable.

Type 1 diabetes usually appears in childhood and is inherited.

The main causes of Type 2 diabetes are:

• Being overweight
• Not exercising or being physically active
• Having a family history of the disease

African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are more prone to Type 2 diabetes, but even so, proper diet and exercise are within everyone’s reach.

• Keep an eye on your child’s weight. Talk to your child’s doctor about body mass index (BMI) and keep it within the recommended range.
• Limit snacks high in sugar, salt and fat. Just one extra soda or a small bag of chips every day can put 1 pound a month on a child who doesn’t get enough exercise.
• Speaking of healthy snack options. Grapes, apples, bananas, carrot and celery sticks and nuts are a few of the good snacks that don’t have to be expensive. See the end of this post for my trail mix recipe.
• Eat in more; eat out less. Take-out and fast food may solve the immediate problem of what’s for dinner, but convenience foods can contribute to weight problems for the whole family.
• Get everyone moving. Everyone in your family should break a sweat every day (assuming no one has a health issue that prevents this, of course). Options include team sports, back-yard play and after-school activities at the local park.

Jessica’s Homemade Trail Mix

Dry roasted, unsalted almonds and peanuts

Pine nuts (roasted at home)

Raisins (brown and/or golden)

Dried cranberries, mango and papaya pieces, apple chunks, banana slices (without added sugar)

Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Ingredients vary according to what’s on sale, available and fresh in my grocery store (and what was popular in the last batch). Golden raisins increase the sweet factor so I don’t have to add too many chocolate chips.

Mix in a large bowl. I aim for one to two chocolate pieces per handful of trail mix, which is about ¼ to ½ cup. Will keep for up to six weeks in airtight containers.

Sources: United Healthcare, MedicineNet

Tell us: What are your family's favorite healthy snacks?

Scottish shortbread has been a part of every Christmas in my family and is what is waiting for Santa when he comes down our chimney.

The scent and the taste always make me think of Christmas, but the two sticks of butter that go into it are a reminder as I bake to be careful what my kids eat during the holidays.

Help your kids survive the feast-fest

The period from Thanksgiving to New Year's can quickly turn into a caloric catastrophe for children and teens. So, try to work these healthy tips into your kids’ holiday eating:

• When at a gathering, say yes to water. Juice drinks and soda can easily add 100+ calories and lots of sugar with every glass.
• Don’t include temptations, such as bowls of candy or a filled cookie jar, in your holiday décor.
• If you know you’re going to a party or there’s a celebration at school, make sure to start the day with a healthy, low-calorie breakfast.
• While buying lunch is more convenient, packing your child’s lunch during the holidays can ensure a well-balanced meal vs. self-serve in the cafeteria.
• If you’re family is enjoying a buffet, serve smaller helpings to younger kids and walk through the line with teens. It’s OK to be the Grinch when it comes to seconds or thirds.
• When a party is on the day’s agenda, don’t let anyone skip an earlier meal so they arrive overly hungry at the party and snack on every nibble in sight.
• How about trying a healthy recipe this season? Cooking Light has a recipe makeover section that is full of delicious family favorites with fewer calories.
• Physical activity must be part of your holiday season. Make it easy when shopping and park as far away from the store as possible. Better yet, take a walk through your neighborhood to enjoy the lights.
  

by Heather Weiderhoeft

A quick look around Houston Web sites revealed some nice holiday activities for the family.

Catch a movie and a craft project. The Aurora Picture Show hosts a 60-minute program from the New York Children's Film Festival, Dec. 12. A craft project begins at 2 p.m., and the movie screens at 4 p.m. Free but RSVP required.

Ice skating at Discovery Green. Let your kids experience the feeling of living up north, as well as burn off a few holiday calories. Go ice-skating at Discovery Green, downtown, through Jan. 18, 2010. There’s a toddler-friendly area for the littlest ones. Cost is $10 per child and includes skate rental and tax.

Thursday Nights at CMH. The Children’s Museum of Houston is free on Thursday nights from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Activities include making greeting cards, dance, story time, performances, painting and more.

The Orange Show and the Art Car Museum. Celebrate folk art one afternoon. Kids love the wacky colors and imaginative spaces of The Orange Show, a folk art home created in honor of the owner’s favorite fruit. Admission is only $1 per person. Open Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Then, pile back in the car for a quick visit to the Art Car Museum, which is free.

Tell us: Got any other activities to share with our readers?

During October and November, our most popular posts ran the gamut. Reflecting Houston's overall diversity, our readers were interested in everything from Twitter accounts to probiotics, the Health Museum to free exercise classes.

In case you missed one, here are our top seven posts in order of visits:

1. 55% say H1N1 has visited their house
2. Twitter-ers to follow
3. HEARTS program takes aim at teen's hearts
4. Protect your child from poison
5. Probiotics: Good bugs for great health
6. Health museum opens new exhibit
7. Free exercise for family

Young mom of two and Healthy Houston Kids contributor Jennifer makes these recommendations for  our healthy, fun holiday gifts for children, volume 2.

Voted Green Toys Family Fun Toy of the Year, the Recycling Truck, is made in the U.S. from recycled plastic milk jugs which helps reduce fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions.

Your child can use cardboard recyclables included in the box and put them into the truck's side chutes, then open the rear door to dump the items. This is a great way to teach your kids about the importance of recycling through creative play.

Great for kids age 3 and up. Buy it at  www.oliebollen.com for $21.49.

Next, research has shown how important it is for families to eat together. You can make dinner time more fun with Dinner Games. It features 51 quick and easy games created especially for playing at the table while you eat - no game board needed!

Just pick any card and discover delicious riddles, conversation starters, thought-provoking questions, memory games, and so much more. The laminated cards are made to last through many mealtimes, and come in a colorful metal tin. These would be great when dining out, too!

Beginner Dinner Games are designed for ages 3 and up. Dinner Games are geared for those between 5 and 12 years old. The tin measures 5" x 3-1/2" x 2-1/2" so it will fit in a large handbag. Find Dinner Games at www.hearthsong.com for $15.98.

by Jennifer Patrick

See our other holiday gift recommendations:
Volume 1

Last month we reported on the HEARTS study, a program to screen 1,500 local teens for heart health.

Sixth-graders at Key Middle School (pictured at right) were the first to be screened, and of 94 students the doctors found seven with undiagnosed heart conditions. Two required surgery. The results shocked the researchers.

Sixth grade a good time for tests

HEARTS, which stands for Houston Early Age Risk Testing and Screening, is led by Houston cardiologist Dr. John Higgins, a sports cardiologist at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute.

Higgins hopes the findings will win support for his crusade to make heart exams routine for all U.S. sixth-graders, or at least all students entering middle school in Texas.

“It’s around sixth grade that kids become more active and often get into sports on a more serious level,” said Higgins, director of exercise physiology at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Clinic. “Once they get into the really competitive sports, the heart will be under a lot of stress. And kids are so young that many wouldn’t think to check them for underlying heart problems.”

Higgins wants heart screenings of sixth graders to prevent deaths like those of two young Houston teens who died last year after no previous signs of cardiac problems.

The group screened 150 students at Fleming Middle School the next day.

How it works

During the study, each student fills out a health questionnaire and receives a cardiovascular physical exam, 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound). The process takes 15-20 minutes. If problems are found, the child is referred to pediatric cardiologist Dr. Gurur Biliciler-Denktas.

“No child will be turned away for lack of insurance or money. This program is not just about detecting a possible problem. The program also includes treatment,” Higgins said. “The goal is to get to these kids early, especially before they begin high-intensity sports. The program is not exclusive to athletes.”

The $1 million project is funded by the Memorial Hermann Foundation and the Houston Rockets.

Hypertropic cardiomyopathy – an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle – is the leading condition that causes sudden cardiac arrest among young people.

What you can do for your child

If your child doesn't go to school where the HEARTS study is being conducted, you can still get your child tested. A $150 exam similar to the HEARTS screening is offered monthly at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute, but the screening is usually not covered by insurance.

Learn more about the HEARTS study by calling 866-987-7934 or email HEARTS-study@uth.tmc.edu.

Read our earlier post on HEARTS:

HEARTS program takes aim at teen heart problems

Autism affects about one in every 150 children, which means it is the second most common developmental disorder. It’s also a disorder underserved in the Houston area since our population has grown faster than available services.

Long waits to get tested are common in our metro area, so this fall DePelchin Children’s Services added autism services.

“Our evaluations are done by a multidisciplinary team with the parents involved so there are no surprises when the diagnosis is made,” said Rachel Halpern, autism services program coordinator.

After the evaluation, DePelchin’s team provides parents with a comprehensive list of recommendations and resources, plus follow-up sessions for extra help in finding help and implementing the recommendations. DePelchin also provides group counseling for parents and siblings, and social skills classes for children with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism.

“Our social skills classes have been particularly popular because those aren’t being taught anywhere else and it’s so important for these children,” said Halpern.

DePelchin’s autism services generally are not paid by insurance, but the service has already been busy since there is no wait to be evaluated, reports Halpern. An evaluation costs $1,200 for children 6 and younger, and $1,500 for children ages 7 and older. Sometimes school districts will use DePelchin’s services for independent evaluations.

DePelchin Children's Center offers a range of children’s social and mental health services such as adoption and foster care, parenting classes and counseling from 60 locations in Harris, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Ft. Bend and Waller counties. Its autism services are located at its main campus on Memorial Drive at Shepherd.

DePelchin Children's Center serves more than 23,000 children and family members each year. Learn more about DePelchin Autism Services online or call 713-730-2335.

Medical advancements depend a great deal on people who are willing to volunteer their time to participate in medical research studies. There’s often a shortage – particularly for studies that focus on children.

Locally,  University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC) and University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have joined an online national database program that matches volunteers with studies.

Medical research sounds scary to some, but many studies are simple, noninvasive and can help you stretch your health care budget since tests and medications are often provided. A few examples of current studies in Houston that are looking for children:

• Would offering free parking for parents of extremely low birth weight infants provide important benefits to the baby?
• Trial for medical treatment for GERD in preterm infants
• The scleroderma family registry and DNA repository
• Is there a physical cause for dietary protein intolerance in children with autism?

Safe and easy

ResearchMatch is a not-for-profit, secure Web site where you can register yourself and your child to take part in studies for which you qualify.  You will be e-mailed when a suitable study opens, and your information is protected until you give the OK to release it.

ResearchMatch is hosted by the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Consortium, a part of the National Institutes of Health.  There are more than 50 member institutions across the country.

Looking for a healthy, yet fun, gift for a special child? Throughout the month of December, the editors and writers of Healthy Houston Kids will post information about holiday gifts ideas for you, our readers. Here's what Jessica likes:

Lunch box items. Replace your child’s plastic lunchbox gear with a BPA-free food container and drink bottle from Thermos. You can find the Thermos Foogo line at Target stores for $15.99 to $17.99 per item. The insulated containers come in blue and pink. There’s also a sippy cup designed for 6 months and older.

YMCA membership for the whole family. It’s hard to think of a better value for the sheer quantity of activities than a YMCA membership. Costs vary depending on the location but begin at around $42 a month for one adult with kids. Some classes come with an additional charge. The YMCA reduces its rates for families making less than $60,000 a year. You might want to check more than one location near you because available activities vary widely.

Tell us: Got any other healthy gift ideas for kids and their parents?

Gifts for kids that are healthy too, Vol. 2
Gifts for kids that are healthy too, Vol.3

Today, December 1^st, is World AIDS day. Millions of people around the world are getting tested, volunteering or donating money to a group like our local AIDS Foundation Houston.

But mostly, Americans think that HIV/AIDS doesn’t affect them. It’s not like Africa after all, where in some countries up to 30 percent of the population is infected.

If that’s your opinion too, think again. AIDS Foundation Houston estimates that two young people under age 30 are infected in Houston every day. Nationally, teens, young adults and women are now among those most often infected.

If you think you don’t know anyone who is HIV+, think again. The government estimates that 1 million people in this country are infected. That’s about one in every 260. If you want a local example, Jack Rhodes Stadium in Katy holds almost 10,000, which means 38 people in that crowd may be HIV+.  

If you think these kids are getting what they deserve when they get infected, think about that again too. I’ve been around the kids serviced by programs at AIDS Foundation Houston, and most were infected by adults. These kids got the HIV virus:

·       When they were born, because doctors didn’t know how to prevent their HIV+ mother from transmitting the virus during birth. (If doctors know a woman is HIV+ now and proper procedures are followed, transmission rates drop to less than 2 percent. But that’s now, not 15-20 years ago when these kids were born.)

·       When they had sex with an adult. Lest you jump to conclusions, I’m referring to incest and child rape.

·       When they made a bad choice. Yes, 15-year-olds sometimes sleep with 25-year-olds. Or, two 16-year-olds sometimes don’t use condoms. Or share needles. But get what they deserve? Think about a bad choice you made as a teen. Did it affect the rest of your life? Luckily, most of us make it out of teen-hood without such devastating consequences.

If you think your teen is too smart to think they can’t get infected, think again. Local doctors and social workers report that Houston teens are much like their national counterparts. Many of today’s teens think that getting HIV is no big deal – that you just take the drugs and you’re okay.

Talk to your teen today. Make sure they understand that HIV is a very real part of their world. Better yet, ask a local AIDS expert to talk to your teen's class or youth group. You can learn more here:

AIDS Foundation Houston
Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative
Texas Children's Allergy and Immunology Clinic

World AIDS Day