Ear infections in children result in more trips to the pediatrician or other healthcare provider than any other illness. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that every year, there are over 5 million cases of acute ear infections in children. About 80 percent of...

Warmups, cool downs, hydration and safety gear—organized sports are often set up to keep your young athlete safe. But have you talked to your child about avoiding germs? Children who participate in organized sports may be exposed to diseases caused by infection....

  Like most parents of a young adult, you’ve probably spent many hours in the pediatrician’s office over the years. Whether you took your child in for a “well visit” or a medical concern, you were there for most of the visits and made most of the decisions....

Vaping has increased significantly in middle and high school students within the past five years. A recent survey of 6th, 8th and 10th grade students in five Texas cities, including Austin, revealed some disturbing misperceptions (see sidebar). This is why it’s...

Over 1.3 million young children go to the emergency department every year because of injuries related to nursery products like baby carriers, cribs, mattresses, strollers, baby walkers and high chairs. Baby carriers are the most frequent cause of those visits; over...

Tire crumb is recycled rubber from old tires that is ground up into crumbs. These crumbs are used to make playground surfaces for cushioning under swings, slides and other play equipment. Tire crumbs also are used to make synthetic turf—green plastic grass...

Early childhood caries is the term dentists use for decay in a child’s “baby” teeth. It’s a rapid form of tooth decay caused by infectious bacteria. The number of children getting early childhood caries is on the rise, particularly in low-income families. In fact,...

Over one-third of Texans own guns. Guns are a frequent topic of debate. However, everyone agrees that we want our children to avoid harm from gun-related injury. In 2015, about 4,500 children and adolescents died from guns. Check your knowledge of gun-safety so that...

Whooping cough (also called pertussis) is on the rise. Experts at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services report that pertussis outbreaks typically occur in three-year to five-year cycles. In 2013 about 4,000 cases were reported in Texas—the most cases since...

After hours of searching, researching and enrolling your child in just the right summer camps, you breathe a sigh of relief. But wait! Follow this checklist to make sure you’ve planned for your child’s health and safety this summer. Physical Exams and Immunization...

Here’s a “safety talk” to have with your child: what to do when interacting with dogs. You’ve probably had many conversations about how to cross the street, how to deal with strangers and other safety concerns. But what are you teaching her about staying safe around...

“Kids can’t help it! We love sweets,” laments Jonas, a 3rd grader at UT Elementary. That’s confirmed by a recent report showing US children consume about 19 teaspoons of added sugars a day—more than 3 times the recommended amount. And parents love to give kids sweets:...