Pharmacogenetics: Guiding Treatment for Children with Severe Depression

May 21, 2024 – Depression and anxiety significantly affect many children and teens. For those struggling with these conditions, medication often serves as an effective treatment option. Many parents express concerns about starting their child on antidepressants. In response to these concerns, there's a growing shift towards personalized therapy. This approach takes into account individual factors such as genetic makeup, which can influence how a patient metabolizes and responds to medication.

What Parents Should Know about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

April 18, 2024 – As most parents know, stomach and digestive problems are an occasional issue in every kid’s life. This may take the form of a stomachache, diarrhea or even nausea and vomiting from time to time. The difficulty for parents is determining whether their child just has a run-of-the-mill digestive illness or something more serious like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Advocating for Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

April 16, 2024 – If your child has the developmental condition known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), then you are far from alone. The most recent estimates from the CDC note that one in every 36 children born in the United States is affected with ASD. This lifelong condition creates challenges related to repetitive behaviors, restricted interests and social-communication deficits, which can vary in type and severity in each child.

Tree Pollen Allergy Season Begin in March: What You Need to Know

March 19, 2024 – Here in South Florida, seasonal allergy triggers tend to pop up earlier than other parts of the country due to the milder climate. March is when the tree pollen allergy season begins, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. Dr. Grace Padron, Program Development Director, Allergy & Immunology at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, discusses symptoms and when to see an allergist.

Debunking Myths about Diabetes

November 07, 2023 – Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Although millions of people are diagnosed with diabetes, there are still misconceptions about the condition. Amada Rico, BSN, RN, and Diabetes Nurse Navigator at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, explains common concerns she receives from patients about diabetes.

Pediatric Headaches and Migraines: What You Need to Know

June 02, 2023 – Headaches are more common in the pediatric population than people realize. Pediatric neurologist and medical director of the headache program at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Dr. Wilson Heredia Nunez, provides information about symptoms, prevention, and treatment of headaches and migraines within children.

Setting the Record Straight About Scoliosis

May 19, 2023 – Scoliosis is a common condition that affects millions each year, yet there are still many myths associated it. Dr. Subaraman Ramchandran, a pediatric spinal surgeon with the Center for Spinal Disorders at Nicklaus Children's Hospital explains common questions he receives from his patients about scoliosis and spinal surgery.

Sargassum Seaweed & Children’s Health: What You Need to Know

May 16, 2023 – A recent development may pose a threat not only to your family’s enjoyment of South Florida's beaches but also the health of you and your children — and that’s Sargassum seaweed.

Infant Safe Sleep

March 15, 2023 –

Following Safe Sleep practices is a way to keep your baby safe while sleeping. Infants are safest when they sleep in their own crib, bassinet, or portable crib. Sometimes, healthy infants can unexpectedly die if they are placed in an unsafe sleep environment.

Are We Experiencing the ‘Tripledemic’ Here in South Florida?

December 19, 2022 – Medical professionals are raising alarms about what is being called a “tripledemic,” an occurrence in which outbreaks of three distinct viruses—flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19—are causing widespread illness. Although in South Florida is not encountering the same large numbers of affected patients as other regions, Dr. Joanna Perdomo, MD, MPH, FAAP, informs parents what they should be on the lookout for.

Toy Safety and Injury Prevention

December 15, 2022 – Nearly 500 children under the age of 15 are seen daily in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries. Almost half of those children are under 5 years of age.

Medical Breakthroughs for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

November 17, 2022 – Type 1 diabetes (T1D) continues to be a prevalent and growing concern among children in the United States. Between the years 2001 and 2009, the number of individuals with T1D under the age of 20 rose by 21 percent. Fortunately, there are numerous new medical developments to support treatment. Many of these offerings are available through the Nicklaus Children’s diabetes program.
 

Cerebral Palsy: The Importance of Early Detection

October 21, 2022 – If you’re a parent or thinking about becoming one, it’s important to be aware of cerebral palsy (CP) in order to recognize the signs and symptoms. According to the CDC, cerebral palsy affects between 1 and 4 out of every 1,000 children worldwide, and it’s the most common motor disability among children. Continue reading for risk factors and early signs of CP in babies.

Achieving Great Outcomes for Children with Cleft Lip and Palate

July 25, 2022 – Cleft lip and palate occurs when the baby's lip or mouth does not form properly during pregnancy. The two conditions together make up some of the most common birth defects as one out of every 700 babies is born with a cleft lip, cleft palate or both. The good news about cleft lip and palate is that the condition is now easier to diagnose, treat and correct than ever before. Here’s what you need to know about this common birth defect. 

Raising Awareness About Juvenile Arthritis

July 18, 2022 – Arthritis is often considered a health condition that affects adults. However, almost 300,000 children cope with the joint pain, swelling and limited mobility associated with arthritis in the U.S. alone. Though there are many forms of arthritis in children, they are typically classified under the term juvenile arthritis. 

Heat Protection Tips

July 14, 2022 – Most heat-related deaths occur during the summer, people should be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death.
 

How to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses in Children this Summer

June 27, 2022 – Children are especially vulnerable to heat-related illnesses because their bodies do not adjust to changes in temperature the same way adults do. Children tend to sweat less and produce more body heat; because they are less aware of their bodies, children can quickly succumb to the heat. Learn how to prevent heat-related illnesses and what are the signs and symptoms to look out for.

The Risks of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) to Infants

June 27, 2022 – Many people have never heard of the virus known as cytomegalovirus (CMV), even though more than 60 percent of people have it without knowing it. That’s because the virus rarely causes symptoms. One area of concern related to CMV, however, is in pregnant women and their newborn infants. CMV is the most common infectious cause of birth defects in the United States.

Bone Fractures in Children

May 18, 2022 – Whether your child spends a lot of free time on a sports team, at a dance class or simply playing outdoors, injuries are common in active children. Therefore, when your child falls, it is good for parents to know how to care for injuries, particularly if they suspect there is a fracture.

What Parents Should Know About Skin Cancer

May 18, 2022 – With warm weather and constant sunshine throughout most of the year, families in South Florida are no strangers to the dangers of too much sun exposure. Still, melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer is on the rise, particularly among children and young adults.