Asthma is a chronic breathing disorder and is the most common chronic health problem among children. Children with asthma have attacks of coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, which may be very serious. These symptoms are caused by spasms of the air passages in the lungs. The air passages swell, become inflamed, and fill with mucus, making breathing difficult. Many asthma attacks occur when children get respiratory infections, including infections caused by common cold viruses. Attacks can also be caused by: exposure to cigarette smoke, stress, strenuous... 

Your pediatrician is an important part of your support network, especially during those first years of your baby’s life when parenting is new and uncertain. Questions about vaccinations and growth curves alone are enough to keep any mom and dad up at night. Parents should feel confident handing over some of this concern to their child’s doctor. But what happens when parents and pediatricians disagree? Should you follow your instincts or simply trust your doctor to know what’s best for your child? Meeting of the Minds Hilary Eriksen, a mother... 

Should I start cleaning my baby’s gums even before his teeth come in? Yes. Even before your baby sports his first tooth, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of wiping his gums with gauze or a soft wet washcloth during bath time. You don’t need to use any toothpaste yet. Simply wrap the cloth or gauze around your index finger and rub it gently over the gums. Bacteria in the mouth usually can’t harm the gums before the teeth emerge, but it can be hard to tell when the teeth are starting to push through, so you’ll want to start... 

Recently, experts conducted a small survey among kids in kindergarten: “What hurts you most?” The answers, in general, did not surprise – most children complained to their bellies. Unfortunately, kids cannot say exactly what they are concerned – the intestines, pancreas, or something else, so parents should carefully examine problems in new born babies  and respond quickly to the situation. Problems in new born babies Colic After two or three weeks after discharge from the hospital, in addition to all existing concerns, you may receive another... 

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a very contagious and dangerous infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Whooping cough gets its name from the whooping sound the child makes when trying to draw breath after a coughing spell. Not all children with whooping cough make this sound; very young children may not be strong enough. Symptoms generally include those of a cold, such as runny nose and a cough that gradually worsens. Violent coughing spells frequently end with vomiting. Once the whooping stage begins, antibiotics are...